Our Story

Kristen & Cam's Wedding August 2011

A couple that we will be working with this fall with our middle school youth ministry asked me this morning if Steve and I grew up together.  I told her no and the proceeded to tell her the story of how we met.  I don't think I've ever written it out before, but I've told it many times (especially in the last few months it seems, as we've moved to a new area and have made new friends too).  So today I thought I'd share, because it really is a story of God working in our lives to bring us together.  And boy am I ever glad I gave some of my "ideal" characteristics in a man to God, because He couldn't have blessed me with a greater husband than Steven.

Wright Brother's Museum, OBX August 2010

 It all started at the end of the summer in 2006.  I had always dreamed of going with the Confirmation kids to camp as a counselor; that's what our church did when I was in Confirmation, and I wanted to do the same now that I was in college.  Well, my home church had just pulled out of it's denomination and was now a non-denominational church.  Not wanting to take the 7th/8th graders to a camp of previous denomination our pastor started looking for other camps in the area.  He came across Bair Lake Bible Camp.  And that is where I got to go for a week to be a counselor for 10 girls, 3 (or 4 I don't remember) of which were from my church.  I loved middle school classic and the camp grounds in general. 

First date in Ohio after camp, before school August 2007

 I specifically remember meeting Steve this week as my large co-ed group did a photo page story throughout the week.  The kids came up with their own story and we (a male counselor and me) helped them take pictures to go along with their "mystery."  The kids' story was a "cereal killer" story, I don't remember details, but I do know that lifeguard Steve was a victim in the story.  I think the first time we met, he was laying on his back on the diving board with frosted flakes on his chest.  Great huh?! And by the way, he doesn't remember that I was there at all!

End of the summer 2008 w/2 oldest kids of our boss before their move

 Fast forward about 9 months and I'm back at Bair Lake.  This time as a senior staffer, there for the whole summer to be a counselor.  I was also in a relationship, one that I wasn't quite sure I should be in (for many reasons, but that's another story).  I don't remember much of the first half of the summer; I spent many weeks counseling various aged groups of kids.  Towards the end though I began to realize the relationship I was in was outside of God's plan, and I desperately needed to get back on his path, not mine.  I decided to end the relationship mostly due to conversations with Steve (he was a very good listener and encourager as he had "experience with those kind of relationships before) and several lessons I heard during the week of Teen classic.  After that week of camp, my interest in Steve piqued a bit and grew even stronger when we were both counselors during the adventure camp week.

Mr. Strong man after square dancing at Family Camp July 2008

 I wasn't sure if it was God's plan, and I told myself that He'd have to change some of my feelings if a relationship was going to happen because (as many of you might know) Steve was shorter than me.  I had always pictured myself with someone taller.  I know it might sound silly to pray for that, but I did because I knew my heart wasn't going to change if I didn't.  Being 5'10" I'm self-conscious of my height, so dating someone 5'7"ish was almost out of the question in my own mind.  I also knew that if a relationship was going to happen, Steve was going to have to do some hard work and say the right things because I had been reading Captivating and knew I needed to be pursued.

Coast Guard Graduation April 2011 w/niece Jaiden

The next few weeks at camp went on fairly normal.  Or so I thought.  I was approached by my boss, at the end of one of the weeks where I counseled.  He had my jaw on the floor when he said he didn't know what was happening with the other relationship, but that he liked seeing Steve and I together.  I was like, how did he know!?  I didn't think it was that obvious, but apparently I was wrong.  Steve and I had started running together fairly regularly so I could get back in shape for fall track.  We also went on our first "date" going out to eat twice in one week because a group had come in that brought their own cooks and didn't always have enough food for the Bair Lake staff.  Apparently he also gave my boss (and his as well) a list of his "Top 5."  I was at the top.

Engagement picture April 2008

 Soon it was time for me to go back home to get ready to go back to school.  I went to a Christian university where there was often a lot of pressure to "have a ring by spring," and I had ended a relationship that probably would've got the that point by the time I graduated.  I knew that God was directing my path, and that I needed to be all right not having a boyfriend and letting God take care of me instead.  The night before I left Bair Lake, Steve told me he wanted to talk.  And talk he did...I don't remember all of what he said, but he now gets teased about "beating around the bush."  The words from him that I do remember were: "I don't need an answer from you now, but I would like to pursue this relationship further."

First dance September 27, 2008

 Well there I thought, God's bringing it all into focus.  He had changed my thoughts about the importance of physical appearance and had brought a man into my life who would pursue a relationship with me.  We officially started dating August 23, 2007.  Got engaged 7 months later the Saturday before Easter in 2008, and were married September 27, 2008.  God was working to bring us together, and he still is working to bring us closer as husband and wife.  I can't wait to see where He takes us with this adventure in the Coast Guard.

Smoky Mts Gatlinburg, TN Honeymoon September 2008

First Anniversary Grand Haven October 2009