Once Upon a Time.......

Once upon a time there was a little girl who dreamed of her wedding day.

Every night she would put herself to sleep by picturing all of the details of the wedding she would one day have. Instead of counting sheep, she counted bridesmaids. One by one she saw them walk down the aisle in their pretty dresses, holding beautiful bouquets of flowers. Eventually, if she was still awake, she would imagine herself in her own gown and the faceless groom that waited at the alter. She wondered who it would be that she would marry. Who would be her "Prince Charming"? After all, isn't that what a fairytale is all about.....
Time passed and dreams changed as the reality of life brought new visions of what love and romance would look like. As she became a young woman the girl sought a hero to deliver her from the pain and loneliness of the world in which she lived. After all, that's what happened in her favorite movie.......And it did happen for her, or so she thought.

One night as she was out with friends a young man asked her to dance......

He was home on leave from the Navy. She enjoyed the mystery and the excitement of being with him. When he returned to his ship she wrote letters to him and convinced herself she was in love. Several months later the young girl flew to visit him and her life was changed forever......

Her dreams of the perfect wedding were traded for a cheap and impulsive marriage in Tijuana, Mexico. A few days later, as her new husband's ship set out to sea, the girl returned home alone as a woman who would never be the same.

Throughout the months that followed the young woman learned more than she ever wanted to know. She learned about drug abuse, dishonorable discharge, mental illness, bi-polar disorder, verbal, emotional and physical abuse, marriage counseling.... And she learned what real loneliness looks like.

But then, just as things looked as dark as possible, a light appeared on the horizon. The woman discovered she was pregnant. From the moment she knew there was a life inside of her she felt a hope and purpose she had not known before.

As her daughter was delivered into the world she nearly lost her own life, but even in her weakness she discovered something new about her own strength and courage. She also learned a new definition for love. Sacrificial love.

When it became clear this baby was in danger of suffering the same abuse she had endured, the woman took her daughter and left. Again, she nearly lost her own life but she was determined not to be a victim any longer. Unfortunately, there are many ways to be a victim and fear held her in its grip for a long time........even as the man she had married went to prison, she lived in a prison of fear.

Then one night as she was out with friends a young man asked her to dance.......

He sent her cookies shaped like roses. Then he brought her real roses. He held her daughter and loved her like she was his very own. And when the woman discovered she was going to have his baby he married her in a ceremony with bridesmaids and flowers......


On May 7, 1988 I married a man who is still my very best friend. It hasn't been easy and we have been through a lot of good times as well as difficult ones. But we have gone through it all together. As we look back over the past 20 years we are amazed at what we see. I think the most amazing thing to me is that even before we were both walking with Him God had a hand firmly on our lives! To know that I am not only married to a good man but a Godly man is more of a blessing than I could have ever imagined!

Please click on the sound button below and watch the little tribute I have made to my wonderful husband on this, our 20th wedding anniversary. I love you Johnny.......