Our Story

Right between the meat and produce department at Price Mart…that’s where it happened. He asked me if I wanted to go do something after I got off work. The only words I could spit out of my sixteen-year-old mouth were, “I have to ask my mom.” That was the truth, but later I found out that he though it was a cop-out.

Of course I wanted to go do something with him. I had dreamed about it since the evening we spent together at a cash register about a week earlier. I was a cashier, and he was a sacker. As the evening went on (that first evening working together), we both secretly hoped that he would get to bag groceries at the end of my register as much as possible. I really tried to serve the customers well on that shift, but I admit I spent each available moment devoting my attention to him.

At the end of that evening we heard that a car had accidentally driven into a creek right next to the store. So what did we do after we got off work? We walked across the street to see the drama. I don’t think either of us cared too much about what was going on. We were just happy to have an excuse to spend a few more minutes together before we said good-bye for the evening.

After that magical evening of juggling my job and spending time with the guy of my dreams, I was hoping that I would be able to spend more time with him at some point. And it happened. His question to me about going out after I got off work, ultimately ended with a “yes”.

Our first date, as sixteen-year-olds, included playing video games and pool at an arcade (Can you believe he didn’t let me win at anything?), then playing dominoes with my family at home (I may have won a few rounds then). We’ve been together ever since, twenty-five years later.

After dating for almost seven years, we married and began our lives together as a family.

During the last nineteen years of marriage, we’ve been on some great adventures. Living the urban life in Seattle, and then Boston for several years was a time of growth and building trust in our marriage, learning to lean on each other and God away from our family. Moving back to Oklahoma, having kids, and adjusting to parenthood and a new career has been such a blessing and a time of growth as well. Our travels, friendships made, and ways that we have served together have been a part of our story too.

Even through all the wonderful adventures and journeys and days of laughter and growth, it hasn’t all been sunshine and roses. We’ve had some really tough times too. Living away from family. Losing a child through miscarriage. Living apart temporarily. Walking through struggles with friends and family. Financial burdens. Disagreements. Emotionally hurting each other. All these things have put stress on our relationship. And all of these things have brought us out stronger.

We are far from perfect. But we do know the perfect One who has paid the price for our sin, so that we can know how to walk through the trials, forgive when we hurt each other, and continue as a team that loves God and others.

I’m so thankful we met over that grocery bagging table. It was the beginning of a journey that continues still today.

I’m glad we met. I’m glad we’ve share this journey. I can’t wait to see the rest.