Our Love Story
I was a divorced business consultant in Florida with three children. After going to God in prayer, I felt His release to pray and fast for a husband. Not just any husband, but the Man of God I had dreamed of. At the time I met Ross online, I was prayng and fasting regularly for my husband. I had done my homework, knew what kind of man I wanted, and was active in my community amongst Christian singles.
Ross was a widower wtih two teenage sons living in Pennyslyvania. His wife of twenty one years had died of breast cancer, leaving him a single parent with two boys deeply hurt by the loss of their Mom. He desired a wife. His friend, Gary, encouraged him to get online to find his wife. He did so and this is where we met.
For three months, we emailed, talked on the phone and sent cards. Finally, in October 2007, I flew to Pennyslyvania to have our first "date" - a weekend Ross had planned down to 15 minute intervals. (Smile) We had a great time seeing the area. Our time together was so action packed that both of us were worn out by Saturday evening when we sat down to dinner. He barely said a word to me. I thought to myself, "He doesn't like me in person. I will go home tomorrow and that will be that." But, that wasn't what God had in mind. It was just the beginning of a two year long distance courtship that would allow us to know each other well and fall in love. Or as Ross says, for one who falls in love slowly, that he keeps falling the longer we are together. I like that. We find ourselves in a continuing state of "falling".
I stayed at a beautiful B & B near his house, so that we would honor the Lord and our help us keep our relationship pure and holy before God. I think the distance between us helped with that. We did, however, enjoy wonderful times by the cozy fire, eating yummy food prepared by the Oak Noggin Hostess, Betty, and watched a lot of great movies. All these moments wove us together a little at a time. Ross said in the beginning that he felt we needed six "dates" before we would know if we were right for each other. Now, remember, each weekend was one "date". I personally would have considered each day a date, but, I'm a girl.
For a two year period, we saw each other about every two months, going back and forth between Pittsburgh and Orlando. Our lives were connecting. We let our children become accustom to each other over that time. I would say that much of that time He was teaching me about my future husband and the nature of men (for YOU of course!) and I had to deny my natural tendancies at times, which would have been overly emotional. I listened to the Lord all the way. He would stop me when I was going to make a mountain out of a mole hill and help me confront when it was important.
I enjoyed being a feminine woman during our courtship and so did Ross, I think. No two women are going to be alike, but there are certain characteristics of womanhood that men are attracted to and love in women. What they really love is that we are not men! They love our feminine side and though they aren't going to be the same, love that we are very different from them.
After trying to get the calendars in sync for all of our family, including some children that wanted to ignore that we were getting married, we prayed and felt God putting together a small intimate wedding of just ourselves, our pastor and his wife and a professional photographer. (A must have girls no matter how small your wedding is. Can't get much smaller than mine!) I flew to Pittsburgh on a Thursday night and we were married at 11am the next day on Friday. God was with us.
It was the most perfect day of my life, Ladies. Even my haIr! I knew I wouldn't have someone to help me so I had practiced updos for weeks. That day, my hair was perfect and just as Ross loves it. I felt pretty, was so happy, felt loved and cherished and was ready to build a new life with this incredible man God had blessed me with. Ross chose our wedding song, Kari Jobe's "My Beloved". We had a beautiful lunch with Pastor Keith and Trish at an amazing Victorian restaurant and then headed off to a B & B in NJ for our honeymoon weekend. You see, I only had the weekend and then I had to fly back to Orlando. But, our wedding was flawless and will always be a perfect memory in my mind.
We have gone back and forth during our marriage between Florida and Pennyslyvania as I sell my house and help my children with special times in their lives.
God brought us together in a way I would have never thought. He helped us grow tegether. He led us to be married. He is with us now. I've prayed about what He wanted me to do with the knowledge He gave me during these two years and I began to share it with others. This is how Intended For Marriage was started.
Thank you for sharing in our love story. Now, it's time to get started on YOURS!
Love and Blessings to You,
Karen "KD" Jantzi
"Blessed Couple"
Photo by Tori Hinn
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, Rhode Island