How Emily Millar became Emily Day...

On June 16, 2001 Chris and I went on our first date. I was fresh out of high school and was really looking forward to college, but not so much the idea of being single. I didn't date much in high school, I used that time to be with my friends and learn about myself. After my senior trip when it hit me that I was about to start a whole new chapter in my life, I started praying that the Lord provide me with someone that I could be friends with and would really help me out while I was at MTSU. This is when Chris came in the picture...

I always laugh thinking about our first date almost 8 years ago. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was swimming at my friend Stephanie's parents' house when I got a page(yes, I had a pager!) from my friend Andy with a 911 attached. I immediately called him at work (hence the 911, thought it was an emergency) and he turned the phone over to Chris who was there with him. Chris had called me a few times to ask me out after Andy told me that he had a friend he wanted to hook me up with, but thanks to caller ID and my rudeness I never answered or called him back...that was not how I rolled - if he wanted to date me he would have to prove himself. SO, since Chris had called me a few times and was at Andy's work trying to get me this "new" way I figured it was worth a shot. Chris asked me out and I nervously said yes. It was kinda like a blind date, but not really.

You see, Chris and I go waaay back. His best friend Josh and my twin sister Rachel "went out" when Rachel and I were in 6th grade and Chris and Josh were in 8th at Buchanan. Back during our Buchanan days Chris was also friends with my neighbor Crystal and one Saturday we all(Rachel, Josh, Crystal, Chris, and I) went fishing down the street. I can remember that well, and laugh thinking about it now - who would have thought that would lead us where we are now?

Chris came to pick me up at my house that night. I think how mean it is now, but I had Rachel get the door(he must have been so confused!) to make Chris wait for a little while and then came down to leave. I remember Chris had on a white polo shirt with a navy shirt underneath, khaki shorts, and shoes Rach and I call "Jesus sandals"(Birkenstocks). I wore my pink tube top, khaki shorts, and doc marten sandals - I wasn't lying when I told you I remembered! I had only agreed to dinner, that way if it sucked I was free and clear ;) haha, so we went to Buffalo's, now Coconut Bay, and dinner went really well. Since I was having a good time I agreed to see a movie. Before my date my mom had told me that if Chris had the new Dave Matthews cd then she knew I would fall in love because I hadn't stopped listening to it and what do you know - on the way from dinner to the movie Chris turned it on and asked me if that was ok...hmm, I could see the monogram in my mind already(Mom's always know best!). We went to see the movie, "What's the Worse That Could Happen?" and then Chris took me home. My mom had just gotten back from a friend's wedding in Memphis so I asked Chris if he would like to come inside to see her since she wasn't there earlier. He agreed and came in for ice cream with the 3 of us, and the rest....is history!

Chris and I got engaged on September 13, 2005 on the square in downtown Murfreesboro and we were married on September 1, 2006 surrounded by 400 family members and friends at Mt. Hermon Baptist Church followed by a great reception at Central Park. Our wedding was a true celebration of our commitment to God and each other and couldn't have been better! Everyday is a new opportunity to learn more about each other - the good, the bad, and the ugly - and we are so thankful for our God that brought us together and takes us through each step. How quickly 8 years has gone by!

The day after Chris and I got engaged...I think I was still in shock!