And So It Begins
Faith Barista Bonnie asks us to write about “Finding the One.” So today I offer up this reworked repost as a shot of encouragement to remind us that God is at work in our lives even when we’re not looking or asking.
April 1971.
Only eighteen months into my nursing career and already burned out in short-staffed critical care. I applied for a job in an OB/GYN office, but the doctors hired another nurse with hospital obstetrics experience.
In the meantime a young pharmaceutical sales representative announced his intentions to quit and return to graduate school, but his boss talked him out of it.
Only days after hire, the OB nurse discovered she was pregnant, and the doctors called to offer me the job.
Susan, one of the other nurses, told me about this cute “detail man.” The day he walked into the office, sample case in hand, my heart flip-flopped.
Our first conversation centered around the effectiveness of one contraceptive foam over another.
Susan did not like my current boyfriend, so she called Dennis into our workroom one day and told him to ask me out.
He claims he already intended to anyway, but I’m not buying it.
Saturday, May 1, 1971.
Our first date.
A concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra.
And he proposed three weeks later.
On his own. No help from Susan.
After he took me home to meet his family and his horses.
My doctors could hardly wait for the wedding.
During the following six months, they tolerated my “spaciness.”
For instance, the lab often called to tell me I’d done it again–rubber banded a patient’s lab slip to the cardboard folder that encased the Pap smear slide that was also marked with the patient’s name.
But the name on the lab slip and the name on the slide didn’t match.
I had to call several patients back to have their exams repeated.
For free.
We’ll celebrate our fortieth anniversary in December.
We’ve since realized we actually grew up on the same “street”–U.S. 27–though nearly 200 miles apart. His parents ran the family farm while he rode horses, and my parents ran a small motel on a lake while I wished for a horse.
And my horse’s name was Wendy.
We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails. ~Proverbs 19:21 (Message)
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Sandra, you both are beautiful. Sometimes we don’t know why something happens (our way or not) but like you show, I know God is behind it all. And God wants us all to be happy. He knows our makeup and wants to give us gifts, especially the gift of love from someone. I’m happy for you both. ~Stephie
What a lovely story – thanks so much for sharing it! I have yet to figure out how to put old photos into this computer – sometime soon, I hope. We, too, were married in December and celebrated our 45th at the end of 2010. Loved this prompt – fun to read yours especially and undoubtedly, it’s been even better to live.
diana recently posted..The Eyes Have It- Remembering Our Story
What a wonderful story. September will bring our 52nd (yikes!!) anniversary, if you can imagine. I sometimes comment that looking back is like reviewing a video of someone else’s life… so many different scenes, both joy-filled times and difficult ones, and all so far behind us now. I can see God’s hand in many situations, but that’s not surprising since I put Him in charge of my life back when I was a teenager.
Carol J. Garvin recently posted..The example of a dog’s devotion
I feel like I know you so much better for having read this. Thanks for sharing. You are blessed to have such a sweet and enduring romance!
journeytoepiphany recently posted..You’ve Been Invited To A Birthday Party
I love hearing your story of how you meet your husband. Thank you for sharing!
Katie recently posted..Looking Beyond
You are such a sweet couple and I am happy to congratulate you early on your 40th anniversary. Enjoyed your story very much!
Hazel Moon recently posted..I was 17 and then
Oh, Sandra, this is so sweet. Engaged after 3 weeks! But when you know, you know, and I guess 40 years later… you still know.
Congratulations on 40 years; that is a testimony.
(But no mention of the mannekin!) Oh well. Still a good story. I was wondering why a guy would be coming to the OB/GYN office– but your story explained it. LOL
path of treasure recently posted..Memories From Camp (my own writing prompt)