SARAH

Two years ago when I was living in New York, if you would have told me that I was about to meet my future husband at a bar called The Surf Lodge, I would have said you were crazy. Anyone who lives in New York would agree that dating here is just as tough as it sounds. At the time I didn't know if I'd ever meet someone and get married - I had just about given up looking for the right guy. And today I still have to pinch myself that I met Jason three weeks before I moved away from New York, that we began dating long distance, saw that develop into a relationship unlike anything else I've ever known, and two years later are getting married.

It's cliché to say this, but it's true - I will never forget the first time I saw him. My friend had told me that we'd be going to dinner with a group of friends in Montauk, and that I should meet their friend, Jason. While we were waiting for everyone to arrive, I noticed a guy wearing a blue and white checked shirt walk into the very crowded bar. Wow - I thought - that guy is really good looking. Turns out, it was Jason.

Three weeks after we met, I moved to Charlotte to take a job with NASCAR. I was ready to get back to the warm weather of the South, very anxious to leave the hustle and bustle of New York. But Jason and I were enjoying the discoveries that accompany great dates; a mutual love of Seinfeld, political debates, and hot sauce on everything. Since I was moving, we had nothing to lose and could just enjoy getting to know each other. For someone like myself who always wondered about the "next thing" in a relationship, it was freeing to just enjoy the moment. His suggestion? "Let's keep talking and see where this goes." It was the perfect next step.

Once I was settled in Charlotte, the texts turned into phone calls, which turned into visits, and the visits turned into tears (mine) when we had to say goodbye. A moment that stands out for me was leaving the airport after spending New Year's Eve with Jason. As I was telling my mom about our trip, it sank in that Jason had a mix of truly amazing qualities I'd never seen before, and that this could be something really special.

The visits continued and as an added bonus, we both hit status on Delta - free drinks in First Class, anyone? In every key phase of our relationship, Jason took charge in navigating issues of the heart (and logistics...we were long-distance, after all). He made dating easy and fun. And in every key phase, I fell more and more in love with him. If I were to list off anecdotes of each time I fell in love with him a little bit more, we'd be here all day! But one of those moments occurred during a visit to New York. We were standing inside the 6 train at Spring Street when a homeless man got caught between the doors trying to bring his belongings onto the train. Thinking only of how dirty and smelly his shopping cart looked, I didn't move to help. I just watched as this man struggled to open the doors and salvage his only belongings in the world. Meanwhile, Jason didn't think twice - he lunged toward the man and helped him fight the doors and lug his trash-laden shopping cart on board. When we got off the train, I mentioned to Jason how proud I was that he leapt into action to help. Embarrassed, he just said that it was "the right thing to do." Those five words and that unglamorous action endeared him to me more than any expensive dinners could.

Long distance can be really hard, but honestly this has been the easiest, most fun, peaceful relationship - all signs to me that God brought us together in His own unconventional way. In the middle of a quiet February snowstorm on the beach in Montauk, Jason proposed. I know my response (yesyesyesyes!) will prove to be one of the best things I'll do in my life.

Marriage is going to be our next great adventure and it won't always be easy as we're both imperfect people who will need God's help in practicing patience, forgiveness, and all of those other hard-won character traits that marriage demands of us. But I am marrying a man with a quiet yet mighty strength of heart, a brilliant sense of humor, outstanding character, and authentic faith.

It's an astounding thing to read the husband "wish list" I wrote almost ten years ago and realize that Jason embodies literally all of those qualities. Our story is living proof that love can happen at any time and that as much as we try to control our plans, God always has something better - and unexpected - in mind. It's much better that way!