How it all began...

I started this blog for everyone to keep up with Ashley Ryan and all of the funny things that she does everyday. But, I thought I would give you a little back ground on the long road that led me and David together and made us parents to this precious little girl.

I will never forget the first time I met David. It was basically in passing. Just someone saying "this is Julie" and he said "hey, I'm David, nice to meet you." We chatted for a few seconds at most and he left. I remember that very day thinking, "wow, he is just sooooo nice." We ran into each other a few times after that and I even ended up at a get together at his apartment. We ended up talking most of the night. Then a few weeks later I ran that fateful stop sign. David pulled me over and we just started laughing and talking. He did get my phone number that night but did not call me for an entire week. I understand that in boy time that's like 2 hours. But, in girl time, that's like 4 months!!! I did not call him. If there is one thing my mom taught me that I actually listened to, it was that girls do not call boys!

We went to lunch just as friends. He even talked to me about an upcoming date he had with another girl. He asked me for suggestions on what he could do on his date. I tried to help because we were just friends. Deep down I was devastated. Who was this girl? Why did he want to go out with her and not me?? The night of his date I had night class at Hinds. I remember leaving school and he called me. I asked him how the date was going and he said "I cancelled." I was shocked and said "why?" He said "I would rather talk to you on the phone than go out with some other girl." I was so excited. That's how I knew that he liked me.

We dated for 3 months and on July 3, 2001 David asked me to marry him. I have never been happier. We were married September 29, 2001. The strange thing is, earlier that year I did not even know David. I certainly did not think I would be married before the end of that year. I had basically given up that there were any good ones left. God knew better than me, thank goodness. He certainly saved the best for me! David and I were both raised with the same values, morals and character. We had the same beliefs on everything. I could not believe I had found someone that was as good as my daddy.

We were married for a year when we decided we wanted to have a baby. I thought this would be so easy. I mean, it can't be hard, right?? Think again. We struggled with infertility for years. I saw my fair share of doctors and cried many of nights thinking that we were not meant to be parents. Finally in August, 2007 I went to church and Brother Steve preached a sermon I will never forget. He made the statement "are you putting something in your life in someone elses hands, when it should be in God's hands?" I knew right then that God was talking to me. I was trusting a doctor to help me have a baby. I felt so bad for losing the faith. I called David at work as soon as I left church that day and we decided to quit seeing the doctors and leave it to God. God is faithful. 8 months later, I found out I was pregnant. Praise the lord!

I can still remember how I felt when I found out. We were so thankful, and we still are. God is good and he is faithful. We have to LET him be in control of our lives. It's not enough to just say that He is in control.

I firmly believe that God had a hand in bringing me and David together. I am not worthy of the life that I have been blessed to have, but I am grateful and humbled.

Ok, i just wanted to give you a little back ground of where we have been and where we have come from. We have both come from loving homes who praise God and we are so thankful! Our parents raised us to be the people that we are today and we only hope that we can do them justice while raising Ashley Ryan.

Lots of love and have a great week!!