“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around." -Bob Marley

I'd like to tell you a story...

Once there was a girl.

And the girl had a rough childhood.

Her mother left her when she was a young teenager and her father was uninterested. 

The girl grew up and met a guy. 

Girls need love and this guy was the first to offer, so she accepted.

And they got married.

A year later they had a baby girl.

The guy decided she was no longer enough for him and he left.

And the girl was alone again. 

(but not really)

Once there was a guy.

He was a down to earth ordinary sorta guy.

He grew up in a model family and was the model good kid.

Guy never met a girl that he would want to spend his life with so never even dated.

(God was saving him for someone special)

Guy and girl met when girl was moving into her home with her husband.

Girl thought he was nice and tried to match him with every one of her friends.

None of them were interested.

Guy and girl were quiet people and would play cards in the kitchen 

why their friends were drunk and strung out. 

(they became friends)

When girl had baby girl, guy was chosen as godfather.

Guy took his job seriously.

When girl's husband left guy would anonymously take care of girl and baby girl.

Mowing the lawn, a bag of groceries on the front porch...

(but girl always knew it was him)

Girl moved to Jersey with baby girl.

Guy would call and they would talk for hours.

While in Jersey Girl went to a prayer meeting and heard the Gospel for the first time.

God did a miracle in the girl's life and saved her.

(but that was just one of the many miracles He was doing)

Girl moved back to Maryland and spent a lot of time with guy's family.

Before too long, guy and girl realized they really liked each other.

They rented their first apartment and started their new family.

Guy and girl created a new life together.

(yours truly)

Guy wanted to get married.

So he asked girl.
But girl was afraid to trust again and said no.

Guy asked again.

Girl still carried scars and, again, said no.

Guy asked again.

Girl said no.

Guy said that whether girl ever realized it or not, in his heart, she was already his wife.

(and she was)

Girl realized one day she didn't have to let her past keep her from her future.

She loved guy and desperately wanted to marry him.

But she didn't think he would ask again.

So she talked to a friend.

And her friend said she would have to ask him.

So she did.

(and he said yes)

Guy and girl were married right before Christmas.

It snowed that night.

The cops pulled them over on the way to their reception because their driver was speeding.

Girl bribed the cop with Godiva.

And that is a sampling of what their future life would be like -in a word, fun.

Shortly after their wedding guy came to know Jesus too.

They were complete.

God blessed guy and girl with the big family they dreamed of.

Despite the doctors saying they would never have anymore kids.

(you may laugh)

Guy and girl are far from perfect.

They had a hard start and will admit they made mistakes.

The past rears up it's head sometimes.

But they work through these times together and use them as a time to grow closer together.

(scars are beautiful)

Guy is my father and girl is my mother.

Today is their anniversary.

Happy Anniversary, yous guys.

(you are my inspiration)

Love you forever.

PHOTO CREDIT: SUSAN SCHMIDT