THE STORY OF US: Pics From Our Reception

Mom wanted the photographer to get a few pictures of us outside. When she asked him if he'd taken some pics at the reception, he said that he thought that we were a little tired of him. He was right! By this point, we were ready to play and hang out with people!


Picnic tables were set up.


Doesn't it look like fun?


There was barbecue galore!


There's my dad on the end there eating some barbecue!


It doesn't look like we were too messy.


I bet you can guess who caught the bouquet.


Of course Brock faked everyone out the first time!


Our lovely friends rolling our car.

THE STORY OF US: Pics From Our Wedding

The happy couple


The guys were going to do the ceremony barefooted, because at the time, Brock did all of his shows barefooted. After some encouragement from my mom, they decided to wear shoes.


The girls heard about it and decided to take a picture barefooted as well.


My mom and me


A pearl or something fell off of my dress and my grandma sowed it back on.


The wedding party


Me singing with my girls


The kiss! Can you tell that the girls are throwing confetti?


And Brock is a goner after that kiss!


Brock produces two roses for our mothers out of thin air


Us walking down the aisle while being pelted with ping pong balls

THE STORY OF US: The Wedding Reception

Shepherd, TX wasn't a very big town, so there weren't any ballrooms or country clubs to have a wedding reception. The church didn't have a good place for the reception, so I decided to have it out at the clubhouse at a neighborhood out by the lake.

It was wonderful! We all changed into casual attire and we set up picnic tables along the lawn. Barbecue was served in Texas style.

When it came time to cut the cake, Brock got a questionable look on his face. He said, "What are we doing?" I explained that we would feed each other a piece of cake and that I may stuff it all over his face. After that, we went to make a toast and Brock was confused again. I asked him if he'd ever been to a wedding before. He said that at the weddings he'd attended, he must have missed that part. It was funny. I didn't realize that I should have briefed him on this.

We went and mingled for what seemed like minutes (time flies at your own wedding). Then, Brock and I came together just to talk. The next thing we knew, people were forming a line to our car. At that point, it seemed time to head out for our honeymoon and begin our life together!

THE STORY OF US: Our Wedding

May 8, 1999 was a perfect day in Shepherd, TX where we had our wedding. The small church was packed. We had five bridesmaids and five groomsmen. I may be a little biased when I say this, but it was the funnest wedding I've ever been to. My aunt and uncle said that it was like a broadway musical.

One thing is that most of our wedding party was no stranger to the stage. We had four songs sung at the wedding and all of them were sung by members of the wedding party. I sang one song with two of the girls whom I sang with often in college.

Both of our dads are pastors, so both of them officiated the ceremony. At times, it would get emotional since this wedding was extra special to our dads. I would begin to cry, so I decided to stop looking at my dad. I looked over at my sister, and she was crying, too. So, I looked over at Brock's best man, Brian. He always has a big grin on his face. Whenever it would get too heavy, dad would crack a joke. He was like a stand-up comedian at times!

Some magic did occur during the wedding as well. When Brock looked to his best man for the ring, all of the groomsmen had a ring. Brock took the five rings and made them into one.

When it came time for the kiss, the girls threw confetti and the guys blew those party favor horns. Right after we kissed, Brock pretended to pass out. A couple of the guys caught him.

As we exited, Brock produced two roses out of thin air for our mothers. Also, as we walked down the aisle to leave the church, some of the audience members threw ping pong balls at us (if you haven't seen Brock's show, it's sorta a joke in the show). It was fun!

THE STORY OF US: The Engagement

I don't suggest this for anyone else, but our circumstances were different. We did things opposite of how it usually goes. We knew all about each other before we began dating. Since Brock was about to graduate from college in May and begin doing this ministry full time and needed a full time assistant, we decided to get married in May of '99. This would put us marrying six months after our first date. It didn't make much sense for us to go on the road together and not be married.

We had the date set. Brock even had the ring. The only thing left was the proposal. I wondered if he would do it at one of his shows. My birthday was coming up, or maybe he'd do it on Valentine's day.

One random night in January, we were rehearsing our illusions at a church. Nobody was in the audience. We were just practicing a routine over and over. After I "disappeared" in one of our illusions, Brock opened the box in order to reveal that I'd reappeared and out in the audience were all of our friends from college. Since the music was turned up, I didn't hear them enter.

I was sorta taken off guard, so I said, "What are ya'll doing here?" One of my friends pointed to my left side. I looked over and Brock was on one knee holding a ring. I flew into his arms and said, "Yes!"

THE STORY OF US: Our First Date

For our first date, we went to Magic Island in Houston, TX. It's a dinner theater with good food and several magic shows.

We stayed with my parents that weekend since they live close to Houston. Brock had been to my parents' house before. He'd done a show at my dad's church. So, my parents already knew him. In fact, the whole time he and I were just friends, my mom would ask me, "What about Brock? How do you feel about him?" I'd just dismiss her questions. Maybe a mother just knows?

Anyway, back to our first date. We had a wonderful time. Since we knew each other so well, there was no putting your best foot forward or awkward moments. It was simply going to a dinner theater with your best friend. The only difference between now and a month earlier was that when Brock so much as grazed my hand with his, it sent shivers all the down into my toes.

After Magic Island, we went to the airport. Before, so much security, we'd go hang out at the airport for fun (now it feels like work!). We went to the airport hotel swimming pool and hot tub and talked way into the night as planes flew over us.

We even talked about marriage that night. There was no guessing about this anymore. We were going to get married!

THE STORY OF US: One Week

Remember what the Lord had told Brock during his fast? The next date he went on would be with his future wife. The whole time I knew Brock he'd never gone out on a date. He had been interested in a couple of girls but not very seriously.

We decided that night that we would wait for another week and pray about our feelings just to make sure. If we were still feeling very strongly, we'd go on a date.

I had never told a guy that I loved him (not in that way at least). However, I had to make a conscious effort not to say it to Brock during that week, because when we were friends, we'd say it all the time. During our phone conversations that week I'd say, "Love...nevermind," right before I got off of the line.

That week, our feelings didn't subside at all. They only multiplied, so we decided to go on a date!

THE STORY OF US: The Night It All Changed 2

On Brock's side of things, he had done a show on Wednesday night. It had gone horribly. On the drive home from the show, he began thinking about how badly the night had gone. He wanted to vent his frustrations. His best friend whom he grew up with and his assistant were in the car with him, but he didn't feel like talking to either of them about it. The only person in the world whom he wanted to talk to was me.

He got home way too late to call me, so he called me at 8:30 Thursday morning when he woke up. The only problem was that I'd already left for the day. So this was the first message that he'd left on my answering machine. It makes my head spin to think that the Lord began answering my prayer request (or "sign") that I made 12 hours before I made it.

Shortly after I got home that Thursday night, Brock came over to my apartment. He was still upset from the night before and I was jittery with excitement. After I let him vent his frustrations, I told him how I felt about him. He began to share his feelings about me, and we both realized that there was a lot of deep feelings for each other there. We simply didn't know it until then.

The only hesitation Brock had was that he though I wanted to be a child psychologist not a magician's assistant. I explained that I felt differently about all of that now. I told him that we could make it work. He told me something that I still cling to today. He said that he believed that we could do anything together.

THE STORY OF US: The Night It All Changed 1

As I said before, Brock and I didn't get to see each other as often as we used to because we were so busy. One Sunday night, Brock paid me a surprise visit on his way home from a show. We hadn't seen each other in two weeks, so when I opened the door to see him, I threw my arms around him. He picked me up and swung me around. Obviously, we missed each other. We hung out for a little while, and then, he went home.

On Thursday of that same week, as I was driving home from a full day of work and grad school, my thoughts drifted to him as they had been doing often over the last 4 days. In fact, feelings of more than a friendship...even a best friendship...were rising to the surface.

I began to dialogue with the Lord on that drive home. I told Him that I wasn't going to begin a relationship with Brock unless it was all the way. I was either going to marry him or stay friends because we were too good of friends to ruin it if it wasn't right. Plus, I didn't ever want to hurt him in any way.

So, I decided to lay down the fleece (Gideon in Judges 7). I asked the Lord for a sign. I wanted to be sure what the Lord wanted with our relationship whether to stay friends or commit to each other for the rest of our lives in marriage. So, I asked the Lord to have Brock come over to my house that night on his own accord if the Lord wanted us to deepen our relationship. This would be my sign.

This was a tall order. One reason is that it was 8:30pm on a weeknight and we lived 30 minutes apart. Another reason was that since Brock still lived in the town where all of our friends were, I usually went over to his house when we hung out. It would be unlikely for Brock to come to my house. Plus, we hadn't even talked since Sunday night when he stopped by. It would be really random for him to choose this night to come over.

When I got home, the first thing I did was check my answering machine (no cell phones remember). There were a few messages. They were all from Brock. Each message from him became more urgent. The first one said, "Call me." Then, I heard, "I have to see you." By the last call, he'd said, "I'm coming over." In that instance, I knew that my life was about to change forever.

THE STORY OF US: Time Passed By

Time passed and I graduated from college. I moved to a town 30 minutes away from Brock to begin grad school and work full time as a social worker. I worked with troubled teens.

Brock was completing his last year of college and doing shows on the weekends. Because of this, we didn't get to see each other as often as we used to. However, we were still very close.

In the meantime, I was dissatisfied with the direction my life was going. Everyone in my grad classes knew exactly what they wanted to do vocationally. I thought that I wanted to be a child psychologist, but I was having a difficult time being a case worker. Some of the teens I worked with were going through some heavy stuff. It bothered me that the only thing that would truly save them...a personal relationship with Jesus Christ...I wasn't allowed to offer them. The day that one of my clients didn't show up for our meeting because she had been hospitalized after trying to commit suicide, I knew that this career was too much for me.

At one point during this time, Brock was looking for a new assistant. I began daydreaming about chucking the 9 to 5 job and grad school and going on the road with Brock.

Until then, I thought that I wanted a typical life with the white picket fence and all. My husband would be a pastor and I would be a child psychologist. However, the Lord was changing my desires. I'm convinced that the Lord allowed me to pursue my own desires for several months just to show me that it was not what I really wanted. That way I would never wonder, "What if?"

Brock never even considered the possibility of me being his assistant (and also his wife because they would be one in the same) because he thought I knew exactly what I wanted in life. It wasn't the life he could provide. Instead, he prayed for someone to come along that would want this unique lifestyle. He prayed for someone who was compatible with him, someone just like Auny.

THE STORY OF US: Becoming Best Friends 2

We really clicked. I felt like I could tell him anything, and I did. We told each other anything and everything. He would share his plans and what was happening with his newfound ministry and I would discuss what I should do after I graduated. We even told each other about different guys and girls whom we were interested in.

We also both enjoyed having a good time. Brock would call me and say, "Can you come out and play?" To which I would always reply, "Yes!" No amount of studying or tv show or anything kept me away.

Often times, I would come over to his house and there would be a girl there. After I got there, Brock would make an excuse that we were going to the movies or something and would tell the girl bye. You see, Brock was the kind of guy whom girls (all kinds of girls...some even crazy) would throw themselves at. Although Brock never specifically told these girls that we were dating, he led them to believe we were.

Of course, a rumor began that Brock and I were together. When I was asked about it, I'd say, "No, that's just Brock. He's like my best friend."

THE STORY OF US: Becoming Best Friends 1

After that initial meeting, one of my closest friends, Marcus, became one of Brock's roommates. Therefore, I began spending a lot of time over at his house.

Brock's house was the place to be. I remember that they used to have lots of people over to eat. Brock was a big cook back then, too. They'd have these huge barbecues. Brock would say, "We have all kinds of food, chicken, ribs, burgers, whatever you want!" I quickly learned that I needed to bring my own side dishes because these bachelors only cared about the meat! The entertainment was always magic by Brock. We were his guinea pigs as he was first learning magic.

Marcus ended up becoming great friends with Brock, so Brock would come along when we would hang out. Brock's group of friends began to merge with my group of friends. Whenever a group of us would go out and do anything, Brock and I would be five steps in front of everyone else...literally. We were both fast walkers. Because of this, we would end up talking a lot and sitting next to each other wherever we went. More on this tomorrow...

THE STORY OF US: Where I Was Coming From

When I was in 7th grade, people would ask me what I was going to do when I grew up. Would I sing or be in the ministry? To this I would reply, "This is all that I know. My husband is going to be in the ministry and I am going to be very involved."

That was the story I stuck with all the way through junior high and high school, through our move from Florida to Texas my junior year of high school, and on into college because every time I asked the Lord what he wanted of me, this was the answer I received. My dad was a pastor and still to this day my mom is such a big part of his ministry, so I assumed this would be what my life would be like...a pastor's wife. I never quite understood why the Lord wasn't more specific, but I know now. If He would have told me that I was going to be a magician's assistant and travel all over, I would have laughed out loud and thought that I was hallucinating thinking that it was God who was telling me this.

Since what I did know was that my direction in life was wrapped up in my future husband, I would dream about how I would meet him and what we would do together. My favorite tv show was "Who's the Boss?" (Remember that show with Tony Danza?) Because of that show, I always wanted to be best friends with a guy and then realize, BOOM! we're in love like they did on the tv show. The only thing was how could you do that in real life? Wouldn't one of you know that you're in love while you are "best friends?"

THE STORY OF US: Where Brock Was Coming From

Brock was very skinny at the time, because he had just been on a 21 day fast praying about this new ministry he felt like the Lord was calling him to do...a ministry that some were skeptical about because they didn't understand how it would work...an illusion show combined with sharing the gospel.

During this fast, he had also prayed about his future assistant who would also be his wife. He felt like the Lord was telling him not to date but that he'd marry his best friend. In fact, He told Brock that the next time he went on a date, it would be with the woman he was going to marry.

This party for Gin where we officially met happened to be two days after he got off of that fast.

THE STORY OF US: Our First Meeting

Think back to August of 1997. No cell phones and no internet. What were you doing? Some of you were having a baby, or maybe you were a baby. Or maybe you were beginning your senior year of college like I was.

It was our first day back to college, and I was throwing my best friend, Gin, her traditional birthday party at Chili's (that was the place to go). As usual, there were several people there whom neither Gin nor I knew. One of these people happened to be Brock. He was back at school after taking a two year summer after his sophomore year. I had heard of the famous Brock Gill (famous at our school because of some of the things he had done...he was a legend) my freshman year but I'd never met him.

Here he was sitting at the head of the table. I briefly met him but didn't really get to talk with him, because he was at the other end of the large---very large---table. I did notice him, though...mainly because he was causing such commotion down at his end of the table. I was intrigued by this skinny, tall guy who was larger than life.

The Bahamas, FL, HA, and CA

Okay, here's the deal. We are going to be gone for about 3 weeks. First, we are working on the Music Boat Cruise that leaves today and goes to the Bahamas. We are taking Lindsey and Shannon with us. That will be fun for all of us! However, it will still be work. I think that it's going to be like the last time where we had late nights and early mornings. That's a little tough. However, as Brock says, "It's not a bad place to go to work!"

Then, Friday is our ten year wedding anniversary. We are going to stay in Orlando for a couple of days. We are staying at this place on I-Drive where we will just simply relax and hang out. We will go eat and sit in the hot tub. Basically, we are just going to wind down.

On Monday of next week, we are going to fly to Hawaii! We will spend a whole week (7 nights) there! I'm so excited! We've been planning this for a couple of years. I've actually been planning it for a lot longer since it's the only state that we haven't been to.

After that, we are going to spend several days in CA just hanging out. Brock plans to ride dirtbikes with some guys and I'm going to Disneyland one day. We've got some friends there, so it's always cool to visit. Then, we begin Spirit West Coast festival in Del Mar, CA on that Friday, May 22. Until then, I will not be getting online since I can't while we're on the cruise and I won't while we're on vacation. Therefore, I've prepared several blogs that will tell you the story of how Brock and I met and got together. In the end, I will show you some pictures. I hope that reading it touches you just a smidgen as much as it did for me to write it out and put it together. I'm sure that I will have lots of pictures and stories when I get back. Feel free to comment and I will read them later.

Good Times in Orlando

We ate some great Cuban food at the Columbia.

I taught Jacob how to do this stupid human trick while we were waiting to get a table.

Then, we went to Old Town where I rode my favorite ride the tilta-whirl.

It was bike night at Old Town, so there were tons of bikes there. This one had a HUGE tire.

Disney World

On the tram



This lady was at Disney to celebrate her birthday too! She was quite a bit older than Stephanie



First of all, this picture is hillarious! Lindsey has her hands straight up and that boy is looking at her. The funniest thing was what happened when we were standing in line for this ride. It's set up like a hotel. When we got to the "front counter" of the "hotel," Brock simply took out his wallet and held up his i.d. Out of habit, he was getting his i.d. out to give to the hotel desk clerk. Well, I guess that "hotel" that they created was very convincing!

We ate at a Moroccan place in Epcot. It was so good! We tried all sorts of desserts and of course, enjoyed Moroccan tea.

Night 3 of Texarkana FX

Here are clips of the last night of FX in Texarkana

Night 2 of FX in Texarkana

Some old friends of Brock's

Some of Brock's family

Brian and Stephanie Britt's kids with Tim Byrne

Mattie Britt riding a skateboard even after she fractured her arm doing the very same thing backstage the night before. I guess she had no trouble getting back on it! That girl's not scared!