ANNEMARIE MEETS BRETT:

That started our "getting to know each other better" phase. We spent a LOT of time on the phone over the next few weeks, and then Brett invited me to go to New York with him. He made a trip to Austin for a few days, and then we took off to NYC. It was pretty much a 9 day first date, and after that trip, I honestly knew I could spend the rest of my life with him....but we took it a little slower than that.

There were many more visits back and forth for both of us. I went to Santa Barbara, to Vegas to meet his family, he came back to Austin, we went to Houston to meet my family, and then...after a bunch of visits....one night, Brett asked me "Ok, which one of us is moving?"

In March 2009, we packed up my place in Austin, and moved me to Santa Barbara. I've been in SB ever since and you probably know the rest of the story.

I now realize that our meeting was much bigger than either of us. It was all God's doing, bringing us together. I think Shyla put it best....

"A long time ago you were the sweet lady that picked us up at the Houston airport. The sweet girl who I could have sworn had a crush on Brett but she denied it. (wink wink) Then, we fell in love with you, you fell in love with God... and through the five hour phone conversations, that you and Brett had in the tour bus bathroom, you fell in love with him."

And.....that's my story.

SATURDAY 10 JULY 2010