Love Story, Chapter One

I'm getting married to the love of my life, and my best friend, Jake Hatfield :)

As all good love stories go, there is always a back story.

Ever since I got to Bryan College as a Freshman, I had a huge desire to be an R.A. I love mentoring girls, and thought having a hall-full of Freshman girls someday sounded like pure heaven.

So when I was in my second semester of my Sophomore year, I applied. I got through the group interview, and then through the individual interview - and I thought everything went peachy! All my friends were saying "You got this Becky - you'll be a great R.A." All my previous RA's were recommending me, even my professors were throwing in good words for me. You get the picture. I thought I had this one in the bag :)

Then came the day when it was time to find out whether or not you "made it" as an R.A. I went to meet with my RD, and by the look on her face, I knew it was not good. "Becky, I'm sorry, but we did not select you to be an RA." "Ok." I gulped back the tears. I had wanted this so bad! Now my plan of being an RA my Junior and Senior year of college had crumbled. I had no explanation.

One of my friends, Mark Baker, said, "Becky, God must be up to something, because this is just too weird." It was too weird! If everyone I had ever known, trusted, and respected had recommended me for this position, why would it slip through my hands? I had no explanation, and frankly, was a little upset at God for taking this opportunity away from me. But eventually, I was able to surrender it to him and trust that his plan was better. haha - I had no idea!

Because I did not get the RA position, it opened up my Junior year a bit. I had heard some speakers from the Focus on the Family Institute come and speak at Bryan, and was always so moved and impressed. All of a sudden, I kept thinking about the idea of spending a semester at "the Institute." Plus, I have always LOVED Colorado. It sounded like quite the adventure. I felt a need to spend some time away from Bryan and reconnect with God as well. My thought was, "I might not make one friend while I'm there, but if I can just read, soak up information, and just have 'Becky and God' time all semester, I'll be perfectly happy." Once again...I had no idea :)

January 19th, in the Spring of 2009, I find myself in the lobby of the Drury Inn in Colorado Springs, ready for my FFI adventure. As I ate breakfast with my parents, I looked across the room to see a very attractive guy sitting by himself looking out the window to Pike's Peak. "Oh my gosh." I thought to myself. "That guy is so cute. I hope my husband looks like that someday." haha - ironic :) As soon as that thought passed through my mind, he started confidently chatting with the neighboring table: "I'm going to the Focus on the Family Institute!" He said. "Oh my word," I thought. No way. My parents overheard the conversation as well, and encouraged me to go talk to him. "I can't." I just froze. "I'm sure I'll meet him there." I said shakily. "Are you kidding me?" I thought. "THIS guy is going to be in my class?!" All of a sudden, confident Becky was gone.

When I got to my apartment complex that I would be living in all semester, I stepped out to find the same young man ready and waiting to help me with my bags. "Hey! My name's Jake!" He said. "Hey, I'm Becky." I was SO nervous! "What's wrong with me?!" I thought. "Get yourself together!"

To be continued...