Marriage: The Big Adventure

I must start my adventures with the biggest, most recent adventure that I have embarked on. Getting Married!

Five years ago, I met a kind-hearted, tall, handsome dark haired boy. I first met him after one of his basketball workouts. He was drained and sweating tremendously. I was already attracted. We were freshmen in college, both basketball players. He had just had practice. I, fortunately, had not gone to mine yet so I was in a more presentable manner than he was, considerably. For some unknown, God-powered reason, we became friends instantly after just one encounter. Between study sessions, dining together and random ventures around our college town, we somehow managed to strike up a quick, inseparable bond . Some would have considered it a “best” friendship (This is appropriate since my new last name is, in fact, Best). They would be correct. I would go home, telling family and friends all about my best friend Josh that went to the same college as I did, he would do the same. 

It took us one week to become friends, one year to start a romantic relationship, and four years later we were engaged. It has, indeed, been an adventure, but a remarkable one! I once saw a picture that had a quote from a woman named Connie Sue. The picture and caption were titled “Heavenly place,” and it read “Sometimes I just look up, smile and say, I know that was you God! Thank you!” This does a much better job of expressing how things fell into place for Josh and I than I ever could. It has been a roller coaster at times, sometimes it has even been paused, but looking back it’s easy to see that there was an ultimate plan for the two of us to end up together. Something we both giggle about now. A destiny that we had no control over, but one that turned out better than we could have ever imagined. 

After spending four months in Italy during the start of our Sophomore year in College, talking to Josh on a daily basis (as JUST friends), he finally asked us to be more. He asked me out on our first "official" date with only about 10 minutes to spare before needing to leave for the event. He took me to a concert! He was able to get his hands on some very last minute tickets (hence the 10 minute heads up) and although we had spent the past year and half eating dinner together most nights, hanging out on a daily basis and even taking road trips once or twice, we considered that night, rushing to the concert together, our FIRST official date. 

Two and half years later - with more than 10 minutes to spare:
Josh asked me to marry him on a cold, windy evening in November. With the help of family, A.C. Moore craft shop and a made up story about turtles hatching, he was able to pull off a surprise engagement that had been in the works for months. It was a perfect moment, in one of my favorite places, with a few of my favorite people. Everything I had envisioned and could possibly dream, plus more. 

Six Months Later - after a lot of planning:
On May 24, 2014, the day of our fourth year "dating" anniversary, Josh and I said “I do” in front of a crowd of our closest friends and family. We were surrounded by beautiful, natural landscapes, a river that sparkled in the background from the sun, spanish moss that hung rhythmically from huge oak trees, and people who loved us enough to give their blessings for a life we would build together with love. We had a quaint, nautically rustic themed wedding at a family home in Beaufort, NC. It was a beautiful day and as we rode off on a boat into the slowly setting sun I felt, once again that I was living a dream come true. 
The Wedding Story: 
A short time after noon, I slipped on my Lacey, white wedding dress. It had a train that was longer than I was and enough lace to cover the queen of Englands dining table. ~(A long train had always been in my vision of what the perfect dress would look like and although the event was outdoors, I had also dreamed of having a long train to accent the perfect dress)~ My mom, sister, Mammaw, Grandma and closest friends surrounded me in the room which I got ready with laughter, stories and excitement for the events that awaited. Once the guest had ventured into the ceremony I was left in a room with my immediate family, our talented photographer (Justin and Courtney Cook Photography from Durham, NC) and nerves that were enveloped with an excitement and love that I had been waiting for my entire life. My mom pushed the veil that was made from lace from my grandma’s wedding dress into my loosely curled up-do and off we went to tie the knot (literally), and say our I-do’s in front of our personal world with beautiful, God-created scenery surrounding us. 

When I reached the ceremony my only site was on the finish line (my husband and preacher standing patiently at the alter). The decorations, and those surrounding us were a complete blur (thank goodness for pictures I could look back at). I would have sprinted up the aisle if my heavy dress,  and proper etiquette had allowed. It wasn't more than 10 minutes later that in front of God and our friends and family we professed our love for each other by vowing to cook pancakes once a week and hang a strand of colored Christmas lights throughout the holidays (both promises that would determine our destiny as husband and wife, of course). Then we tied a fisherman’s knot which represented the bond and strength that our marriage would sustain. (A fisherman’s knot is the strongest knot. The ropes will break before the knot comes untied and the knot only get’s tighter with pressure).~This symbol was perfect for our nautical wedding but it also symbolized something more. We often see people who go into marriage thinking that if they love each other enough it will be a simple ride. Imagine the shock when worldly issues prevail (and they always do)! 

Marriage is the most wonderful gift from the heavens, but it is tough. You must work at it daily, and when the roads get rocky you must pray and work harder. Just like the fishermans knot that only gets tighter with pressure, so much our marriage.
We must keep faith at the center of it and work at committing our self to our partner and our God every single day. 

Anyways, after the vows were made, rings were exchanged, and pictures were taken, we joined our guests’ seaside under a beautifully decorated white tent. There, we chatted, reminisced, danced, and ate the most delicious food and cake ever created. We were surrounded by our favorite music, people, and scenery.

When it slowly came to end, I changed into a short white dress complete with a bow on the back. I climbed aboard a boat that we had ridden together many times before and I am sure many to come, and together, as a newly husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs., we cruised off into the distance where the climbing evening sky met the tides of the sea. Together we waved to our friends and family, concluding one adventure but embarking on a lifelong one.

Mr. and Mrs. Best ~ May 24, 2014~ 
Photo Credits: Justin and Courtney Cook Photography (Durham, NC) - The most fabulously, talented folks of all time! 


“And he has made everything beautiful in his time.”  ~ The Bible