I was invited to a Christmas Party at a weekly worship night group I had started attending earlier that summer. That is where I finally met Nick.

Fast forward to the party, we almost passed one another and he stopped me. “Oh hey, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Nick.” When I say that I felt lightning, I am not being cheesy. I don’t think I have ever felt so very jerked “awake” while already awake, if that could be a thing. It was like God was saying, “Are you paying attention?” Instantly, I wanted to know him.

Two to three weeks later, when the gatherings resumed after the new year, I had a friend confirm to me my thoughts when she leaned over mid-conversation with Nick and some friends saying, “I think you are talking to your future husband”. The way my eyes almost bulged out of my head!!!! I couldn’t have been more giddy. The rest was history. His intentionality in friendship and pursuit of my heart has not ended since, he is my very best friend! I feel the intense love of the savior when I recall the events – my real life fairy tale.

We dated from March to December where on the anniversary of the night we met, He recreated the Christmas party and proposed! I didn’t suspect a thing and was blown away. We got married the next April! Three sweet babies later, we are the Mckinney Five!

I would love to say it’s always easy and blissful, but the reality is, marriage and motherhood are transformative tools the Lord uses to change us more and more everyday into His image by His grace. Knowing this, I rejoice in Christ and in relationship trusting the Lord is using the hard bits to produce patience, faith, and character, and in His kindness to shape us.