Michael and I's story began way before we met!

We went to separate small schools near Cuero, Texas where our grandmother's were employed at. Linda Bastian, my grandmother, was Michael's substitute teacher at Nursery Elementary. Patricia Barta, Michael's grandmother, was the secretary and the bus driver at Meyersville Elementary. Both spoke highly to us about their respective grandchild, and one even saying, "I think you are really going to like my grandson."

Fast forward to the 6th grade, Michael and his brothers enrolled into Cuero Junior High where we became classmates and friends. In the junior high years, our friend group did everything together.

High school years came, and I decided to ask Michael to the Sadie Hawkins Dance in 9th grade (as friends of course). It wasn't until our Junior year, that Michael asked me to be his girlfriend. With those last two years of high school, we went to several dances together, cheered each other on in our respective sports, watched Michael win a state championship, became Prom King & Queen, helped each other through the college recruiting process, and graduated together.

After graduation, Michael and I spent the next two years in a long distance relationship. Michael was playing baseball at different colleges , and I was playing volleyball at East Texas Baptist University. Our Junior year of college, the Lord had a different plan than we expected and ended up ending our relationship.

After graduating college, I took a job at Liberty Hill Middle School where I was working to move up to be a High School Coach. Michael was finishing up his college career at the time. That summer, my dad took a job at El Campo High School to become the Athletic Director. He called me asking if I wanted to come coach with him, and I immediately said yes. A week or so later, the process of moving down to El Campo had already started for me. As I was driving down one evening, I received a phone call from my dad to tell me that he had hired Michael onto the staff the same day he hired me. (So many emotions with this phone call!!)

Fast forward to football season ending, Michael and I decided it was time to talk to my dad/ our boss about us being in a relationship, and the rest is history!! Michael ended up proposing to me the next summer, which is a story of it's own!

Our story is so special to us as it shows how God's plan is always better than we can imagine.