LOVE.

Ever since I was a little girl, I've dreamed of falling in love.

I've dreamed of a man who would always take care of me and who would see past my many flaws and shortcomings. A man who loved the gospel like I did and wanted to raise a family while serving the Lord with me for the rest of eternity.

The thing is, I dreamed so much that I started to tell myself it would never be as good as I imagined. Falling in love wouldn't be as easy and obvious and marriage would be scary. But deep down I held on to my dream man and hopes for a romantic love story full of giddy excitement.

Since day one, things have been different with Daren. Where I was used to unsure feelings and lame "dating games", came a man who was fun, great to talk to, and had facial hair. I immediately wanted to date him. We started seeing each other everyday and the more we talked, the more I realized how good for each other we were. When he finally asked me out, I was giddy with excitement; I'd never liked a guy this much before even going on a date with him.

From that first date until today, I can't remember ever having doubts or fears about Daren. Sure, I worried that he didn't like me as much as I liked him, or that things wouldn't work out, but I never doubted how much I liked him. Our relationship came easily and naturally as our friendship grew and he continued to be everything I had dreamed of in a man. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I was falling in love. Not only was he Christ-like and fun and thoughtful, but he truly made me better.

I'll spare you the rest of the mushy-gushy falling in love stuff (because I could go on) and skip to the present: *I'm engaged. I've never been so happy or so sure about anything in my entire life. Daren is the man I've dreamed of that I want to spend forever with and I'm more giddy about it everyday.

Eternity with this man is gonna rock.

*The cutest proposal story you've ever heard, about which I will be posting soon!