Janna Long's 'Once Upon a Time' Real Life Love Story

Friday, January 30th, 2009 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com

ITT: Your husband and Avalon Bandmate Greg, truly is a partner in ministry with you, how did you meet, how is he an encouragement to you, and what advice would you like to give InTheTimes.com girls when it comes to finding the Godly 'man of their dreams' ?

Janna: Greg is indeed my partner in ministry. It is such a blessing to travel and sing with him, especially now that we are parents.

Greg and I met on the Young Messiah Tour back in 1997. We dated for 2 years and then got married. I had dated many wonderful Christian guys, but Greg was definitely my prize. God gave me the best when He gave me Greg. We have our differences, but he brings balance to my life in so many ways.

I would challenge young girls to wait for God's best -- He gives you that when you leave the choices up to Him. I would also encourage girls never to settle for anything less than God's very best. I personally made a list of qualities I wanted in a mate years before I met Greg. God gave me just about every quality I wanted in Greg!

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Ginger Millermon's 'Once Upon a Time' Real Life Love Story

Thursday, January 29th, 2009 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com

ITT: Your husband and Manager Joel, truly is a partner in ministry with you, how did you meet, how is he an encouragement to you, and what advice would you like to give InTheTimes.com girls when it comes to finding the Godly 'man of their dreams' ?

Ginger: Ooohhh! One of my favorite subjects! Joel is my best friend, my biggest fan and encourager, and I am sooo blessed to have him partner with me in this ministry! I would definitely not be doing what I'm doing without his support.

We met in Bible College, he was a senior and I was a freshman (smile!) We developed a great friendship before we even started dating. Our classmates would ask if we were dating and we'd say, “we're fellowshipping” (smile!)

I guess I didn't know what courtship was back then, but that's sort of what we did. It really got our relationship off on the right foot, focusing on a great friendship and most importantly focusing on the Lord!

Joel had to ask my dad (remember -- we're in college here!) before I would date him. It was a commitment between my dad and I since my early teen years. It saved me a TON of heartache and mistakes! I was so glad I had been wise through my teen years when I did finally meet the man God had for me. I had even (can I say this? smile!) saved my first kiss for him. I have never regretted that!

The greatest thing I can say is this -- give your love life to God and let Him be in complete control of that area of your life. And never, ever settle for less than God's best for you! Have accountability in your dating and be BRAVE to be different! You will never regret living a life of purity.

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Jeni Varnadeau's 'Once Upon a Time' Real Life Love Story

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com

ITT: Your husband and Manager / Jeni Varnadeau Band Member / Fellow Musician Rory, truly is a partner in ministry with you, how did you meet, how is he an encouragement to you, and what advice would you like to give InTheTimes.com girls when it comes to finding the Godly 'man of their dreams' ?

Jeni: I met my wonderful husband when I was 15 years old. Of course, when I met him, I had no idea I would be marrying him or even ever be in love with him! He was touring in a singing touring group with my sister. They hit it off and were great friends. I really respected and looked up to my sister, so her friends were my friends.

As time went on, Rory and I both were trying to move up in our music careers and ended up meeting back up again at the same college in Nashville studying music. We had the same major, so we were in a lot of the same classes and stuff. We dated on and off for three and a half years. Even during the times we broke up, we would still hang out or at least run into each other at school. We analyzed everything. I mean marriage is for life. We both have big dreams and ambitions, and wanted to make sure each of us was someone who we could dream with, walk with and put up with. Figuring all of this out for us was not fun, but we finally both felt God leading us and showing us—YES! This is the one. Move forward.

Rory's proposal was a whole long story in itself (one we'll have to save for another time) but it was GREAT. We've now been married for over 10 years and I think we have a wonderful marriage. We try and talk about things BEFORE they become problems. We are able to talk with each other and share things. He's VERY patient with me. And, he's funny. His sense of humor has been a lifesaver in so many ways. We support each others dreams. He has always tried to be so helpful, whether it's taking down a phone message, running an errand, or helping me make big decisions. He's been a huge cheerleader for me in that way. I am trying to learn to do the same for him. I feel like I have far to go to being the wife for him that I really want to be, and I'm working on it. Relationships are always work.

But I think for us, and this is advice that I would pass on to others, is the time and investment we put in BEFORE we were married is what has made all the difference. We put in a lot of WORK into the relationship beforehand; trying to ask every question, role playing every possible scenario we could think of, asking for advice and wisdom from others.

I think too many girls are too eager just to get married, that they don't think about the long term and the reality of living and walking with someone in a marriage. So the thing to do NOW is to date wisely. Not going too far physically in any relationship. If there's not a ring on your finger, then he's not planning to stay around. Don't give in to physical pressure you might feel. The good guys will wait for you, and they are DEFINITELY worth waiting for!

Marriage would be horrible if you're stuck with a guy you just 'settled' for. Don't settle. Why would you want your life to be miserable, when you totally have the choice to wait on the right guy? And more importantly, WAITING once you know he's the right guy--not just physically, but to watch him over time. What makes him angry? How does he handle stress? Is his faith genuine, or is it a show to get you hooked? I've seen too many guys be one thing while they were dating, and then totally change once they were married. The only way to avoid this is to not rush into marriage. Watch him in the little things and the big things. There should be peace, not rush. You may have to wait, but YOU'RE worth it!!

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Rosanna Fiorazo's 'Once Upon a Time' Real Life Love Story

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com

ITT: Your husband and Manager / Drummer Dave, truly is a partner in ministry with you, how did you meet, how is he an encouragement to you, and what advice would you like to give InTheTimes.com girls when it comes to finding the Godly 'man of their dreams' ?

Rosanna: For so long I did things my way -- picking guys that I thought were good for me, they mostly just looked good on paper and were what I thought I wanted, but were not at all what I needed. Shortly after I surrendered this area of my life -- trying to control relationships, I met Dave. Again, this was only after I truly resigned myself to the Lord's complete will for being married.

Dave's been my biggest cheerleader, as well as my best friend, encourager, and confidant. His faith rarely wavers and that is a constant lesson for me. In our ministry, he's my manager, booking agent, and drummer. I asked the Lord for His best, knowing that Jesus knew me better than I knew myself.

So my encouragement for girls waiting to be married -- waiting for the right one is this, BE the right one. Continue to do the Lord's will in your life as you know it and actively wait for His best. He knows exactly what you need and has the perfect man picked out for you. Notice that I didn't say would be perfect, but certainly the perfect man for you.

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Melissa Greene's 'Once Upon a Time' Real Life Love Story

Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com

ITT: How did you and your husband Ben meet? How is he an encouragement to you, and what advice would you like to give InTheTimes.com girls when it comes to finding the Godly 'man of their dreams' ?

Melissa: Ben and I met when I was in the group Truth. His best friend from college, Deidra, was in the group with me. She introduced us and after meeting several times, Ben finally got up the nerve to ask me out.

He played a little hard to get, ha ha. But after our first date he said he didn't want to share me with anyone! We were engaged two months later and married a year and a half after that.

Ben and I decided to follow the Lord wherever He would lead us and use us. We hope in the future to minister together speaking and singing.

My best advice is to wait on God. I fell in love a couple of times before I met Ben, ha ha. What I thought was love ended up being infatuation or just in love with the thought of love.

I am so glad that I waited and married Ben. I am also glad that my previous boyfriends waited for their perfect mate as well !

Pray about it, enjoy life, date, and don't rush into anything. Listen to your family and friends around you...most of the time their outlook is much clearer than yours! Marriage is hard and marrying the wrong person will make it that much harder. But waiting on the right person and God's timing is amazing and worth it!

FYI, Ben and I were engaged December 2001!! My favorite Christmas ever!

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