Many people have asked for our story...so I will share the "short" version!
Philip and I met in Fall of '02 when I began my freshman year at Faith Baptist Bible College where he was working at the Library. Being a semi small campus everyone knew who everyone was at least by name. Although we weren't friends, we had mutual friends and we could tell a lot about each other just by who our friends were.
Sometime during my college years Phil asked his sister, Amy, if there was anyone on campus who she thought he should consider dating...and what did Amy tell him? Kayla! However, I had no clue about this until December 2013, so obviously, nothing was done about that at that time...but it is a fun addition to our story.
Fast forward 7 years from my graduation to 2013 ~
Phil is lead pastor at Norwoodville Baptist Church in Iowa and I am teaching elementary school and nannying in Minnesota...and we haven't talked or seen each other since I left FBBC.
In September of 2013 I had mentioned to someone that I was totally content being single...that I loved my life...and that I was happy with where God had me and what I was doing. Her exact words to me were..."You better watch out." I was confused. She said, "Your sister said that exact thing to me just a few months before God brought her husband into her life." My response, "well...God is going to have to drop him from the sky if that is going to happen to me because there are no guys here."
A few weeks passed and we had our dear friends here visiting ~ Chuck and Irene Brocka! They are like family to us...I was in the kitchen sitting on the counter and Chuck and I were having a talk about life. He asked me how it was that I wasn't married yet. Then he told me he was going to think about it for a while...but was sure he knew someone that I should marry :) I just said, "ok." Well...the person he came up with was Phil! When he told me I told him that I wanted to think about that for a while. I knew who he was...but that was 7 years ago...who was he now? I had no idea! I prayed for about 10 days and asked for wisdom from some mentors in my life who also knew him. Then I chatted with Chuck again. I told him that I was fine with him mentioning me to Phil...but that Phil was going to have to do something with the information if he wanted because I wasn't going to pursue him...that's not the girl's job. Chuck told me that he would be going to see Phil on a Sunday evening at his church.
That Sunday evening Chuck chatted with Phil some about me...After he left there Chuck called me and told me how amazing he thought Phil was...how he thought this was perfect. I honestly thought that NOTHING would happen...but...less than 24 hours later...I had an e-mail in my inbox...PHIL!!
MANY MANY MANY e-mails were exchanged. We were both not in it "for fun"! We were pursuing a relationship with a purpose. It was decided that Phil would come and spend Thanksgiving with my entire family! So...he did! 33 people...one house...20 kids...and you know what...he loved it...he felt like family...we had a great time together...and my family LOVED him! It was at this time that he asked my dad if he could officially date me...which my dad was happy to oblige.
The next few weeks our correspondence was more frequent and it was becoming more and more obvious that this was clearly what God has for us! We talked about future more and more...timing...marriage...etc. I spent Christmas Eve with his church family...they were such a blessing to get to know. They were so warm and friendly. On Christmas we went to his parents...I was a NERVOUS wreck! I am meeting the parents of the guy that I'm fairly certain I am going to spend the rest of my life with! The time with his family was sweet. They were very warm...kind...and embraced me with open arms. I had a LONG talk with his older sister that was a huge blessing to me.
It was such a blessing that both of our families were behind us...excited about God's leading in our lives...and for that we were so excited!
January brought another visit when he came and asked my dad for permission to marry me...again...YES!
Now the engagement story...
Friday evening Phil picked me up at my best friend's house and took me to a nice dinner at Pittsburgh Blue...a nice steak house. After we ate he pulled out the ring and asked me if I would marry him...I said, "yes, yes, yes." Ring on finger and the waiter brought over a cupcake with a sparkler on it. We spent the rest of the evening calling family...friends...and going to show my ring to Ashley who was working at the time. It was fun to have everyone else excited for us.
And...that is our story...we have seen God work each step...we praise Him for His direction...for His grace...and for His perfect plan in bringing us together!
It was worth the wait!
I am SIMPLY BLESSED!
