Jun 29, 2006

Happy 15th Anniversary to Us!


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Every time I say fifteen years, I have to stop and think, "is that right, could we have possibly been married 15 years?". I know to you couples who have been together more than 15 years, this is no big deal but to me it's HUGE.

God is so amazing! I sit and wonder what I did to deserve to sleep beside him at night and to watch him laugh at the same old reruns of Hogan's Heroes, to make his coffee in the morning and loosen his tie after church. The only conclusion I can come to, is that God is full of grace. Other than my Lord Jesus, Johnny is the loveliest gift God ever gave me,

We met one night at his cousins wedding. His cousin and I had been best friends since we were very small. And although I had never met Johnny I knew all about "Cousin Johnny". David bragged on Johnny like he was 7 ft. tall and could move mountains. We had been spending time with the same people all our lives, in the same houses and for some reason we never crossed paths.

Finally, after living our youth with the same people we finally met, God knew it was time. Johnny was not 7 ft. tall and I doubt he could move mountains in the literal sense but he was something special. I couldn't tell you what it was, but there was just something about him; a sincere sweetness. I loved him from the first time he spoke to me.

The wedding went off well, Johnny was best man. I can still remember him standing against the wall with a starched white dress shirt, crisp blue Wrangler jeans, and snake skin boots. I can remember what I was wearing too, I can even remember the smell in the room. He was so shy, he could hardly talk to me, I think I did most of the conversing. We got along perfectly from the beginning and stayed by one another's side the whole evening.

After the reception he asked if he could take me home and because my ride was now on his honeymoon, I accepted. It was actually a very quiet ride home, we didn't talk much but I thought about him all night. Was this guy going to change my life, who I am and how I think? He pulled his yellow Buick into the year, killed the engine. We sat in the dark for a moment and then simultaneously got out. He said he wanted to see me again and after he gave me his phone number and told me to call him, he leaned towards me and kissed me on the cheek. I waved goodbye and floated into the house.

"This is the one, Mom", I said as she realized it was me coming through the door. "Mom I'm going to marry this one." She sleepily replied, "okay dear" and drifted back to sleep. I lie in bed most of the night thinking about how he kissed me on the cheek, he was defiantly different then all the other guys I knew. There was something sweet about him and I loved it.

After waking the next morning I immediately thought about his phone number written on a crumbled piece of paper in my purse. Wait, what if he didn't really want me to call, what if he was being nice. I thought all morning about it and was just too scared to call him. I didn't. I was so upset the entire morning thinking about this guy. What if I never seen him again, why was I so silly.

I heard mom call dad from the window in the kitchen, "someone keeps driving up and down the street" she told dad in a bit of alarm. I ran to the window, it was him! He had come to me! I watched him drive past my house more than 6 times before he finally stopped. I was elated. I couldn't believe it was him. I walked out and said, "Hi" he said "Hi" and 8 months later I gazed into his blue eyes, held him trembling hands and said "I do."

There really was something very sweet about Johnny and not until much later did I realize what it was. Johnny had accepted Jesus as his personal savior just weeks before we met. The sweetness, it was Jesus in him. I'm sure that our lives were orchestrated by God for a very special purpose; 3 beautiful children who love the Lord and a family of Croatian believers who love the Lord.

All I can say, is God is so good and Johnny I love you!

14 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary, Tori! I loved your love story!

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  2. I caught Johnny reading my Blog this morning. He never reads my blog, of all days to start. *Ü*

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  3. Happy Anniversary Tori!!! I so enjoyed reading about how you met. What a sweet story and you are a sweet couple!
    Kelli

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  4. Happy Anniversary!

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  5. Anonymous3:42 PM

    Happy 15th!!!

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  6. Happy Anniversary to you and your sweetie!

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  7. That was a wonderful love story, Tori! Happy Anniversary!!

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  8. Congratulations on 15 years. It is a big deal considering a lot of marriages these days only last a couple of years. My brother in law just had his first anniversary to his second wife and they are already talking about calling it quits. But you know, Tori, it's because God is not number one in the marriage. When God is in the middle, there is unity. It's like an illustration that a preacher gave a long time ago, marriage is like a triangle. If God is at the top of your marriage triangle, you are at one corner and your husband is at the other corner, the closer you and hubby move to God, then you become closer together. We will be celebrating 16 years in December and it's a big deal to me too!!

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  9. Congratulations and Blessings to you on your anniversary and to many to come!

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  10. Happy, happy anniversary! What a sweet love story!

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  11. Happy Anniversary, Tori. What a great story. I said a prayer for you and your husband to continue with the happiness in Him that you seem to have now. Blessings.

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  12. What a sweet story, Tori! Congratulations and best wishes for many more happy years together.

    Blessings,
    Mrs. C (hartt from L&B-hee hee)

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  13. I know this is a very old post....but I am enjoying reading your blog and "getting to know you" better. Beautiful story of meeting your husband...and lovely picture.

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