Meetings + Work + "Interview Process" = Answered Prayer
To be brief, I guess I could say that we met at a coach's meeting, but the details of the story that led up to that point and for the six months following that meeting are what make our story unique and beautiful.
The truth is, I had heard of Chris long before moving to Colorado. In fact, a friend of mine I had met during my semester with Focus on the Family's Leadership Institute had met him before we graduated from our program. After leaving the Institute, she would regularly call and chat with me about this great man, Chris Lightfoot, in whom she was growing increasingly interested. At that time, I was merely a listening ear. I was testing the waters with another man. Little did I know that she was telling me about my future husband!
In May 2009, I accepted a job with James Irwin Charter Schools as a High School English teacher. Soon after, I found out that this same Chris Lightfoot had a direct connection to the school. In fact, his parents were one of three couples that founded the school. Even after learning this, I had no expectations for my interactions with this guy.
I met Chris at the coach's meeting at the beginning of the school year. He coached men's soccer, and I found myself in the head coaching position for the Cross Country team. But, as the Lord had planned it, no interaction occurred for quite some time. In fact, the whole semester went by, and we were no better friends for it until right before Christmas vacation. The last day of school before break, Chris finally came into my classroom and revealed that the real reason we had not been communicating was because the mutual friend of ours had created some dissension between us.
Over Christmas break, Chris was hired on full-time at the school. I found myself excited to get back and see him. And I realized that my thoughts of him were no longer just platonic. For the next two months, Chris would regularly come into my classroom after school for what I affectionately call the "interview process." We would talk for hours at a time. And eventually, he asked for my phone number. By March, we were an exclusive couple, and one year from then, Chris proposed.
I guess what drew me to Chris then and reassured me through all uncertainties that women feel was that he was and has proven to be a best friend. He shares my love for the Lord and desires to grow into the likeness of Jesus. He loves me when I'm unlovable, and he has truly shown me the meaning of 1 John 4:19 - "We love because He loved us first." Chris is a man of God who is confident to walk with the Lord. I have no doubts that Chris is who I've been waiting for.
Chris is my best friend, my love, and one of the greatest joys in my life. And while our love took a while to get rolling, one thing can be sure - the Lord's stories are always better than anything we could write. I praise the Lord for hearing my hearts cry and blessing me with such a wonderful lifelong friend and journey mate.
Meghann & Chris