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Our Love Story, God's Perfect Plan

​It's funny when people ask how Justin and I met. I've actually know him since middle school. We went to the same youth group at Community Fellowship Church and I always remembered him as the cool kid who would stand up against the wall in the back and keep to himself. I remember thinking he was so cute, but he never spoke, so naturally I moved on! 10+ years went by and I would see Justin around church on Sunday mornings. Sometimes I would walk by and try to catch his eye, but he never seemed to pay attention. He was still so cute, so your girl had to try! Somewhere in those 10 or so years I was his sister Jackie's small group leader. I still can remember one night our small group was discussing me not having a boyfriend and little Miss Jackie said, "You should date my brother Justin!" I laughed and said, "I don't think that's ever gonna happen." Jackie replied with a smirk, "You guys are gonna get married." I laughed it off, but I never forgot that moment. Looking back on it now, maybe a small part of my heart always believed in God's plan. 
Things changed a bit in February of 2017. I was invited over to The Bangert's house for a Super Bowl party. Normally football isn't really my thing, but Jessica, one of my small group girls, wanted to go, so I decided to go and endure a night of football just for her. The party turned out to be 90% middle school boys, so Jess and I went upstairs to watch the remainder of the game with the adults. Jess chose a nice looking chair, but there was one seat left for me. It was on the far left side of the couch, next to me was Jackie, then her mom Margaret, and then Justin on the far right. There I was again thinking, "Gosh this guy is so cute!" I tried to be funny and also play it cool. I even got a couple of smiles out of him. I was pretty proud of myself. At the end of the night I walked to my car with this silly smile on my face and actually said out loud, "I'm gonna date Justin Bangert." I didn't know when or how, but I had this overwhelming feeling it was meant to be. 
About 6 months had past I had kind of forgot about the whole thing. My friends Julia and Lance were getting married and I was so ready to dance the night away at their wedding! I arrived at the ceremony wearing my favorite red dress and I saw him. I saw Justin standing with his family and something was different. It was like he took my breath away. Following a beautiful ceremony was an equally beautiful reception. The night went on with dinner and dancing and I had one thing on my mind: Justin. I would see him from across the dance floor and I could've sworn he was looking right back at me too. My heart was bursting. Just as the night was winding down I saw he and his family getting ready to  leave, so I said "Goodnight." He barely made eye contact, so I just assumed it had all just been in my head. Two days went by and he was all I could think about. I kept asking God, "Why? Why is his face playing through my mind?" I knew I had to do something. 
So I texted his brother Chris. Not the greatest plan I've ever come up with, but it was all I had! I texted Chris and said," Hey, does Justin have a girlfriend?" Chris replied, "Haha no, why?" I decided to be 100% honest in this moment, "I think he's really cute, but I'm sure he probably thinks I'm super weird." What did Chris say back? Nothing. I thought, "Well there's that!" Did he tell Justin? Did Justin say, "No way!"? So many questions ran through my head. I went on with my Sunday night. Ate dinner, took a shower, scrolled through Facebook just as Chris Pratt and Anna Faris announced they were splinting up. I thought, "Love is dead!" Just then a little red notification popped up. I had one new friend request: Justin Bangert. I almost fell out of my chair.
Long story short, I accepted his friend request and played it cool for about a day before I finally messaged him "Hi". We've talked everyday ever since. Turns out Chris never said anything to Justin. Turns out my face had been playing through Justin's head since that Super Bowl Sunday. Turns out at that wedding he saw me in my favorite red dress and I took his breath away. Turns out he knew he needed to do something. I've waited a lot of my life for a love story. God made it a perfect one.
Lake Tahoe, California
October 6th, 2018 





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