Love Stories

In the summer of 1977, my dad took a preaching job in the little town of Miami, Arizona.  I was 15 years old and ready to begin my junior year of high school.  I was excited about moving to a new place, excited to be going to a new high school and excited the congregation had a good sized youth group.  Within a few days of our move, our family friends - Owen and Sheila Sullivan and their three kids hosted a devotional for the youth.  My mom, dad and I went over early to their home that evening to have some time with just them. Owen took me aside as the teens began to arrive and told me that he had a young man he wanted me to meet.  He knew we would just be perfect for each other. That young man was Brian and over the next couple of years we dated, fell in love and after I graduated, we got married.  Owen was right.

Love stories are not perfect: sometimes they are messy and sometimes they are hard. When I look back at Brian and I's love story I see how God used those not so perfect times to shore up our commitment to each other, to show us how to truly love each other and to trust him to see us through.

"Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite."  I am sure most of you have heard or seen this quote.  It spoke to me the very first time I read it and it is on my top ten list.  I enjoy hearing the love stories of others and being able to see God's hand working things out for each couple, but as the quote says, "ours is my favorite." 

A while back, Amanda asked me to go with her to OC's Faith and Literature series with Nicholas Sparks as the guest speaker. I was excited to have a girl's night out with my daughter and excited about getting to hear Nicholas Sparks speak.

During his presentation he spoke about how his first three books were based on personal experience of family members. His first book, "The Notebook" was taken from the love story of his wife's grandparents.  The book and the film adaption make me cry every time.  Since Brian's diagnosis, I haven't been able to read or watch "The Notebook," it just hits a bit too close to home.


While Nicholas Sparks was speaking, I thought of the above quote.  I do love Brian and I's love story, it truly is my favorite. God's hand is so evident in our love story and I am praying God will continue to work in ours right up to the moment we are both home with him.