I've purposefully avoided this topic because not all people are fans of sappy blog posts. However, we have finally reached the inevitable and I must fall victim to my love-struck desire to write about my significant other.
If you've ever met someone so cool that you literally want to tell every single person you come in contact with about them, then you know that that's what Brandon Whitaker is to me. I really do talk about him so much that it probably drives my friends and family nuts, and honestly, I don't even care because if there's ever anything as great in life as he is, then the whole world deserves to know about it. I should have known the moment that he walked through the doors of Kidd Coffee 10 months ago that I was in for a treat. Not only has he swept me off my feet (over and over and over again), he has proved to me that there are still young men who are choosing to live their lives in accord with what the Bible teaches, men who hold themselves to a higher standard because they understand the importance and the need for Christian leaders in the world today. That's my man in a nutshell. I didn't have the slightest clue what I was getting into when we went on our first date last November, but let me just say that it has been the most exciting adventure.
It has been about five months now since Brandon hit the road to pursue work with Casting Crowns and Global. I remember the day he came into the coffee shop and told me about this amazing opportunity he would have to spend about 10 months away from home doing work with Crowns and leading camps with Global. Being the female that I am, I panicked. Instant thoughts of doubt and fear came into my head, but God was quick to calm them because I believe that He has had His hand over our relationship the whole time. Most people say that they could never do the whole "long-distance thing", but I mean it when I say I have learned more about relationships in the past 5 months than I ever have before. It's nothing close to easy, but the lessons learned are absolutely invaluable. It's in the conversations had and the sweet time spent together that I have found my bestest friend in the world, the greatest adventure partner and the man who has the strangest capability of unlocking every ounce of who I am and has taught me that it's okay to be vulnerable because he has made it a priority to protect my heart. Falling in love is the most terrifying and eye-opening experience. There has been so much joy that has come from knowing this man, and I am extremely hopefully that we will have lots of years ahead of us to live life together. It takes a lot of courage to give someone the chance to hold your heart, and giving him mine is on the list of better life decisions that I've made. So thank you Brandon, for giving me reasons to look forward to things to come & all of your love, and for standing next to me as we take on this crazy adventure that life is. I love you!
