(taken September of 2007)

Today, August 3rd, marks my parents' 23rd anniversary! It's very exciting :)

Let me tell you a story that I know only parts of...

The first thing I remember my Mom telling me about first "meeeting" my dad was when she was on her way to an all-day sporting event sponsored by Word of Life. It was a group from her church, and they were short a few players. My dad, at this point, was unsaved, but was excellent at sports...all of them. So they went by, early one Saturday morning, to his house, throwing rocks at the window (I believe), to get him and his brother, Steve, to come with them to make up the rest of the team. My mom didn't know anything about my Dad at this point, but she knew Steve, since they were the same age and in the same grade at school. My Dad was about 18 and my Mom was about 15 or 16. So out come my Dad and uncle Steve. My Mom said her first thought was, "Uh oh" because Steve, the one my Mom knew a little, was a bit of a trouble maker. So naturally, she expected my Dad to be the same. But, she told me, she ended up thinking to herself, "I better watch it --I may end up marrying that guy!" 

When my Dad was growing up, his Mom sent him to Sunday School at a Methodist church not far from their house. My Dad's main motivation for being so faithful to it was the attendance record -he wanted to win the prize. So when, one week, he was too sick to go, he just decided to not go back. When he was in 6th grade, he was outside shooting hoops in the grade-school playground when he told God something. He said, "If You show me a way that I can know for sure that I'll get eternal life and go to heaven, I'll do whatever you want me to." At this point he's thinking he may end up having to shave his head and pass out tracts at an airport; but if that meant eternal life, he was willing. That Word of Life event that I mentioned earlier? That was the first time my Dad heard the Gospel. The same group of kids got my Dad to come to several other Word of Life programs that year. Finally, sitting in the Salem Devil's Gym (with the words "DEVIL'S DOMAIN" painted on one wall), listening to the speaker, he felt God speaking to him, telling him that if he didn't surrender now, go foward now, accept Christ now, he might never have another chance. So he did it. Right there, in the "Devil's Domain" my Dad gave his life to Christ.

My Mom grew up in a Christian family and got saved when she was young. Her family was very active in the church, her dad being an organist and both parents talented in instruments and in singing. They went to the only baptist church in the small New Englad town. When my Dad got saved, he started going to the baptist church. He learned so many things! For one, that Jesus did not chose a crown of thorns like he was taught at the Methodist church. In fact, he didn't even find out till much later that Jesus was coming back --boy, was he excited! He also found out that his lab partner, someone who he had sat next to since 6th grade, had been a Christian..and gone to that church. Not only him, but others! And they had never told him about Christ.

I believe that it was around this point that my Dad asked my Mom out...and she was so excited! She ran downstairs and asked her parents..and they said yes! She was so happy! So they had their first date... :)

My Dad was eager to learn all that he could, so often, after he would bring my Mom home, he'd stay up late talking with her Dad about spiritual things, learning all sorts of stuff.

That autumn my Dad went off to the state school for college. My Mom was still in high school. Sometimes on Fridays my Dad would come back early and meet her at her locker after school...she would look foward to it so much. He'd stay all weekend and they'd spend time together. Dad would also talk with my Granddad a lot, still learning as much as he could. Dad began to feel God leading him to become a pastor. My grandparents both went to Bob Jones University and suggested it to my Dad. After one semester at the state school, he transfered to BJU...hours and hours away.

Finally the time came that my Mom went to Bob Jones University... majoring in French, minoring in art. An exciting time :) My Mom was so head-over-heels that she (by her own admission) didn't focus on her school work like she should have. As a matter of fact, she can hardly speak French now. (don't tell her I told you!)

And my Dad proposed. They were at home in New Hampshire. They went to see the play of Little Orphan Annie, then took a walk along the beach, where he proposed. Obviously, my Mom said yes. They ate a late dinner at a small restaurant in the coastal town which is no longer there, sadly.

So my parents started asking my Grandfather for permission to go ahead and get married....but he would tell them to wait a little while... at least until after my Mom finished college. Finally they wore him down...and the date was set: August 3rd, 1985. My Dad had graduated that spring, and my Mom would be graduating in 86.

My Gramma made the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses. They were beautiful... (I'll post a picture when I can scan it in) The ceremony was at what's now called The Ridge Church...

They honeymooned at Cape Cod...and the seashell sand was atrocious!

Returning for my Mom to go to school, they rented a little apartment in a house in Greenville. 5 Years later, I was born. At that point, my Dad was working for the local rescue mission, had interned at a local church, and many other things. When I was only a year and half old, we moved to VA for my Dad to pastor his first church...and the new adventures began. :)

Over the past 23 years it's clear that God has blessed their marriage. I may only have witnessed 17 of the 23 years, but I've seen enough to know that God is in it. I've seen that when God is put first in a marriage, the marriage blossoms. Marriage is not easy work...I know this. But God brought them together, held them together, and will keep them together, because they are His.

Happy Anniversary Mamma and Daddy!!