** There were those who questioned whether or not we were making the right choice because we were young and had not dated long, but one brother asked me the most important question. He asked, "Have you prayed about this?" and when I responded with a yes his comment was, "OK. I trust your prayer life." I've never forgotten that.
** This same brother, played a song for me by a guy named Wayne Watson called "Somewhere in the World" when I was 16. It's a precious song that still brings tears when I hear it. But what he told me was that he was praying for my future mate.
** My mother discouraged me from being serious about one boy in high school. She said, "date them all"...she didn't mean it the way some might take it. She encouraged me to have a solid friendship and then see if there was a possibility for more...which turned out to be good advice for me. Many times before the solid friendship was in place...they moved on. Many times I was sad, but not devastated because I was guarded in the first place.
** One time, not long out of high school, a boy I dated in high school came back around. This one I was more serious about. He had broken my heart. Unsure if I should give him a "second chance" I asked my dad what he thought. His response was an almost immediate "no". "If he didn't know what a treasure he had the first time, he doesn't deserve you." Hmmm. Turns out, that I tried...but could not muster up the feelings I previously had for him.
** This summer marked 20 years since I graduated from High School. Living here, prevented me from attending the reunion, but I have been in touch with several people that I haven't heard from in...well, 20 years. It has sparked a FLOOD of memories. Memories of all kinds...
** There were a few guys that, at one point, I thought I might/could marry. They met MOST of the criteria. Now, the truth of the matter is...I used my brother (the one mentioned previously) as a standard. After a few years, I began to despair of ever finding ANYONE remotely like him, because to me he was nearly perfect. So...I finally gave it completely over to the Lord and said, "You'll bring him to me when it's time...IF it's ever time. Until then, I'm through dating." And true to my word. I stopped dating. It was a relatively short wait...When the King finally called to "tell me out" on a date (I probably would have said no...because, technically, I wasn't dating)...it only took one date to know he wasn't like any of the others I'd dated before. After the second date...I knew he was the one. I had been praying about it too long to not know the answer when it was given.
** The King told me that he had asked his mom how he would know when he met "the one" and one of the things she said was, "she'll complement you." Notice the spelling...E not I. Here are some synonyms for the word complement: "balance, harmonize, match, go together, counterpart, supplement, round out, make up for, complete" My, now, MIL said, "bring out the best in you."
** Now...when I think about the choices of guys put before me and think about the ones I ALMOST chose...I'm grateful for these things: 1) that God has a plan for me that He knows, 2) that I was trusting in Him, 3) that there were people in my life willing to guide me along, 4) that The King was (is) a Godly man, 5)that he said yes, when I proposed. :)
** In our marriage, we have had many friends whose marriages have ended along the way. It's been painful for us to watch, but also makes us more determined to make it work.
** I truly cannot believe that 18 years is here. Can it be? Are we really that old? Well, not old...but older. I still feel like that young thing that wore a white dress to meet my best friend at the altar. After all these years, he still makes my heart skip a beat and for many more reasons than he did back then. I truly cannot imagine what my life would be like and where I would be if it had not been him by my side all this time. So, in honor of our anniversary, I pulled a few pictures to celebrate some of the joys of our life. Were we still in the states, I'd have many more pictures to choose from...but these'll do for now.
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Babe, you're still the one...you always will be.
9 comments:
Oh how your post encouraged this weary, single girl's heart!! You should write more about it. Thanks for blessing me today.
Happy 18 years!
Congrats on 18 years! Love yall.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! I just finished giving the shout out to JennyPen on their 7-YEAR anniversary, so now I'm over here wishing you a very happy and sweet celebration day. You and your husband are such an encouragement in more ways than you may realize. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
There is that beautiful face that I have been waiting to see. Congratulations! Your marriage has challenged me and blessed me in so many ways. You guys are loved and so missed!! May the Lord bless you with many more.
Love-
flea-dog :)
Well, first of all, thanks for making me cry all my makeup off! Definately tears of joy! I am so thankful for both of you. I could tell after ya'll's first date, that you were "the one" for my big brother. He wouldn't stop smiling! You bring out the best in eachother. I am so thankful, HE brought ya'll together. I love ya'll so much. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!
What a sweet and special thing you have done in this blog. You are such a precious daughter-in-law. Our son is so very blessed to have you as a life partner. I cherish you and thank God for your commitment through the worst of times during his illness. Thank you for loving our son. Love, B & J
Hope your day is wonderful and you have many, many more together! Love you both so very much!!!!
Happy Anniversary Sweet Friends!
The Hargis Family
Stopped by to tell you guys Happy Anniversary! I didn't realize it's been EIGHTEEN years! I hope you had a wonderful celebration.
P.S. Tell your hubby (of all 18 years) thanks again for marrying us seven years ago today. I can't imagine anyone else doing so, and it still means so much to have walked through such a special event with the two of you!
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