Everything is Love: Veronica and Phillip

Meet Veronica and Phillip a couple from Dallas, Texas who recently wed in an intimate ceremony this past July in Atlanta, Ga. Follow along as these two lovebirds share how they met, what makes their love special, how they knew each other was “the one”.

First Encounter:

Phillip: It’s funny what you find when you aren’t looking… A seemingly random conversation at bible study on an otherwise ordinary Wednesday night ultimately proved to be the catalyst to a Happily Ever After. After uncharacteristically inserting myself into a conversation and quickly assuming the role of the antagonist, I quickly realized that my newfound sparring partner not only was capable of going toe to toe but also determined to have her point both heard and taken as gospel. I walked away intrigued wondering who had I just spoken to, where did she come from, and when could I talk to her again. From then on, my new goal was to find out first hand just who she was and if she really was as smart as she came off to be. I quickly determined that she was someone who I wanted to spend copious amounts of time with and she also was everything I thought she’d be and then some. Needless to say, I was quite smitten.

Veronica: So to add-on to this, from the moment our verbal sparring match commenced, I was thinking who is this guy and what is his problem! How dare he challenge me, nobody does that! Although taken aback, I was impressed. Meanwhile, our preacher who had initiated the conversation starts darting his eyes back and forth between the two of us and he says, “Oh my ….something is  happening here.” Unbeknownst to us at the time, he was absolutely right!

 Tell us about your partner:

Veronica: Phillip is the most amazing person. He is so loving and attentive and he’s just always so patient with me. I appreciate that about him. He is the type of guy that will go out of his way to make sure that everyone around him is okay. He embodies the definition of selflessness. He is supportive of everything. In my spare time, I wear many hats, I’m a life coach, event stylist, I’m also an avid DIY’r. Most of my projects typically involve Phil’s participation and he never complains even if it means he’s going to be covered in glitter later, or have to get up extra early on the weekend to help me transport one of my creations to an event. That’s just “Phil”, a truly there wherever you need him kind of guy.

Phillip: Veronica is completely and uniquely one of a kind. She is honest and direct and always focused on her goals. Her directness can be intimidating because it is born out of her passion to achieve her goals. Veronica is also the most generous person I’ve ever met in my life. I admire just how generous she is, and I’m also extremely protective of her because I absolutely refuse to let anyone abuse her generosity. Veronica has a resilient spirit that is unmatched. She is the embodiment of the phrase “Get knocked down seven times, get up eight”. The result of all these things, she is adored by everyone she comes across. It is uncanny how many people love Veronica because of these things, I consider myself lucky to not only love but also be loved by her.

How did you know your partner was the one? 

Veronica: I knew he was the one because he made his intentions clear from the very beginning. I’ve never met his representative, from our first official date up until now, his actions have always matched his words. I’ve never, ever had to have a conversation with myself like, “Is he wasting my time? What does he really want from me? Can I trust him to do the right thing?” I never had to wonder, when the  REAL PHILLIP POWERS was going to show up! He’s remained the same guy who didn’t have a problem sitting on my living room floor watching TV when I didn’t have any furniture, up until the day he asked for my hand in marriage.

Disclaimer- When I moved to Dallas I decided to purchase all new furniture like I wanted a fresh start. So the first time Phillip came over to my place I didn’t have ANY furniture in my living room other than a TV.  I initially didn’t want to let him come over because I didn’t want him thinking, why the heck does this grown woman not have any furniture in her house?!! Not to mention, the entire time I was growing up my mom impressed upon us girls the importance of always having your house in order. Well, here I was with nothing in order or out-of-order ’cause there wasn’t any furniture in sight haha! Thankfully my lack of furniture didn’t scare him at all, he took his shoes off propped some pillows up against the wall, spread a blanket on the floor that I had folded in a corner and asked me what movie I wanted to watch. Just like it was normal…to be sitting..on the floor. It was at that moment that I realized, hey this guy is different, and he would continue to prove to me just how different he was time and time again – I don’t have to look a certain way or act a certain way when I’m with him, there is no “putting on”- in his presence, I’m free to be my messy ( I am so clumsy), crazy, unpredictable self…that’s so refreshing.

Phillip: I knew she was the one for a while, I was just waiting for her to get her act together. From the moment I had met Veronica, she’d lived such a fast-paced life I wondered if she would actually be capable of making space for me. But when Veronica suffered an ankle injury and her fast-paced life came to an unexpected, screeching halt, I got to see her in her most defenseless state. It was then, with a cast on, rolling around on a scooter that I saw her, not who she presented to the world, but her truest self and I realized that if I could spend the rest of my life with the person I had the privilege of seeing defenseless, I couldn’t ask for much more.

What makes your love special?

Veronica: What makes our love special is that we are passionate, committed, and unique. It’s how different we are from each other. How we’ve learned to embrace those differences in each other as an extension of ourselves.  Every day we learn to adapt and grow together. We are very intentional about our relationship, we make it a priority to include each other in our lives. One of the main things that keep our love strong is our relationship with God. Keeping him first in our lives and realizing that our meeting was not by coincidence, and while we may have chosen each other, it is God who ultimately chose us for each other.

Phillip: Our love defies common understanding, Veronica has been asked several times by several people “How does your relationship work”. And I honestly think that is how we know it’s special. Our love isn’t simplistic and easily definable. We’re two completely different people, our love was birthed out of respecting our differences and loving each other regardless. So we can say, without a shadow of a doubt that our love isn’t because of a thing, or a situation. We deeply love each other for who we are and how perfectly we fit together while still retaining completely different personalities.

What has this relationship taught you?

Veronica: I used to have to have all of the answers and always be in charge. Having been single for quite some time before meeting Phillip, I had developed a sense of stubborn independence, and along with that came an “I don’t need anybody…definitely not a man for anything type of attitude.” But when I met Phillip, I started to learn that I don’t have to have all of the answers and that it was okay to pull back sometimes and let someone else take the lead. I started to realize that what I deemed as this strong independent woman personality had actually been born out of always having to operate in survival mode. I mean as a single woman if something goes wrong with your car, you have to take it in to get fixed, if something breaks at the house you have to fix it or hire someone to come in and make the repairs. I can tell you first hand I’ve fallen off of several chairs and stools in my lifetime trying to play “Miss Fix-it! Now I’m okay with being vulnerable and expressing that I need help. Phillip helps me to see life in a whole new way. He’s the calm to my storm.

Phillip: It’s not easy to be selfless. Putting the needs of others ahead of yourself is counterintuitive to self-preservation. I have always internalized the idea that before I can take care of someone else, I have to be able to take care of myself. It’s a simple yet complicated idea. I can only do so much because at the end of the day I have weaknesses and flaws, i.e. I’m human. But the journey to discover my weaknesses and flaws meant that when I found Veronica, I realized that my weaknesses and flaws were her strengths, I could then see for myself why God said: “It is not good for man to be alone”. I see her as a gift and a responsibility, protecting her is protecting myself, and providing for her is providing for myself. I’ve found the perfect person for me and I feel blessed knowing that I get to spend the rest of my life with her.

What’s the best part about being married?

We truly believe that we were called to be each other’s better half and that God ordained our meeting from the first hello, to the day we said I do, up until this very day. Do you know what it feels like to wake up every single morning and be able to pray with your spouse before starting your day? To have someone that encourages you to walk into your true purpose, to take hold of the assignment that God has destined over your lives individually and as a couple? It’s the best feeling ever. The best part about being married is knowing that we were truly created for each other.

SOURCES

Photographers: Michelle Davina Photography/Taylor Productions/Calvin Brown Photography/Photofx