Love Story

It seems that during the holidays, many people (at least women) get a bit sentimental and "mushy." I don't know if it's the Christmas lights, the music, or the over abundance of yummy food, but I thought it would be a good time of year to share our "love story."

December of '96 was when my hubby and I had our first date. He asked me to see the Nutcracker performed by the Boston Ballet. I loved it. It had always been one of my favorite performances, so he got "brownie points" right from the beginning, but our story began long before that date.

You see, we met back in the early '90's when his father became the pastor of our church. We were teenagers at the time and though he was nice, I didn't "pay him much mind." Poor fella - as my in-laws tell it, he was mesmerized by me from the beginning. After high school, I went off to

college and we wrote maybe all of two times, but there was definitely no "relationship" with which to speak.

After finishing college in '96, I came home and took a job at a day care. During the summer, we would often go out after church for fries or ice cream. Many times, his younger brothers would tag along (they were ages 4 & 8 - I think). He later told me that he decided "not to get his hopes up" and would "just be friends" with me, even though he was interested in more.

By the fall, we spent more time talking and "hanging out." I didn't tell him I was interested in him, but butterflies "danced" in my stomach every time I saw him. When he asked me to see the Nutcracker, I just couldn't bring myself to tell him my feelings. The poor guy had to wait until February - and even then, I wasn't too clear about what I was feeling. I will say, I married a very patient man!

During the spring of '97, my husband decided he would go go away to college in the fall. I couldn't believe it! The pressure was on! I decided that if I didn't tell him my true feelings, I might not ever get the chance!

After letting the "cat out of the bag," he and I spent quite a bit of time together that summer. He would often come visit me at work, and we usually went out on Saturday nights when he was done at his job. The summer seemed to go by waaaay too fast!

August came, and he left to go to Bible college. I took a teaching job about an hour from where I grew up. We spoke on the phone every time we had the chance! One time, the phone company actually shut off my phone because they thought someone else was making all those long distance calls!

It was true for us that "absence makes the heart grow fonder." By the time he came home for Christmas break, we started talking about marriage. You see, we had know each other for 6 yrs, and his whole family pretty much "adopted" me before he and I had ever become serious. I don't really think there was any surprise that we decided to get married the next summer.

We were married in July of 1998 and honeymooned at a quiet bed and breakfast only an hour from the church. It wasn't fancy or extravagant, but I still am very glad that is where we spent our first week together. A widower owned the place, and we were the only guests for most of the week. There was beautiful weather, a pool, and the owner even grilled us dinner! It was perfect!

After the honeymoon, we headed to PA (where he had attended school), to look for housing. God worked it out in that we found a place to live on the last day we were there! We moved in August and I began teaching at a Christian school at the end of the month. My hubby attended Bible college and worked part time.

My hubby has many good qualities, but what attracted me to him, is his tender heart and giving spirit. In some respects, he is my complete opposite, but in other ways we are very similar. I know the Lord brought us together and I am so happy to be his wife!