Our Story

Tiffany and I didn't have a song like many people do.  But Tiffany picked Stand Beside Him by Ed Cash to play at our wedding.  I definitely consider it our song now and I was listening to it this evening and thought about posting this tonight.  I love our story!  I love how we met and how God brought us together.

I was born in New Bern, N.C. in 1984 (don't worry, I won't cover everything between here and when we met!).  Tiffany was born in  Clinton, Iowa in 1985 (NOT Ohio, whenever I tell people for some reason they always think I say Ohio).  I was raised and lived my entire life in New Bern and Tiff the same in Clinton (both small towns of similar size).

I grew up in church and accepted Christ at a young age.  I went off to NC State in 2002.  Tiffany did not grow up in church.  She went to Iowa State in 2003.  My freshman and sophomore years, even though I had accepted Christ as my savior, I really didn't see my need for Christ.  I was a 'good' person.  I would describe these years as simply just living for myself.  Tiffany accepted Christ through Erica's friendship and witness in 2003-2004.  It was at that same time I was really starting to discover my need for a savior and turning towards the Lord.

The Lord continued to work in our lives as we both got involved with Cru on our campuses.  In the fall of 2004 I applied for summer project with Cru.  I had two criteria - I wanted to go to California and I picked the longest mission trip.  That was the San Diego Summer Project summer of 2005.  Tiffany applied for summer projects as well and did not put San Diego as one of her choices.  However a staff member on campus knew she wanted to go there and she ended up being accepted to the San Diego trip as well.

I am the least outgoing person you will meet probably.  However, I knew that my summer trip with 120 other college students was going to be miserable if I stayed that way.  So the second night we were there, with students sitting around and getting to know each other, I began introducing myself and meeting tons of people.  There was an empty chair in our circle and at some point that night Tiffany sat down in it.

I was asking for first middle and last names to help me remember names.  Tiffany Rae Gutierrez.  Our conversation that night included topics such as - Where is Iowa?  You love peanut butter too?!  Have you tried it on melted marshmellows in the microwave? (I asked her that).  Then my phone rang and I left.

Dating in San Diego

I honestly am missing details beyond this point.  I know we went down to the ocean and had conversations on the wall by the lifeguard tower.  I know we did a little skateboarding together.  We had talked about Tiffany's artistic background b/c I also invited her to go to an art gallery in Balboa park.  We invited others to go with us, but no one could.  When we arrived, it was closed but the children's science museum was open.... We went in and began knocking 5 year olds out of the way to play with the exhibits.

That day at the science museum really amazes me.  We have a sketched photo from that day and we just look like we had known each other for years.  It was such a comfortable afternoon with no awkward moments which, between our two personalities is a miracle in itself!  There was also a night where we went up to her condo (where 13 total girls were staying) and I shared with her the amazing treat of melted peanut butter and marshmellows!

Last Date in San Diego, taken at San
Diego Yacht Club

A couple weeks into the mission trip I asked Tiffany to date me and we went to Tony Roma's and walked down the beach for our first date.  There were some awkward moments that night :)  But it was a great night!  Later in the summer we had a second date to Old Downtown San Diego and on the way to the trolley we held hands for the first time.  I sound like a middle schooler, but since we hadn't held hands for about 6 weeks of dating it really sticks out in my mind as a special moment!  I can still remember the feeling today.

Our last date in San Diego was on a Friday night which would make it July 29, 2005.  We went to Coronado Island, ate at the Coronado Boat House, snuck into the yacht club and sat on the docks and walked around Hotel Del Coronado and the beach.

On August 4, 2005 I drove Tiffany to the airport at like 4 am.  She walked through security on the way back to Iowa with NO plans of when we would see each other again.  Dad had flown out to CA and he and I drove back to NC.  In October I flew to Iowa for the first time in my life.  Corn and no trees.  But other than that, pretty similar to NC.  Not too much sticks out in my mind from this trip.  I was in my final semester at NC State.  While in Iowa I spoke to the head of the Accounting department about their grad school program.  He gave me some tips on applying as an out-of-state student.

In November, for Thanksgiving, Tiffany came to NC and met my family for the first time.  (I had met hers in San Diego, she had met dad but no one else).  During this trip I told Tiffany that I loved her.  She said some stuff and about a million minutes later said... "And, I love you too".  :)  We had talked about not saying I love you until there was a ring and there was no ring...

August 4, 2006

I did purchase the ring the next weekend.  I flew to Iowa on December 26.  I had grand plans of proposing in Minneapolis on New Year's eve, but I couldn't do it.  I proposed in Tiffany's room at her parent's house on the 26th.  We shared our first kiss (I am so thankful we waited because it made that moment even more special!)  What an awesome day!  We set our wedding date for August 4, 2006 (Exactly 1 year to the day we left San Diego).

We've now known each other for 90 months (7 years and 6 months).  We've been married for 75 months (6 years 3 months).  We have two boys and tons of memories.  I can hardly remember what it was like to not have Tiffany by my side.  I can't even begin to imagine how it will feel 10, 20, 40 years from now when it already is so crazy how different we are today than the day we met.  How much more we know each other now than then and how our love has grown.

I love thinking about how we were 1,062 miles apart for our whole lives until the Father brought us together in San Diego.  Growing up with our own memories and different lives, all the while the Lord knowing we would one day be one.  I love Tiffany more than any words could ever describe!

I wish I had written this a little more fun to read and less facts, but that's how it came out, sorry.  Also, may be Tiff can fill in important things I missed, or different things that stick out to her that I forgot in another post or later in this one.

I couldn't find a video, so here is the lyrics to our song:

Halloween 2012

A little boy grew up in this world

Searching to find some things to make him smile

A little girl doing the same thing

While the Lord knew that love would find each child

And each child would find love

A love that grows

A love to last them as long as forever

So the search began while the answer was known

And here they are on this wonderful day together

So the two of them grew up over night

Ain't it funny how the time just slipped away

And as they both pursued the Higher Light

They found each other on the way

And he asked her for her heart

As she took his

And the love they shared would never be broken

Cause they were held together like the cross

That took away their sins as a token (of God's love)

Stand beside Him children

So that you can stand beside each other

Follow His ways, give to Him your praise

And you'll never have to run for cover

'Cause He'll be your shelter