Andrew and I went to high school together (from 1999-2003), but were not high school sweethearts.  We are two years apart, and traveled in the same group of friends in high school.  We maybe talked once or twice during that time, but he always had a girlfriend, and I was never “interested”. 

Fast forward to the winter of 2009.  I had just recently moved back to my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA for grad school after living in Miami, FL with my then boyfriend of 4 years.  Two months after I moved home, the then-boyfriend broke up with me out of the blue.  I was devastated.  Heartbroken, shattered…you name it.  I thought we were going to be together forever, that was in ”my plans”.  Little did I know that God had a greater plan for me.

I decided I had a choice.  I could either go on being heartbroken, or move on.  An unlikely choice for me (the girl who obsesses over just about anything)…I decided to move on.  I re-connected with some high school friends who still lived in the area.  Andrew was one of those people.  We were both going to grad school, and both had recently gotten out of long term relationships.  We started hanging out, talking, chatting on the phone for hours.  Only a month after my heart had been broken, I found myself falling in love again–but this time it was different.  I wondered if this were a re-bound.  I was cautious, scared but also gitty with that new love kind of feeling. 

After only dating for a few weeks, Andrew told me he loved me.  I FREAKED out.  I wasn’t sure what to think of all of this.  My last relationship was full of ups and downs, and uncertainty.  My ex had a hard time saying “I love you” after 4 years of dating, and here I was in a brand new “something” hearing it from a man who seemed sincere on every level.  A few days later we went on a dinner date, and I knew it was real.  I knew it in my heart and soul, and prayed about it.  I told Andrew, “I love you too.”

We continued dating through the holidays, and had a fabulous Christmas and New Years as a new couple.  January came, and we were officially together.  Many friends and family were surprised about the new relationship for both of us, but we knew it was right and we knew our love was real. 

At the end of January we found out the news of our lives.  I was expecting a baby.  We were pregnant.  We were terrified. After all…we had only been together a little over a MONTH.  A month!  A baby?!  What were we going to do??

Well…we decided this was God’s plan, and we were going to have a baby.  We were in love, we wanted this to work, and we wanted this baby.  In March 2010, only 3 months after we had been dating, on a beautiful sunny day, Andrew proposed outside of the high school where we had met 10 years before.  He knelt down on one knee and did what I had only dreamed about…he asked me to marry him, and to be his bride.

Yes, our circumstance is outside of the box, but it is real, it WAS REAL that day.  I said yes, and called everyone and relished in the newness of our engagement.  We decided to wait until after the baby was born to have our wedding.  On September 20, 2010 our miracle, Charlotte Grace, was born.  She made us a family, and brings more joy to us everyday than I could have ever imagined or dreamed about.  God solidified our love with this miracle baby, and we have grown together in our relationship as we learn each day to define our new roles…not only as newlyweds, but as parents. <3