we truly "met" over a coffee date. it was a long coffee date, that included a long walk, and many shared interests that were developing months before we even knew we were interested in each other. greatest coffee date ever. But a friendship starts before that. Some of you are very familiar with our story. Some of you aren't. Some know all the details, some only a few. So let me fill in the gaps, and remember some of the greatest months of my life. If you're up for it, read on....
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My freshman year of college at Northwestern was marked by being busy. I was playing volleyball, spending more time at the gym or on a bus than anything else, and when I wasn't doing that, I was managing about 3 separate friend groups... each semester. Trying to find my place.
At that time a friendship was being formed. One that I didn't know about yet. It's Fall of my freshman year, 2006. My very good friend (since kindergarten!), Nick, had taken a work study job within the athletic department at NWC doing some broadcasting and statistics for the volleyball games. His desk mate was this guy named Jared Johnson - and these two were a bit intimidated by each other at first... each thinking the other was this hot-shot on campus, both trying to impress their boss, and not really knowing how to act together. After a few games, it was made obvious that Nick knew me. He talked about me, he greeted my parents, and from what I hear, this made Jared even more intimidated, as he had noticed me. As they worked more and more together, (and Nick continued to try and correct Jared on how to pronounce my last name...)friendship began to form.
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Volleyball takes up a large part of the "pie graph" of my life. It was a passion. A lifestyle for me. An emotional feeling every time I stepped onto the court. Heck, every time I even look at at a net I get a surge of memories and emotion. Jared says that in those games and moments he watched me play while he was broadcasting, he was drawn to me. My passion for my game, my joy when I was playing, my joy when I was cheering on the sideline, my competitiveness... he says there was something about the way in which he was "introduced" to me (watching me live my passion) that made him know he wanted to get to know me. All of this he thought silently...
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Months went by. About 6 to be exact. I continued to float around friend groups, be busy, and have no clue who Jared was. Around March, I met this girl named Toni - who had an established mixed friend group - and we hit it off fast and furious. I melded into this group like it was my job. I was with these friends 18 hours a day, practically. Toni, Skyler, Sydney & Ashley. And the guys? Well, their names were Nick, Jared, and Ryan. :) God knew.
But let's backtrack first. One day, I walked into the dorm building to see my new best friend studying with this guy. And he was..... bald. Completely bald. Yep, freshly shaved head shinin' in the light of day. Of course I went over to talk to Toni, and she introduced me to Jared. A friend from one of her classes that also "..was, like, best friends, with Nick, Sky! You know Nick, right?!?" Nick. Of course I did, and anyone that is friends with Nick, I can be friends with. Now, from what I hear, this was thee moment Jared had been waiting for for like, 6 months. To be introduced to me. And we later laughed over how ironic it was that God chose that moment - right after Jared had, on a whim with some guys, bicked his head. Makes you chuckle a little bit over God having some fun with teenage relationships. :)
My memory is a bit foggy over the details of this interaction, but I do remember one thing. One thing Jared probably wishes I didn't remember. I got a pickup line. Toni laughed, Jared tensely laughed, I laughed - probably only because I thought it was unbelievable he just did that, and he was cute, even with with a shaved head... and as funny as it is to say; that's how I first was introduced to my husband. With a bald head and a pickup line.
This group continued to grow... we spent as much time as we could all together, and my memories of my spring semester of my freshman year of college go untouched in my mind as some of the happiest days of my life. Big statement, but it's true. And within that bigger group, a more intentional relationship began to form.....
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part II coming soon.
Nothing about this easily fit into a nutshell, but sometimes, you just have to make yourself find the words, and do what you can. And I'll tell you right now that as lenghthy (I'm just going to assume) this story will be - it will still be in a nutshell. So, to give all the praise to the Lord first... I'm going to start off by sharing just SOME of the things that Jared and I have been blessed by, have learned, and grown in as of late, pertaining to our "big news":
- God has been stretching us. In big ways and in small ways. And we are of the belief that this is a wonderful thing. It encourages us to know that we have an opportunity to choose faith. And we want to pass the test.
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We have had the chance to learn many new things about how we (as a husband/wife) function in the face of big decisions. Finding out each others weaknesses, strengths, and how to share the load when necessary. A VERY valuable lesson to learn 14 months into marriage.
- We have understood the value of how our individual spiritual lives impact our spiritual life as a couple. Especially during times of trial, we have been blessed to be able to see clearly the things that the other does not.
- We have experienced James 1 and Philippians 4 (and many others) - we have literally felt the tests of doubting as well as the peace that guards our hearts. Sometimes at the same time! The Word has come alive in so many ways for how God is working in our life.
Nutshell: Jared received a call from Bethel University about a month and a half ago, basically asking him to apply for the Sports Information Director position. He was the runner up for this exact same job last year, which we really wanted, but they hired within, and thus we began "our journey".
Now, we could probably write a short book with all the thoughts, emotions, legistics & details, prayers, and confusion we faced after getting that call. There were SO many reasons for both sides. Not just emotions, legitimate reasons.
Nutshell: we sought God fervently. Journal entries that no one besides me and the Lord will ever need to see. There was anger, confusion, longing, more confusion, hours of talking every. single. night. But one thing remained the same. Even when we couldn't see through the fog - we felt the Lord near. I'm sure you are picturing in your head right now all the obvious, and mabye not so obvious, questions that we should have thought about... guarantee we thought about them. The millions of them.
Nutshell: Jared and I grew closer. Was it difficult on us at times? Yes. Jared sought the Lord, I sought the Lord. We turned to wisdom from people we love and trust, and it came time for the Lord to work. Bethel had opened up every door and one more to give us reason to go. So we applied for the job in faith. In faith knowing that if God wanted us back in Minnesota He would have Bethel offer Jared the job. In faith knowing that at the same time, He also had full power to close the door if he wanted us here. In faith that He knew where we were supposed to be. Because God knows we didn't. Seriously.
Nutshell: God spoke, and Jared and I are moving back to Minnesota in less than 2 weeks.
Our life for the past month-ish has been a test of our faith, and all glory to the One who "knew each moment of our life before one of them came to be." What a story we have been blessed with! What a joy to live each day in full dependence, reliance, and trust to the ONE WHO NEVER FAILS! He doesn't make mistakes! If for one second (we had it) we thought that either of these "choices" would remove us from the Lord, or soemhow "negate all the faith" we had learned through the process, we were severely wrong. God uses these experiences to grow us and make us better - not to give us our "one chance" to get it right! Thankfully he revealed all this and more to us!
So, the decision is done, and we are moving on (literally, emotionally, and figuratively). I have been so proud of my husband. Talk about being faithful to the Lord even in the tough stuff! Through all the conversations he had at Marshall with his co-workers, coaches, his boss, etc, his courage and faith remained strong. They were NOT easy conversations as you can imagine. I am so encouraged/proud/inspired by the person he is! You can still be in prayer for his endurance - he is just LOADED with work to finish before his last day (Sunday the 16th).
So, it's back to the homeland for these Johnson's! We are excited, but honestly all the emotional toll of the past month is just finally wearing off. It was very bittersweet, as there have been so many positives about being here, but there is so much excitement for our future in Minnesota. Our apartment is once again in turmoil, and we start the drive back across the country on tuesday the 18th. We will be living in Chanhassen with my parents until we find a place back up in the northern suburbs. (If you know of anything... ;)
For all of you who were praying us through this, we could NOT have finished the way we did without you lifting us up. Thank you! See you soon, friends! :)
NUTSHELL: Praise be to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could EVER ask or imagine!
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