Prepare yourself for a quite an epic story...
I graduated from college in December 2005 from Texas A&M and had applied to several different school districts. I subbed for awhile in College Station for a bit before getting hired by CyFair ISD (in Northwest Houston) at the end of January. I was supposed to start on Valentine's Day, had two weeks to move, and had committed to work at Pine Cove that summer, so getting an apartment was pointless. I moved back to my parents' house in EB and commuted to and from Houston every day that spring. Since I was mostly spending my time on the road or grading papers, I had little time to hang out, and so the youth pastor's wife at my church, Jill Coleman, became my comedic relief and confidant.
After that summer, I found an apartment in Houston, and around that same time Jill and her family relocated to Odessa. Later that fall Jill began working at The Life Center in Midland as an abstinence education presenter, and Todd was the director of the Prevention Dept. After a little time passed, Jill called me to tell me that I should meet her "boss," and if nothing else, we'd make great friends. I laughed at her and the thought of her "boss" as I pictured a middle-aged, balding man. Unbeknown to me, Jill was also talking me up to Todd on his end. However, he'd had a difficult year relationship-wise, so he informed her he was not interested in a relationship. We both shrugged her off, but she continued to tell one about the other throughout that spring and summer.
Fast forward to the first of August 2007. Since my sister, Lindsey Mayberry, had been in Jill and Aaron's youth group as a HS student, she and her then boyfriend, Larry decided to head to Odessa for Rock the Desert. I was finishing up my last session at Pine Cove as a nanny and was soon to be heading home from camp for a new school year. The Life Center always has a booth at RTD, and since Jill worked for them, she took Lindsey and Larry over to say hello. There she introduced Lindsey to Todd as "the sister of the girl you refuse to talk to." Todd, caught off guard, informed her that he never said he wouldn't talk to me; he just wasn't interested in a relationship. Jill spotted an in, and said, "So you'll talk to her???" Todd, probably reluctantly, said he would. Jill called me to get permission to give him my email address, and I very reluctantly told her she could give it to him.
Several weeks went by without word, and then on the first day of school I received my first email from Todd. All he said was something along the lines of, "Hey, this is Todd, Jill's friend. I don't really know how this works, so I'll just start by saying 'Hi.'" I read that, laughed out loud, and responded. I told him just a little about myself and asked him a little about himself. Several weeks passed before I heard from him again. During the next few months I think we emailed maybe 4-5 times.
Towards the end of October, a couple of sweet mentors in my life decided to try to set me up with someone new. He was a local guy, so we were able to talk and meet pretty quickly. The day I went to meet him, Todd called for the first time. Since I'd had very few guys interested in me in the past, I had no idea what to do with two. I ignored Todd's call and went to meet Guy #2. After a week it was clear that he and I were heading nowhere together, and Jill wanted to know why I wasn't returning Todd's call. I felt badly for just ignoring him, so I decided to call him back. After a bit of phone tag, we finally talked for the first time in early November. Our first conversation lasted almost 3 hours. We talked about everything: the Lord, church ministries, family, work, etc. When I told my roommates about our conversation the next day I used the word "refreshing" to describe Todd, which I know sounds ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I'd had some awesome Christian guy friends in college, but there was something totally different about Todd and the way he talked about the Lord that I'd never noticed in anyone else before.
Over the next few weeks we talked maybe 3-4 times a week, and around Thanksgiving I decided I needed to meet this guy. I had already gone through a pretty long, drawn-out setup before and didn't want to waste time and get my hopes up again. Lindsey and I decided we'd come out to Midland/Odessa for New Years to see Aaron and Jill/meet Todd. When the day came, I was a major wreck of emotions; my gag reflex was at an all-time high. Naturally, Jill couldn't pick us up at the airport, so that left just one other person to do the job: Todd. We arrived and made our way down to the baggage claim where Todd stood waiting nervously for us in his UT thermal. He was the best-looking guy I'd ever laid eyes on in spite of that UT shirt.
I could go into major detail, but will try to spare you more time. Todd took us to meet up with the Coleman clan at Chili's, and that night Lindsey and I went to Odessa to watch a football game with Todd and some friends. The next day he came over to babysit the Coleman boys with us, and then we went on our first date, to a hockey game, the third day. He took me out for a nice dinner on New Year's Eve. Several time throughout these few days, we talked about the prospect of dating with the intent to marry. We had talked on the phone enough to get to know each other pretty well, and at 26 and 24 we weren't really interested in just casually dating and causing each other heartache. Once again, unbeknown to me, Lindsey was texting my parents back home about the "fireworks" between me and Todd. It was true. I had never enjoyed being with someone as much as him; he was everything I'd ever prayed for and more.
Our First Date
On my last night in Midland, Todd and I hung out until really late even though he had to be at work the next day. When he left, I asked him what I should call him when I returned to Houston. My friend? Silly girls...we always need a DTR. He answered me with, "What do you want to call me?" (Totally unfair to answer a question with a question.) I said, "My boyfriend?" and he said it sounded good to him. He gave me my very first kiss ever and left. I almost tripped on the curb going back inside the house. If you want the details of the silliness that followed that night, ask Lindsey or Jill. They have some hilarious stories.
Anyway, Todd knew by the end of that week we'd spent together that we'd get married. I knew a few weeks later but waited for him to say "I love you" first. Which is another story in itself that also involves answering a question with a question. By the first week of April we were engaged, and we were married in July. It was super fast, but we both knew the Lord had thrown open wide the doors for us and there was no denying His Hand in our lives and relationship.
Proposing to me in my classroom
First Dance at our Wedding
Three years later, I can say that there is not a doubt in my mind that Todd is the perfect man for me. He is able to put up with me in ways that no one else could, he fits in so perfectly with my family that it's scary, and he shows his love for me in the sweetest, most thoughtful ways. I'm truly blessed and wouldn't trade or change our story for anything in the world.
One of my all-time faves of us with Bonzai
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