I say that because I have asked God for a husband. I want a husband. I want to be married again...this time...for the LAST TIME! I want to marry someone, that if he died, I would be so devastated I wouldn't want to remarry again. I want that someone to be the love of my life. It all sounds so cliche, but cliches are just that because...well...they are so true.

Which leads me to Brannon. I know in my heart, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that God put him in my path for a reason. Here are some of the things I have asked God for in a husband (some vain, the rest very important) that Brannon possess:

-first and foremost, he loves God. As far as organized religion goes, he's had some dealings in his life that have turned him off to the whole experience. But by that same token, he knows that the Bible commands us to not forsake the coming together and fellowshiping. In other words, church is important. He appreciates Brother Cody's message. Brother Cody is huge on being a christian, not on being a religion. Brannon has been attending church with me regularly now for a month. Church is very very important.

-he's tall. I love that!! Even when I wear 4 inch heels, he's still taller than me. And I'm tall for a woman.

-he's college educated. I am almost a senior in my college career, and if I expect that to be important to my kids, I better model it.

-he is musical. I heard him sing last week during the invitation. What a wonderful deep voice he possess. He also plays the guitar and has played the sax in the past.

-he has an amazing willingness. He joined the choir last night. I said to him that our male section could really use some help. I didn't have to twist his arm too hard, and Angie was THRILLED. I love that it's just one more thing that we can do together. Not only does it draw us closer together as a couple, it also draws us closer to the Lord. Isn't that wonderful? Those who pray together, those who play together, stay together.

-he is kind. I asked God to give me someone who would be my shoulder to cry on. He listens. His embrace is incredible. I get completely lost in it.

-he takes his health seriously. He's thin. Tall. Has muscle definition. He runs. I love that. He has the softest blue eyes. He's clean cut, clean shaved. Has great hair. He always smells AMAZING!!!

-he is confident. He carries himself that way.

-his smile melts me. His laugh is great.

-he has direction. He gives me and the kids direction. He's not afraid to call us on our crap. He's never afraid to do the right thing.

-he dances. I love that about a man. He's not afraid to take me out on the dance floor and spin me around. That is where the confidence comes in again. He has skills. He has amazing skills.

-he loves animals. This is important to me, because I have a zoo.

-he accepts everything about me. He accepts Jody and Patty. I made a commitment to God and Jody and Patty that I would always be there for them to take care of them as long as I possibly could, until it became physically impossible for me to care for them (as in, if Jody ever needed to be in a nursing home because the level of care he would need would be more than I could provide. I hope it never comes to that.) Brannon accepts that about me and knows that if he were to marry me, he marries my kids, and Jody and Patty. That is alot to ask ANY person to take on. But God knows that the right man for me will be willing to take all that on. There is that willingness again. All the best parts of Brannon continue to spill over into all aspects of life.

There are so many things about Brannon that I could just go on and on about. It really just boils down to this. God answers prayers. I got everything, EVERYTHING I asked for. Brannon is not a perfect person, but he is perfectly suited for me. We sing together. We laugh together. We play together. We have common goals and values. Sometimes you just don't understand at the time the trials you are going through. It's almost always because without true sorrow, you can never experience true joy. God needs us to go through the fire so that when we come out on the other side unscathed (ok, maybe a few burns but otherwise whole), it will be to praise Him. I haven't really expressed what I was trying to in this post. I got side tracked with my thoughts. I get like that when I talk about Brannon. Even just thinking about him gets me that way. God knows my heart. God knows my past. God knows what I need today. People just don't know the whole story. I was there. God was there. I will be judged and that's ok, because people really have no idea what I am about. That is true for everyone. I only see what little I see, what little others show me about themselves. I will never know the whole story. It's not my place. I am so glad I have finally gotten to that place in my life where I know that it IS MY LIFE. I have to live it. I am so grateful to God for everything He has given to me. I am incredibly blessed.