It has been quite some time since I sat down to write something in here. As I was reading through my previous entries, it blows my mind how much my life has changed since then and all of the wonderful blessing Jesus has given me in that time frame. I went from being broken, to being made whole again in Christ, to now, planning a wedding with the man God choose for me! Not only does he bring such a calming effect to the craziness that happens all of the time, but he is also adding to the beautiful life that God is continuing to create all around me each and every day!
Most of you who know me, know this man that I am talking about. However, if you just happened to stumble upon this by accident (or even on purpose) let me unravel our story and how it came to be in which now we will soon become husband and wife on March 1st, 2014!
Where It All Began
Although neither one of us are good at running, we both exercised the activity a lot when we first started out.
We first met back in March of 2012 through softball and none other
than...a sports bar. Although Kaleigh always said she never wanted to
meet a guy from a bar, God has a funny sense of humor. Kaleigh was
playing on a Tuesday night softball league down the street from where
some of her friends met for trivia night too. This also happened to be
where the rest of her softball team hung out as well as, you guessed it,
Kinji too. Rumor has it that he noticed her weeks in advance, but never
had the nerve to simply go up and say "Hello"; until one night after
subbing on her team before venturing up the street after the game.
March 6th, 2012
It was a windy night in Peoria, Arizona on March 6th, 2012. Kinji had
come to the field too that night to play, but truth be told, no more
than a "Hey, what's up?" was said in passing. Softball was brutal that
night (weather wise) and Kaleigh was excited to hang out with everyone,
indoors. As trivia started winding down, Kaleigh went to say goodbye to a
friend that was leaving for Alaska, who also just so happened to be a
friend of Kinji's that had invited him to play. She ever so effortlessly
obtained Kaleigh's number and it was in Kinji's phone the very next
day.
March 8th, 2012 - Interrogation Night
After mustering the courage to give Kaleigh a call, we decided to hang
out in person on what is now known as "interrogation night". Not a first
official date, but a night to get to know one another and feel each
other out to make sure neither one of us were "crazy". We went to see
"The Act of Valor" (such a good movie...everyone should watch it), pick
up pictures that Kinji made at Kinko's and shared our first kiss in the
FedEx parking lot. Yes, you read that right the parking lot of
FedEx/Kinkos. Kaleigh should have known right then and there that he was
the one since she NEVER kissed on the first date...especially
interrogation ones. However, Kinji did say, "How many people can say
they had their first kiss in the parking lot of FedEx?" Well, it's safe
to say I think we are the only ones...but well worth it!
March 22nd, 2012 - The First Official Date
Kinji gets an A for this one! From the custom Brantley Gilbert/Luke
Bryan playlist to the Team Shop shopping spree to the amazing seats at a
Colorado Avs vs Phoneix Coyotes game...he knew how to win Kaleigh over.
Such a fun way to continue to get to know eachother as well as enjoy a
night on the ice. It was the same night Kaleigh realized, he was the
one.
Separate Ways
Kinji also knew she was the one but the idea was a little intimadating
and he was off running. However, this was all a part of God's bigger
plan and enabled Kaleigh to go to Colorado for the summer to "sew some
oats", learn and grow on her own...away from home.
Round Two
On August 31st, 2012 Kaleigh came back to Arizona for a visit, as well
as none other than the Broncos vs Cardinals preseason game. As luck
would have it, she met a fellow fan on the plane who had some extra
tickets in which she extended to Kinji, knowing he lived close to the
stadium. As luck would continue to have it, this opened up months of not
talking and we were inseparable that whole week. Kaleigh then headed
back to Colorado to finish out the summer and try and decide her next
move. We tried to do the long distance thing, but after Kinji made a
trip to visit her, Kaleigh's running shoes were now laced up and she was
off...of course after moving back to Arizona.
Round Three
As Thanksgiving rolled around, a lot of things came into perspective
and round three was ignited! After a lot of growing as individuals we
were both ready to hang up our running shoes and start growing
together..but slowly.
"I Love You" at 3am
It wasn't until December 18th, 2012 when Kaleigh was ready to say those
three little words that mean the most. Convinced he was suppose to say
it first, she couldn't hold it in anymore...especially not knowing what
each day ahead might hold. Therefore, standing close and tracing the
outline of his shark shirt, while braving the cool December air, we
stood outside her car in front of his house with a faint sound of
country music playing as the soundtrack setting and it just happened;
fearlessly "I Love You" came out with no regret for the first time.
Kinji replied without hesitation, "I Love You Too".
Unlike all good love stories, ours is different. Why? Because ours is
written by the most incredible author, Jesus, and He doesn't just end on
the last page...He continues to write with new pages and chapters being
added all the time. Thank you so much to Him for allowing us the
patience to wait for one another and answering so many spoken and
unspoken prayers. Also, thank you for taking the time to listen to how
it all began, but this is just the start!
