LOVE feature
Story by Ashley Elvington • Photography by Stacy Carter
CAROLINE MILLS,
BAILEY MILLS, &
JOSE GONZALEZ
a mother’s prayer
THERE IS NOTHING AS EFFECTIVE, AS POWERFUL, and
as fueled by love as a mother’s prayer. Those who are mothers can
agree, as well as those of us who have been blessed by those prayers.
Mom Caroline Mills has always prayed for her four children, and is
Like many girls, Bailey went through a stage during her senior year
rejoicing in the fact that those prayers have been answered over the
of college where she wondered if her soulmate was really out there in
years. “My husband Mike is in the ministry, so our whole family is in the
the world. “It seemed that several of my friends were settling down,
ministry. One of the hardest things is moving and leaving behind fam-
getting married, and having babies. Although I was beyond happy for
ily and friends, making you see how difficult relationships can be. My
them, I couldn’t help but wonder when my time would come. My mom
heart has always had two major desires for each of my children. The
always told me that love would come when I wasn’t expecting it. One
first desire is that each child would have a personal relationship with
lesson that I have learned is that Momma is usually right, whether or
Jesus and grow stronger in that relationship each day. I am so thankful
not I want to admit it sometimes.” After graduation, Bailey moved to
that each of my children does know and loves Jesus. The second de-
Summerton, South Carolina to work for a promotional product compa-
sire is that each child would one day find a true love, a soulmate, who
ny. “This was a new start for me and this is when I was willing to ‘let go
shares a love for Jesus.” Caroline’s daughter, Bailey, has found that
and let God.’” Shortly after arriving in Summerton, Bailey met Joseph
soulmate in Joseph Gonzalez, and she will walk down the aisle this
Gonzalez through mutual friends. “My first impression of Joe was that it
April. “My prayers for my little girl, that I began praying before she was
was so easy to be around him. He is a very selfless person and is always
even born, have been answered!”
sure to put others before himself. He has such a full heart and I appreci-
For Bailey, that moment she walks down the aisle will be a dream
come true. “Every little girl loves to dream, especially about living out
ated the way he made me feel welcomed after moving to a town where
I didn’t know too many people.”
her very own fairytale. Growing up, I was the one who would have ev-
In 2014, however, Bailey moved to Orangeburg. Bailey and Joe even-
ery stuffed animal that I owned lined up across the playroom floor as
tually reunited, as they were in the same wedding party for a mutu-
I weaved in and out of them in my bed sheet wedding gown and pil-
al friend. “Neither one of us had a date, so our friends convinced us
lowcase veil.”
that we should be each other’s dates.” A month before the wedding,
While their daughter and her make-believe antics were precious,
Bailey and Joe started a relationship. “It didn’t take long to know that
Caroline and Mike made sure Bailey knew the most beautiful love story
we enjoyed being around each other.” Bailey enjoyed listening to Joe
of all - the story of Jesus. It was their hope for Bailey to keep this story
sing and play guitar, and he often talked about his family, especially his
in mind as she grew older. Indeed, she has. “Thankfully, I was raised
sister Kirsten. “There are so many things that I admire about him, but
in a Christian home with two parents who taught us the importance
I especially love the heart that he has for Jesus and the heart that he
of having Christ as the center of the relationship. It was important to
has for his family. On our first few dates, it was so obvious to me how
me to marry someone who would be a strong leader of our household,
much he loves his family because he always shared stories about them
but I believe that in order to truly understand what love is, you must
and talked about how he couldn’t wait for me to meet them. This was a
first understand the love of Jesus. The older that I became the more I
huge attraction to me, as I wouldn’t trade my brothers or sister for any-
enjoyed spending time with my parents and grandparents, listening
thing in this world and it was nice to know that he felt the same way.”
to their stories of when they first started dating. The importance of
Bailey felt certain Joe wasn’t like any other guy. “For the first time in
having someone that would love, honor, and cherish me became even
my life, there was this calm peace. I never wondered if he would be
more evident.”
there for me tomorrow if I needed him.”
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FEBUARY 2016
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