Our Love Story : Part 2

Part 1
Part 2

Leah my best friend looked at me and said very excitedly. "Tim Porter! I never thought of it before, it's perfect!” “Haha, that guy you always talk about?” And she proceeds to tell me how her mom was just talking to him the other day and asked him if he wanted to get married soon. He had said yes, and that he was looking for a girl that shared his interests, maybe someone who would like to go to Africa on his upcoming missions trip. Leah said I needed to go with him! Haha, yeah right. I looked at her and she was actually serious! No, way, there are some major issues with that plan. I couldn't go to Africa, in three weeks, by myself, with a guy, for three months! As I laughed to myself I can remember feeling really peaceful about what she had just proposed. The idea of Tim and me, not the Africa part. People had told me they felt 'a peace' as they started a relationship or married their spouse. I wondered what it felt like exactly. Others had tried to match me up before, but this time it was different, I could tell. The day went on and Leah just wouldn't give this new match up. She talked about in front of people, and even referred to him as 'my future husband'. I thought the whole thing was rather humorous.

I drilled her on a few things that I thought would throw her off. I said, “But I don't want to live in Indiana, I want to live by the beach.” “Oh he wants to move to California,” she said. “Does he play the guitar?” “Yes!” “But does he play piano?” “Yeah, really good!” Oh boy.
I don't know why I asked these things because they aren't even in the top ten on my list of 'deal breakers' or anything. 

Well little did I know that my friend who had my best intentions in mind was about to do something that even she was scared about.

Leah as a close friend of Tim went to his going away party that was held for him. During the night she got up enough courage to talk to him about me. The middle of the room was actually the loudest and least conspicuous place to talk. Of course she only told Tim all my good qualities and told him he really should be praying about getting to know me when he came back from Africa. He thanked her, and told her that he would.

A few days later Tim shipped off to Africa, for what was supposed to be three months.

I was going about my daily life. My photography business was picking up and I was pretty happy with life. One day I was sitting at the computer when my dad walked in the front door. He walked up to me and said “Do you know a Timothy Porter” I said, with a quiver in my voice, kinda..I know of him. Why? "Oh, he's over in Africa doing the same things that you want to do, I just think that's interesting." And he proceed to stick Tim's prayer card up on our fridge. So as 'interesting' as it was that Tim 's doing the same things that I wanted to do, even more interesting is that dad brought his picture home. My dad doesn't bring up boys to his daughters, second he's always the one trying to declutter our house, why would he bring more paper home, and third, the card didn't even come to him, he was just helping to clean out an old mailbox at work and happened to find it. The next thing that made me think something special was up happened next.

Our Love Story : Part 1

Tim and Evy's Love Story

Part 1

This is a story about love, hate, and everywhere in between. After three years of marriage I'm finally taking the time to write out our love story.

I've been putting it off for years for a couple reasons, one being I never felt like I had enough time to record it properly, but I think the main reason was I never wanted to have it written out for the world to see. I just knew, and still believe it won't be understood by everyone. I felt like people would judge me for how unusual it is. Most people I've told the story to end up saying it's one the the best they're heard in awhile, but I still have others think we're a little strange. Someone asked me about it the other day and it was a lot harder to put all the details back in the right order, and if I want to continue telling a true story I'd better write it down before too much more time passes. So love it, hate it, or think it's strange, but here it is.

I'll start back in 2005. December 2^nd to be exact. I walked into the staff meeting that we have every morning at the non profit I worked for. I sat down next to my best friend Leah. She had been out of town for awhile and it was good to see her again. I noticed she was sitting with a whole row of people I didn't know. It was all guys so it'd be awkward for me to lean around her and see who they were, so I kept my eyes focused on the speaker and the floor. At the end of the meeting it was announced that one of the visitors had a birthday. We all proceed to sing to this guy named Tim. I looked down the row to see who I was singing to. By the end of 'the happy birthday song' I had had enough time to decide that this Tim guy was nice looking and seemed to be 'a nice guy'.

I ended up meeting Tim's dad and brother in the course of the next few days, but not Tim. We made eye contact once while passing each other but that was the extent of our interaction. Of course as a young teenage girl I wrote in my journal that night 'Leah's friend seemed to like me'.

Over the next few years my friend Leah would talk about Tim and his family. Turns out she had grown up with them and even used to babysit Tim. No, it's not that strange, because Leah is ten years older than me. I said Leah would talk about Tim and his family, quite a lot actually. She would mention how he was getting into photography, video production and travel, all things very close to my heart. Of course she wasn't saying any of this for my benefit because she never put us together as a couple. But I was however logging all this away in my mind.

One time while visiting Leah at her home in Indiana she thought it would be fun to visit the Porters. I was trying not to let her notice I was somewhat nervous about making a good impression on them. Tim wasn't going to be there, but I still wanted the family to like me. It was a nice time, his younger brother got s splinter in his foot so most of the visit was us trying to get it out. Mrs. Porter admits she didn't remember that I came over, but I guess that's a good thing, at least I didn't make a bad impression.

Ok, fast forward three years after I saw Tim for the first time. It's Fall 2008. Leah and I were driving down the highway on a cold October day. I was telling her how I was getting older and I didn't want to be wasting any of my life. I mention that I wanted to like shoot a documentary in Africa or something. Anyone that knows Leah knows she has this look that comes over her face when she get's 'a brilliant' idea.

Our Second Anniversary

I have been married to this wonderful man for two years now.

And they have been the best two years.

I love you Tim!

Thank you for being my friend, leader, hero, cohort, business partner, companion, champion, provider, and the keeper of my heart. 

Our First Marriage Retreat

There's just something about going to your first marriage retreat that makes you feel grown up and "officially married."

We went to a lovely Inn with four other couples a few weeks ago and had a great time.

The main focus was bringing our hearts closer together as a couple, and it did.

The cool little general store.







The scenic overlook.




Mexican for dinner one night.

Exploring Indiana's first capitol.



I think it's an excellent idea for every couple take time to go on regular dates, and get aways throughout the month, and year.

It's a very healthy thing to do for your marriage. Even if it's just a date night at home, be intentional about what you do and talk about, and set aside just "heart connecting time".

Ask questions that wouldn't normally come up on a day to day basis and be ready to listen.

Talk with each other like you did when you were dating or first getting to know each other and show genuine care about what your spouse has to say...

More ideas about growing closer in your marriage, but that's for another post.

Right now the great outdoors is calling my name and I must answer.

This weather has been a.ma.z.ing! I love it!

Happy Thursday!