LOVE feature
Story by Ashley Elvington • Photography by Stacy Carter
THEIR RELATIONSHIP CHANGED IN December of 2014
when Bailey’s great-grandmother passed away. Having had a difficult time during the holiday season, Bailey had her spirits lifted the
day after Christmas when she traveled to New York to meet Joe’s
family. “This was the first time I met his mom and sister. I felt right
at home and grew to love his family during that trip.” It was then
that she knew Joe was the answer to her mother’s prayers. “I am so
thankful for God’s perfect timing. It’s not always easy to be patient,
but He has shown me time after time that He has one perfect plan.”
Caroline realized that perfect plan as well once she met Joe
in 2014. “I saw a sign once that said, ‘Remember, you are raising
someone’s husband or wife one day.’ I know Mike and I aren’t perfect and we haven’t gotten everything right as parents, but I do
think through God’s help we have raised a daughter who knows
how sacred m arriage is. I always told Bailey to marry someone
who treats her like her dad does. Mike did a great job taking her
on dates, opening up doors for her, and showing her how a woman
should be respected. He set the bar high as an example and she
found her man in Joe! He is a very caring man who enjoys showing Bailey his love. He writes her love notes all the time just like
her dad does for me. I liked Joe from the very beginning and now
I have grown to love him as a son. He knows how to love Bailey
and show that love to her. Beth and Joseph Gonzalez have done a
wonderful job in raising Joe to be the husband he will be. I thank
them for that.”
CAROLINE SHARES, “JOE HAS BEEN GREAT in building relationships with Bailey’s siblings. He realizes that
In May 2015, Bailey won a Facebook competition for a free pho-
when he marries her, he gets the whole Mills crew as a part of his family. After he asked Mike and me for our blessing, he
toshoot. “Little did I know, this was all part of one perfect plan.” On
drove all over the state to where each of Bailey’s siblings lived to ask for their blessing to marry Bailey. How great is that?”
May 23rd, she and Joe met the photographer at Boone Hall Plan-
If there’s one thing Joe has proven to Caroline and Mike so far, it’s that he’s dedicated - not only to Bailey but also to his
tation in Charleston for their free session. After an hour of casual
faith. “After receiving our blessing, Joe asked Mike if he would baptize him in the ocean over the weekend they got en-
shots, the photographer asked Joe if he wanted to change shirts
gaged. Bailey has a picture in her house of her dad baptizing her in the lake. Joe said he wanted to put a picture of himself
for a different look. Joe reached into his bag, but instead of a shirt,
being baptized beside it to remind them that Christ would always be the center of their home. He loves our daughter, he
pulled out a white book. “Confused, I asked Joe what it was and
knows how to nurture their relationship, he loves our family, and he promised us he would always love Bailey and take
he told me to open it. As I started reading, it told the story of a boy
care of her. For what more could a parent ask? Our prayers of her meeting a godly soulmate from the time before she was
trying to find his princess. Each page was filled with pictures of us
even born have been answered.”
from the time we were kids until now and talked about how God
As for Bailey, she’s eagerly anticipating the day she finally becomes Mrs. Joseph Gonzalez. “I look forward to spending
brought our paths together, even though we were from two total-
each day with my best friend, as there is no one that I would rather ‘do life’ with. I am excited to share our successes with
ly different places.” As Bailey reached the end, she read, “The boy
each other, but I also look forward to building each other up when we fail. I am especially excited to start a family of our
needed to ask the girl a question.” What was really happening fi-
own one day. I get butterflies when I think about him introducing me as his wife!”
nally clicked as Joe got down on one knee. Bailey joyfully accepted
While Caroline has stressed that there are times within a marriage when things can get a bit tough, Joe reminds Bailey
his proposal. “As a little girl, I never thought I would end up mar-
to always stay grounded. One of Bailey’s favorite quotes is by Max Lucado and states, “A woman’s heart should be so
rying someone from New York, especially when I have always lived
hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.” Bailey adds, “Joe is very good about reminding us to stay
in South Carolina. I’m so thankful for Joe and the smiles that he
balanced. The truth is, life is busy - especially when you are planning a wedding! But, he is very good at reminding me to
brings. Every day is an adventure! I am also thankful for the rela-
strive for spiritual growth and to make our relationship with God a priority.” One thing they do together is to send each
tionship I have with his family. I am gaining a new sister and the
other a random text message when they think of something for which they are thankful, listing it alongside a star emoji.
best set of in-laws for which anyone could ask. They have done an
“It is our own way of reminding each other to give God the glory - even for the small things!”
incredible job raising the man that will soon become my husband
Today, Caroline is praying that she will know how to be a great mother-in-law. “I couldn’t be more excited about Joe
and I have no doubt Joe will be an amazing leader of our house-
being a part of our family. The marriage of Bailey and Joe is a change in our lives that we embrace with excitement. God
hold… not only for us, but also for our children one day. This is just
is good...all the time! I am so thankful that God answered my prayers through Joseph Gonzalez. I can’t wait to see what
the beginning of happily ever after!”
the future holds!”
Caroline Mills resides in Florence, South Carolina, with her husband Rev. Mike Mills. In addition to Bailey, they have three children: Taylor, Colin, and Callie. Caroline is employed with the Pee Dee Education Center in Florence.
Bailey Caroline Mills resides in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and works in medical sales for the Southeast territory for Zeus Industrial Products. She and her fiancé Joseph Timothy Gonzalez will marry on April 23, 2016.
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FEBUARY 2016
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