Valentines Day is four days away, so I thought I would share a little bit about the one who’s been my Valentine for the past four years. 

January 2, 2014. He was 17; I was 15. He was a junior; I was a freshman. 

Back in the summer of 2013, we were both interns for our youth pastor. Because of this, we got to spend a lot of time together. He had a girlfriend; I had never had a boyfriend. I didn't even know how to flirt, and he was the biggest flirt I knew. I fell for him fast. That summer was amazing, but it was also kind of heartbreaking because I never believed he would go for someone like me. I was homeschooled, I was two years younger, I was quiet, and he still had a girlfriend. Besides, I wasn't even allowed to date yet. I was only 14.

He and his girlfriend broke up in August, right before we went back to school. I was honestly so happy, but in the back of my mind, I still never believed he would ever like me. There were so many other girls to choose from. So many other girls that I knew liked him too. Older, prettier, flirt-ier, more out-going girls. He would never choose me over them, I was sure.

In September of 2013, we started texting a lot. We texted pretty much all the time, 24/7. My naive self never thought anything about it. I was convinced the only reason he was texting me was because nobody else replied back as fast as I did. So, a month later when he told me he liked me, over text of course, I was completely caught off guard. But, I was also so excited. I was ecstatic. I was over-the-moon.

Sometime around January of 2014 is when he first called me his girlfriend. He never actually asked me, so we had to make up a date...he's not the most romantic, but I'm okay with that. 

He graduated high school in May of 2015. That following August he went to college two hours away from me, and I was a complete mess. He ended up joining the baseball team as a student manager, which took away what felt like all of his weekends and his free time. We saw each other pretty much every three weeks, for sometimes only a couple hours at a time. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to go through. 

We did long distance for two very long years until this past May, when I finally graduated high school. We had looked forward to that day for what felt like forever. NO MORE GOODBYES!!! It was the best feeling in the world. 

Fast forward to the present. Now we go to the same college, we see each other every day, we have the same friend group, we workout together, we eat together, we live life together. Anything I do with him is bound to be better than without him. 

He has the biggest heart, but his smile may be even bigger. He likes to make people laugh, and succeeds, mostly because his laugh is so contagious. He loves me, but he also loves my family just as much…and they love him right back, which makes my heart very happy. He’s a hard worker, and a go-getter. He loves to learn, and listens intently. I don't think I’ve ever seen him angry, because his patience is so enduring. His maturity level may be that of a man but his energy level is that of a 5 year old, he never ever stops going and doing. 

He encourages me, leads me, pushes me, listens to me, forgives me, and shows me endless amounts of grace. 

More than all of this, I know where his hope is found. I know where his attention is centered. I know where he finds peace, rest, and understanding. I know who he loves even more than me, and that’s Jesus. His desire to grow his relationship with Jesus each and every day encourages me, and that’s all I could ever ask for.

A lot of people may think I’m crazy because I’m only 19 years old, and claim to know who I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. Because of this, people may think I’m wishing my life away. The simple truth is, it’s my life, God’s will, and nothing else matters. Wherever He leads us, we will soon follow. 

“I have found the one whom my soul loves.” Song of Solomon 3:4