That Jacuzzi Guy.......

My wise husband and I both agreed tonight what a miracle it is that we ended up together.....

Don't get me wrong, we know that God had His hand in our union but we remembered tonight, agreeing wholeheartedly, that it is in fact a miracle we ended up together at all.

I first met my husband on labor day weekend.  He was making out with one of my closest friends in the Jacuzzi.  At the end of that weekend, she was completely smitten with him.  He asked for her phone number and kindly never called her.

We didn't have alot of nice things to say about him for about 2 1/2 months.

One night, a guy a used to work with, handed me his phone and said "Here.  Talk to him while I change my clothes."  I didn't have any idea it was the "make-out in the Jacuzzi, never call my friend" guy....

So after several minutes and the discovery of his dark past,  we began to talk about random things like the economy, the future of interest rates and what I was doing next weekend.

I hung up the phone and had the strangest feeling about this Jacuzzi guy.

We dated for six months and got engaged.  

He accepted a job on wall street and after we were married, I would follow him there.  

I never moved to the big apple......

I didn't marry him then.  

There were people whom we deeply cared about that didn't think it was wise for us to be together.  We were distraught and deep in prayer and counsel.  We were lost and devastated. Should we defiantly go against the wisdom of our loved ones?......or wait?......

Six weeks before the wedding, after all the invitations were addressed, flowers and honeymoon paid for.......we called the whole thing off!!

For the next 18 months we didn't speak.  My heart was shredded.  He lived on one side of the country and I remained on my side.....There were alot of hurt feelings.

We both moved on.  We dated other people.  We didn't look back.....

Until........

18 months later......

He called me.  

I avoided his calls, his messages.

But.......I used to have a device on my phone called "Call Waiting"......Do you remember this?  So, not thinking, I clicked over........

it was him!

I suppose, looking back, I could have just hung up on him.  I didn't owe him anything at that point and I had absolutely no desire to talk with him or see him....

He wanted to talk.  He was in town temporarily on his way to North Carolina to get his MBA.  Would I please just have lunch?

I refused to sit across from him, face to face.   It was way too forward, too intimate.  

I didn't want to have a meal with him because my stomach would be in knots.....

I agreed to a quick game of tennis, I would meet him there.  Seemed safe enough, plenty of distance between us.  We could keep it light, I could assure him there was no hard feelings and send him on his way in about an hour.  Even quicker than a meal would take!  

Well...... 

when I saw him....

heard his voice..... 

my knees could barely hold me up.  

My heart spoke to God "Please do not start this up again!! You cant be serious!! Please God, do not ask me to walk into this again!! It will not turn out well!! It cant go anywhere!!"

God, in fact, had His own plan.  Mine was not considered.

Six weeks after that tennis game, we got engaged.  

Six weeks after our engagement....

we were married!!

Its 22 years later!! Wedded bliss, you ask???? I don't know.  Its been as God intended it, I guess. 

 Its been beyond my imagination at times, take-my-breath-away wonderful!  

But also very scary and lonely times, too!!

But one thing I am sure of is that there was and has never been a doubt that this is the man God has chosen for me to share my life with......to partner with......to learn with.......to cry with......to raise children with......to balance check books with, sledge block walls with, and bury loved ones with.    

I can say this with certainty, even when the climb is long and uphill.

It really is a miracle...

We are blessed.....

Me and that Jacuzzi guy......