Continuing the story...

 Previously on "In the Middle of the Storm"...

The now-39-year-old widow wades into the shallow pool of dating...

My faith is an integral part of my very being.  I would pray that this is obvious to my reader, by this point.  My faith is what has kept me going, healing, and living these last two years.  The one area of my life where I have never been willing to compromise is common faith with a partner.  My love and devotion to Jesus will always eclipse my love and devotion to my partner.  It has to.  In my limited marriage experience, I discovered, many times over, the necessary ingredients were a whole lot of Jesus and a whole lot of grace.  The only way I'm going to have a whole lot of grace for someone who can't manage to put a spoon in the dishwasher even though it is literally 6 inches below the sink, well, that's Jesus.  Early on in our relationship, S and I began doing devotionals together.  We started with The Purpose Driven Life, and continued with daily devotional readings together.  To this day, we have a standing "date" at 5:30am where we both do our devotional at the same time.  This shared faith and shared commitment to our mutual faith has become the bedrock of our relationship.  It has to be.

After months of discussion, prayer, more discussion, and more prayer, in July, S met my kids.  We had been dating 7 months at this point, and really felt led that this was the time.  That first day, S came over for dinner, we all went to Mr. M's baseball game, and then he took us to Dairy Queen.  Instant win.  Really, it was the Dairy Queen that did it.  Now that the kids and S had met, we all began attending church together.  Sundays have become "Team Day".  We go to church, have lunch, and spend time as a team.  In August, we all went camping.  Yes, camping.  Tents, pit toilets, mosquitos, all of it.  We survived (S did end up with 22 stitches by Saturday, but that's a whole other story for a whole other time), and, even more, we had fun!  Personally, I would find it even more fun in a camper, but, I'm working on that angle.

Now, almost a year from when I first messaged that one guy who liked missions trips, our team is set to become permanent.  On October 28, 2021, S asked me to marry him.  Spoiler alert: I said yes.  The kids were equally overjoyed; so much so that, when S told them the news, all they could utter was, "I thought we were going to carve pumpkins tonight."  

The goodness of God never ceases to take my breath away.  In my previous installment, I described the type of guy I'd like to meet, and my therapist reminded me how unlikely it was.  Well, the Lord has graciously brought me a man who has never been married, doesn't have children of his own, loves Jesus more than anyone or anything in this world, loves my children, considers them as his own, and honors their father and his role in our lives.  God. Is. Amazing. 

Early this fall, I wasn't feeling well, so S drove down and took the kids to a park so I could rest.  At the park, Little Miss asked S if he was going to be her new daddy.  S's reply: "You already have a daddy in Heaven.  I'd like to be your 2nd daddy, here on Earth.  Would that be ok?"  This is the kind of man he is, and I thank God for bringing him into my life.

New chapters of my life continue to be written.  I knew they would be; I believe they've been written for some time.  Two years ago, I was receiving the phone call that would change my life forever.  I wasn't really able to think about the future then.  It was all I could do to survive the present.  Yes, the kids and I are continuing to move toward thriving, but, its still tough.  I'm still a solo parent, I'm still tired, and my kids are still the wonderfully created balls of energy and chaos they have always been.  Yet, in God's graciousness, I'm periodically granted glimpses beyond the veil; opportunities to see how God has been working, is currently working, and will continue to work all things out for His glory.  Jesus never said the road would be easy; he did say I would never be alone.  

"I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5