Exciting changes in my future!!

          Since, Mark died in 2012, I have been humming along on auto-pilot.   I've become very involved in the Love Your Neighbor Clothes Closet Ministry.  I have helped with the Cub Scout Pack as the Committee Chairman.  There have been numerous bible studies that I have attended.  I spent time with my son, and I thought that I was happy.   That was until something changed that pointed me back to true happiness!

          In the Spring of 2013, I started praying for the man that God had for me.  I prayed that he be a Christian, but not just a Christian.  I wanted him to love Jesus so much, that the priorities in his life would always #1 God and #2 me.    Well, those guys are hard to find, so I wasn't holding my breath!  However, I was praying and waiting for God to reveal this person to me.   I talk very frankly with God, and he knew that I wasn't looking for a man to be in my life.  If he wanted me to find this man, then he would have to bring him to me.  My exact prayer to GOD was basically "God, you know I'm stubborn and I'm not looking, so if the right man comes along, you will probably have to hit me in the head with him to get my attention.  Also, I want to know that he is sent from you and not just a random guy, so can you please make us so drawn to each other that there is no mistaking this is meant to be."    Well...  That's not going to happen.  RIGHT?!?   Wrong!

           My neighbor, Faye, came to my house for a visit.   She started asking me questions about if I was in a place in my life where I could see myself dating someone new.  I'm pretty sure that I was in shock, and I believe I said yes and no.   Well, she goes on to tell me about this nice Christian Guy (Greg), who not only goes to church but talks about his faith.  She then begins to give me his stats...   He rides a Harley, he's divorced, he has a son, he's a nice guy, he has a good job, he was just looking for someone to hang out with, etc.  Of course my mind is screaming in my head...You don't do Motorcycles, Do you want to go out with someone that has a crazy ex wife (it didn't matter if she was crazy or not...in my head - she is) (or for that matter, do you want to go out with anyone at all),  he has a son (drama).     Well, she talked and I listened and thought I don't want to do this.   Well, I remembered all of those days that I prayed for God to send me a guy and for him to hit me upside the head with him because I wasn't looking.   This man was brought to my living room...I didn't go looking for him, I didn't run into him at the grocery store.  So, I felt that I had to give her my number so that I could see where this went.  Before she had walked back across the street, I was thinking to myself that I had lost my mind and I didn't want to do this.

        About 2 or 3 hours later, my phone rings.  I didn't recognize the number and I was in a bible study, so I sent it to voicemail.    After the bible study, I listened to the message...it was the Guy.    UGH!!    I immediately wanted to throw up!!  I visited with Jenny for a while which I usually do after bible study, then I went home and decided that 9 was too late to return his call.  I'll call him back tomorrow.  I was hoping that by then, I would have talked myself out of this, and it would be back to life as "normal".

        I texted him the next day that I would be available to chat if he wanted to call me between 6:45 and 7.   All the while I was hoping that he would be a jerk and I would have an excuse to squash this whole thing.    Well...at 6:45 on the dot, my phone rang.   UGH!!   Don't throw up, and answer the phone.    One of the first things he heard was my theory that motorcycles were death traps and I don't ride them.  He was ok with that.   Then we both talked about how we were NOT looking for spouses or a serious relationship, just someone to go to dinner with every once in a while.  We talked for a while.  Ok more than a while, more like an hour and a half.  He was very easy to talk to and a lot of fun.  We covered all the basis from our love of GOD, to our kids and jobs.   We laughed and told stories.   Now, if you know me at all, you know that I don't like to talk on the phone.   I'm a call, say what needs to be said, and get off the phone sort of girl.   So, I was shocked at how easy it was to talk to him for over an hour.  I immediately hung up the phone and texted my friend, Jenny.  The text said "CRAP, he's a nice guy!"  LOL!

        We texted for a couple of days and decided to meet at Jack in Lincoln.  Now, remember...my last first date was November 1997 (YEP...nearly 18 years ago).  The main reason we picked Lincoln  because the thought of a date with someone new made me want to throw up and I didn't want to have to explain to anyone that I was on a date-type-thing or whatever that was!!   So, go where you don't know anyone.  We met up at the Jack's parking lot.  He brought me two roses (one white and one Pink).  He said that he wanted to bring me something to show that he appreciated my willingness to meet him, and that he thought pink roses meant friendship and white was for purity.  He had no idea that Pink roses were my absolute favorite.   We sat inside for a little over 3 hours and talked (until they started to turn out the lights).  I nursed a coke (because I still had to overwhelming urge to throw up), and he drank about 5 cokes (probably because he was equally nervous).  Well, we had a good time after all, and we decided to see each other again.

        On Sunday, 3 days after we met at Jacks.  I went to my parents for lunch after church.  Greg went to Cheaha after his church service.   He called me that afternoon and we were talking.  He told me that he was sitting in a swing at the top of the Mountain.  During the conversation, he said that he wanted to take me to Cheaha and sit and talk in that swing because "it had our name on it".   I agreed that we would go one day.   Well, I don't know about you, but when I picture Cheaha and a swing, I picture a very lovely view and a very serene place.  Keep that vision in mind...you'll see why later.

        Fast forward through a lot of dinners, many many church services, a lot of going out, a Tim McGraw concert, many nights to cooking and hanging out at my house, several dozen roses, a few motorcycle rides (yes, his patience finally got me on the bike & I like it), a hike at Noccalula Falls, hanging out with Jenny and Larry, and several dinners with Jeremy and my parents, meeting a couple of family members, and much more, and you get to the reason for this post.

        On Saturday, August 29, 2015,  Greg had planned for us to go to Cheaha.  We were going to ride the Harley, but it was raining.   So, I thought we might cancel, but he said he was really looking forward to taking me up there to "our" swing.   Ok.   We load in the car and drive to Cheaha.   Once we reach the top of the mountain, it's misting rain, and we pull over into a broken up gravel parking area off the side of the road.    We get out and go sit in the swing.  He said "this is the swing I sat in and talked to you a couple of days after we me."   REALLY?!?   Let me set the scene for you.  Brace yourselves!!   The swing looks at several rotten or broken trees (No view at all off of the mountain).  To the right of the swing is a water tower.  The other things in your sight directly in front of you are a big rock, a power pole, and a broken concrete picnic table.  Not at all the lovely view that I had pictured.   Oh, and don't forget that we are sitting in the swing and it is misting rain.   Well, as we are swinging, Greg slides off of the swing and gets down on one knee.   He tells me that he loves me and that he wants me to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him.  I laughed and told him that he was crazy.  He just stayed there.   I asked if he was serious and he said yes.  It suddenly hits me that this man was serious.    Oh my...I didn't want to throw up, but I wasn't sure what to say either.   He proceeds to tell me that he ordered me a ring, but it won't be in for a few weeks.  So, he ordered me a Horseshoe nail ring (and was lost in the mail and hadn't been delivered yet either).   So, I said yes, and we sat and talked in the drizzly rain for a while about out future and our hopes and dreams.   We both talked about God and marriage.   He told me that he had been praying for his future wife for several months before meeting me.   I told him about my prayers for a companion.  GOD is good!!!  He also told me that when he was sitting in the swing 3 days after we met, he thought to himself that if he ever proposed to me...that would be the spot.   AWE!!

        I'll tell you about the rings...all 5 of them...later!!

        So, Greg Brown and I are getting married!!!!!  I love this man, and I'm so incredibly blessed that God saw fit to put him in my life.   God answers our prayers according to his plan, and I'm just thankful that I prayed for this man for all those years.    We have been doing bible studies and devotions together since we first started dating.    He is the first person I text every morning and the last person I text every night.  He has quickly became my best male friend...Jenny will always be my best female friend!   He gives the best hugs and makes me feel loved and protected.  He encourages me to be a better person and Christian.  I'm so excited to be able to do life with him everyday.  God will always be our #1, but I'm so glad that I am his #2!

Stepping out of Comfort My Zone

      As I sit here writing this at 5:20 in the morning, I realize that I should wait until I'm more awake to post it.   I should probably check for clearness of thought and spelling since I am not a morning person.  So, after a couple of corrections, here you go.  

      I was awakened around 4 a.m. with so many people on my mind.   So, God and I chatted for a while [actually, I talked and God listened].  In case someone doesn't know, God is a great listener.  He is always there and never too busy for me (or you).  I prayed for friends who were hurting over lost loved ones.  I prayed for friends who were sick, battle leukemia and kidney stones.  I talked to God about Jeremy and myself for protection of our hearts, soul, mind and body.  I asked for protection and health for my family.  Finally, I prayed for my friends both old and new.   All of these people are God-loving, bible reading people, and I'm thankful to have them in my life.  

      I often get so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of life that I don't stop to adequately evaluate my life and where I am in it.  I often just drift through from day to day without much thought.  Since Mark died, I have submersed myself into church and ministry work, but sometimes God wants us to be still and listen!  God knows that I am not good at that!!!   But, I try.  God knows that I'm not good at being still and listening because he made me and knows all my quirks.  I believe by listening to him, we learn that he wants us to take steps out of our comfort zones.

      He expects us to help others, speak to a stranger, or meet new friends.   In the last week or so, I have done all of these things and people that know me, know that this is HUGE!!  I'm normally content to stay in my box.  However, situations have come and I have acted on them.  It was completely uncomfortable and I was afraid, but I took a shot and talked to strangers.  Ive had a week where I have been so nervous and tied in knots that I have wanted to throw up more days than not, BUT GOD is with me.  I don't have to deal with fear often and this has been a pretty eye opening week.   I have a new sympathy for my friends that do struggle with worry on a regular basis.  I'm thankful for the reminder in 2 Timothy 1:7 that says

                           God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 

      My life has had several twists and turns in it.   Most of those twists and turns brought great enjoyment to my life, but some have been heart breaking.  I think sometimes that I wish I could had done without the hard twists, but without them I wouldn't be the person that I am today.  Romans 8:28 says

                            We know that to them that love God all things work together for good, 
                                       even to them that are called according to his purpose.

I'm so thankful that God is in control of my life and knows my path because I would just mess everything up.  So now at 5:47 a.m., when I should be sleeping, I'm sitting here on my bed talking to God, writing this post and watching the blinds begin to have a blue hue that let's me know that another day is beginning to wake up, and is well with me because of GOD.  

      I hope that everyone knows for certain that GOD loves them.  I am thankful for my friends and family.  I am honored to know that people care enough about me to pray for me and look out for me.  I'm thankful for contentment in my life and that GOD directs my path.  I'm also glad that GOD helps me fight through the moments in life when I want to throw up because of nerves or fear.  Trusting him is the only way to truly be able to step out of our comfort zone and see what will come!!!  GOD BLESS!!!