Maybe I Knew...

I have always said that I knew in that ONE moment while in Chicago. It could have been the perfect script for a movie.  I was stranded. PJ came to my rescue.  I was in total denial of my feelings for him until a flirty girl entered the scene. She waltzed onto my territory and I felt crazy jealous.  I had known him much longer and I knew him WAY better than she ever would. I may have been a little rude to her that evening.

That was a strange new emotion for me. Or, perhaps it was simply my heart finally acknowledging what my head had been noting for years: I wanted to marry PJ Campbell.

Today we celebrate our 13th Wedding Anniversary.  As I reflect on this beautiful life together, I am remembering all the little moments that we have shared during these 24 years of friendship. And I am increasingly more grateful for the man that I get to call my husband.  I remember thinking one time that I have witnessed the deep-rooted character of PJ and that he would make an excellent husband because he is trust worthy.  I wanted to have a husband like that someday.  In the back of my mind, he became my standard.

So when did I know?

Maybe I knew, as a young middle schooler,  at Camp Cowen as I watched him soak up the teaching during the outdoor chapels and sing around the campfire.  He was growing in knowledge and wisdom, and learning to worship our God.

Maybe it was as he played "Dick Clark" during the 7th and 8th grade Chorus concert.  He had such a fun-loving personality. The crowd adored him!

Maybe I knew, in high school, as I watched this guy cross clique barriers and befriend people from every group.  He wasn't swayed by labels of "cool" or "uncool".  He liked people for who they were.

Perhaps I knew over lunch as I watched him day after day lovingly serve other people in small ways: throwing away trash, inviting others to join him, walking away from gossip, and speaking encouraging words.

I probably knew after years of watching him be the first to say he was sorry and being quick to forgive others.

Maybe I knew on our high school mission trip when he didn't want to barter during our souvenir shopping break because we were there to serve the people of Mexico, not take advantage of them.

I'm sure I knew that Sunday night when I stood up and sang a duet with my dad in front of the entire church...and did a terrible job.  I was so embarrassed.  While others practiced the old adage, "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all," PJ said the nice things and made me feel like a superstar.

I must have known as I watched him lead my youth group in worship every week.  Who doesn't love a guitar playing, worship singing, youth group guy? :)

Maybe my heart was beginning to understand when this West Virginia boy took a risk and packed up everything to move to Chicago because God was calling him there. He was willing to trust God with the details.

Maybe it was starting to make sense when I followed the trail to Chicago a year later. It helped knowing that a friend was close by.

Perhaps I knew it that time I  was to drive to Chicago alone in my car for the first time and he offered to let me follow him so that I wouldn't really be alone. He was willing to lay down his own agenda for the sake of my needs.

Or maybe it was when he got off the highway to head to downtown Chicago and I felt like sobbing as I drove on to Wheaton. I missed him already.  Our friendship was deep.

It must have been clear to me during those late night theology talks and shared pots of coffee at The Pancake House.  He wanted to know my perspective and he took me seriously.

I'm sure I knew it in that drive back to Wheaton after a day in the city, when he challenged my thinking on tough issues.  Why couldn't he just agree with me? He was willing to love me well by speaking truth, even when it wasn't received with grace.

Perhaps it was years of watching him choose to do the right thing, simply because it was the right thing to do.  I loved his integrity.

I'm absolutely sure that I must have known I loved him on that terribly lonely day at Wheaton when he showed up just to have lunch with me.  I rushed to hug him, and his arms felt like home.  Yes, I think that was the really the moment I knew that I loved this man.  It all made sense. I had known it all along.

PJ gave me this necklace just before I set off to leave for mission work with the Center for Student Missions. I was 18 years old. He wore it everyday. I'm not exactly sure as to why he gave it to me. Maybe a token of friendship. Maybe a beacon of truth or a reminder of home.  Honestly, the details are a bit fuzzy for me after all these years.  But this I know, I have kept it with me for 18 years and it still brings a smile to my face as I remember the gift that I have in my dear friend and excellent husband. 

9 Years and 9 Fun Facts

I was just rereading my anniversary post from last year.  I can't believe a year has passed already! I loved celebrating my husband in last year's post.  He is such an amazing husband, father and friend...I really chose well! :) 

This year we came to WV to celebrate our 9th anniversary.  Months ago, my dear husband booked an overnight get-away in a cabin (didn't I tell you that he is amazing?!) while the older kidlets stayed with the grandparents. Baby came with us, but he still pretty much sleeps all the time, so that was okay! :)  Being in WV has brought back a lot of fond memories of our special day, so I got out my mom's photo album and decided to post 9 Fun Facts about the Bragg-Campbell wedding:

Fun Fact #9: Traditionally, guests are seated on either "The Bride's Side" or "The Groom's Side."  I was so worried that one side or the other would be lopsided that I asked the ushers to seat people on both sides as they came in regardless of where their friendship/relationship resided, thus filling the church from front to back.  Truth is, we had so many common friends it didn't really matter, but it gave me peace of mind.

Fun Fact #8: The photographer that we chose was an interesting fellow. In many of my portraits he positioned me in such a way that it appears there is a plant growing out of the top of my head...either that or I'm wearing a large greenery-type headdress. 

Fun Fact #7: My niece, Kalee, was  our flower girl at 3 years of age. My nephew, Chase, was our 6 year old ring bearer.  I now have a 3 and a 5 1/2 year old of my own. Weird.

Fun Fact #6: My grandma made wedding cakes. My mom made wedding cakes. I had been planning my wedding cake since I was 5. I used to spend hours pouring over Wilton wedding cake catalogs. I had two pictures that I loved. My mom combined those two pictures and made my cake...and it was EXACTLY what I had planned! 

Fun Fact #5: We had 12 in our wedding party (not including us!) Karen Malay, Jessica Floyd, Tiffany Sears, Kara Shuff, Kristen White, and Kalee Canterbury were my gals. Josh Philips, Brett Floyd, Daniel Canterbury, Gary Canterbury, Drew Stowers and Chase Canterbury stood beside my hubby.

Fun Fact #4: We got married on a Friday night.  I had always wanted an evening wedding because I wanted lots of candles and sparklers as we left the church. Later, the sparklers created so much smoke outside the doors that the smoke detectors inside the church went off!

Fun Fact #3:  Originally, I had planned to have the wedding colors as red and purple.  (Hey...I STILL think they look good together!)  I had already made all our arrangements with the florist.  A few days later I was in a craft store and PJ brought me purple and pink flowers.  I loved the colors together and went to the florist to change plans. It was when she opened up her appointment book to write in the changes that I saw a giant frowny face over our names.  She was upset about fact number 4.  Fridays are apparently NOT popular days to have wedding flowers delivered.

Fun Fact #2: I carried a bouquet of roses. Under that bouquet I carried the same white Bible that my mom carried in her wedding.

Fun Fact #1: My wedding dress was the first one that I tried on. I stood in front of the mirror at the bridal shop and random people passed by saying that the dress was made for me. I felt the same.  I LOVED my dress.

BONUS FUN FACT: I wrote about this in my year 8 anniversary post, but it's my favorite memory so it gets to be written about twice!  After I said, "I do" PJ was supposed to say the same...only at that exact moment, he dropped my hands and walked away leaving me in front of everyone, alone.  He got his guitar and sang, "I Will Be Here" by Steven Curtis Chapman.  After the song he returned to me, picked up my hands, smiled and said, "I will."

BONUS FUN FACT: (I can't stop at just 9!): We had dear friends, Ray and Dinah Perdue, cater our reception.  We had SUCH an amazing feast.   Thinking it would be nice to visit with guests as they waited in line to get food, we put the Bridal Table next to the food. I actually ate my wedding food in the car after the wedding because I never got to eat at the reception...but I DID get to visit with every guest!

BONUS FUN FACT: (It's my blog, I can do what I want!) Mindy Harris was my wedding coordinator. I nearly gave her a heart attack because I was late to my wedding. I had hair issues.

PJ and I had known each other as friends for years! I remember, in college, making the bold statement that PJ was like a brother to me and that I would never date him...so instead I married him. And I'm so glad I did!