Our Story...According to Mrs. Smith

I met Wade through a mutual friend of ours, Aaron Abbott, who was-at the time-a co-counselor with me at a church camp in Conway. It's true. Our relationship is founded on an 11 year friendship. Truth be known, it has been 11 years of stubbornness-mostly on my part-but we both take responsibility for the lost time. 

I knew Wade cared about me years ago. How so? He put love into action. Wade has been my constant, even when I failed him. He never gave up on me, and no matter how hard-headed I might have been, he never lost sight of us...even if that meant only friendship. I honestly didn't know how to let someone love me the way he did. It almost felt I wasn't worthy of such a love. Still, through the ups and downs of life, he was there. 

Looking back, I can see how the Lord has been preparing us for eachother. Wade actually told my grandmother years ago "If your granddaughter wasn't so hard-headed, I'd be your son-in-law a long time ago." She knew it was true from the moment she met him. That should've been my biggest sign then and there. Still, this stubborn woman had to take the long way around and do things my way-which only lead me down a path not meant for me. 

It took years for me to realize I was trying to control my own life and not being open to the perfect plan the Lord had for me. The beautiful part to this story is that God used this season of my life as refinement and still continued to mold me into the woman He created me to be, preparing me for a love I once thought impossible to accept.

Wade and I reconnected last year over a cup of Starbucks coffee and a conversation that left me smiling just reflecting back on our friendship over the years. We slowly began to hang out more-which started out as me being the stubborn woman I am and assuring him we would just be hanging out as friends. 

In the midst of this renewed relationship, a man that was very near and dear to my heart, Mr Aaron Burns, had a very important message for me one evening. With tears in his eyes, he reached for my hand at dinner and said, "Brandi, I feel the Lord has something He wants me to tell you." With anticipation, yet slight shock, I ask him what word he felt he needed to share. "Brandi, God has told me to tell you something BIG is going to happen in your life in 60 days!" There was excitement in his eyes as he continued to tell me he had no idea what would happen, but to be prepared and with a hug told me again a "Whew! It's big." The next day, I went to work and counted out 60 days, recording "Day 60" in my planner as October 9th. 

Within that two month time frame I was expectant and prayerful over what this might be. I thought at first it may have been being offered the opportunity to teach a Freshmen English course at UAM. Unsure and still waiting for confirmation, Mr Aaron left this world unexpectedly before the 60 day mark, suffering a heart-attack. I lost a man I considered a father-figure in my life and loved so much. I held on to his words and convictions he felt that evening and through the pain of losing Mr Aaron, smiled knowing he now knew-even before me-just what that 60th day had in store. 

Time passed and I made plans to meet Wade in Little Rock for a church service at Fellowship Bible Church and lunch in Hot Springs with my grandmother and Aunt Caliece...remember-just as friends. This Sunday I began to see Wade in a new light. Suddenly I realized-wow-this guy is the real deal. Everything just seemed so natural having him with me that day and spending time with my family. He not only showed me love, but my family, as well. That night, Wade confessed his feelings for me-for the first time ever. Sure I knew he cared for me for years-but he had never really voiced his feelings for me romantically. Can we all just agree right now I did give him a pretty good reason not to? I knew my heart felt the same, but I was still cautious. I knew I didn't want this to change our solid friendship. Then...he walked me to my car and kissed me-for the first time-in ten years-EVER. Our friendship had always been strictly that. Friends only. My wall had been high, but suddenly, it was shattered. A kiss I always thought might be awkward was the opposite...it was natural and it was right. I drove home with my smile yet again, knowing that was my last first kiss. 

The next day, as I began my work-day, I pulled out my planner. The world seemed to stop as I remembered the words of Mr Aaron. "God wants me to tell you something BIG is going to happen in your life in 60 days." There it was. Sunday, October 9th, 2016...the day God opened my eyes to what was in front of me this entire time...the day Wade confessed his feelings...the day I knew I had just had my last first kiss...DAY 60. 

I hear you, God.

Now, a year later from that VERY MOMENT, I'm married to that man. A man who loves me the way God intended a groom to love his bride-the way Christ loves the Church-selfless, committed, and unconditional. While some may think we moved entirely too fast into marriage, we just say this has been a love 11 years in the making. It's a blessing from God and we didn't want to wait another moment. March 25th, 2017 our lives were joined as one to glorify the One who brought us together for a greater mission than our own.

We look forward to taking you along on this journey we call life and marriage. Our story may seem like a fairytale, but it is so real and there have been countless ups and downs along the way. We hope you will continue to join us as we share more of the real Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Love,

Mrs. Smith

Our Story...According to Mr. Smith

We've been friends for over eleven years and, for whatever reason, I was too scared or nervous to pursue her romantically. To this day I have no clue why I was so nervous or scared, but I was. I have always known she was the type of person I wanted to marry. She is absolutely beautiful and most importantly she loves Jesus with her whole heart. As the years went by, we dated other people and went on with our lives but, for whatever reason, we always kept in touch.

As time passed, we both began to wonder what would ever come of us. Would we ever date? Would we only be friends? To some degree, I was hoping we would be more than friends, but I never knew where she stood and I guess to some degree I was scared of getting hurt. I was also scared of losing her. If I couldn't marry her at least I had her as a friend and most importantly had her in my life. 

Last fall we reconnected and began spending more time together. During this time I began to notice my love and attraction for her beginning to grow even more. So, with that in my mind and heart, I knew I had to at least try and tell her how I felt. One Sunday, following church service, we went out to lunch and I took the leap and told her how I felt. It was received well, but at the time she was very cautious as to what to do next.

To make matters more challenging, I was in the midst of looking for a new ministry position and potentially interviewing for a Student Pastor position here in Destin, Florida. In the midst of it all, she stayed faithful and reminded me to go wherever God leads. Things began to progress not only in our relationship but also with Village Baptist Church. Not long after our initial conversation I left my home in Arkansas and moved here in November. Since that day, I began processing how I could propose and get her down here. I knew one thing for certain. I couldn't stand being this far away from her.

Brandi has a love for English, books, and teaching. She was, at the time, teaching and working as a Library Academic Tech for the University of Arkansas at Monticello. She loved the library there and the people who worked alongside her. I made the decision to surprise her at work so it would be in a special place with people she loved. I drove straight from Destin to Monticello on January 27th of this past year, prepared to ask her to marry me that Friday afternoon. When I arrived at her work, I sent her grandma and aunt in with a letter I wrote her. The last line of the letter asked her to step out into the hallway and get ready for one of the best days of our lives. I was outside her office with my nieces and nephew holding a sign asking her to marry me. I always told her I was going to get her a ring from a Cracker Jack box, so I gave her some Cracker Jacks (as promised), got down on one knee, and asked her to marry me. It was still, by far, one of the greatest days of my life, right next to our Wedding day...and HONEYMOON. I will always believe, other than the gift of salvation, she will be my greatest gift. 

God Bless and Go Hogs, 

Mr. Smith 

Welcome to Life with Mr & Mrs Smith

Hey, guys and gals! Fancy meeting you here! :)

We are so excited to announce the launch of our new blog, The Adventures of Mr and Mrs Smith! We hope you will feel inspired, laugh with us, cry with us, and maybe, just maybe, even learn a little something along the way.

*SPOILER ALERT* WE ACTUALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE ARE DOING! (So, perhaps, YOU can really teach US something along the way.)

Get comfy, pour yourself a cup o' joe, and join us as we figure out this thing called life. You guys remember just a few moments ago when we said laugh with us? Well, let's be honest. You'll most likely be laughing AT us and crying FOR us as we navigate our way through our marriage...through ministry...through relationships...through LIFE.  

So, WELCOME! Welcome to burnt dinners and arriving late in style (or not so much). Welcome to the ins and outs of being newlyweds and living 10 hours away from home. Welcome to making new friendships and maintaining old ones. Welcome to our travels, both near and far. Welcome to our relationship with Jesus and His Church. Welcome to brokenness. Welcome to redemption. Welcome to our life.  

Love,

Mr & Mrs Smith