Father/Son Retreat

"Every Father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice." - Unknown 

Our Church rented a few beach houses for the men to have a Father/Son Retreat.  

The set up was simple. 

The Church rented several large beach houses for 2 nights and provided dinner both nights. 

The rest of the time it was free-range for you to do what ever you and your son would like to do.

 The view outside their window.

They spent time jumping the waves. 

And, then warming up in the hot tub at the house. 

Then, Beloved took them to a Battleship. 

The obstacle course playground

The Pier....

Hanging out with some fishermen.

So, what did us girls do?


Friday:  Olive Garden Cheese Cake Run.  Build a Bear Shopping.  Pizza and a movie at home.
Saturday:  Shopping at the mall. LoneStar Restaurant. Shopping Again and a movie again.

Baby is here.

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."

- Eda J. Le Shan

The Little Lass was born on May 29th at 7:58am.  She weighs 7 lbs 10 oz.   She was 20 inches long. She has brown hair.  The Little Lass was born by vbac with no medication and no complications.

I guess since I shared my birthing compications early. I should actually share for the first time one of the birth stories!  Here goes...

Instantly I woke up at  4pm on Tuesday morning. I had a small jolt in my stomach area.  It disturbed my slumber which was significant because I had not been able to sleep well the entire pregnancy and particularly the last several months.   I wasn't sure what it was at first.  I was dealing with pre- eclampsia swelling and the nerve pain of shingles that traveled from my back to the front of my stomach for several weeks.  Was this labor? I couldn't tell.  Was Beloved awake already? Probably. Even if he wasn't awake. He sleeps as light as a feather.

"I think that I might be in labor."  I said softly.

He responded. He always does.

I turned on my computer and checked my blog, email, etc.

Around 4:30am,
"I am not sure if I am in labor but it appears that I am having contractions."

We decided to get up and get ready and start our day. He got up and took a shower.  I hung out in bed  a little longer.  One of my cousins from Alaska (I grew up there) and I were texting back and forth. He had just come off of one of his mining shifts. (He text me to see how I was feeling, etc. I did not tell him I thought I was in labor.)

5:30  Dragging myself out of bed was not easy. But, I did it!  I took a shower!
          Beloved texted my Mom.

5:50  Beloved goes and gases up his truck. He has been gone all week on a business trip and hadn't used his truck.  My Mom arrives while he is gone.   (My Mom and Dad are camping in their 5th wheel at the same campground waiting for me to go into labor so they can help out with the other Kiddos.) 

6:00  There is no doubt that I am in labor. Experiencing contractions but nothing uncomfortable. The contractions flow lightly. I am able to walk through them and pack a small bag for the hospital. Grabbing a night gown, clothes for the little one, extra newborn diapers -- all those small little items that make you feel like you are taking a little bit of home to the starch white wall hospital room.

Just as I finished up placing everything in the suitcase, Beloved poked his head into the door and said, "Are you ready to go ?"

I wasn't sure.
The contractions didn't feel uncomfortable really and from what I remembered of having contractions this was only inconvenient contractions. I don't want to get to the hospital to be told to go home or walk around and come back later.

My Mom piped up and said, "Her last two contractions were 2 to 3 minutes apart."

 "Oh, Really?"  I thought.
 I said,  "Well, Let's go then."

I hadn't been keeping track of how far apart or how close they were because they weren't uncomfortable. I was walking through them and talking through them.  So, we headed to the truck. And, then I tried to get in the truck.  It didn't work well. I had a contraction and it hurt to sit down. I sat down and immediately had to get out of the truck.  A contraction! Once the contraction was over, I was able to get into the truck.  I had sporadic contractions on the way to the hospital about 2 to 5 minutes apart. Once again, I was thinking I would probably get to the hospital and just like one of my other labors I would stop contracting once I got there.

Stopped to have the gate guard looked at our Id's.

The military instillation was hopping! PT (exercising) was going on all over the post/base. (For non-military people that means that thousands of men are everywhere running up and down the roads and sidewalks and doing push ups in the field, etc. This means some roads are closed on post to traffic.)

45 minutes and we were at the hospital.

Approx 7:00, we are looking for the labor and delivery room!  At my appointment the week before I was told that when I go into labor, do not go to the  Emergency room, but go straight up to labor and delivery. Okay, no problem, I thought to myself.  My last appointment I will check that out.  Beloved can be with me at that time and we could scout out the labor and delivery floor together.   So, Yes! I had no idea where it was located.

The contractions are more frequent and consistent. The contractions are now making me stop and just focus through them. When they leave I can walk normally.

Beloved looked at the hospital floor map.
I took note that the piano player wasn't playing soothing music at the piano and the coffee shop in the hospital didn't smell of gourmet coffee and cookies.  No one was at work yet!

All I knew was the labor and delivery room was "UP". 
So, we kept walking through the hospital to the elevator.

Beloved found another floor map. 
This one had "Mommy and Baby" on it and the directory said 3rd floor. Easy right? The military hospital has floors between floors! 

7:25 am   -  I am put in the triage room. I am feeling uncomfortable but showing no outer alarming signs to the nurses that I am in late labor. As long as I am standing, I can get through the contractions but sitting or laying down doesn't feel to good.  Everything appears like early labor to every one. I try to relax on the bed.  They hook me up to the contraction monitor and blood pressure cuff and then after a few contractions the lady walks out and she comes back in with a nurse.

The nurse smiles.
She said, "I am Captain so-so and I understand that I need to check you."
She checks me and says, "7cm and Zero"
At this point, I was in some discomfort but I could still talk through the contractions. 

 I said, "I want an epidural as quickly as possible then."

The triage nurse said, "Oh, really?
I think to myself, "Why does she sound surprised?" 
The nurse says calmly, " I have to get your blood and send it off to the lab. It will take about 20 minutes if they are not busy and then when we get it back we will be able to give you an epidural."

Something doesn't seem right to me about that statement.
I turned to Beloved and said pathetically, "I am not equipped to deliver a baby with out an epidural. I have pre-eclampsia pain, I have shingle pain and I have labor pain. I want an epidural, Beloved." 

7:35am -  Apparently everyone was fully aware that I was not going to get an epidural.
                Everyone but ME!

I am wheeled immediately into the labor room. I stand up to get in the bed from the wheel chair and have two contractions roll together.  I said something specific to the nurse.

Her eyes got huge and she said sweetly.  "I need to check you right now! You need to get into the bed."

At this point, I can't get into the bed by myself. All I can do is stand up and focus on getting through the rolling contractions. Eventually, I get in and lay on my left side.

The nurse checks me.
She calmly calls out, "9cm and Zero."

I question this. "9cm and Zero? "

I said, "I want an epidural please."

The anesthesiologist comes in and begins to ask me questions. He introduces himself as "Rank so-so". At this point, I could careless, not that I cared before, what your rank is! You could be a General and I would not care. They bread them around here like a puppy mill not a big deal.  Just give me an epidural. ;)

 He says, "I need to ask you some Medical History Questions." He begins asking the first question.   

A painful contraction hits me. I am no longer able to talk through contractions.

I said, "Beloved, You will have to answer the questions."

I hear Beloved answering them while I am in so much pain. I remember thinking the man is not asking them fast enough.

I have another contracting again. Finally, the guy asked another health related questions while I was contracting.

Frantically to get him moving toward my epidural,  I said,  "No. No. no no no no no. Perfectly healthy! Can I have that epidural now?"  

And, then it happened! 

My water broke!

The pain came crashing in!!!

The anastisalogist eyes got huge. I wondered why his eyes were so huge?
The guy stood up and then stepped out the room.
It only half dawned on me that he wasn't coming back!

The nurse steps to the door and  all these people quickly came into the room.
The room was flooded with people!

 I was having a baby during a shift change!

 In a military Hospital.

Where everyone was coming to work after being on vacation for 4 days for Memorial Weekend.

Yes, I am starting their day out with a "bang!" I hear something about this being only the beginning of what was to come with the low barometric pressure from the sub-tropical storm after several days off.

The Dr came to my side quickly, "Wow. The baby is here." 

I said, "I have pre-eclampsia pain, I have shingle pain  and I am in pain due to labor. I want an epidural, please." 

She said, "Two pushes and the baby will be out, honey!"

I thought to myself,  "These people are crazy!"

I am laying down in the bed and physically trying to crawl up the left bed railing away from the crazy people at the end of the bed while the contractions are rolling into one big painful tidal wave.

The Dr is at my feet.
Two nurses are on my left side.
They help me flip me to my back.
They grabbed my left leg.
 Beloved grabs my right leg.

I thought to myself, "How did I just get in this position?"

I looked at Beloved and said, "I am going to die!" 
He laughed out loud.
(Yes. He laughed out loud!)
He kissed my forehead.
(Apparently, tenderly?!)
Then, he said "You're not going to die. Now, Push."

I pushed!
And, the two nurses cracked up laughing.
Beloved was holding my right leg.
Some how the right leg  kicked out and became totally straight.
Beloved was physically removed from my bed side several -several feet!
At that moment,  7:58am, the Little Lass was born!

Then, they began the admission process for me to be able to have the baby at the hospital!

                                            (The little Miss didn't want to be in the picture.)

(And, um... up until the contractions hit around 2 to 3 minutes apart, shingle pain and labor pain feel just about the same! Just in case anyone wants to know! I can validate that now!)

In Love With A Mystery Part 17

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

When I say God gave me peace, I truly mean it. And, had I known that the peace would be tested on numerous occasions, I probably would have been disturbed. But, true peace can never be copied but often is tested while riding waves and dealing with currents.

Peace, in this case, was an unseen blanket of indescribable calmness of maturity washing over me. I know this will be hard to believe once you get wind of how my imagination works. It is true that maturity doesn’t have to be perfect! I can only describe the calmness of peace as a blanket of warmth, neither a lightning bolt of emotions toward this man nor something that got me caught up in the excitement of flirtatiousness.

It simply was something that had me glued to my seat.

All I knew in my heart was that I was to observe, respond, and pray in a very genuine way regarding him. No other direction was given to me.

The Mystery Man took a seat in his usual place, on the left hand side of the Church, when I noticed that he had a beeper on his belt. He adjusted it before he sat down next to his other redheaded friend.

His choice of seating sent a ripple of emotion not just through his group of friends, but a contagious wave of interest among others in the Church Family due to the rumor of his engagement.

I was aware of the current.

But, I was not drawn in.

I was more interested in his beeper.

This was state of the art technology at the time!

My mind was racing.

“What did he do in the military which required him to have a beeper?”

Now, pondering a beeper shouldn’t have caused any significant pitter patter of energy in any normal girls mind. We all know I am not normal – I am a redhead!

I have an extremely dangerous imagination and fascination when it comes to anyone who might be perceived to live a heroic double life.

I have always liked a man who reeks of secrecy.

Yes, I am the girl who adores sitting with a bucket of popcorn and watching all those 007 marathons even if a Mystery Man tells me that the technology is out of date, that the helicopters, planes and boats all have the wrong sounds to them. I can even ignore the comments when I hear, “We don’t use that piece of technology anymore” and “Things don’t blow up like that!” Regardless of all this, I have a favorite James Bond and I am willing to defend Sean Connery to the end!

Right there in service though, that beeper had my mind on overload.

Possession of a beeper could mean only one thing.

He needed to be somewhere, doing something, with someone in a moment’s notice! I didn’t have the slightest idea it was to be within +/-30 seconds.

There is nothing written in my journal about it, but I can assure you that it is highly likely that visions of all my beloved heroic rescues came flooding into my mind.

Zorro, Phantom, Bruce Wayne as Batman, and even Clark Kent! Can any girl resist unlikeliest every day man who is capable of living a heroic double life?

I remember being nudged out of my daydreaming. It might have been the slight movement of the Mystery Man going up to the front to pray over the offering.

I scolded myself, for I am sure if my Grandma had been sitting beside me knowing I was not being attentive in church, she would have pinched me. I remember how it hurts!

It was good that he hadn’t worn a black suit or it would have sealed the imagination right then and there.

He ushered.

He disappeared -- never to return the entire service.

It was as if he had vanished.

This pattern continued for two or three Sundays.

I can assure you something extremely peculiar was going on.

Sunday after Sunday, I sat glued to my seat.

All the while, his disappearing and never coming back again conjured up in the utmost positive appealing persona of all. I can assure you that, in my mind, the Mystery Guy was slowly being placed into the category and becoming equally transformed into one of the utmost literary characters whom surpass all witty masquerade heroes – Sir Percy, “The Scarlet Pimpernel”.

Due to this, I was feeling my equilibrium slight off, and it was puzzling because I had never had a vertigo episode in my life.

I am sure when God revealed that I was suppose to observe and respond in a genuine manner to this man, it didn’t mean for me to glue myself to a seat and become all day dreamy and allow my imagination to run wild at the same time being extremely discrete in my glances toward this guys direction.

I asked God to help me keep everything in check. It is amazing what God can do!
That very next Sunday, the pattern began the same way, he sat beside that other redhead, except this time he didn’t usher during the service.

His beeper was still in place.

Yet, he never disappeared.

This little mystery of my own making was revealed.

Yes, Anne Shirley’s imagination could never be equal to mine!

Imagine how disappointed I was when I found out that his disappearance was merely because it was his turn to help the church treasurer count the tithes and offerings!

______________________________________________________________
Beloved's Comments: I never thought my beeper would be so intertaining and apart of this story.

Me: It was always plastered to your back side. Of Course, it will be.

In Love With a Mystery Part 16

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

Shoo-we.

I made it through the worship service with out getting in tangled in the web that I had weaved!

Unfortunately, I wasn't any closer to finding a fault or balancing out all those new curious ideas that I had about him.

So what is a girl to do, now?

I wasn’t experienced enough in having a back-up plan.

I hadn’t thought about what I was going to do if my mission didn’t work! I thought for sure it would!

Matter of fact, I was counting on me discovering something so I wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable about seeing him for the first time since that night we went out to dinner.

Once again, the church service took a turn, this time heading back to the normal order. I was glad. I needed no more surprises.

This was the time in service where they had a short meet and greet so the choir could join the congregation. A short time in which everyone in church *loves* on each other in the Lord you know?

This is the time where little children get their cheeks pinched and adults get to gag over hugging the neck of the lady whose perfume is at least 10 years old and fermenting.

And, it is also a time when you are in service that all Momma’s need to warn their girls about, for it can be a time that no one thinks about their girls being so lovable.

Don't believe me? This can be the time where a girl could lose her mind and throw herself casually into the arms of a knight in shining armor and everyone thinks it is platonic.

My only saving grace?

I was much to sensible to do such a thing! Besides he was more than 20 feet away.

In frustration over my mission being sabotaged, I glanced in the Mystery Guy’s direction.

He was already looking at me and smiling.

He gave me his signature greeting.

“Howdy.”

I felt my knees go weak.

I tossed a casual wave in his direction and just mouthed “Hi”.

Absolutely, no awkwardness at all.

A perfect stillness rolled over my spirit and I knew God was wrapping my mind and heart together in perfect peace.

Right then and there, the Anne of Green Gables determination was tossed.

I realized what the Lord had just orchestrated.

I braced myself on the pew.

“God you just showed me that he is different, didn’t you?”

This guy is full of the gifts of the Spirit -- kindness, goodness and self-control.

“This guy isn’t one who is trifle about his actions is he?”

Right then, I raised the white flag in my heart.

“Yes, Lord I am only going to do it your way.”

I didn’t want to make any mistakes.

I didn’t fully grasp what had happened to me. All I knew was that I felt strength from the Lord to lay all that wondering and perplexing feeling about this guy at God’s feet.

It was at that moment that I realized that God didn’t want me to help him out!

And, I also realized that this guy wasn’t in need of help either. He knew what he was about.

My emotions were settled.

If God wanted this guy and I to develop more than just a friendship, he was going to have to make that very plain to me.

If God didn’t want us together than he would naturally just put him out of my thoughts.

No matter what this guy’s purpose, even if he only had a friendship in mind, he was going to have to take the lead. I had left it all at God's feet.

I fully surrendered. And, by doing so I felt less exhausted.

I had to sit down.

It wasn't because this Mystery Guy knocked me off my feet, I can assure you.

No. It was much more beautiful that that-- God just did it again.

Beloved wrote "No Comments"

In Love With A Mystery Part 15

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

Perplexed!

That is a very good word to describe my thoughts about this guy!

After all, when a girl typically gets dumped her heart is broken – not amused! Funny thing was every time I thought about the Mystery Guy dumping me I got the worse case of giggles!

Nothing about getting dumped was normal!

Why, I would hope that the girl would know more about the man than just his name and few little odds and ends. I know for a fact that ladies probably have more puzzles pieces put together about their man’s character than I did!

So why was this guy, who I shouldn’t be interested in, because I am sure he was going to complicate my simple life, giving me reason to pause?

I can tell you why!

He had the audacity to assume that I was interested in him!

And, because of it, my curiosity had been seriously peaked.

So, I ask you again.

“What is a girl to do when her curiosity is soaring and she has been given the indication that it isn’t going to go anywhere?”

Heaven knows I wasn’t going to call up the Prayer Chain for reinforcements to rage a new battle just because I was slightly curious about him.

No, I needed to stifle my curiosity fairly quickly.

If I could do it while being sensible all the better!

In my innocents and immaturity, the only way I knew how to do it was to conjure up a little extra inner strength and determination. What a better way to do it than adding a little redhead initiative like Anne Shirley from Green Gables.

Yes. I was going to try to get that heart of steel first and then add a little bit of prayer to it.

Now, if you are reading and you are beginning to hear the theme of “mission impossible” when it comes to getting this guy out of my mind. I can assure you I didn’t hear it.

Instead, by Sunday morning, I had the theme of “Terminator” on repeat.

I was on a mission and it was one that I was going to have execute extremely carefully because if I didn’t get him out of my mind, I might just find myself acting like one of those other girls – falling at his feet!

My Strategic Sunday Morning Mission was extremely dangerous!

I was going to have to walk the line.

I was going have to guard my heart and mind extremely closely.

I was going to have to do something that I hadn’t had to do in church before – ever!

Sunday Morning, after getting on my knees and praying no one would get wind of me being dumped, I sat down on the cushion of the middle row pew with a little bit more confidence. (See? I told you I would dabble into both options. I was a pro at that during this age. I would pray and then assuming God wanted me to carry on in some silly brilliant idea.)

Unfortunately for me, the Mystery Man still carried himself with the utmost dignity, quiet and carefully polite mannerisms. He still was as tall as a cedar tree. And, he still reeked with Mystery.

I didn’t know what to do about him being so appealing it made me feel like my confidence in mission was slowly dwindling.

I sat there trying to get the logical side of my brain to over ride my emotional side! It was at that time that I noticed that that logical side of the brain was working really well! I knew instantly that either God or this Mystery Guy was going to make my mission very difficult.

How was I ever going to have two minutes to study him so I could find some fault – a flaw of any kind!

What was more annoying was my mission was on the verge of being compromised.

I knew I had to do study him quickly and I had to do it before the worship songs started too. I was hoping to be able to do it during the announcements – that would be safe enough.

Why the announcements?

Well, if there was one thing I learned while in Bible College it was to make sure you don’t try to do this when Men are praising and worshiping the Lord.

Call me crazy but I am telling you that any gal that used her eyes to ‘assess” a guy while he was worshipping was married with in the year!

The truth of it is this: Young Ladies can’t keep their feeling in tack when guys are wrapped up in worshiping the Lord. Truly it is the most significant time to look at the heart of a man because it is the time you are going to notice more than just him wearing a blue polo shirt that makes his eyes sparkle. -- Not that I noticed.

Oh, alright! Maybe I did noticed a little. No girl wouldn't notice. He looked like a gift from heaven just waiting for some girl to open! And, it already appeared to me that some girls tried to tug the ends of that bow and found it was tied into a knot.

So, what are you going to find if you watch a Man worshipping with an interested heart?

Well, If you are watching closely enough, you are going to see those rare seconds of intimacy and raw emotions of a guy pouring his heart out to the Lord. And, the best part? They are clueless at the fact that they do so.

To sum it up, it’s at times like these when Men are worshipping that they have a more magnetic aurora of Christ-likeness surrounding them. They always have a peaceful rosy countenance which make them become more and more angelic looking and more handsome by the minute.

And so, if a girl is trying to find a fault with a critical eye, what she actually comes away with is seeing the guy’s potential in the Lord instead!

Ah! You get it don’t you, girls?

Seeing Potential isn’t always seeing Reality!

Yes, it can be a truly dangerous heart entwining moment for a lady, one in which should send off warning bells to any girl who is teeter-tottering on love. And let's just say many Momma's aren't experienced our educated enough in this to warn their girls.

All it takes is for a girl to see the potential of a “Family Priest, Protector and Provider” in a man and the scales get tipped into the direction of that MRS. Degree!

So, for me, as that pianist began to wrap up her piano song while ever one gathered for worship, I knew I only had time to greet a few people before the service started.

Wouldn’t you know it. Instead of starting off with our normal order of service, the choir decided to be the first to sing – and apparently this Mystery Guy had a solo again.

I had to abort my mission.

I closed my eyes as tight as I could!

He had an angelic tenor voice.

I might have peaked at him a little but I simply can't remember.


Beloved wrote on this part, No comments.

In Love With A Mystery Part 14

"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3


I looked at the house with a different eye alright. Although, I now know that my heart did a tiny secret flip flop, I didn’t know it then. And, if you had told me that it skipped a beat too, I would have put you in the category of my crazy friend, Emily.

No, instead I was much more aware of my mind racing.

I had so many thoughts that it can only be said that I had a serious case of “spaghetti brain”.

Unfortunately though, all I can really be sure of now is the very last thought I had that night before heading off to bed.

It was more of a question than a thought really, and one that definitely needed an answer.

“What’s a girl to do when she discovers that the Mystery Man who just dumped her– even though they never had a first date—is one of the most eligible bachelors in the whole County? Okay, I might be exaggerating on the “whole County” part but it’s my story! And, it isn’t that far off!

The next morning, I still wasn’t any closer to an answer.

Now, I know what you are thinking, “Girl, you are hard headed! He dumped you. There isn’t anything to think about!”

And yes, I would admit that any sensible girl would understand that he was most direct and very cut and dry about not wanting to be involved with courting. So, don’t think I wouldn’t agree with you.

Why if I was giving out advice, I would definitely encourage the girl to get a grip on herself and not to center her interest in him. And, I would even add that it is pointless and extremely foolish to run after any guy and particularly the most eligible bachelors – they are nothing but trouble!

And while I was on a roll, I would in the most mature manner say that it is better to purposed in your heart that God is going to truly plop a guy into your life without any help from you! Of course, with all sincerity, I would also add that it is best to protect your heart and rest your mind on serving the Lord and never give it away to any guy except for the one you are serious about marrying.

Now how did I know this? Why at a tender age, I had heard numerous wonderful miracles of God about how he brought together a man and a woman. Why I already knew the journey of being surprised and looking back at how God orchestrated any love story is what is most exciting and amazing.

Unfortunately, here I was in my early 20’s, still having a battle rage in side of me. So being practical and sensible wasn’t always something I did so well. But, I can say that I was learning and every now and then I would feel and experience a glimpse of maturity within myself and this particularly happened when I wasn’t trying to do the above advice in my own strength.

Now don’t think I was going to go chase after this guy, I can assure you I wasn’t. Instead, I was thinking about going the opposite direction – determining to shut my heart off and have it made of steal -- all the while trying to convince myself this was the more spiritual thing to do in “waiting on a guy” to be dropped from the Heavens. Yes, in all things you can do it in the extreme. Once again, I was dabbling into the redheaded passion of dramatics and I was on the verge of jumping into it full force.

It was a good thing that I remembered being gentle nudge and reminded that I could do something different. I could just rest in whatever God guided me toward, all the while praying God would control my feelings when dealing with this odd new friendship.

Never the one to do the simplest thing, of course, I decided to dabble in both!

What was I thinking?

Beloved wrote me and said that he didn't have any comments.

In Love With A Mystery Part 13

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

Do you hear it?

Yes, The music!

It is the theme of Inspector Gadget!

Now, you must know that I am not sure when exactly I hired a Private Eye to do some investigating on this Mystery Man. Talking it over, there is a little discrepancy on the time line and none of this portion is written in my journal for good reason --- Beloved never needed to know!!

But, unlike the Private Eye, I am thinking it was some time after the Mystery Guy amused me by dumping me on that “First date”, which of course I never actually had!

Regardless, I must have felt like this slightly older man was becoming a little bit too much of a nut for me to crack. So, I enlisted the very best investigator I knew— she was FREE – she was AVAILABLE—and she is my MOMMA!

Oh, now! Don’t act surprised!

I told you that you need to watch out for those Preacher’s Kids! Preacher Kid’s have all sorts of hidden talents. And, if you get them to tap into those talents, you will have resources beyond your wildest dreams – and remember this was all before the wide spread information on the Internet.

Don’t get all high and mighty on me either, ladies. You best not be saying you haven’t done the same thing. Any smart girl would do her homework!

You younger girls, can say “Hello, Historical Facebook Statuses?” But, my resources were a little bit limited!

But, I had a Momma!

And, we shouldn’t forget that my Momma had a direct-line up to God for 22 years about bringing the Man I should marry. Why, when she wasn’t dialing God’s 911 number to move some varmint out of the way, she was calling upon God to send the Manna down from heaven!

So, my Momma and I set out….

We almost had a full name.

We had a phonebook.

We had a car.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have one of those pesky GPS garmins. But, if we did, you can be sure I would have had my Momma change the Ladies voice to a Man’s Voice. After all, if I am going to be bossed around and told how to drive, it better be from a Man who has a nice soothing voice. Can I get an “Amen”?

That night, quite honestly, I wouldn’t have minded the scratchy Ladies voice. It would have made the adventure a bit more painless.

Did you catch that statement earlier? We ALMOST had a full name.

Yep, I only knew the Mystery Man’s First Name!

And, we all know that won’t work when you are using a Phonebook!

But, I sort of remembered hearing his last name one day. So, I thought his last name started with an either the letter “I” or the letter “E”.

Flipping through the phone book, I searched all the “I”. No success!

Then, I looked through the “E”. This took a little bit longer. After all, the County phone book wasn’t as small as I had originally thought.

After about 10 minutes or so, I was wishing I had done the MOST important thing that any Christian girl could do! Invest in a CHURCH directory!

Then it happened.

Heaven sent a ray of sunshine on me, in this case it was in the form of a car headliner light, and it illuminated his name right off that page.

I found it!

Now, I don’t have a clue what I was thinking I would find by knowing where he lived. It isn’t like I would be able to sum up his character or finding anything else about him when driving by his house, could I?

My Private Eye and I went snooping anyway.

When, I saw that the address said “Ash Street” we about did a little jump for joy.

I knew ½ of Ash Street fairly well. So, I was certain that he had to live on the less familiar part.

We drove up and down at least 5 times on the less familiar part searching for his car and his address but those House numbers kept jumping all around.

Thirty Minutes or so went by but we still kept our focus.

Then, my wise Momma said “Let’s just go on the other part.”

“Mom, there is no way he lives over there.”

She said, “Let’s just do it anyway.”

Slowly, we drove by the mailboxes.

“Carmen. 1-0-0-8!”

At that point my mouth dropped open and my Mom and I began to laugh.

We drove by the House but turned around so we could pass by it again.

This Mystery Man lived two doors down from a guy-friend of mine.

That in itself was absolutely amazing. I can't believe this guy lives so close to my friend and I didn't know it.

But, then it dawned on me….

As we drove by the second time, I took a better look at the house.

Although, I really didn’t need to --I knew the house well.

Every couple of weeks or so, my Friend Emily, who thought her biological clock was ticking at the age of 28, had me walk up and down the street with her so she could try to get an “accidental” meeting with the man that lived in this house!

Now if you think that she is crazy – you must know that she was a highly successful Psychologist! And although, I don't know what "Theory" she was working within most of the time, I do know that she tried to apply the Christian Philosophy of "Love thy Neighbor" with this particular shenanigan on a regular basis.

Emily had done more than just her homework on this guy! She had done loads of research.

Unfortunately, I only remembered enough to write some of the cliff notes.

But, it was enough to know that this Christian guy's reputation was what made him the most sought after Bachelor in many circles.

And, at that point, I felt like I should count it at honor and a privilege to be a person that he actually considered dumping --- even though we never had a first date!

We drove by again.

And, this time I looked at the house with a slightly different eye.

Beloved didn't say anything about me snooping!

He did ask, “Who is Emily?”
And, so I had to explain. Emily went to my Family Church in the City but she lived on your street. She did her homework on you because Dr. Scott (which I realized after many years, was the one) from your Church who wanted to set y’all up. She moved shortly after you and I met.

I still think that my Momma has the best Inspector Gadget - Private Eye skills. I don't know if she would admit it though. Will you plead the fifth?

When we got home that night, Daddy found out what we had been up to. Although we counted our snooping Mission successful, My Daddy said, "Boy, That was stupid! That was a total waste of gas." I am sure he would feel different if we had invited him to go. ;)

*TO BE CONT on the WEEKENDS so I can get a PAPER written!

In Love With A Mystery Part 12

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

After the Mystery Man left, I sat down on the sofa in the living room and just marveled at the evening events. At this point, I was still feeling perplexed by his statement and extremely amused. I am sure it was because I was still trying to convince myself that I was not interested in courting anyone.

Now, while I am pondering in the living room, my Daddy was sitting in a chair watching a Western. And, if I had written down what my Daddy was watching, I could insert some sort of funny thing about Western Dads and Guns but the truth is my Daddy is the type to teach us how to shoot our own pistol instead of meeting a guy at the door with a shot gun in hand!

Anyway, I don't remember how deeply I was thinking, but I was interrupted by my Daddy's first teasing words which were, “Why did you bring an officer in my house?”

Right then and there, my mouth dropped!

I couldn’t believe it.

I didn’t tell my Daddy anything about this guy because I didn’t know anything until that night.

And, I definitely didn’t tell him that the Mystery Man was in the military.

I have recorded that I asked my Daddy how he knew the Mystery Man was military and he passed it off as if he has radar. I still don’t know how he knew but my Daddy has eyes all over! And, his contacts go fairly far in Churches, so I am sure he had some Men in the Church somewhere gathering intelligent information on my going-ons. But, if not, all I can say is being a retired enlisted guy and trained to engage face to face with any enemy, he still must have had his radar in top notch shape.

I said, “He is a Pilot.”

Of which, I got the question, “Commissioned or Warrant?”

I said, “Warrant.”

He said something to the effect, “Well. Then he actually works for a living!”

To this day it still cracks me up because it is such good ole military man's way of teasing. ---loyalty runs thick in the ranks and in the different branches.

And then, he teased again and said, “Well, that isn’t that bad. I thought there for a minute you brought a West Pointer in my house.”

That was about all the opinion and the teasing I got from him that night, mainly because my Daddy doesn’t really give his opinions although he does enjoy teasing!

Maybe, it is because he knows also that if he waits us girls out, we will eventually talk if something is on our mind.

And, I know I had a lot on my mind so I am sure I jabbered!

And, I probably repeated a lot of my jabbering over again too!

And I am sure that the only reason why my Daddy let me jabber for as long as I did was because with all my rambling he got a little bit more information about this guy. Now that I think about it, I am sure he was pocketing the information and probably coming to his own conclusions as to what this guy did for a living.

Remember, I had a couple of questions? Well, I asked them.

Eventually, I went off to bed to write in my journal.

And, I am sure my Daddy finished his western.

The next entry I have in my journal is how unknown to me, but sometime afterwards, I wrote that one of my Parents told me that they knew right then and there that I was going to marry this guy!

Obviously, it didn’t matter to them that I had crashed and burned and gotten dumped even before the “First” date got off the ground. But, when you have praying parents who have prayed for your husband all your life, getting dumped is just a small technicality!

Beloved has always found this part funny.

He also said, “How many episodes are you going to do because we courted secretly for awhile before we told anyone except for your Parents?” I said, “Up to our Wedding or at least until you go buy a new memory card for my camera!”

On a side note: My Dad, however, doesn’t remember saying any of this and during a skype chat he said something to the effect that if I mention him, he is probably going to demand royalties.

In Love With A Mystery Part 11

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

I left you at, “And, I knew that with some encouragement I might actually be interested in unwrapping a little bit more of this mystery package.”

Encouragement didn’t come exactly!

After our little “couple” thing --- for I am sure it wasn’t a date-- He didn’t eat and I paid for my meal. He took me home.

I invited him in to meet my Parents. He seemed to have no problem with coming in. So, the Mystery Man met them that night. I don’t remember what was said when they met. Maybe someone else will fill that part in but I do remember afterwards I asked if he wanted to go on the back porch and swing.

It was a nice warm early-fall evening. It was getting rather late so I remember it being fairly dark. And, other than remembering my feet not being able to do the casual kick and slide on the porch swing floor due to his long legs keeping the swing in motion, the only thing I remember is my Parent’s pesky house spot light.

I have no idea what we talked about for the most part. It must have been more chit chat about him. I don’t seem to remember being opened with him or revealing anything about myself which ends up being a good thing later on. So, I guess I am just trying to process things?!

I remember asking when he graduated. It was 1986. I calculated it up. He was in the 12th grade and I was in 5th grade! Ha! Still to this day, he says, “Don’t say it like that! Just say the difference in our age.” But, it is fun to tease the Old Man.

I can say that I am positive this was when I calculated his age by the year he graduated from a Private School in Savannah. I added the time he joined the military. And, I had his approximate age. I subtracted my age from his to see what the difference might be. 6 years or more! (I was 22) I never asked his age. And, he never asked mine. So, I wasn’t going to let him know.

And although I didn’t record a lot of the chit-chat in my journal, I can assure you there is one statement that took an entirely too much paper to record my reaction --- and even to this day I can recall it with a lot of clarity!

Ladies, do you know that scene in the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice where Mr. Bingley is trying to get Mr. Darcy to ask Elisabeth to dance. And, Elisabeth over hears Mr. Darcy saying to Mr. Bingley, “She’s not handsome enough to tempt me?” Ah! Yes. The one where Elisabeth thinks the whole episode is funny so she runs off and tells her friend, Jane. Well, with that scene in mind, here we go…

The porch swing is swinging.
It is dark except for that pesky light.
And, we were just having a casual conversation when all of a sudden in the most dignified Mr. Darcy manner, the Mystery Man says directly to me,

“Carmen, I am not interested in dating you.”

Well, now that is a statement, isn’t it? And, no girl would forget it!

Now, at that moment all I can remember was having at least 5 statements going through my mind in a milli-second! A lady can do that you know?!

“Okay. Now where did that come from? You just didn't say that?”

“And, what is this all about?”

And, then I remember thinking, “Who says we are on a date?”

And, “What makes you think I am interested in you?”

And, if this part of the conversation wasn’t so annoying it would be downright funny!


This conversation was extremely different than anything I had had before!

Here, I was not dating this guy but already getting dumped!

I honestly have no idea how I could have been quiet for more than a milli-second with that statement. It is just not typically in my nature but I have written in my journal that all I said was, “Okay. That is fine”.

And I wrote that I said it very matter-of-factly and maturely!

Looking back now, the words "matter-of-factly and maturely" gives off a warning bell and so there might be a slight inconsistency in the story!

I have no idea if I should believe my own writings but I did write that the guy must be a little bit full of himself.

By my writings, it appears that I was perplexed but wasn’t shaken!

I had not given this guy encouragement so I wasn’t feeling struck down.

And, I was just partially amused.

I didn’t record how he left me that night.
I don’t remember any other parts of the conversation.
The focus of my thoughts were entirely on the fact that this guy dumped me before we even had a date.

And, the only thing that I can say for sure is that “A very mysterious friendship was made that night”.

And, looking back, this should be the first sign that nothing in my life from then on out would ever be NORMAL.

Beloved comments:
You are telling everyone that I have nothing to do with your side of the story aren't you?
I assured him, 'I was!" And for extra clarity, I will say, "He is too mature to write blah-blah all over a blog page."

He also said to me, “Although I am sure you heard, ‘Carmen, I am not interested in dating you.’ What I remember saying is ‘I am not interested in dating anybody right now.’ And then he also said, “I didn’t just say it out of the blue. We were asking each other if either one of us was dating anyone.”

At that, I said to him, “Why would either one of us agree to accept a dinner invitation if we were dating other people.”

At which he said, “You thought we were all going out as a group.”

And then I said, “Yes. But, you didn’t know that!”

He said, “People accept casual dinner invitations all the time.”

"No they don't." I rolled my eyes. I laughed.

There you have it. We disagree about how this evening went down.

I said, “We were crazy back then.”
He said, “We still are!”

I don't think anyone would disagree!

In Love With A Mystery Part 10

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

Now, when Sunday evening came around, I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on but no one had mentioned going out to eat as a group after Church. And, so it was oddly strange but I was getting the feeling that things were absolutely not what I had thought. So, I kept my mouth shut.

That night, the mystery guy sat in front of his redhead friend again. Yet, still nothing seemed out of the ordinary from what I could tell. He was cordial to her and there didn’t seem to be any tension.

Strange, huh?

I had a few questions that went through my mind at the time, but I scolded myself and tried to listen to the sermon, again without success!

Quite honestly, this guy was becoming a total distraction.

After Church, we met up. I do not remember the car arrangement at the time but I do remember sitting with him in a seafood restaurant – just the 2 of us!

And, yes by now I realized he was NOT engaged! This was NOT a group outing! How did I end up on a "What ever do we call this?" And, wow! I am able to actually look at his face from less than three feet away.

We didn’t have any time for any chit-chat; the waitress came to take our order. So, not having a clue what this “get together” after church really meant and not being in the mood to simply just impress, I ordered food because I was starving.

He ordered water! Yes, Water!

And, there I sat for a few seconds not having a clue what to talk about with this “mystery” man but knowing I had a few questions.

And, so with that I asked him the first question that came to my mind. “Are you engaged?” No just kidding!

I asked the second question that came to my mind. “So, you are in the military. What is your MOS?”

I do believe the guy was a little surprised. I thought I could see the expression of, “She knows Military language” written all of his face.

I had no idea truly what the expression meant and could not gage at that time if knowing military acronyms was a good or bad thing. But, one thing was for sure, I asked a direct question. And, he couldn’t give me the standard invasive military answers that most guys try to give when they don’t want to really discuss their job.

And, if you don’t know how they go, it is something like this…

So, what do you do for a living?

And, then they say, “I am in the military.”

Then, you have to ask, “What branch?”

And they say, “Army. Air force, etc.”

By this time, you aren’t sure if you should continue asking questions. Is the guy being evasive or just not in the mood to talk about himself? And, so you have to gage rather you want to appear being nosy or if you just throw caution to the wind and ask, “What do you do in the Military?”

If the guy hasn’t changed the subject, you just might get, “I fly.”

And if you do, and your a Lady, you are probably now hearing the theme of TOP Gun. So you have to determine if you are feeling really bold!

Do you want to draw water out of a well with a spoon instead of a bucket?
Hmm! You decide to dip right in, “Are you a Pilot or a Crew Member?”

If you have gotten this far with your Q&A you can guarantee he doesn’t really mind you asking, so you can just go for it, “Do you want to get married?”

HA! Um, no! Not this girl, I didn’t see him in his dress uniform, remember?

I saw him in his Pilot pajama suit. Although it should have been enough!

Yes, I am well aware that most of you probably are thinking about the scene in TOP GUN where the Pilots get out of the Jet in their one piece flight suit? Yes, the one where your heart goes pitter patter and you are just about to faint away as the theme music fades away. That my dear is the green (or blue) Military Pilot Pajama Suit! It makes all Pilots look like they have perfect V bodies! And, yes, I am here to tell you that they all look good!

But, I am tough as nails when it comes to swooning!

And, if you remember I saw him being wrapped up in worshiping the Lord the first and only time I saw the Mystery Man in his Pajama Suit. And, compared to TOP GUN nothing can be more sexier than that!

Now, continuing with the question, you might ask, “What do you fly?”

And, then after about 10 more wasted minutes you might get down to what he flies and you remember to try to goggle it to see what the machine looks like. Oh but wait a minute, at this time goggle doesn’t exist! Yep, the mystery is still just a mystery and even more annoying!

But, like I said, I didn’t give him that chance!

And, since I still wasn’t aware if this was a date or not, I just thought I better just be myself and have fun after all there was three things that I told God and I thought God and I had an understanding! (No Military and No Pastor/Missionary)

Now, Remember, I didn’t do this question and answer set up.

I went in for the “Spill it mystery guy!” I played the only card that I had in the only time I had!

And, I was blessed, I just happened to know some of my flying machines.

I asked him how long he had been in the Military too.

And, then I said, “What have you considered doing if you don’t stay in the military?”

He said, “I thought about being a Missionary Bush Pilot!”

Oh Dear Lord! I didn’t just hear that right! Yep, I did! This has to be the funniest thing I ever heard! Military and Missionary Pilot all in the same man!

Warning Bells were going off!

And at this point, I should have just drowned myself in my clam chowder!

But, instead, I just went for it! After all, I now have TOP Gun theme music going through my head along with the words “Hallelujah!”

The “Hallelujah Chorus” would be for, “Lord, I know you are going to rescue me!”

Then, I asked what is your Pilot nick name?”

The Mystery Man said, “They call me ICEMAN!” And, he said it with a straight face!

Yep, right then, I was slowly slipping!

I was dealing with a pro at masking his feelings and one that was known for his patients and his calmness.

Nothing could ever rattle him!

Well, so I am sure he thought!

Apparently, he hadn’t met a redhead that at that time couldn’t decided if she should take the plane in for a landing or fly off with him into the sun set. But, one thing for sure, I was considering that maybe this Ice Man might need a redhead to add FIRE to his life and thaw him out!

Well. On the questions went and I now know that I was actually pretty blessed that I was able to get him to actually talk about himself. Pretty much, I asked the questions and he answered. I don't remember him asking me anything. I wonder if he was nervous? He would never tell me if he could even remember.

So, in the mean time, I will never forget the moment that it registered that I was sitting across the table with an Officer.

And, I remember thinking, “What would my Retired Enlisted Daddy think?”

As details began to unravel about what he did. I was putting in the back of mind some questions that I need to store away for my Daddy. It was obvious that this guy was trying to be honest about what he did without telling me exactly everything.

By this time, he had brought to the table enough information that I had something to chew on! (Pun indeed! Remember, I ordered food. He didn’t!)

So, the first mystery was solved! He was a Pilot, wanting to someday maybe be a Missionary Pilot, who was named Iceman.

Errr! It was only enough for me to discover that this mystery man wasn’t trying to be mysterious, his job simply made him mysterious and his quiet demeanor made him even more so.

Mystery just comes so naturally to him!

And, so now I was on to another Mystery. What makes this guy tick?

And, I knew that with some encouragement I might actually be interested in unwrapping a little bit more of this mystery package.

(Beloved would like to comment! He said, “I don’t remember just ordering Water! But, you are right, I didn’t order much. And, we rode in my car to the restaurant. We dropped your truck off at your Parents. And, the restaurant was Carey Hillards. And, yes, I was a little surprised you knew military language!" Now, See! He didn't deny there was music so I am sure there must have been!)

In Love With A Mystery Part 9

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

The Mystery Man was standing against the wall in the vestibule after morning Church. He has just finished talking with a guy friend. He seemed very relaxed. He was quietly observing, I suppose. I am not exactly sure what was going on in his mind. But, I will assure you it didn’t appear that his heart was skipping, nor did I see or feel fireworks going off in my direction either. And, I definitely did NOT feel like he was waiting for me.

Actually, it was relatively quiet in the little area.

Almost all the Church People had piled out before me. And, so as I moved out of the sanctuary, without my girl friend, I shook his hand along with the few others that were in the room. I don’t remember feeling giddy or anything. I just remember the feeling of his strong masculine hand.

And, then he said in a very nonchalant way, “Would you like to go get something to eat after Church tonight.”

I can’t remember what I said but I absolutely answered in the affirmative.

I don’t remember being shocked or surprised but this is easily explained away because I thought he meant going out as a group of People after Church. Remember I was still getting the feeling that he might not actually be engaged!

Knowing me, I said, “Yes, sure. That sounds like fun.” And, off I went my separate way.

I do remember thinking in my black pick-up truck that he is very nice and he has a soft spoken voice.

I also wondered if I should have ask, “Where will we all go?” All the while, hoping it wasn’t that icky Restaurant that we had all gone to as a group before.

(When I asked what made him ask me out, I simply get, "I wanted to get to know you better." Nope, Nothing to the effect that it was love at first sight. Oh Well! I asked him if he was attracted to me. He said, "From the moment I saw you!" Now, that is a good answer but he knew I was armed with a pillow!~ Beloved has no additional comments.)

In Love With A Mystery Part 8

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

I was sitting in the middle of the song service on a Sunday Morning, and, uh!

Now, there he was again! After choir, he came in and sat down in front of the other redhead.

My first thought was, “This guy comes in and goes out like a revolving door.”

My second was a little bit more clarifying, “Oh! He is sitting in front of the other redhead. Not sitting with her!”

However, it might not mean anything. She was sandwiched in between two other ladies. So, did I dare just to take a little longer look to try to get a clue as to what was going on?

And then it happened. I wasn’t guarding myself. I was actually able to take a closer look at his features.

He stood and sat with authority and dignity. I quickly attributed it to his height and probably his “green pajama suit” that I first remember seeing him wearing.

He had dark hair and it didn’t seem like it ever was the type to get out of place which is a contrast to my mess of red curls!

He was handsome. Um, what did I just think?

He was handsome? OH Heavens, I need to concentrate on the sermon but that day I spent a little bit more time being naughty instead of listening to the sermon message.

In the end, nothing seemed different in that left hand corner of the congregation. So, now I was confused.

I did take more peaks at him all the while trying not to drink in longer glances or getting caught.

I have no idea if I was caught that day. I am thinking I probably was...

(Beloved has no additional comments to add. But, he will have a lot in a few more post! )

In Love With A Mystery Part 7

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

Now, several weeks later, on a Wed night there was an announcement that was unofficially made to me! Now, this announcement was of a particular interesting detail.

And, how it came to me, I am choosing not to say, but you should still know that except for the one question to my girly friend, I had never asked anyone questions about the Mystery Man. EVER!

Now for those of you who are lurking and know a good bit of this story, you will never figure out who told me so let’s just remind everyone that unlike the Mystery Man who went into the Youth Service to help the Ministry Team, I went into a College/Career class. So, it could be most anybody! And, at this time you should assume so.

The rumor was that apparently on a Church shopping trip, another redhead in the church announced to a few Ladies that she was engaged to the Mystery guy.

Now, to this day, I still have no idea if this actually happened or if it is true. But, since this is my story I am sticking to what I wrote in my journal.

What I can say is that apparently there was a shopping trip. The Mystery Man’s friend, “the other redhead” was on that shopping trip. And, so were some of the Ladies who had it in their minds that hooking the mystery guy and me up was a grand idea.

Regardless of the information being true or not, the information did make an impact on me.
I thought it was humorous.

I remember thinking that the Pianist along with the few other ladies who also jumped aboard this scheme was unaware of the inner workings of the Mystery Guy and "the other redheads" relationship.

And, so I thought, “Oh, their little mismatching good Christian medaling was all for nothing!”

How funny that those match makers didn’t have all their information when it came to who is dating whom!

It cracked me up because I was sure my Momma’s Pianist Friend was slipping in her craft!

For days afterwards, I was so thankful that I didn’t run after this guy. Imagine the embarrassment if I had. It could have caused a lot of ruckus due to those match makers. I was so blessed that I had determined to allow God to bring me a guy without much effort out of me! So, I cannot tell you how relived I was and how thankful I was that my reputation had not been twisted into a mess.

It was the next church service, a Sunday Morning, that lady in the Church said, “Often People want things to be true that aren’t, Carmen. And, there are several of us that really want you to get to know this guy.”

I didn’t have time to ask any questions since service had begun. I had tried to track her down but she had slipped out early with her Family. I wondered if she was talking about the engagement rumor. I also had wondered how she heard. I didn’t know her very well so I wondered also why all these people though that they could come up and tell me things as if they were the pep club cheering behind the cheerleader!

Now, you must know I am not dumb. I am extremely observant but as my Parents say sometimes my perception might just be slightly off. However, I disagree, more often than not nothing gets past me. And so, I have often made this my slogan, “Let them win the battle so I can win the war!”.

So, I kept silent with their meddling. There wasn’t any reason to ask or say anything anyway. I was not playing a game because I wasn’t even interested in dating this “mystery” guy. So, there really wasn’t anything to act on. And, I had my little self all set on not being interested!!

Unfortunately, with this new twist, the appeal of a mystery was making me cast a little caution to the wind. Here I was hovering in a flight pattern of which I needed to figure out what I was going to do about it.

And, Oh by the way, the next Sunday, I was asking myself, “Where did that guy go this time?”

(Beloved would like to have everyone know that he was unaware of the engagement rumor. However, this is not surprising. He had another girl think that they were engaged too while he was going to Church when he lived in Lousianna. So, yes he is oblivious particurally when he doesn't give any girls reason to believe such a thing! However, he was truly engaged with another girl when he was younger and she does show up a little later! See I tell ya! Bees on Honey! )

In Love With A Mystery Part 6

"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

After Church, that evening a group had gone out to eat at a "non-authentic really bad" Mexican Restaurant. A few people had invited my girly friend and I along. So, we went.

By the time we had gotten there, the long table was full, so we sat on the end of a long table of which the mystery man was at the head. It was obvious though that there were a few people in the group that had a little issue with us joining. But, at that time I was not aware that more than just a few people knew about the efforts of match-making us.

You must understand, at this time, I had not said anything but a few words at the little outdoor concert to him. And the only thing that I still knew about him was his name. He sings! And, I knew he dressed nice when he wasn’t wearing his one piece green military pajama suit. But, most importantly, he seemed to be liked well enough that any time he was around, everyone flocked to him like bees on honey. And,I knew he obviously loved the Lord.

I had also gathered that my Momma’s pianist friend didn’t just want to set me up with just anyone. She had plans with me hooking up with him! And now that I got caught up with the rumor that there was several different ladies involved with this match-making scheme, and some not aware of the Pianist Friends having the same idea, my curiosity was just a little more than peaked.

So, here I am trying not to get trapped by the ladies, all the while I am trying to figure out a way to just casually observe him, or at least get a glimpse of him.

In the end, I left knowing nothing more about this mystery man. And at that time, I was okay with it.

(Beloved has not additional comments to add, yet.)

In Love With A Mystery Part 5

"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

Now, it had been weeks and weeks that I had been attending the little Church. And, it may have been even two months since I had seen the mystery guy.

By this time, I had begun to feel comfortable in this little place. Not many knew any of my talents. No one knew what ministry teams I had been involved with at my Christian College in another State, also I wasn’t advertising that I just completed a ministry practicum, and because I wasn’t the Grand Pastor’s child, I didn’t just fill in where ever needed. So, it was actually very relaxing to not be ask or volunteering to do this and that!

And, no one had mentioned anything about hooking me up with anyone in awhile.

So, I felt like I was flying underneath the radar.

Until that night!

Just before service, a married man came up to me. Now, I had never talked to this man before in my life! So when he said, “Carmen, I hear you are interested in getting to know the 'mystery man'. It is the talk of the Church in our circle. There are several married ladies that are excited about matching you up.”

It was pretty awkward!

But, in true fashion when I am not sure what to do, I do one of two things (1) Smile and act like I know what they are talking about as they spill their hoop -la and I absorb all sorts of information or (2) Try to concentrate with all my might on not showing that I am shock and appear as if I have no idea what is going on all the while trying not to blow a gasket. I did the latter. However, I have no idea how this man interpreted my facial expression.

But, this was the first indication that all had not been as I had thought.

I had just got a glimpse of the fact that my name had been the target of the inner workings of the match-making church ladies. At this time though I wasn't worried. Didn't I just come out of Christian College where most women go to get their MRS. degree?

So, that night just before service, I had glanced over toward the mystery man's “non-assigned but creature of habit” pew to notice he wasn't there! So, I still felt a little safe.

Safety in this case was short lived!

To my surprise when the Choir came out from the side doors. There he was. He was walking in with the choir and sitting in the Tenor section.

I remember thinking right then! “This is not good for me. Not good indeed."

Any man that has a voice who can serenade a girl will make a woman go weak at the knees. So, immediately I put my mind back in the right frame and reminded myself that maybe, like most churches, ¾ of the choir is filled with really bad back ground singers and only a few people that can really sing.

Unfortunately for me, the mystery man took the microphone along with some other ladies and they began singing as back up for worship for the Ministry Guy, Brett.

I remember thinking, “Oh Heavens! He is here. I am afraid to look." I had spent weeks concentrating on only looking at the front, concentrating only on worship the Lord, and also I didn't want to give anyone any reason to catch me taking glances to his area. But, now, here he was standing in front of me.

At that time, I thought. " He hasn't been here. Maybe, he doesn’t know about all the busy bodies!”

I did the only thing a girl could do. I shut my eyes and began singing. And, before I knew it, I was worshiping the Lord and forgot all about the mystery man on the platform.

But, I can assure you it didn’t last long because he and a sweet lady named Mrs. Vicki sang a beautiful song that night.

I had to open my eyes then.
Just incase he looked in my direction.
I didn't want him to think I had fallen asleep in church.

(Beloved has no comments to insert at this time.)

In Love With A Mystery Part 4

"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

Weeks later, I found myself on a Saturday Afternoon hanging out with my girly friend at an outdoor Church concert. We were sitting on a blanket chit chatting among the Youth and College/Career Adults when this guy slipped up beside my friend. It just so happened to be that tall green military pajama suit guy who was becoming a mystery.

This time however he was dressed in jeans, a nice polo shirt and casual dress shoes. And, except for that one Sunday Night at Church where he wore his work clothes, the dress pants and polo shirt (or jeans and a polo shirt) was how I saw him attired from then on after.

Not knowing if my friend knew him well or not, but assuming that she did, there was some small chit- chat, of which was apparently of no consequence because I don’t seem to remember anything.

Time passed as we watched the different concert groups and then it became time that I needed to scoot. I remember that the thought of leaving stirred such strong emotions. I wanted to stay and enjoy the festivities. But, I worked at a Law Firm during my Jr year in College and it was during that time I had gotten roped into a blind date group thing for that night. Everyone knew I was not interested, and definitely didn't date, but they all convinced me it would be a time of just a large office group gathering.

I had asked my girly friend to come along since it was going to be a big group of People of about 20. She said "yes" but due to the enjoyable concert it ended up that we both didn’t want to go. We left because I had no way to tell them I wouldn’t be able to show up.

Well, we met up with the blind date group, and let me just say it was a disaster. I was not interested in my blind date. He was not interested in me. I don’t even think we said two words to each other. And, one look at him (he was red eyed) along with his drink told me that this blind date guy and this group was not what we wanted to be involved with. So we left them. We looked at the time and knew we wouldn't be able to get back to the outdoor concert before it ended. So, since we drove down town, we cruised in few stores and then we left.

Meanwhile, all the way home, my curious mind went back to the green military pajama suit guy who actually wears jeans and polo shirts. You know the mystery man?! And, so I asked my friend what she knew about him.

Imagine my surprise when she said that she couldn’t tell me much. I remember that she said, “That was the most I have ever talked to him.”

I didn’t want to share with her that I was curious except in a passing way so I let the conversation steer to her engagement. All the while I was wondering if this mystery guy was interested in her, and also curious to know if he even knew that her fiancé was in another state.

(Beloved's comment when reading this part was, "Can't a guy just be nice to two girls?!" My answer to him was, "No." And, especially if they are a Rock Solid Christian!)

In Love With A Mystery Part 3

"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomn 6:3

Now, there is one thing that I know about Church Pianist. They have the seeing eyes of Eagles. I am not joking! And, this particular Lady was a Preacher’s Kid just like my Momma. And also, she was one of my Momma’s oldest girly friends. I knew that when she snagged me, I was in T-R-O-U-B-L-E! And, it didn’t take her long to whisper in my ear that she wanted to introduce me to someone!

I remember only half way listening while she told me that there was a single guy in the Church who she just knows would be perfect for me.

And, I remember thinking, “Uh my, She has lost her mind”.

I have no desire to be hooked up with anyone at this time. I had already pledged that God was going to have to plop a guy in my life by moving me with force. And, absolute when he did I wanted to make sure of three things, 1) He couldn’t be a Pastor/Missionary and 2) He can’t be in the military but 3) He HAD to love the Lord.

Now you must know something about me! Having a Dad that was military I knew a good bit of the military life style but also because I was a part of a Family who has Grand Parents, Parents, Uncles, Aunts and Cousins all in some sort of Ministry, this girly knows how the inner works of a Church work even better!

And, as a Grand Preacher’s Kid, I knew I was no match for a 50ish year old Preachers Kid who was the Pianist. She had way to much experience. So, I had to make an exit fast. She ended up getting snagged by another lady and it was at that time that I figured I best slip out, even though I knew I would probably pay for it later.

The next few services the guy who had been wearing the “green military one piece suit,” commonly known to me as the pilot pajamas suit, was nowhere to be seen.

(Beloved has no comments to insert at this time.)

In Love With A Mystery Part 2

"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

Now this Church was familiar to me. Although, I had not ever entered this particular Church’s doors except for a few wedding showers, a large handful of the members were old friends of my Family. Several of the members had known my Grand Parents and Parents even before I was even a thought due to being in the Ministry in the City. The College age students that attended there were those that I had known in High School. There was also a girly friend and her Family that I knew well, that went there too.

A long time after that U-turn driving night, (months and months went by) my girly friend’s family invited me to hang out with them since the small Church that had been planted in another town, of which I was involved with, was closing its Ministry doors.

I don’t particularly remember much about that evening’s message. However, I do remember the sweet Spirit of Jesus during the alter call. It was one where the intimacy of the congregation all met up at the front singing Songs to the Lord. I stood behind the first row of pews, near the back since everyone else crowded in between the first pew and the pulpit. I looked upon the people in amazement and wonder of God’s presence. I remember taking note of certain people worshiping the Lord. I remember watching my Mom’s old friend playing the Piano as she was playing a soft worship chorus.

The presence of the Lord was so soothing, sweet and calm.

The service was one in which as a first time in attendance, but not one who is unfamiliar with this type of service, could sit back and really take in the lines of people’s faces as their hearts were lifted to the Lord. It is a habit of mine, to watch People being blessed in Church. And, so as my eyes scanned the crowd I noticed many People other than the Pianist. I watched several children. I can still see the Pastor praying for Families. And, although I don’t remember who it was, I can see someone kneeling on the alter steps.

But, there is one person that I remember extremely clearly.

There to the left of me, about 15 feet away, was a man that stood as tall as a Cedar Tree. His hands were lifted to the Lord and he was singing, maybe quietly and softly, maybe in just a regular melody. I was not close enough to hear. But, I sat watching for a minute and it was at that time that the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him.

Yes, he looked like a Cedar Tree. He looked firmly planted where he stood. He looked strong and tall. Did I mention 6 feet 5 inches tall? He wore a one piece green military suit with no patches.

I cannot say how I took note of all this but I can tell you I was NOT curious of him. I was simply worshiping the Lord, Praising God for all his goodness on this group of People. And, then it happened, the cedar tree wrapped up in worship humbled himself to the Lord and fell down.

(Beloved has no additional Comments to add to this story so far! Eventually, he will! I can assure you!)

In Love With A Mystery part 1

"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" - Song of Solomon 6:3

Well, girls. I can't find my camera chip!

So, I thought I would share a love story little by little!

Now before I begin, you might want to know that Beloved's famous words to me is that he would never trade me in for 2 20 year olds. This cracks me up every time!

The first teasing reason is that it took him years to train me! He doesn't want to have to go through the pain again! (Only funny because it is a true. I was no Martha Stewart! Yes, I can laugh at myself now! And, now that I am trained to his specifics, he would be lost with out me!)

The second, He couldn't keep up with another woman. The one he has is a handful! (Redheads are not dramatic but we are passionate! And, so it doesn't really matter if all the details are true in this story. So, remember this is my story and I am sticking to it! )

My Daddy told Beloved that my middle name was "Go". (Honestly, The Men in my life are just to Honest!)

And, my Grandpa told Beloved, "No Refunds. No Exchanges and No Returns". (Now, that is a Warning isn't it?)

Ah! But, I am getting a head of myself.....

It was a Wed Night and it was around the time Church should have started. That is about all I remember about the time and the date.

I don’t remember why exactly I was not at our Family Church that night. My Grandfather was a Pastor and all my Family attended the Church in the City. We, however, lived in the Country and traveled in every time the Church doors were opened. I rarely missed Church so some details are somewhat foggy. But, I can only assume it was because that must have been the semester I had to take a night time College class and that evening’s class was cancelled.

I suppose those little tidbits don’t really matter because the reason why I wasn’t at Church isn’t nearly as important as was the destination I was going.

I was on an emotional road to nowhere, cruisen to my own beat, although physically I was in an old black pick-up truck probably listening to the silence of static. Yet, even the destination to where I was going wasn’t truly important. The details we are digging out are all in the U-turn. And, although I had a few U-turns that had happened before, this one was the U-turn toward love.

As I passed a church on the left hand side, I remember a passing feeling or this sense of longing to go there – although it was so quick. The thought that entered my mind as I looked at the large cross on the front of the Church was, “Your future husband is in there.”

Now, that thought to any girl in her 20's should stop them in their tracks!

But, not me! Just as the thought came into my mind, I remember asking myself, “ What do I do? Should I stop? Do I continue on to my Friends House? Do I go in? ”

I didn’t stop that night. I even passed up the U -turn road that takes you right into the parking lot. Nope. I didn’t make a U turn although everything in my mind and emotions did. I simply continued on pondering what had just popped into my crazy head and then I hid it in my heart not to be brought out until a year later....

(Oh! Yes, each post will be approved by Beloved and he will be adding additional comments along the way! So, yes, after all this story has already been written!)