Does it amaze anyone else how quickly life can change?? Do you think
there is a reason? A purpose? I sure do. Five and a half years ago as I was celebrating my 30th birthday, I never would
have thought this is where my life would be, and I'm sure my friends
and family didn't see it coming either. I mean, prior to my 30th birthday I was
living out of the trunk of my car, sleeping on friend's couches,
thinking to myself "I can save money this way and then get my own place
again." Yeah...too bad I wasn't saving anything. I was basically
living, well, for lack of a better word a "fast" life.
Shortly after my 30th birthday, at the end of July 2004, I decided to leave it all behind, I moved
back in with my parents -- I kind of felt silly, ashamed, but something
(SomeONE) told me it was the right thing to do -- I NEEDED to get away.
It was actually nice spending time with my parents -- as an "adult" you
look at them so much differently. It was also nice being able to see my
cousins and aunts and uncles more (who all live nearby). After a while of searching I had a job and on August 27, 2004 was reintroduced
to an old college friend of mine...now, I'm not sure how I feel about
"love" at first sight, but I remember our first hug and feeling a
tingle and something in my head said, "this is the man I'll marry."
Mark met my parents and I was slowing starting to move my things into
his house.
On October 26, 2004 (a day that is forever ingrained in my head) I was at my parents, loading up some
more things in my car...my Dad and I sat on the porch and talked. He
said, "You seem very happy...Mark is a good guy....guess the Lord was
just waiting until you turned 30." My Dad knew too that this was the
one, he didn't have to say it, I didn't either. I left the house that day saying - as we always do in my family - "I love you" and my Dad said it too.
Tragically, on October 27, 2004 my Dad passed away suddenly and most
definitely unexpectedly...I dealt with it in odd ways, and some days
still it will just hit me...but I don't think I EVER would have been
able to deal with it at all if it weren't for spending the last few
months with him, our deep talk on Faith, and the support of Mark.
Mark kept his promise to my Dad, he has taken care of me...we got
engaged on Christmas 2004 and married in September, 2005. But sometimes
when I look back where I was almost six years ago I think WOW and then I smile
and think "You were right Dad, the Lord really does work in mysterious
ways AND His timing is always perfect."