"Forever" Friday

Jeff and Noel Buller

As told by Bride Noel

Tim Davis Photography

Jeff and I met at 242 (a young adults group which we attended for years). I was on a 242 retreat one weekend and Joni, Jeff's sister, was there too. One of my friends turned to me and said, "Oh my gosh you have to meet Joni's brother, you two would be great together!" I just laughed and thought nothing of it. A few months later I am sitting next to that same friend at 242; she nudges my arm and says, "ohh my, turn around, Joni's brother Jeff is here!" I turned around and looked, then said back, "ehhhh.. he's not my type!" He was wearing a Hurley hat and Chuck Taylors which made me think he was a total punk kid.... I was wrong :) Soon enough we started hanging out with the same group of friends and getting to know each other. At that time I was taking two-stepping lessons with some friends when one Monday night guess who shows up? Jeff! This was his attempt at getting to know me better. That night I stayed late to help him with his two-stepping... That is where it all began. Jeff and I started dating shortly after; we were best friends and enjoyed nothing more then spending time together. We spent a great deal of time with each other’s family and went on many fun adventures together; everything was wonderful, but something didn’t feel 100% right.

 Jeff and I dated for about a year and a half when we decided to take a step away from our relationship and spend a greater amount of time seeking out the Lord to see what His will for us as individuals and as a couple was. This was literally one of the hardest decisions I have ever made in my life. Here we were, best friends and we loved each other dearly, but we decided to take a break. During this break we both immediately started individual counseling with Randy Storms to really look into the people that we were and how our pasts had influenced our lives. We spent three months actively pursuing the Lord and His will for our lives and our possible life together. Those three months were the toughest yet sweetest months I’ve ever experience. We only saw each other every Thursday night; we would sit in his truck and talk about our counseling that week and how the Lord was working in our hearts. It was so neat to have a front row seat to each other’s transforming hearts. As those three months passed by we started spending more time together and it finally became clear that what we desired so deeply, which was to be together, was also the Lord’s plan for us! How neat and how amazing that our God heard our cries, desires of our hearts, and answered our prayers! We began dating again just three months after we began our break and started counseling. Once we began dating again we knew this was it, we were committed, and we knew that we were being called to marriage.

Just a few short months after we began dating again, Jeff showed up at my house on a Friday morning and told me to pack a bag. He had already called into work for me. He whisked me away to California where he had an amazing weekend planned out for us. On Saturday evening, at sunset, he took me to a beach in Malibu where I had to climb huge rocks to make it to a secluded beach. On the beach, behind a rock, there was a blanket covered in seashells, candles, and pictures of us. He had written our love story on the back of these pictures from before we started dating until that very moment... He asked me to stand up; he proceeded to tell me how much he loved me and how thankful he was for all the work that God has done in our relationship.. He got on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I didn't say yes.. I said OF COURSE! J Three and a half short months later we were married! June 1^st, 2012 was the most incredible day of my life and I praise God for His work and His provision! I am so fortunate and richly blessed to have such an amazing husband and best friend in Jeff.

When I look back at our Love Story its easy for me to think, gosh, dating, taking time apart, then dating again? Really? That is not the love story that I dreamed about having when I was a little girl. But you know what? This was a story about the Lord, and the work that He can do. During those three months Jeff and I spent apart, God completely transformed our hearts and our love for each other and also for our hearts for Him. We are forever thankful! J

Tim Davis Photography

Tim Davis Photography

"Forever" Friday

The Groom's Perspective.....

In May of 2007 I began working at a bank as I was nearing the end of my life in college graduating with a finance degree. I met and became close with one person in particular named Michelle. After working together for a few months at a very slow branch, I felt like I knew her better than many of the people in my life I had known for years. Michelle was from a small town west of Wichita called Garden Plain and was one year younger than me. On many occasions, we would get together outside of work and often our friends from outside of the bank would meet us as well.  On this particular night, I had gone out with my manager and one of my close friends. We had talked to Michelle on and off and we decided to meet at Emerson Biggins. On this night Michelle had a friend named Amber with her who I’d never met. I immediately took note of this beautiful blond haired girl. As the evening went on, I learned that this girl was a long time friend of Michelle’s from high school who was back in town only for spring break. I left that night intrigued and eager to learn more about this girl from Michelle.

Over the course of the next few days, I blew up Michelle’s inbox inquiring about this Amber girl. Michelle told me a lot of their history and eventually explained to me that Amber had a boyfriend currently and that they had been on and off for many years, beginning in high school. This definitely got my spirits down, but I still kept hope. A few weeks later, I found myself again in a similar situation at Emerson Biggins, this night Amber was out for her mom’s birthday. We again exchanged small talk keeping in mind that this girl was still off limits. I left that night and by this point, I knew something was different about Amber, and I knew she was someone special. Sometime in April we became facebook friends, which made it easier to keep tabs on each other’s lives. We eventually met up at Indigo in Old Town one night. We both had a lot of friends out with us and I remember standing in the exact same spot the entire evening talking to Amber. It truly felt like no one else was in the room and nothing else mattered. I knew that was the start of something great.

As summer rolled around, this blonde beauty began showing up at my bank branch, possibly because it was convenient or possibly because she was developing a “thing” for me as well. To this day, I’m convinced she came by to flirt with me, but she still claims different. From there things began to progress. The relationship Amber had been in began to fall apart and I happened to be around at just the correct time. Amber claims that I blew her off on more than one occasion, but actually it was a combination of nerves and maybe even a little intimidation. I was already feeling things for this girl that I hadn’t felt with anyone in my past and I’d truly only met her twice. From there, we began dating and things only got better and more exciting. I’d met her family who were second to only my own and eventually I fell in love. We began ring shopping and finally in Beaver Creek, Colorado I staged an ice skating spill and asked the woman of my dreams to become my wife and thankfully she agreed.

Just after proposal on the ice skating rink…Amber had been balling for the last 20 min

Day after we got engaged in Colorado

 Engagement Pictures

Wedding Pictures

 Photos By: Lola Jo Photo Design

Forever Friday: Love can be found in the Wal-Mart parking lot!

Jessica and Chris Woolery

Story told by Mr. Woolery

It was Sunday, June 14, 2009. I had just purchased my first home and was heading out to stock my fridge for the first time. As I walked into Wal-Mart, I quickly noticed a gorgeous woman in a sundress examining a head of lettuce. Without knowing what to say in the produce section of Wal-Mart, I simply went about my shopping. Throughout the rest of my trip, we passed each other a few times and made brief eye contact, but without saying a word. After checking out, I walked out to the parking lot, glanced back and there she was, walking down the same row of cars. We unloaded our groceries and were headed to the cart return – destined to arrive at the same time. As I was preparing for what I would say, an elderly man approached her only to ask, “Ma’am, may I return your cart for you?” After returning my cart alone, I walked back to my car and began rummaging through the trunk, hoping she would take the longer route out of the parking lot and pass by my car. I glanced her way and she was doing exactly that. As she approached, I garnered all of my courage and with a slight wave said, “Hey.”

Immediately after, she began laughing hysterically, but pulled into a parking space only ten spots away. I approached her and introduced myself, trying to ease my nerves the entire time. After speaking for a few minutes, we realized that I had been at a wedding a few weeks prior that she was invited to, but was unable to attend. I then proceeded to ask for her number, but realized that my phone was in my car. I rushed to get it and returned only to find out that the buttons on my phone were mysteriously not working. I asked if she would take my number and give me a call, but her phone was out of battery. Doing the only thing we could, she pulled a used Post-It note from her car and wrote her name and number on the back. I returned to my car extremely happy and began to pull out of the parking lot when a gust of wind blew through the car, lifting the Post-It right out of the window. I immediately stopped and after some hesitation, put my car in park, stepped out onto the street, and proceeded to stop two oncoming cars as I rushed to grab the note. I called her that night. We went on a date (which is a whole other story) and two years later we got engaged. Oh, and yes, I still have the Post-It note.

Tim Davis Photography



Venue: Abode Venue

Caterer: Bella Luna

Cake: WOW Cakes

DJ/Band: Big Fat Fun

Make-Up: Karla Schmidt

Hair: Katie Leaf and Emilee McCoskey

Photographer: Tim Davis Photography

Planner: Ashley Moore with Events by Ashley

"Forever" Friday Love Story-Lauren and Bret

How we met:
Bret first saw me at a New Year's Eve Party in 2007, but we did not meet officially until I visited his Oxford House with a friend the next week. Bret immediately recognized me and was caught off guard still wearing his work clothes, laying on the couch. He proceeded to run upstairs and shower real quick, so that he was wearing something "fresh." Before leaving, we shook hands, but both left this time with a crush. It was only a few days later that our mutual friend, Jessica, played matchmaker and set us up to meet with a few more mutual friends along for the ride. And the rest is history....

 Engagement:
After surviving the longest summer of our lives, Bret finally made it back to Kansas in late September 2009 after fighting wildfires on a Hotshot Crew in Colorado. While the topic of marriage had come up a time or two, Bret tricked me into thinking the engagement wouldn't happen for another year.

After picking the perfect ring and earning the approval of his mom and Whitney, one of my best friends, Bret bought the ring and was waiting for the perfect moment. He made the trip across town and asked my parents for their blessing and they happily answered "YES!." They were so excited and happy to have Bret as a son!

While Bret had planned on waiting another week or two, he found the ring to be burning a hole in his pocket and overcome with fear that I would discover the surprise...which led to a few sleepless nights trying to dream of the perfect proposal. During the day of Halloween 2009, Bret had suggested carving some pumpkins, hoping to carve "marry me" into his, only to be revealed at the end. However, I decided it would be too messy and that we didn't have the proper carving utensils (lame, I know!).

So onto plan #2! After passing out candy to many trick-or-treaters and running out of candy, I was changing before we left to meet up with some friends. Bret began to ring the doorbell with Jake, who happened to be dressed as the cutest doggy-squirrel. I answered the door laughing, wondering what in the world the two of them could be up to. Bret said, "Jake has something to ask you. There is a note in his collar." I found the note tucked into his collar and opened it..."Mom, do you want a trick or a treat?" I answered, "A treat!" Bret had got down on one knee, with his hand and voice shaking, asking, "Will you marry me?", followed by many other sweet things! It was absolutely perfect :)

 Wedding day:
 Bret and I had lots of time to plan our special day, as we were engaged for almost two years before we tied the knot. It was so nice to have time to research vendors and get all the details ironed out. Besides, I loved being engaged because it was such a fun time! I also really enjoyed the planning process and used theknot.com for ideas and organization. For us, we tried to create a classic, warm, romantic wedding with a touch of vintage that could be done on a budget. Bret and I were both blessed with super organized moms that love to plan, so they were a huge help in the planning process as well. Photography was the most important to us because after the day was over, we wanted to have beautiful pictures to look back on. Jaclyn did not disappoint! Family and friends were also a huge part of our wedding! They all played such an important role, whether it was helping with planning and set-up, taking part in the ceremony, or being in the wedding party. We were so grateful to all of them!

When I look back on our wedding day, it really was the best day of my life! If I could relive our wedding day everyday, I absolutely would. It was filled with such warm and loving moments and lots of laughter. When I look back now and think of our day, it immediately puts a smile on my face. Everything worked out perfectly and it exceeded my expectations. I know that our fairytale was possible due to our wonderful family, friends, and vendors! We couldn't have asked for a better day!