Happily Ever After

You just know.” That’s the answer everyone gives you when you ask the question, “How will I know when I have met the person I am supposed to spend the rest of my life with?” That unanimous answer seemed very cliche to me. It offered no detailed explanation and no step by step directions for me to follow. However, I have to admit, I now find myself using the “you just know” phrase when I am asked how I knew Aaron was the one God had picked for me.

However, I will also point out several things that made it VERY clear that Aaron was the one: 

He has a strong faith and foundation built on God.

He listens WITHOUT judgement (and REALLY hears me).

He openly/freely expresses himself.

He did/does amazingly kind things for me with NO hidden intentions.

Communication is natural (and non-stop).

He always picks up on the little things that I like.

He cares about what is important to me.

He was excited for me to meet his family and friends and wanted to meet mine.

We have always shared very similar views/goals for our future.

He brings me closer to God.

My friends and family LOVE HIM.

He makes me the happiest I had ever been.

He constantly encourages me to grow and achieve my dreams.  

I can be myself (no-makeup needed).

He accepted me for who I was from day one… and loved me even more because of everything I had been through.

When I shared with him about my long struggle with Anorexia, he did not run or flinch. Instead, he learned. He read everything he could, bought a book, and asked questions so he could understand.

He made it very clear that he wanted to do life with me … every minute of the journey.

On July 22, 2013, my life changed forever. I was ready. He was ready. AND apparently, God was ready for us to meet too. After our first date at a cute European Coffee shop, we BOTH left that day knowing that one day we would marry each other. And we did. On New Year’s 2015 he asked me to be his wife, and on August 29th 2015 we became ONE.

Two weeks ago today, I married the love of my life. I have not stopped talking about the wedding since. Our wedding day was a whirlwind of emotion, gratitude, happiness, love, and PURE joy. And I will continue to thank God each and every day for blessing us with that fairy tale day.

Our goal from day one of planning our wedding was that we wanted people to feel our love, God’s presence, and to feel the deep amount of gratitude for each person that helped us get to where we are today ... to us, that is what made our day so incredibly special.

Aaron and I experienced many moments were God made it clear to us that He WAS there. Two of my favorite moments were when Aaron and I did our first look. There was no sun to be see, just clouds. But right as Aaron turned around to look at me after I tapped him on the shoulder, the sun shone so brightly. Then, during our ceremony, the most beautiful rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance. Why thunder? There was not even a chance of rain that day. I, along with several others who heard it believe it was God saying, “Hello, I AM HERE.” And He was; the entire day. We hope you felt it too.

There are many things that made our wedding day the best day of my life …. And I would like to share a number of those:

I got to become Mrs. Boni.

I married my best friend and life partner.

I gained amazing friends and family through marriage.

We were surrounded by ALL of our INCREDIBLE friends and family.

My dad actually dressed up!

My best friends were by my side every step of the way; they are the most selfless and amazing women!

We had the best wedding crew EVER. A huge shout out to our officiant (traveling all the way from California), our venue staff, caterer, photographer, videographer, pianist, DJ, makeup artist, and hair stylists! You helped make the day EPIC!

I had the most amazing and selfless wedding attendant!

Our guests blessed us by helping us raise money for the Kirsten Haglund Foundation in lieu of wedding gifts. I pray that someone else is now able to find the gift of life, freedom, and healing like I was so blessed to find through their help! The Haglund’s and their amazing foundation changed my life forever. Thank you to each and every person who selflessly gave. You have made such a big difference!

Some of my favorite moments from the wedding include:

Putting on my dress, veil, and jewelry! Long awaited!

My first look with Aaron (I was so nervous)

My first look with my daddy (Priceless moment)

Getting ready with my girls all day

Our practice rehearsal of my dad giving me away …. He did not want to practice this! It was sweet (tears)!

Walking down the aisle to my husband

The beautiful rumbles of thunder during the ceremony

Reading our vows we had written to each other

Our first dance as husband and wife (God Gave Me You)

My father daughter dance with my daddy (My Little Girl)

Speeches (I cried through every one of them… even my own)

The presence of Jesus 

I love my husband with my whole heart and I am filled with such excitement as I ponder what the Lord has planned for us as husband and wife. I pray his plan includes starting a family, but I know whatever it is, I will have my best friend by my side for eternity.

Thank you to my husband for teaching me to love and be loved unconditionally. Thank you for being willing to pray outrageous prayers with me. And thank you, for choosing me. I will choose you every single day, all over again, for the rest of my life. 

Thank you Jesus for this life you have graciously given me!

Let Your Healing Rain Come Down!

June 12, 2013 Today felt like a different kind of Wednesday ... the sun was shining brighter, I was excited to meet up with a friend whom I had not seen in nearly a year, I had plans to get my hair done, and little did I know that I would also decide to attend the Healing Rain Prayer Service at Church that evening. I had never been able to attend one of the Healing Rain services because I had night class during previous school semesters, I was filling in at work, I was fighting with migraines or grave stomach pain, or SOMETHING was in the way of making this happen. However, tonight it was perfect. Although I had been battling a slight migraine, God kept it at bay and I was able to attend; eagerly!

As I  met my friend at Lifegate before the service began, I was overcome with excitement, openness, and a willingness to see what God had in store for the evening. Since coming to know Jesus nearly three years ago, I just want to keep learning and growing in His word, presence, and love! Oh what an amazing feeling it is! As we sat down and listened to the soothing music being played, we joined in and worshipped together; praising God for being the amazing Heavenly Father that He is; in both trials and joyous times!

 

The main focus of tonight was releasing people from feelings of depression, abandonment, and worthlessness! What is even cooler, is that my friend whom I was with had written those exact words down earlier in the day ... WOW! Really GOD! Those are things that I have struggled with in my life! And although I have been going through healing and have grown tremendously, there are still those lies that creep into the back of my mind that would love for me to believe that I am "not worth it," that I am "unlovable," or that God's love is "unconditional" or that somehow, I am a disappointment to him because that was how I felt for much of my life growing up with my own parents and people around me. But ... the truth of who God is much LOUDER than the voice of the enemy, today. It never used to be that way but I am so thankful that it is now! God loves me! I AM His BELOVED! I am a Child of God; Chosen BY GOD! I am a daughter of the highest! I am precious in His eyes. I am not perfect by worldly standards (thank goodness) but I was made perfect in the image of GOD! And GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES! Do you hear that?! That means YOU TOO! I am a delight to the LORD! I am not perfect, but I am forgiven! I am not my past. I am  not any of the labels that I once believed: Loser, worthless, anorexic, depressed, disappointment, burden, failure, ugly, dumb, embarrassment, etc etc. I am none of those things! I am those things that I listed above which are worth mentioning again: Child of God, Beloved Daughter of God, precious, worthy, chosen, perfect in His image, and forgiven! Other words that I now choose to describe myself are these: delight, warrior, daughter redeemed, saved, inspiration, courageous, leader, strong, compassionate, and many more. My newest as of last night is, "Daughter of Delight."

Now, let me explain where the "Daughter of Delight" came from. As I was sitting there waiting to go up and be prayed for and just sitting back soaking everything up; watching others be healed, others speaking in tongues, and people being prophesied over ... the lead pastor came up to me and said, "I know you did not ask for this, but God has a gift to give you. Will you hold out your hands?" Of course, I smiled and placed my hands with palms facing the Heavens. "The Lord wants to give you the gift of Joy; a kind of joy that no one can pluck away from you; ever." Wow, really? He wants to give me this? What an honor! As if that was not cool enough, the pastor continued ... "God also wants you to know that you are a "Daughter of Delight to Him." My heart filled with joy ... yes ... with joy ... I, Kaylin Ohler, am a Daughter of Delight to the Lord, our God.

There have been so many times in my life that I allowed the labels that the enemy has placed on me to fill my spirit and heart ... leading me into darkness. There are so many times that I (and you I am sure) have (or maybe still do) let society label you as NOT GOOD ENOUGH, not pretty enough, not thin enough, not muscular enough, etc etc etc. Over the last three years, it has taken a lot of work, but I am finally to the point where I just simply do not care what society thinks about me. What I care about is honoring God and WHO He has made me to be. What I care about is what keeps me healing, what keeps me alive, and what honors me. God has the final say ... His word is what matters. His word holds the ultimate truth and holds life ... THAT is the truth!

 

Now, let us continue on with the Healing Rain evening. I decided that it was my turn to go up and seek prayer from some things that have been a battle for me this year; physically. Through recovery, God has brought so much healing to my heart, spirit, mind, and even my body. My body is going to need to continue the healing process of years to come, as I believe it will only strengthen my relationship with God, but also because of the decade+ of abuse that I did. I talked to the two women who would be praying over me about the grave and crippling migraines that I face every month and especially lately, the pre-ovarian failure, and the intestinal issues that I still continue to battle with (but that God has begun to heal TREMENDOUSLY might I say ... PRAISE JESUS)!

As the two women asked what I would like God to do, I told them ... I began praying over myself, essentially ... then they took over ... I felt the Holy Spirit come into my body ... goose bumps covered the surface of my skin (so much for shaving ... just kidding), and I knew that HE was EVER PRESENT. I knew God wanted me to know that I was not alone, that He hasn't and never would abandon me but to keep calling out for Him, to keep TRUSTING Him, and to keep asking and seeking; the healing is happening and IS coming. HOPE. HOPE. HOPE. There is NO hopeless situation in the name of JESUS! Do you hear that? Are you reading this?

One of the women began speaking in tongues and it was so amazing because I KNEW God was filling her with His spirit. She asked me if people or doctors have told me about something that may never happen ... (mind you, I did not reveal anything to them) ... I said yes ... that it was a possibility that I would never have kids. She said that is what she thought and God wanted me to know that that was GONE! God is good, isn't he? Now, I just need to find a guy, right? God ... I am waiting!!! Hah ... humor, got to love it!!  The last few things that the women said as they were thanking God for this "precious child" was that they wanted me to know that I was one of "God's favorites ..." What? How could this be? I could not even question it for long because I just love Jesus and our Heavenly Father so much that I trust in Him, His Word, and I want Him to lead me wherever He wants me to go. I want His thoughts to be my thoughts, His desires to be my desires and His will to be my will.

The night was amazing; I was grounded again in WHO God says that I am. I was reminded again that there is light in the darkness and there is no place to dark where we cannot be reached. There is no medical issue that is too big for God; there is no addiction that is too complex for  Him; there is nothing that is TOO GREAT for GOD to overcome and to lay His healing and loving hands upon! God wants to know you, God wants a relationship with you and I. God wants us (yes, you) to know that you are His beloved!!!! Have HOPE ... For you are loved and precious beyond words! Let His loving promises, truth, and healing rain upon you today ... and every day. Blessings and love!!