Our story. . .or at least the very beginning of it

My family has known the Fish family since October 2005; I was almost 14.  The Fishes are such a fun family, and we hit it off really well with them.  Very similar standards and views, and all of us kids have grown up really good friends. My fiancé, Bradley, is the oldest of now ten very sweet children, and our families have always had a blast together.

Bradley taught us how to play Ultimate frisbee, which we played all the time, and still do. I can remember playing soccer and capture the flag and going star-gazing when our parents got to talking late into the night. Bradley and I have always worked well together, and we enjoyed very much a good friendship long before any feelings came into play.

I think he had me in the back of his mind for a few years, but since he was a little younger than me, I never even considered him as a possibility. He was a good friend and, for me, nothing more. But one summer we hosted a young man in our home for about six weeks. He was a good friend and needed a change of scenery for awhile. When Bradley heard that about him, he found himself a little jealous and realized that maybe he liked me a little more than he thought. And from there, it just kept growing. However, not a word, not even a look or tiny action told me that he was in even the slightest way interested. We remained great friends and had a good relationship, but nothing more than that was going on.  

Bradley and his family came up for a wedding the end of that year (2012), and our families spent New Year’s Eve together. While waiting for the clock to strike midnight, a few of us decided to play some Ultimate. . . in the dark, in the rain, and in the freezing cold temperatures. No one seemed to mind the wet and cold too much, and we had a blast. Brad and I were teamed up against his two brothers and one of my sisters, but after the game, the two of us stayed in the yard for a few minutes just passing the frisbee back and forth. And I think that was the first time I was like, “Well, this is kinda fun!” We talked about nothing in particular, but we talked. And I enjoyed it more than I would have thought. 

Apparently there was something special for him about that trip, too, because he went home and started reading and studying about courtship, what it meant and what he would have to do to get ready to begin one himself. He began talking with his dad and they studied together for awhile. I had been at the top of his parent’s list of possibilities for him, so they were pleased with what he was thinking. 

Completely unaware of anything already going on, my dad emailed Mr. Fish that April, asking if Bradley was interested or courting anyone, and if not, what did he think about Bradley and Kaliste? I knew my parents had always been impressed with their family, and I kind of always expected for them to suggest him to me, and I was quite prepared to kindly explain why I thought that was a terrible idea and give them a list of reasons that it just wouldn’t work for me; I mean, he was younger than me, and anything more than a friendship I thought would just be weird. I enjoyed my time with him around New Year’s and all, more than I thought I would. But I wasn’t anywhere near convinced that I could spend the rest of my life with him. And I held that position for a long time. But thankfully, I had no idea that anything was going on, had no idea there was any interest, so I was happily going on with my normal life, completely clueless. 

While we usually see the Fishes about twice a year, last year was much different. For one reason or another, I was with them about once a month from April on. We went to his sister’s graduation in May (they asked Dad to speak at that), I went back down to Atlanta to teach a cooking class in June and stayed the weekend with them so that I could attend their church, and then they came back up and spent July 4th with us. I enjoyed my time with him and his family, and I got to see him work with his parents and take care of his siblings. He was kind and gentle and took some initiative that a lot of guys wouldn’t. While marriage was still the farthest thing from my mind, I knew that I wanted someone like him to be my husband. I had always thought very highly of him, but the honor and respect that he showed his family was special. 

When they came up for July, he asked my dad if he could court me. I had no idea and didn’t until they went back home. But something changed a little that week for me, and by the end of it, for some reason I was wanting him to ask about me. For the first time I could see that something more might not be that weird, and I was willing to give it a try. But I still had no idea what he thought of me; I really didn’t (and couldn’t) see him liking me in a special way. I kind of figured if anything happened, it would be because our parents suggested it. Little did I know, he had already asked, and he had already been given permission from my dad. 

As soon as his family left (and I mean I don’t think they were even off of our driveway), my dad called me into his office with my mom. After telling me that no, I wasn’t in trouble, he said, “I’ll just get straight to the point. . . Bradley wants to court you!” He told me to think about it and pray about it, and give him an answer when I could. I would have said yes right then, but I knew that this was a big decision, so I spent the next day in much prayer and fasting, and then I gave my dad my answer. We began our courtship July 11, 2013. 

Even though we had known each other for years, our relationship had changed and we loved talking with each other and getting to know one another on a much deeper level. We emailed back and forth and texted, and we were able to see each other about once a month, occasionally a little more. He and dad spent some time talking and having good conversations, and our families enjoyed seeing each other more frequently. 

December 28, 2013. His family had been planning for months to spend New Year’s with us, and they arrived just before dinner on a Saturday night. We ate, and enjoyed being together, and afterwards he took me up to my grandparents’ house. It was dark and just slightly raining, and on their large porch his sisters and mine had set up a walkway of candles and a small table with our picture, a small black box, and some pieces of paper. I was completely surprised, and I couldn’t believe my eyes! I knew what was happening, but it was too good to be true! Bradley picked up the sheets of paper and read to me a poem he had written (that he wrote out by hand in cursive writing!). It was all the reasons he thought we were perfect for each other and should get married. While the rain drizzled on the roof above us, he asked me to marry him, kneeling down on one knee and slipping a gorgeous ring on my finger. 

And ever since then, I’ve been in a different world! We are excitedly getting ready for a July 18th wedding this summer, and we are very much looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together! God has been so incredibly good to both of us and our families, and we are very thankful to Him for putting us together. 

To God alone be the glory!