perfect love
Derek
something to think about
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Who am I?
Picture words
How we met...
There are so many rooms to choose from, where do I start? Let's try this one: christianfellowship. Look at all these different conversations going on! How do you know who's saying what, or to whom? Wow! The "host" actually welcomed me, DereChere, by name!It all started with a computer, a modem, and an on-line service. I met several wonderful new friends and, well, let's just say some interesting people. Patrick just happened to be one of the wonderful people. Since he worked second shift and I worked first shift, our meetings on-line were mostly by chance. E-mail became THE way to communicate. Then came modem problems! Oh well, there's always E-mail at work. Oh no! His messages were returned to him "user unknown"! With a little help from above, and an understanding coworker, Patrick managed to send a couple of messages by way of her computer. Eventually, the modem problems were resolved and I was able to send and receive E-mails from home again. Patrick and I learned how to send all sorts of colorful messages! We changed the colors, fonts, sizes, and even made pictures out of letters and symbols! Like this: @---}- (a rose) and this: ><)))> (a fish). We also traded crucial information about ourselves, like I love fluffer-nutter sandwiches, and he loves to play the guitar. Patrick even serenaded me over the computer! He sent me his address and phone number, but I hesitated to do the same -- I mean, you never know!! I don't normally call a man unless specifically asked - so, my son and I both called and left a message on his answering machine.
Since I lived in Hendersonville, NC and Patrick was based with the Air Force in Fayetteville, NC (about 5 hours apart), we had never met in person. My Sunday School group was going to see the Billy Graham Crusade, and I told Patrick about it. He said that would be awesome if he could get the time off to go to the crusade... He managed to get the weekend free, and we decided that would be a great time to meet. Neither of us had ever been to Ericson Stadium in Charlotte. I asked a friend who had been there before what to do {I knew what Patrick looked like, but he didn't know what I looked like}. This could be like looking for a needle in a haystack! We decided to meet at the left panther on the north side of the stadium. Before we left, I said a little prayer, "If this guy's a weirdo, an axe murderer, dangerous, or there's any reason we shouldn't meet, Please Lord, keep us from meeting..."
On the way to the crusade, one of our church's vans was involved in an accident. Praise the Lord, no one was hurt! We finally arrived at the stadium - three hours late. Patrick was actually still waiting next to the panther!
That was our first meeting. Afterward, we communicated more by phone and he visited on weekends. My fears about his character were answered. What weirdo would drive 5 hours one way, stay in a hotel or with one of the guys at Sunday School, just to visit me?!
Well, time went on and one morning I checked my E-mail and saw that the message was a rather lengthy one, so I just printed it out and brought it to work with me. Imagine my surprise when I got to the bottom of page 4 and read, "In cyberspace I'm on bended knee. I hold out my hand, my heart, and my future. My feelings for you are true, pure, and strong. Many dreams and prayers will be fulfilled in your answer to the question I'm about to ask "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" You can see by the smile on my face and the ring on my finger what my answer was! I know we were brought together by God, and nothing will ever separate us.
Unfortunately, right now we're separated by a big body of water and a little time, but that's only temporary. You see, Patrick is on a year long tour Korea. We'll miss each other's birthday, Valentine's Day, Easter, and our First Anniversary together, but we know have so many more to look forward to. Besides, we can always communicate by E-mail or chatting until he comes home!
I had been praying and waiting (sometimes impatiently!) for "Mr. Right", and I know with all my heart that Patrick is the man I was meant to marry!! Thank you so much, Lord for answered prayers!