I realize it would have been more appropriate to share this post on Valentine’s Day, however the flu hit our house last week, and I’ve been taking care of everyone, so I’m just now getting around to sharing. Thankfully everyone is just about fully recovered, and we are looking forward to a nice low-key weekend to help get ourselves back to 100%. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where I want to expand in my blog, and as much as I love sharing my passion for home decor, there are definitely other areas that I’m passionate about too. While home decor will still be my main focus, I also want to share things that are more on a personal level with you. Because after all, it’s one thing to have the same taste in decor, but I think we have more in common than just that! I remember in my early blogging days feeling “unprofessional” to share personal things, but in doing so I’ve left out a very important part of blogging that I enjoy – being relational. Sure we have connected on other things, but part of growing in a friendship is learning about each other, and I want to know more about you too! I mean we are friends after all right? So after sharing a little glimpse of how I met my husband in a post this past week on Instagram, I thought I would start off by sharing Our Story!
So here is the photo I shared previously on Instagram :
Our daughter says it’s her favorite picture of us. Actually she says ” I LOVE this picture of you guys”, and if you ask her why, she will tell you because we look so happy and in love. Well, Yes that’s true – but more than anything I love knowing that our kids know we are happy and in love, and the security that provides for them is invaluable to me.
So let me rewind a bit before the kids were on the scene, well rewind ALOT- a – bit actually. My husband and I will be celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary this coming summer, but before that, we actually when we were much younger. We met when I was 13, and his family invited mine over for a BBQ after meeting them at the new church we had just started going too. He is a little bit older than I, so to say I was smitten was a bit of an under statement. Thankfully because of the age difference, there was no immediate desire to date – well, at least not for him {remember I said I was pretty smitten. Well it was a full on crush}, so we had plenty of time to establish a friendship. Our families became quick friends, so we spent a lot of time becoming friends, and then he went away to college. And I literally remember thinking “Great, now there is no way I will be able to marry him!” HA! You laugh, but I was serious, and also very young and naive. He came back at the end of my jr. year in high school, which had given me just enough to time to dust off those awkward teenage growing years, and my braces!
Our friendship that was formed, was quickly picked up, and became the foundation for our relationship. We dated through the end of my teens, and got married at 21. Now I realize that is young. I remember very vividly being told so by many people when we were engaged and first married, but I knew in my heart this was it. In fact when I was younger, I used to spend a lot of time praying and wishing and hoping that he would be the man I would get to marry. My dad was a realist, and strict. So there was no way this was happening “on a whim” and without some serious sit down conversations to show him I was not just being young and irrational.
I remember my closing statement going somewhat along the lines of “When you know you have met the one you are supposed to spend the rest of your life with, why waste time until society (i.e. your parents) think you are old enough to get married?” And that was that. 
We were married on August 5,2005, and even though we were young, we learned during those first few years of our marriage that if we keep God first, our love will grow stronger than we ever imagined. And we have definitely walked through the fires to only know how true that is. We had no money when we first got married, and of course debt, but we trusted God and watched him provide for us.
When time for kids came, we thought it would be easy peasy, but after a devastating miscarriage and a long season of infertility, we pressed in together through our heartache and learned to trust God with the things unseen. 
Our marriage has not always been the easiest. Learning to effectively communicate with one another took years, and we’re still working on it. Heck I think we will always be working on it. But keeping God first, and preferring each other over ourselves sure does get us along way.
The babies came, and it felt like some one pressed fast forward and pause all at the same time, lol. Those toddler days were rough, but man do I miss them. Our kids are now 7 and 9 (in May), and they are such a joy. 
Some Fun Facts :
- We were both born in California, but never met until years later when we both lived in New Hampshire.
- We have spent more years together alive than apart.
- We are both first borns – which means we are equally as stubborn and driven as the other.
- We met in church, and had to secretly date when I was in high school because he was a youth group leader.
- Even though we didn’t start dating until after he was in college, he first held my hand when I was 14, and it was over for me after that.
- Playing cards was one of our favorite things to do together as kids, and now our favorite way to relax together is by playing cribbage.
- We both have an equal love for coffee, and both drink it black.
- We both played on the worship team for our church for many years.
- Both of our parent’s are the same exact age, and got married at the same exact age (our mothers were both 19!).
I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Our Story a little bit more. I always joke that he is the “muscle to my madness”, but he truly brings to life all of my crazy ideas, and thankfully now after many years no longer questions my ideas in design.
Happy Weekend Friends!
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Love this! Even shared your instagram post with my kids who are teens. My husband and I first met in high school and dated soon after. It’s fun for kids to hear that they might already know their future spouse!
That is awesome!! My husband and I have spoken at some youth groups before sharing our story about how we met in youth group. It’s always so cool to see the look on their faces when they realize we were their age when we met 🙂
Loved hearing your story. Your children are darling!! Our daughter just got married last summer on Aug 5!! And that also happens to be our son’s birthday. A wonderful day!!
Ohh that is so great!! Congrats, and thank you 🙂
I love hearing people’s love stories! And you have a beautiful story. May God bless you and strengthen you and your family. I like when you share personal things on your blog. Your blog sharing of drawing comparisons was a very moving blog post. I always enjoy what you share.
Thank you Peggy!! I really appreciate that! xo
I loved reading this, Bre! In fact, I remember when you and Jesse first met. It really doesn’t seem that long ago! You and Jesse are a beautiful, godly couple who are making a difference in the lives of many. We sure are proud of you!
-Lisa 💗
Ps. I won’t tell Peter that you “secretly” dated. Ha!
HA HA That’s awesome 🙂 And thank you 🙂 xoxox
Love the picture of you & your husband. You do look very much in love with each other. Your kids are adorable. God bless your life together.
You and your husband are a beautiful couple and your children are precious. Making God your number #1 priority is the key. Much love and happiness in your lives.
I enjoy your creativity and style. I always look forward to your posts.
Thank you Susan! 🙂
Loved your story, Bre, I believe with God anything is possible. My husband was 2 mos. 18 and I was 19 when we were married. He next to the youngest, and I the oldest. He finished high school after we were married at college. We have been married almost 50 years. God is good!
I am older and widowed and in this world we live in sometimes you wonder what our younger generation is all about and then you hear a wonderful story of love, God’s love and you know it is still a wonderful place to live. There’s nothing we can’t make it through with God by our side. Have a wonderful day.
Ohh Thank You Marlene!! I can only imagine how disheartening this world can be sometimes. I was reminded the other day, that our marriage is a testimony to God’s love and His faithfulness, and that it’s important to share it, for whomever it might encourage. SO happy to have you here! xo
What a beautiful love story! My husband and I have been married for 31wonderful years. The hard times make your bond even stronger. Wishing you many more years of love, laughter and happiness.
P.S. We’re enjoying your farm table. Looks great in my new kitchen.
Hi Sharon!! That is so awesome, and so true!! And SO glad you are enjoying that farm table!!!
We celebrated 16 years today! And we were both barely 20 when we got married. We’re expecting our 7th child July of this year. CRAZY. But we are still so in love, we’ve learned to say the hard things sooner than later when they’ve festered, which can mean they’re a little rough on the edges when we say it! But we’ve come to see each other being upset as a sign that we truly care because if we didn’t, we wouldn’t “fight” for our marriage, Haha!
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story. It was inspiring ❤️
Ohh Congrats!!! That is awesome!
I love your story! Nobodies lives and marriage are perfect and I love the fact that you acknowledge that. I also wanted to tell you that I love the way your blog is written. As you said, it feels like you are talking directly to me, as a friend, and I love that! Your children are precious and you and your husband look truly in love. Thank you for sharing your story. I enjoy your blog and look forward to each post!
Ohhh thank you so much Pam! For the compliments about my family, and how the blog is done. I truly want it to feel like we are catching up over coffee, and I’m glad it comes across that way 🙂 As for our story, we certainly have had our share of hardships and heart ache, but I can honestly say we stand stronger and love harder as a result. Thank you so much for being here!
thanks, God bless the rest of your lives together
Sweet story.
Beautiful Story! I pray your marriage grows stronger with each passing day. You are truly blessed.
Thank you Laura!
I loved reading your love story. I was 18 when I met my husband and I knew him one month when he proposed and I said yes. My parents said no I had to be 21. I turned 21 on a Sunday and married the following Saturday. My Mom gave us two years. This September it will be 47 years and I have never been happier. The heart does know when it is right.
I love it Patty!! That is so awesome!! And congrats on 47 years! Truly amazing!!
What a lovey story …. thanks for sharing. I don’t think it’s unprofessional at all! You two make such an adorable couple.
Kate
THANK YOU KATE!! That means so much!!! xo