Love Goes On Forever

When my parents arrived they took over the motorhome where I was staying and, temporarily, my grandma and I stayed with the surfer.   My grams and I would share the bedroom and the surfer would sleep on the couch.  The surfer had such a generous heart and loved my family so much, he would do anything for them.  One of the many reasons I loved him.  My grams was slightly disabled, with hip and knee trouble and this would allow her a comfortable place until my parents were settled back in the RV Resort, where the facilities were more accommodating.   I wondered how we would all squeeze in his little apartment.  It turned out to be really fun.  My grams was such a delight.  We would play cards, laugh and just enjoyed being with her.  She was crazy about the surfer too.  They had a special thing going on between them, it was so sweet.  She would sit at the kitchen table and crochet, waiting for my mom to pick her up for the day.  Sometimes when my parents were off doing something for the night she would sit in with us and we would have dinner, make popcorn and crowd into the living room to watch her favorite television program, The Lawrence Welk Show.  She loved the music and dancers and had been watching it for many, many years.  She knew who all the singers and dancers were and would tell us as they would appear on the screen.  We thought it was a little goofy but seeing how much she enjoyed it, made us enjoy it too.  To this day, I watch it occasionally just to be reminded of her and our time together.  It makes me smile.

After my parents got settled in the motorhome, my dad said he wanted to see me - alone.  Uh, oh…what was this all about.  He wanted to talk.  He asked me what the deal was with the surfer and I.  I told him I loved him and he loved me. We had briefly talked about a future together but nothing serious really.  He proceeded to give me the talk.  Like any father, he didn’t want to see his daughter struggle for anything, wanted me to have an easier life than he did.  Wanted me to be well taken care of.  I totally got it.  I assured him that I understood but that had no bearing on my love for my surfer.  It was something I could not deny, no matter what the circumstances, and I knew in my heart that this love was real and right.  I knew that only God could change my heart, if it was not His plan for me, otherwise I was all in.  I knew God would take care of us in all other ways.  My dad felt it his obligation to impart his fatherly wisdom and I appreciate it to this day.  It  allowed me to examine my situation and my feelings and to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I had to follow my heart.  This was no ordinary love.  This was a gift from God.  

A couple weeks later, out of nowhere, the surfer proposed to me over a glass of champagne.  I was so unprepared and speechless, but the answer to his question rolled off my lips without even a second thought.  There was no other answer than, YES!  It was not even a question.  My heart had found a home with his.  We finished our champagne and drove over to my parents motorhome at the RV resort and burst in the door with the good news.  They were thrilled!!!!  Everyone was hugging, laughing and crying.  WOW!  I was getting married to the love of my life and my very best friend.  I couldn’t think of anything better in the world.  Just like moving to California felt right in my soul….so did this.  I didn’t have to think or contemplate it..I just knew.  

In that moment it was like everything was coming into view and I remembered something…the prayer I had prayed several years ago:

This was it…he was the one!!!!  I never realized all that God had done, until that moment, to make this a reality.  God brought him into my life just a couple weeks after I prayed that prayer and I wouldn’t have guessed in a million years that he would be the one….my surfer!  I was amazed and flabbergasted by how God had worked through the whole situation all this time.  I had known him for a couple years as my friend, the surfer, it wasn’t until the last year and half, we had fallen in love.  I just couldn’t get over it.  Now he would be my husband.  Unbelievable.  I was overjoyed at the love I shared with him and the love I shared with God in that moment.  That moment of awe, amazement and gratitude.  God was truly the matchmaker of all matchmakers!  

Word spread fast and everyone was jumping up and down for joy.  The surfer’s parents were thrilled and embraced me so lovingly, our Bible study friends were thrilled…everyone was ecstatic.  So…when are we having a wedding?” my Mom said.  I was stunned because it hadn’t even set in yet, “Mom!  We just got engaged!  Maybe in like a year?”  “What?!” she said.  "You can’t wait that long!  Why wait?”  "Well, I want to plan it and take my time" I said.  “Your sisters are all coming for Spring Break in few months.  If you don’t plan it then, they probably won’t be able to afford to come back again and wouldn’t be at your wedding then” she said.  My heart sank.  I wanted my sisters there.  I couldn’t believe it though….3 months! That’s all I would get to plan the wedding of my dreams?!?  3 months! "Well Mom, we better get started……” I said.  

The next day my mom called me over to the motorhome, said she had something to show me.  "I was in a dress store while I was home and something happened to me while I was there.  I don’t know exactly how to tell you this but, I was trying on dresses and came across this dress that was so beautiful.  I tried it on in black first and it was lovely.  Then I tried it on in white.  When I put the white dress on…something happened in the dressing room...”  She was very serious and then said, "I saw your face in the mirror instead of my own.”  I was listening very intently with wide eyes.  “Are you serious, Mom?”  “Yes, I am being very serious” she said.  I didn’t know what to say.  She said, "I had to buy it and brought it here with me.  Do you want to see it?” “Oh my gosh, yes I want to see it!” I said.  She pulled out a beautiful white, satin, strapless, mermaid style evening gown with a sweetheart neckline and white sequins going down the center bodice.  It was beautiful.  She said, “Do you like it?”  I replied, “Yes I do.”  I was stunned and I didn’t know what to say.  She offered that I could certainly look for other dresses but that this was for me…if I wanted it.  After what happened to her there was no way she couldn’t buy it.  I didn’t know what to say.  The whole thing was so unbelievable.  But I knew my Mom.  She wasn’t making this up.  This really happened to her and I couldn’t deny it.  Was this my wedding dress?  Did God inspire her to buy this for me, before she even knew I was getting married?  I didn’t even know what to think.  She had me try it on and it fit like a glove.  She was an incredible seamstress, so said we could alter it if I wanted.  After looking it over there wasn’t anything that I wanted to alter.  It was kind of perfect.  I asked her about making me an off-the-shoulder cape that would also double as my train and give the dress more drama.  She said, “Yes, I can make that for you.  No problem.”  I was all about being unique and different and I knew that a traditional wedding dress would not suffice.  They were not my style.  This would be unique and special and would have my own touch to it and I liked that idea.  We still went and looked at wedding dresses at the local shop and it was a hilarious adventure.  Lace, bows and big poofy skirts…they were not for me…and we laughed as I tried on each one.  The dresses of the day were not, in any way, complimentary to my body type.  I was tall, big boned and curvy - even though I was thin.  I needed something that graced my curves instead of hide them.  All the wedding dresses made me look way bigger than I was.  It was not a good look.  Ultimately, the dress, my mom was inspired to buy, would be my wedding dress and she made the most beautiful off-the-shoulder cape to go with it.  I found out later my off the shoulder cape, which was the train of my dress, was only a couple feet shy of Princess Diana’s, whose was the longest in royal history measuring in at 25 feet long.  I was looking for drama and bought out the white satin at the local store.  When my mom wrapped the satin around my shoulders and told me to walk towards the front of the store so she could see how long I wanted it…I just kept walking…and walking.  My mom’s eyes grew wide.  “Really, is that what you want?” she said.  I replied, “It really is.”  My mom was so gracious to make it for me.  I can’t imagine how long it took her to sew.  What she wouldn’t do for me.  That cape made the dress and was spectacular when I walked down the aisle, thanks to my mom and all her hard work.  After the ceremony and pictures I took it off and had a beautiful evening gown to party in!  Perfecto!

The wedding was spectacular.  We were married on the bay with palm trees and waterfalls, surrounded by family and friends.  Many say it was the party of parties!  I just knew I was marrying my best friend and I was in love.  There was not a moment of hesitation.  Just pure joy and happiness.  The three month engagement had flown by, but we had done it…with God’s help.  It was a bit of chaos those three months but everyone hung in there and put up with me, as I tried to plan out all the details that were so important to me.  It wasn’t a terribly complicated wedding, but I had to make sure it represented us - my surfer and I - and didn’t have a lot of time to bring it all together.  All the chaos had paid off in the end.  Without the help of family and friends, and more importantly God, we would have never pulled it off.  I couldn’t believe I was married.  This was not my plan after all.  I was not planning on getting married now.  I was planning on a career and living on my own.  But that was not God’s plan for me.  What is that saying, We make plans and God laughs.  It was so obvious in every way, that this was what God wanted for me.  Even though I was young, I have never looked back or regretted it for one moment.  I have always known in my heart that it was God’s Will for me.  That God chose this man for me.  This was all part of His divine plan.  There is no greater peace in the world than to know God is the guiding light in your life.  If we listen to His voice and follow our hearts, His plan can be made manifest…and it will be more than we can hope for!  My surfer was no longer my surfer….he was my husband.  When I found him whom my soul loves; I held on to him and would not let him go - Song of Solomon 3:4.  It was time to begin our life together as husband and wife...  

♥️LGOF