Our Story, Day 5

Day five of "our story"


In February of course was Valentine's Day. Paul gave me a magnificent card  and a teddy bear. The card was very special in that it had a bench on it that had a heart sitting on the bench. You see, it was the picture of a bench we sat on that looked out on a lake. The card stated that I held his heart. The man can be quite the romantic when he wants to be. 

It was also the month for a youth event called Aquire the Fire. I went with my best friend Tarah, her family and another friend Jenna. I was a last minute add on to the trio so I didn't have a ticket. Paul and his friend Mark were taking their Royal Ranger group and had an extra ticket. Wonder how that happened?
 
They were also borrowing my Dodge Durango to drive to the event. So since I was getting my ticket from them.... I sat with them for Friday and Saturday services. It was the polite thing to do, at least I played it off as that, since those around me didn't know Paul and I had been seeing each other. Somehow I ended up next to Paul every time we sat down, crazy how that happened. Anyway, it was very cold (Paul actually brought me socks on Saturday since I didn't have any and was wearing flip flops) so we both had jackets, he was wearing his and I had mine draped over me. Soon enough we were holding hands under the cover of the jacket, those around us still in the dark.

A favorite memory I have of that event was watching Paul worship during the service. He was a man after Gods heart. Something that was vitally important to me, I wanted a man who seeks God. I so badly wanted Paul to be my future husband.

Somewhere around the next week or so we went to the wedding of a mutual friend. Of course, to keep everyone else out of the loop, we were sitting with our individual families. Politely, Paul came over to say hello to me and my mom (wow did I loved seeing that man smile),  then went back and sat next to his mom.  

A few minutes later Paul walks back over and asks if he can sit with us. A bit stunned, I smile and say of course. He sat down next to me. I asked what he was doing, I'm not even sure what he said, but something to the effect of everyone will find out eventually anyway, might as well be now. So, he sat with me the rest of the wedding and following festivities. No one said a word. I didn't even really notice anyone looking. Then he sat with me again the next morning at church. People noticed.

It was then we were called in to talk to our Youth Pastor and his wife (Paul was a youth leader, and I was a youth aged youth leader). We let them know we had begun a courtship, and to ease their minds, we let them know we were only spending time with each other at our families house or at events. 

The next month was a big event for Paul. It was PowWow, the big yearly camping event for the Rangers in the state. The evening service was open so girls could attend and Paul invited me. I watched him get on stage and do a short talk about the Gold Medal of Achievement. A boy near me was trying to talk to me and flirt with me. I admit, I really enjoyed letting him know I was trying to listen to my boyfriend, the tall slim guy on stage. After the service that night Paul walked me out to my car. We talked for a few minutes and sat in the car due to bugs. As he was saying goodbye and about to get out of my car, I knew he was the one.  I knew I never wanted to say goodbye anymore, only goodnight. I knew he would be the daddy to my babies. I knew he would be the man to get the rest of my kisses for life.  Keep in mind, I still hadn't kissed the guy. Remember, I wasn't going to unless I knew he was the one I would marry? Now, I don't rush into things so I didn't kiss him that night, but I did the next night.

I found out later, Paul already knew I was the one for him. That is his story though, not mine.

Only problem.... I'm still 16...