5 Year Anniversary & a Birthday: Daniel & Ashleigh

Couple Story: Daniel & Ashleigh

As told by Ashleigh:

My husband and I met on January 15, 2011. We met at a law school party (no, he’s not a lawyer) that a mutual friend had thrown. Honestly, I
didn’t even want to go to the party, but my girls talked me into it. I had recently decided on New Years Day that I was through dating men only to go nowhere and that the next man that I entertained would only be my husband. I remember when I got into the car with my girl’s they said,
“Where do you think you’re going looking all fly?” I jokingly responded, “I’m going to meet my husband.” Only a few hours later, my future husband touched my arm and asked my name and the night ended with us in the corner talking for 2 hours. This was a prime example of speaking things into existence. We exchanged numbers and set up our official first date. It was there that I let him know my intentions—that I had asked God for my husband, and that I believed that I was ready for marriage. I told him that I didn’t want to pursue a relationship with him if he wasn’t seriously looking for a wife either. This conversation would have typically run a man off, especially on the first date, but my future husband told me that he had been praying for his wife, too, and that we should see where this goes.

During that process, I prayed for God to remove him if he wasn’t for me. Fast forward to 11 months later, we were engaged. Fast forward to 6 years later and we’re approaching our 5-year wedding anniversary on November 4, 2017. I would have never imagined 6 years ago that I would be where I am today, mentally, spiritually, or professionally; and I owe it all to God placing this wonderful man in my life. In these past 5 years, we’ve had our ups and downs, just like any married couple. We’ve dealt with depression, resentment, and hurt. I’ve felt neglected as a wife and he’s felt misunderstood and unloved as a husband because of our communication issues. But yet, when we got to our breaking point with each other, we always went back to our core–God. In fact, for the past year, we have committed ourselves to praying as a family every morning before leaving the house and it has strengthened us like never before. We pray with each other and for each other and begin our day in thankfulness. My husband is my best friend, my biggest motivator, and my rock; and I couldn’t imagine where I would be without him. My marriage isn’t perfect, but the God we serve is, and I know that if we continue to keep Him first, we can make it “until death do us part.” Happy 5-year Anniversary, my love!

Ashleigh also recently celebrated her 30th birthday (hence the 30th balloons)!