I’ve been married to my husband Josh for over two years now & I never tire of telling people “our story” – the way we met & our whirlwind romance leading us down the aisle. I blog at www.andreaeverhart.com if you’d like read more about our life together.

Josh & I grew up in the same small town in little ol’ Adams County, Pennsylvania, & we attended the same small rural school. (To give you a frame of reference, my graduating class consisted of 90 students.) Our paths crossed several times in high school – in Bible Club, through sports, & through mutual friends – but we never once noticed each other. I’m sure our 3-year age difference had something to do with it – he was a senior & I was a freshman at the time.

It wasn’t until eight years later – the summer after my college graduation – when we finally met. That summer, I signed up for a co-ed outdoor volleyball league to get some exercise while reconnecting with some old friends.

After a few weeks of playing ball on the sand courts, I noticed Josh on another team blocking every hit & killing every set. In layman’s terms, he was the best, most skillful player in the league, & I spent the next few weeks admiring him from a distance.

One mid-summer evening, my team had one too few players & Josh’s team had one too many. He was sitting on the sidelines when a teammate of mine called over to see if he’d like to play with our team for the night. He gladly accepted & I eagerly reached out my hand to introduce myself.

We played side-by-side &, together, we turned out to be an unstoppable force in the front row. After one play in particular, Josh looked up at me from his knees in the sand. We were caught in each other’s stare for what seemed like 10 minutes. If I ever experienced a love-at-first-sight kind of moment, that was it.

Our first lunch date went well over four hours. We talked about everything. There were no awkward moments – just smiles, laughter, & good conversation. We used every excuse to be together for the next few months – spending quality time traveling, playing sports, & attending church together.

Our 12-month courtship was a whirlwind, & it was hard not to take personally the criticism about our “sudden” engagement. But through it all, I never had a single doubt in my mind that Josh was the one God chose just for me. I know that because I prayed for him.

Just a few days before Josh stepped onto my volleyball court, I had prayed that God would place a Christian friend in my life. What I prayed for was a friend. And God gave me the friendship of a lifetime … bolstered by love.