Isaac: It all started when I accidentally created two characters called Pip & Squeak and started doing comedy blogs with them.
Rachelle: About the same time, my sister Jessica and I started posting our thoughts online, and our blogs were placed on a list of Christian blogsites. Then one day I was breezing through the blogs on this list when I ran across one by a guy in a cowboy hat who's occupation was "missionary" and who's location was "Utah." I was quite bothered. Imagine that - a redneck Mormon missionary on Gerry's list of Christian sites. I thought he checked these sites out before he linked to them. Disturbing. Of course, I left that blog as quickly as possible. But somewhere down the road I forgot my first impression and on October 28, 2005, I visited the cowboy's blog again. This time, I hung around long enough to realize that this guy was no Mormon. His doctrine was sound. And his posts were pretty interesting. He had a comedy column called "Pip and Squeak" and I left him a quick comment and signed up to receive a notice when he released new comedy posts.
Isaac: I had a lot of people who signed my guest book to receive notifications when I published a new comedy blog. Rachelle was just another person, however, I always tried to leave a nice comment of some kind in return if they left me a comment. So I visited Rachelle's site. I remember thinking that she was definitely different; this was not the main stream Christian site I was used to seeing. I was curious, but didn't bother to look around too much; I simply wrote a comment and left.
Rachelle: Jessica signed up for Isaac's comedy posts too, and we began to get notifications from Isaac every time he published a new comedy post... but we noticed that he never commented on our blogs. He simply commented about his "new post" and left. It began to annoy us - didn't this guy talk? And didn't he know it was rude to not comment on our blogs when it was obvious he had visited our sites? We decided we were going to make him talk, so we began to leave him comments regularly.
Isaac: The truth was that I had a list of dozens of sites to visit to notify them of a comedy blog post, so I would just post a simple notice that would work for everyone. Eventually Rachelle and Jessica commented on one of my spiritual blogs, which got my attention. So I began to look around their sites more and we commented back and forth for about two months. Eventually, my curiosity got the better of me, and I asked what church they attended. Jessica wrote me back a comment saying that was too long to answer in a blog comment, and left me her's and Rachelle's instant messenger addresses. I added them the week before Christmas. Jessica and I talked a few hours that week about our respective churches, and beliefs. A week later, on the Saturday before Christmas in 2005, Rachelle signed in. I thought I would be polite and just say hi, and then go on my way...right?
Rachelle: I wasn't excited about this stranger adding me to his instant messenger. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to talk to him. I didn't have any desire to start a friendship with a guy I didn't know who I would have to keep up with - my life was complicated enough already! A few days before Christmas, I signed into my MSN messenger right after lunch and saw that the cowboy was online. I didn't say anything, and just hoped he wouldn't start a conversation. He said hi. We started talking... and before I knew it Mom was calling me to come help with dinner.
Isaac: I said goodbye to her...five and a half hours later. I'd never spent that long talking to a girl in a single setting in my life! *fast forwards* Well, we started talking, quite a bit actually. I also started getting to know her siblings somewhat better. About the middle of January 2006, I e-mailed her Dad to make sure he was alright with a stranger from the land of Utah talking to his children. After a few e-mails, he gave his approval. I also told my parents about the family I had met. When Mom asked me if I might ever be interested in something more with Rachelle, I laughed and said "Mom! She is three years older then me!" Obviously that was enough to throw out the idea instantly, right? Mom shot right back, "Well you remember So and So; she is seven years older then he is." Our age difference was never an issue again.
Rachelle: Isaac and I talked about a lot of deep topics during the next couple months. We developed a great friendship!
Isaac: In mid-March I finished talking to Rachelle one evening, and as I got ready for bed I was thinking about how it would be nice to meet her and her family (as I was talking with all of them). I immediately threw out the idea. It wouldn't happen. I tried to go to sleep, but the thought kept returning. Finally, desperate to get some sleep, I said something to the effect of, "It will never happen, God, and just to prove it, here are three things that would have to happen before it could: #1. I would want an invitation from her father. #2. I would need to know I had the finances for the trip. #3. I would want my parents to be alright with it." I promptly went to sleep. I was about to learn a lesson: One should be careful when he challenges God. The next morning, unsolicited into my inbox came an invitation from Rachelle's father to visit the family. I was like, "That was not supposed to happen, God, hello?" However, since it had, I thought I would check on the finances. I had already set aside an amount for my summer travel (to a mission conference), and lo and behold, it was only a few dollars more to add the extra stop to visit Rachelle's family. Two down, one to go. I knew I had to do it, but I dreaded it, because I knew it would NEVER happen, and I'd look silly for asking. Well, I finally got up the courage to mention it to Mom, who (thank you, Mom) mentioned it to Dad. Dad took me to lunch, and told me his and Mom's concerns, and then said that I should do what the Lord was leading me to do, and as long as I was in the Lord's will, they would be behind me on it. So, 48 hours after my "never happen" challenge to God, I was buying a plane ticket to see Rachelle and her family.
Rachelle: I guess we should add at this point that Isaac and I had both decided some time before we began talking to each other that we would never have a romantic relationship with someone we had never met in real life. We both thought that a solely online friendship would not be enough for us to get to know someone enough to consider a serious romantic involvement. But, from April to May 2006, Isaac and I both did a lot of intentional ignoring ("not thinking!") about the obvious ways that we were fitted for each other. In May 2006, we met for the first time. Isaac was everything I expected... really he was very much like I expected and I was surprised at how accurate an impression I'd had from our online conversations.
Isaac: I was delighted to meet the Traylor family, they were all a lot of fun and were just like I had expected from our online conversations. In fact, when I stepped off the plane, I thought I had stepped into one of their pictures! I had no intention of expressing interest in any girl at that point. I could barely believe I was even meeting the Traylor family in real life.
Rachelle: I thought that Isaac was a WONDERFUL guy... and very much the kind of guy that I could see myself having a future with. But by Saturday night, it was very obvious that he was here with only one purpose in mind - hanging out with Christian friends. He was obviously not interested in me beyond that. I was actually rather disappointed, but on Saturday night, I talked to the Lord about how He knew that my life was in His hands. I told Him that it obviously wasn't in His plan for Isaac and I to have anything more than friendship, and that I would just be thankful for the awesome friendship. Once I had that settled in my mind, I was ready to concentrate on friendship... and then came Monday night.
Isaac: While attending college, Rachelle had lived with a wonderful couple who had taken her under their wing, and had been very much apart of her life. Upon hearing that some strange guy was coming to visit, they had offered to take Rachelle, myself, and Rachelle's brother to dinner one night. We met them at a small Chinese restaurant in town and enjoyed getting to know to each other. However, the conversation soon turned as the couple began questioning me concerning my spiritual walk and character, obviously testing me to see if I was made of the material that was worthy of Rachelle. They then turned and began asking Rachelle about her interest in me. To make a long story short, before the conversation was over, we had both admitted, without realizing it, that we were both interested in the other.
Rachelle: I knew something had happened that night, but I wasn't sure what. I was nervous when we left the restaurant. We walked to the truck... my brother Jonathan got in on the driver's side and Isaac put his hand on the door handle to let me in my side. But then he stopped and turned to me and said, "Rachelle, we HAVE to talk." My stomach went 'flip-flop.' I nodded and quickly jumped in the vehicle. That night I went straight to my room. I called Mom in and told her that Isaac wanted to TALK about something... *ahem* I asked her if she thought I should let him, and she said yes. I was totally nervous, but wanted to hear him out. I didn't sleep much that night.
Isaac: I went back to the room that had been loaned me during the visit, and as I turned out the light I realized that I was about to do something that I'd never done before, something that was totally out of character for me. I was about to express interest in a girl! The idea was totally new and I didn't even know what to think about it. I'd never even been around girls much, let alone been interested in one. Finally, I got down on my knees and prayed about it, then decided that there were a few things I needed to ask Rachelle before I expressed interest in her.
Rachelle: Tuesday morning finally dawned. I was still nervous. About 10AM, Isaac and I sat down to talk, but we both had too much nervous energy to sit still, so we decided to take a walk in the park.
Isaac: We talked about the things I'd prayed about the previous night and I was comfortable with her answers. I then told her that I didn't believe in playing games, that I thought the only reason a couple should consider anything more then friendship was for the purpose of seeing if God meant that person for them to marry. She agreed. I then took a deep breath...worked up my nerve, and then asked her if she would be interested in taking the next step in our relationship and seeing if God had something more in store for us together. I'll never forget her words. She, rather nervously, said "I...think....so."
Rachelle: Since this was new to Isaac and I, we didn't have a clear idea about how things should work. We did know one thing - we needed to talk to our parents. In fact, Isaac suggested that we talk to my parents that very night. When the four of us sat down and Isaac told my parents that he and I were interested in each other, I don't know who was more nervous - him or my dad. I don't think my parents knew what to think about this guy who they barely knew being interested in one of their daughters. He sure talked the talk, but could he live what he spoke? They felt that they needed to know. In the meantime they were concerned that we might get emotionally involved and not make a spiritually discerned decision concerning our futures... so they asked that we only have contact once a month, through letters.
Isaac: I understood their position, and with a glance at Rachelle, I told them we would be comply.
Rachelle: The next months were times of proving... demonstrating that were we both seeking the Lord's will about this relationship.
Isaac: The highlight of every month was that packet of letters. As the months passed, her parents had opportunities to hear how I responded in many different kinds of circumstances, and they became more and more comfortable with me. I was also able to go down for a visit in October 2006. Of course we had a wonderful time. In February 2007, my parents (who had guessed I would come back in June 2006 with a girlfriend) and my elders decided it was time they started talking with Rachelle's father. Over several phone conversations, Rachelle's parents became comfortable enough with me to be fine with us using instant messenger again and also having one phone call a week. Rachelle and I were very excited! We thought we'd been given a piece of heaven. We spent much time seeking the Lord for the next several months.
Rachelle: That's really the key to all this! Isaac and I each spent hours in prayer, asking the Lord to confirm His will and to show it to each of us and our parents. After 10 months apart, Isaac and I were able to have two visits in the span of two months during July and August 2007. At the end of the August 2007 trip, my parents told Isaac and I that we had their blessing on marriage if that was the way the Lord led us.
Isaac: At the end of the August trip, we began planning for Rachelle to visit Utah. I was sure this was the girl I wanted to marry. Rachelle was a little less sure and wanted to meet my family before she made her choice about marrying me.
Rachelle: The Lord had been leading me very clearly towards a future with Isaac, but I hadn't had peace about a final decision. I knew that I needed to meet Isaac's family (mostly to see him in his environment and see his background) before I knew for sure. Towards the end of October 2007, I made the trip... and found my answer. It was obvious within the first few days of my visit that Isaac was the man the Lord had chosen for me. My parents joined me in Utah on the first of November. We had a wonderful time of fellowship with the Wardell family and their local Christian fellowship. I enjoyed getting to know them all, especially Isaac's family. On November 4, my parents gave Isaac the "key" to my heart. It was a bittersweet moment that was full of meaning.
Isaac: Over the next couple of months I had a great time planning my proposal to Rachelle. On December 15, 2007, in the same park where I first expressed interest in her, I asked Rachelle to be my wife.
Rachelle: It was the most romantic and wonderful proposal in history, and I was happy and proud to say yes.
Isaac and Rachelle were married on May 31, 2008. They are both amazed and awed at the beauty of the way God has made their dreams come true.