The other day Betty asked me about how Glenn and I met...In honor of the 4th anniversary of our first date (also happens to be what would have been my Grandparents' 67th wedding anniversary) tomorrow, I thought I'd tell our story!
Once upon a time there was a girl who longed for a husband and a family.
When I moved to Denver in 2007, my sister (without my knowledge or permission - THANKS!) signed me up for eHarmony. Over the years, I was on and off the site. Finally, at the beginning of 2012 I told God "FINE! I'm done with working so hard. If You want me to find a man, You're gonna have to take care of it!"
Once upon a time there was a guy who God was slowly healing from devastating heartbreak.
At the beginning of 2012, a lovely friend (Thanks Michelle!) suggested to Glenn that his 5 boys might benefit from seeing him loved by a good, Godly woman.
Meanwhile, Will (12 at the time) declared that it was SAD that he had a girlfriend (which he had for less than 72 hours!) and Glenn didn't.
Glenn decided to check out eHarmony and when scanning through his matches, my profile (fantastically composed by my sister!) jumped out at him. He decided that this Jesus loving, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" reading girl was worth a shot.
On February 13, 2012, I got the email that "Glenn from Strasburg" (where the heck is that?!?!) wanted to communicate with me, and didn't I want to sign back up (i.e. pay the fees) so I could talk to him?
I deleted the email.
Remember, I was letting God take care of finding me a mate!
And besides, Glenn was the name of my childhood pastor...not the name of my future mate!
Two days past, and a quiet voice in my heart wouldn't let me forget about this Glenn from Strasburg. FINE! I told God...But this BETTER be worth it!
As I paid the fees so I could see Glenn's eHarmony profile, I told God that if I was doing this AGAIN I wanted to see a guys heart...not the shallow, seemingly endless small talk coffee dates I'd been on in the past.
As I read through Glenn's profile, I laughed at his descriptions of wild mornings trying to make sure all 5 of his boys (yup - I knew upfront!) had shoes on before walking out the door for the day. Something in my heart stirred.
I agreed to start the eHarmony communication process and quickly realized how special this Glenn from Strasburg was and I was eager to meet him.
We exchanged LONG emails, but he wasn't asking for my number!
Enter rabbits...The boys had shot some rabbits and I offered Glenn my go-to curry recipe and oh by the way, if you run into any difficulty with the recipe and need some on the phone pointers...hint hint hint.
He got the hint.
The first time we talked on the phone the call lasted 6 hours! With only a slight interruption so he could tuck a few boys into bed.
March 5, 2012 (a Monday) Glenn picked me up at my office for our first date. He drove Glennie's (16 at the time) car and wore a dress polo and slacks that were both in the same horrid puke, olive green color.
(He picked the outfit by going to the store and saying to himself, "what would a tall, buff, bald, black dude wear." He succeeded in picking an outfit that only a tall, buff, bald, black dude could have looked good in!)
Thankfully, it didn't matter what he wore. I had seen his heart through his emails and our phone conversations and what an amazing, precious heart! And he had the most gorgeous eyes that lit up when he smiled. I knew he was DEFINITELY getting a 2nd date.
Glenn on the other hand took one look at me and thought "she is OUT OF MY LEAGUE and I'm never getting a 2nd date, but boy am I going to enjoy this one!" (blush!)
He met several of my co-workers (including my aunt) and we headed out to the spaghetti factory for dinner and then to a lecture in the Unique Lives & Experiences series.
Afterwards, we sat in Glennie's car chatting while traffic cleared in the parking garage, then Glenn took me home and came in for a spot of tea with AK and UJ.
The next day, I realized Glenn was going to eat drive through on his way to his small group, so I invited him over for a home cooked meal.
Friday, we went out again.
Saturday, we went out for sushi and rented Courageous from redbox to watch at my house.
The movie made me cry.
It made Glenn cry too.
I knew I was going to marry him.
Then he kissed me.
It was a dive-bomb kiss.
I think it startled him that he'd actually done it!
He apologized, and I told him not to be sorry and to kiss me again please!
And thus began this crazy, wild, wonderful, ride we've been on ever since.
He realized what a great catch I was!
We survived camping in 5 million degree heat (ok just 115, but still!! UGH) in St. Louis.
We explored historic Philadelphia and Glenn survived meeting my loud, crazy, wonderful family.
We made memories and history together.
Survived our first home renovation project together.
I didn't ACTUALLY yell at Glenn when we went camping in Kremmling where I really thought he was going to propose...and then he insisted that I come look at the beautiful stars and then bent down to pick up an empty Gatorade bottle that his foot hit...I didn't know the bottle was there...I thought, "this is IT!"
It wasn't.
I didn't yell at him.
And I didn't stop talking to him for the rest of the trip like I was tempted to do.
It was a big accomplishment.
I also didn't yell at him on my birthday when he gave me a beautiful Stickley wedding mirror.
It was a VERY big accomplishment!
Then
Finally
On July 22, 2013, he took me to dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and then for a walk at red rocks in the moonlight and asked me to be his wife, giving me his Grandmother's ring.
He had no idea that my childhood dream was to be proposed to in the moonlight, in the mountains, with an heirloom ring.
Seems God's plan is just all around better then what my plans are!
A few weeks later, I found THE dress.
And on November 10, 2013, I married a man that was so much more than anything I had ever dreamed.
He has an amazing servant heart.
The heart I saw when I looked at his eHarmony profile was just the tip of the iceburg.
I couldn't ask for a better man to walk beside.
A better daddy for our children.
August 15, 2014, Ben joined our beautiful, crazy life.
We've had so much fun on this journey...through the lows, highs, bumps, and climbs.
We're exhausted!
But so happy!
Life as a member of the Wallace family is such an adventure!
The girl who longed for a husband and family, found so much more then she thought possible!
God knew what He was doing.
He knew the perfect timing.
He knew just who I needed...and just who needed me!
And the story that God is writing has only just begun!
