Our Love Story-6 Weeks to 10 Years

 

 Six weeks from today Steve and I will celebrate 10 amazing years of being married.  I remember our first anniversary like it was yesterday-seriously.  I remember being in awe of all I didn't know ahead of time (and would not have been able to know) and all that I had learned in such a short period of time.  Ten years seemed so far away.  Now, the years have flown like the wind.  Time is so fleeting isn't it?

We've walked through so many things in these ten years and there is so much we will continue to walk through as time goes on.  There have been many joys-we are on the cusp of having five children, a nearly completed Masters degree in Math, have many faithful, lifelong friends that we adore, and most of all we are more in love with one another than ever before.  And there have also been difficulties, losses, moves and times of extreme perseverance.  But something that we believe so strongly is this, "That he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."  Philippians 1:6.  Every step we've taken, from the very beginning has been God's good work in us, shaping us, changing us, causing us to persevere to look more like Him.  And this will continue for as long as we live.

The last ten years have been God's work. So in an effort to bring glory to Him, and in order to encourage others that God is the One who builds and sustains, I tell you our story, from the beginning.  I'll start today and continue on in segments for the next six weeks. It's not perfect nor is it the only way it should be done.  But it's ours.  And to me, it's beautiful because God has made it that way.

Also, I have to say, the original inspiration for writing our love story came from my dear blogger friend Jenny at the Life I Have Been Given who wrote hers a year or two ago now.  I'm blessed to know Jenny in real life and her story is just lovely.   Check it out too if you want...it's another amazing story of God's faithfulness and His unfailing way of bringing two separate souls into one.

 

Our Love Story

Part 1

Telling him "No," was so difficult.  I could see the hurt written all over his face.  He had been patient with me.  He had pursued me.  And he had done it well.  But Andy was right.  We didn't share quite the same faith and as a result, there could be no future for us.  I had waffled for so long over this decision because I really did like him.  He was extremely smart, responsible, a total gentleman, had great values and was unfortunately very good looking.  Basically, to my eighteen-year-old mind, he was the whole package and I had just sent him packing.  Bah!  Good thing I never let him kiss me.  If I had, it would've been even more difficult to let him go.

I ran back to my dorm looking for some time to myself.  I knew Julia, my roommate, would ask me what was wrong and I didn't want to explain it.  She was an atheist.  And although we both had a great love for one another and a mutual respect, I knew she wouldn't understand me letting go of such a great guy like Brian just because he was Catholic and I was Christian.  Not that it was horrible he was Catholic.  I didn't doubt he had a faith and a strong one in fact.  He had made that clear over the months we had been seeing each other.  But still, in my heart of hearts, I knew that there were big differences.  And these differences could prove difficult in marriage, and I didn't think I could handle it.  He deserved someone who shared his same beliefs as well. 

I almost couldn't believe I had done it.  No, I didn't want Julia to comfort me.  I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts.  I searched my room and nearly at once, my eyes fell on my Bible that was laying on my bed.  Part of me felt a bit resentful.  Yet, I knew I had done the right thing.  I knew it.  Despite that though, in my heart, I asked God over and over, "Will it ever even happen?  Will I ever find a man who will pursue me and love me, yet at the same time love You even more?"  It was all I could do to keep the tears away.  So I grabbed my shoes and headed out to the one place I knew I could run off some steam by myself...Poly Canyon.  As I ran the miles away, the tears flowed freely and some clarity began to return to my mind.  I had done the right thing.  There would be somebody else.