Flash back to the fall of 2010: My junior year at MSU had just kicked off. I was now an upper classman, and I began to get involved with the Wesley Foundation. We met on Tuesday. Little did I know, one normal Tuesday at Wesley would turn out to be a catalyst for a path of life I didn’t see coming.
Following that one normal Tuesday, I hesitantly made my way to an interest meeting about a mission trip to Ghana that coming December. As we were about to start, I noticed a girl pass by. What happened next changed everything (part one): My friend, Clint-her friend also, went to convince her to attend. It didn’t take him twenty seconds to persuade her, and I praise the Lord for this persuasion. Yes, “the girl” happened to be...Audrey.
She and I are both shy, so it took a few meetings for us to even have a real conversation.
Fast forward. We both ended up going to Ghana with the group from the Wesley.
So, we went to Ghana, fell in love, and even discussed the possibility of marriage, right? No. Not at all. We barely even talked.
Independently of each other, we were convicted by the Lord that each of us was to go to Ghana with one focus--to serve the Lord. Therefore, we weren’t out looking for a spouse.
It wasn’t until we returned to State did we start to get to know each other. I remember like it was yesterday: It was our first day back to school (on a Wednesday I might add). She was riding her bike towards the Union. But she was too far for me to say something to her. I didn’t want to be “that guy” and yell out on the drill field. I just followed her (not creepily, I was already on my way to the Union). Unfortunately, when I made it inside she was already talking to someone else. So I awkwardly stood nearby waiting on her, which seemed like an eternity.
Then the occurrence that changed everything took place, part two: Her roommate, Rachel, was having an engagement party in a few weeks. She decided to ask me.
We went together.
We didn’t talk a whole bunch before we went. And it was during this time I decided I was going to pursue her. Pursue her in the sense of seeing if we were capable for marriage.
Still, we did not talk much. So when the trip to the engagement party came around, with only she and I in a car, awkwardness set in. We both didn’t know what to say. I mean, I wouldn’t say it was killer awkward, but like 6/10 awkward.
But it was there our relationship was established by these three words: ”I like you.” Yes, I actually just told her that. Thankfully, she felt the same way about me. Did this extinguish all of the awkwardness? Not at all.
Back to school.
One day in the Old Main room in the Union when we were discussing the intentionality aspect of our relationship, we both agreed (who initiated this idea is, let me say, irrelevant) to delete one another’s phone number. Sound crazy? Well, I think it was one of the most wise decisions we ever made. Sinful distraction-that’s one thing we did not want from one another. We both knew each of us would find ourselves staring at our phone waiting for a call or text.
I cannot tell you how excited those few weeks were without her number. Each day brought a marvelous mystery to when I would see her smile, hear her laugh. “Will she be in the Union?” “I usually see her here on this day.” “(Butterflies in the stomach) There she is.” I remember one day I saw her like four times--that was a good day.
My then roommate, Jamie Randle, said he figured we’d get married. And honestly it didn’t really take that long for me to come to that conclusion. I knew the Lord was providential in crossing our paths, but at the end of the day, I had to make the decision to ask her to marry me. Praise the Lord I had many wise men around me to help me through the beginnings (and still today) of our relationship. Their advice played a huge role in my decision.
308 days (which I admit I had to look up) after I told her, “I like you,” I decided for the first time to tell her, “I love you.”
Our first official date was at Starkville Cafe. So, I told her the previous day we should grab some breakfast there. After that, we went to Barnes and Noble to study since finals were in session. There I asked her to go on a picnic. At first she said it was too cold. Bummer. I mean, it was December. But after some appealing I convinced her to go. I found a spot by some nifty railroad tracks and a creek with the added delicacy of sand. A few nights previous I asked my roommate, Kishan, to pick up a picnic basket while he was out. He came back with a small laundry basket. Score. (Seriously). So with my laundry basket, a blanket, some PB sandwiches, pineapple, chips, and water, I led her to “the spot.”
I’ve done quite a few activities that cause nervousness--motocross, soccer, public speaking, parasailing, three point shootouts, skyflying (that thing where you get strapped in and get pulled up real high between two tall poles and drop and swing back and forth), etc.--but none compare to this day.
I couldn’t eat. It was difficult to carry on normal conversations. To add fuel to the fire, about four enormous dogs appeared out of nowhere and jumped in the creek nearby. I could see it coming: they were going to eat our food, bite my leg, make her scream, and ruin the whole engagement day. Thankfully, this did not happen.
The time had come. This was it. I was going to ask her. I thought it would not be this nerve-racking. Boy was I wrong. About two minutes went by where I have no clue what I was saying. Something about rocks. Didn’t make sense. But I pulled myself together and then and there I plopped down on one knee and popped the question. I’m not really sure how I phrased it, or how exactly she responded, because I was so nervous. But one thing’s for sure, both of us knew we confirmed to each other we were getting married.
Soon after we read through the Ephesians passage in chapter 5 on marriage. What a joy.
This was no doubt the happiest moment of my life thus far. Nothing could have made the rest of the day go wrong. I think we could have literally punched each other in the face and still have been ecstatic.
Love birds.
Fast forward to the present(ish). God has called us to the mission field full time to spread the beautiful gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ. We plan to go to China in a few years with a group set in motion by Clay Adkison
After that, only the Sovereign Lord knows. But one thing’s for sure my dear Audrey, in the words of Jimmy Needham, “Nobody knows where this road will lead, but I’ll take your hand as He’s leading me.”
It all started during the Fall of 2010. One night, I was leaving the Wesley Foundation (campus ministry) at MSU, and I knew there was an upcoming trip to Ghana, Africa to serve at Rafiki Orphanage. I had been before, but I just knew that I was not going to go that December. However, before I could leave the Wesley, Clint Denson ran outside to convince me to come to the interest meeting about the December trip. It didn’t take much convincing. (I fell in love with Rafiki the first time I went). Before the night was over, I knew I was going to Ghana again. At this meeting, there happened to be a boy named Edward Chaney. I knew I recognized him from somewhere. As I thought about it for the next few days, I remembered that he was the boy I noticed my Freshman year praying in Perry Cafeteria over his food before he ate. I remembered thinking, “That’s not something you see very often!” That was one of the only times I remember seeing him, but it was an image that stayed in my mind. Hopefully that’s not too creepy!
A few interest meetings about Ghana went by throughout the semester, and I was having ups and downs about going on the mission trip because I was worried about how I would pay for it. Edward really encouraged me at one of the meetings by reading Job 42:2 which says, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” It was so encouraging to hear that no purpose of God’s could be thwarted and that if it was His will for me to serve in Ghana, He would make it happen. After another meeting, I distinctly remember standing across from Edward at the pool table while talking for what seemed like an eternity about who knows what! That was the night it hit me that I had a crush on him. The next day, I called my mom to tell her all about him (I was very giddy!), but I mentioned to her how I wanted my intentions in going to Ghana to be pure. I had to question myself and consider my motives for quite a while prior going to Ghana. Thankfully, I was convinced in my heart that my intentions in going were to serve the orphanage and not myself or a crush that I had.
Before I knew it, it was time to head to Ghana. I am so thankful for the grace God showed me in keeping me steadfast in prayer about guarding my heart. While in Ghana, Edward and I probably talked twice. However, when we had bible study at night I did always notice how he was so wise and had great input in the group discussion. One night he was struggling with feeling apathetic towards the poverty surrounding us. A singer/songwriter couple named “Jenny and Tyler” (visit their website!! www.jennyandtylermusic.com) who had recently been pointed out to me were very encouraging in this area. I decided to share my iPod with him to get him to listen to a couple of their songs; specifically, “Love Through Me” and “Desperate Faces”. I really just wanted to share what had been shared with me because I knew it helped a lot. I think he was encouraged!
After Ghana, we all got back into the swing of school and what not. I had been invited to an engagement party (shout out to Rachel and Grayson; y’all have no idea how thankful I am for that party) where you could bring a date. I decided to get the nerve up to ask Edward. I told myself, “The first time I see him, I am going to ask him!”. Well, I saw him a lot sooner than I thought. I was so glad to see him (butterflies and all), but I was NOT prepared to ask him to this party. Who knows WHAT I said. I think it went a little something like this: “Hey Edward!...[small talk]... I have a question. And I totally understand if you say no, so please don’t feel bad. And I know we are just friends, so if you feel like this is more than a friend thing, I totally understand. BUT there is this party for Rachel and Grayson where you can take a date. I was wondering if you would want to go with me, but seriously you can say no.” Yeah. Bad, right? After all that, he said he’d go!! I was ecstatic.
A couple of weeks went by before the party, and I could tell my feelings for him were steadily increasing. I would randomly see him on campus or at the Wesley, and we would talk a little each time. Words cannot describe how much God grew me during those weeks approaching the party. He knew what was about to take place, so through His grace, He prepared me. I spent each morning in prayer that my heart would be guarded. Thankfully, it was. I was content with going to the party with Edward as a friend and remaining just friends after the party. We had a nice little (awkward) car ride down to Jackson. The awkwardness continued at the party, but Edward mustered up the courage to confess something to me that I’ll never forget. He told me he liked me!!! I literally thought I was dreaming. I don’t even know what I said after that, but I somehow conveyed to him that I was feeling the exact same way.
The next few weeks were great. We didn’t have each others phone numbers, and we had no plan. I never knew what the day held in terms of seeing Edward, but I sure do remember thinking “I hope I see him today!” I’ll admit...I knew some of the spots he hung out in, and I’d make it a point to... you know...happen to be there at the same time. I convinced myself it wasn’t creepy.
Our first official date was a breakfast date at Starkville Cafe on Saturday morning of January 29th. It became a pretty regular thing, and trust me, I was more than ok with this. It is where we pretty much got to know each other. The awkwardness eventually lifted, we got over ourselves, and just started being real with each other. I had so much fun slowly getting to know Edward and getting more comfortable around him.
So, a lot of months went by, and the day had come. I was clueless as to what would take place on December 3rd, 2011, what seemed to be a regular day in my eyes. We got to go to Starkville Cafe for breakfast. After that, we went to Barnes and Noble to study for finals. I’m pretty sure we just talked (we’re still trying to learn how to study together...we like to talk). He tried to convince me to go on a picnic. I was worried because I just knew it would be too cold outside. We decided to go on a walk. I guess he was trying to convince me that it really wasn’t that cold. He was right, and I was ready for the picnic. We went by his apartment to get the stuff. While I sat in his truck waiting for him to come out, I was thinking, “He is so prepared! That’s so sweet!” He came out with the cute lil picnic basket his roommate Kishan prepared for him with the best food in it: peanut butter sandwiches, garden salsa sun chips, and pineapple (he found out he loved pineapple in Ghana, and I gave him one for his birthday; random, but significant). He knew what he was doing. We went to this cute, sweet, quaint, little section of the MSU Research Park. There were so many pretty trees with a creek underneath some railroad tracks. It was so sweet, and I was just so happy. The setting was meant for us. We sat down on the blanket and started eating. I love to eat...so it sure didn’t take me long to finish. I looked down at Edwards food, and I think he had probably taken 2 bites out of his sandwich. I started thinking, “Oh wow, this is bad. He probably thinks I’m a little pig!” Edward told me he just wasn’t hungry anymore. Out of no where, he tossed the remainder of his sandwich in the creek. WHAT?! I now know that was due to his nervousness. We decided to stand up and walk a little bit, and before I knew it, after a lot of random talk, Edward was on one knee proposing to me! I was SO shocked. I don’t remember much of what happened after this, but I know I remember him saying, “Audrey, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a long time. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” After that, the Lord only knows what we said to each other. Somewhere in between my squealing, laughing, smiling, and crying I mustered out a “Yes!” Oh, don’t worry, it gets even better. He put the ring on my finger, and told me that the diamond in the ring was given to him by his grandmother, Mrs. Susan’s mom. That brought even more smiling and tears. I couldn’t have been more thankful for what had just taken place. We hugged and cried and laughed. After that, we sat back down, and Edward read Ephesians 5 and prayed for us. We made all the calls and sent out the texts about our news. Everyone was so supportive and encouraging. We are so incredibly thankful for the family and friends that we have surrounding us.
Since then, it has been a journey full of ups and downs, laughter and tears (I cry...not him), learning, growing, and shaping. The Lord has brought us a long way, and I know that we have both learned a lot and have a lot more to learn as we journey through life together. Part of that journey will, Lord willing, consist of a few years in China starting in 2014 serving an unreached people group.
Edward is the man who I know will direct me to Christ as he has already shown in our relationship this far, and I am more than thrilled to be right by his side for the rest of our lives here on earth. Hurry up September 15th! :)