What next???

Well, as young married, 16y/o, but in college where did we fit in at Church with Sunday School???  Hmm…  we didn’t!!!  So, we taught 6th grade Sunday School ♥

Yes, we had our little tiffs about something the other said that hurt our feelings, finances, intimacy, and all of the other normal newlywed issues.  But, overall, we spent the next few years growing closer as best friends.  We spent hours together playing rollerblade hockey, jumping on the trampoline, and studying for nursing school.  We even bought a bulldog named Princess.

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As money allowed, we were able to move out of David’s parent’s house & into our first apartment.  How exciting!!!  We moved in with a TV tray, 2 Nintindo chairs and a waterbed handed down from my parents.  With work and school, things were pretty busy!  We really didn’t need much else!

After one long day at school, I was driving home when someone started to come into my lane on the highway.  I swerved to miss the vehicle and immediately threw my car into a fish tail.  I remember trying to think through what to do, but instinctively, I hit the brake.  Wrong choice…  I spun around several lanes of the highway and ended up facing traffic.  The van in the fast lane hit me head on just before I would have slammed into the center concrete divider.  Stuck in the middle of a not so good area of Dallas in a situation I had never had before, I tried to keep it together, yet I was obviously shaken.  Luckily, the man that hit me was extremely nice, yet I was still trying to figure out what all was going on when my Dad walked up from nowhere!  Tears welling up in his eyes, he put his strong arms around me and asked if I was okay.  I was very confused about everything, but I knew my Dad would know what to do.  He helped me exchange information with the other driver and then he helped me to move my car off of the highway.  From there, he drove me home because I was too shaken to try to drive anymore.

My dad worked for the Fire Department and on occasion, drove a SUV with lights around the city.  Apparently, that was one of those days and he just happened to be driving by on the other side of the highway when he saw me standing there at the wreck scene.  Because of the lights on his SUV, he was able to make his way through the rush hour traffic that I was backing up :-/  What are the chances that would happen?  God knew I would need his loving embrace and comfort that day.  Looking back on that day, I can’t believe all of the details that had God’s hand written all over that event.

What year is this???

In ancient history, it was not abnormal for people to get married as young as 14 y/o.  However, in more modern times, 16 y/o marriages are almost unheard of unless you need to announce a pregnancy as well.  Which, just to clear up any doubts, was NOT the case with us!  We were honestly just in love!

Also, in ancient history upon betrothal, the groom would go and prepare a place in his father’s house for his new bride.

John 14:2-3 (NIV)

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

This is exactly what David did!  He prepared a room for us in the attic of his parent’s house that would be our home for the next 1 1/2 years.

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So, our marriage might have been archaic in rituals, but nevertheless, it was meant to be.  It was obvious to us that God had chosen us for each other.  I’ve had many people ask how we knew, but I just know that we did.  Every time we prayed about it, it was confirmed.  Every time we were together, it was confirmed.  Looking back, all I can say is that God was speaking to us and we listened.  I had no fears, no doubts, I just knew.

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So, we carried on with the engagement.  This picture is of our wedding shower.  I love seeing the dot matrix banner in the background!

I did graduate high school and have a semester of college.  David had a year of college by that point.  So…

On January 2, 1993, 2016_02_08_10_26_06.jpgfor richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health we devoted ourselves to each other.

Ok- for those of you wondering…  Yes, we stayed in town for our honeymoon because we couldn’t rent a hotel room on our own at 16 & 17 y/o…  Yes, we went to Six Flags, the zoo, and the botanical gardens for our honeymoon!  Laugh all you want, but I was married to the man God had for me and that was enough for me 🙂