Donald: You have read stories of “Love at first sight” well this isn’t such a story. Understand our first encounters with each other were both memorable. My first introduction to Jonna was, me introducing myself to her and then introducing her to someone else. Then her first recollection of me was me standing on top a car (the roof) yelling at someone across the parking lot. I believe her question to a friend was “who is that idiot?” Yep you guessed it…I was the proverbial idiot.
Jonna: It is really funny when you realize that we both double dated with each other's best friends when we were teenagers! When those relationships didn't pan out; well we just decided to get together. The first time we actually met was at church...big surprise! Don was a loud talker and always the center of attention and I was very quiet and well mannered and liked to stay out of the spotlight. And yes...one of my first memories of Don was after that church service in the parking lot of a Pizza Hut and he was standing on one of the vehicles hoods and jumping up and down yelling something and then while eating pizza he made his "pizza pie" eat the salt and pepper shakers as well as the napkin dispenser on the table. Of course Don probably remembers that I didn't eat because I didn't want to get sauce on my new outfit and that I was somewhat repulsed at everything he did....sounds like a great beginning!
Donald: I will never forget what she looked like that night. Jonna was wearing a Polo shirt with the collar popped because that was the style of the day. Her smile lit the room up…matter of fact it still does. Her eyes…to borrow a line from a popular song of today, “Oh her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they’re not shining” are so captivating. Brown eyes have never seemed so bright. Her hair was long and blonde back in the day. She was absolutely beautiful. But as we talked I realized she was beautiful inside and out. So I had to ask her on another date.
Jonna: What “repulsed” me about Don is actually what I craved. I loved watching him be so happy and alive and entertaining with those gorgeous blue eyes. Yes...even jumping on that car hood! When he spoke everyone around him stopped and listened. He contains such wisdom, charisma, charm and of course incredibly good looks and I found myself getting sucked in like I have NEVER before in a relationship. Don's outlook on life was and is so carefree and spontaneous and so much fun! I was so busy “acting” proper and being well-behaved that I found myself boring but I so wanted to participate and break out of my shy-box!
Donald: I knew she was “the one” within two weeks…I think it took her a couple of years! But on one hand I’m grateful our love story isn’t a fairy tale because the stuff we have been through together, our commitment to one another, a fairy tale love story couldn’t hold up to the challenge. We dated for two years before we were married. I was extremely sick during those days with Crohn's disease and she was confident and strong. I’ll also never forget the night I proposed. We went out to a nice dinner and then we went for a walk on the beach. It was a full moon…I know for a fact that we had never gone to the beach at night before, we had gone plenty of times during the day but never at night. So as we walked down the beach on that full moon-lit evening…I asked her to marry me. When I pulled out the ring I was so glad the moon was bright because the light of the moon made the ring seem larger and more brilliant. I was the happiest guy in the world when she said yes…matter of fact the only other time since then that makes me so happy is the fact that she continues to say “yes” everyday.
Jonna: He has always had a heart for the things of God and wanted to do GREAT things with his life. He talked about a ministry style that hit my heart...that God loved us so much and had more Mercy and Grace than we ever even thought! It excited me because of my religious style of upbringing to find someone that wanted to do things different and "out of the box' and I felt myself falling in love so fast and so deep with this amazing man. When he finally asked me to marry him one night on the beach...I was thrilled and excitedly said yes!
I said "yes" to full-time ministry as well as "yes" to a chronic disease of which both brought many challenges, victories as well as blessings down the road. I didn't realize that the "in sickness" part was going to come so quickly though! What I witnessed in my husband during the struggle of his life was a faith that was so strong and unwavering and I would watch him minister and pray for people and see them healed while he was still so incredibly sick. One day God chose to heal him and I got to be a part of that wonderful miracle! No greater time in my life; other than the birth of my two boys will ever compare to that moment.
Donald: I know couples are supposed to have songs and I’m not real sure if “we” do…I know the song that makes me think of her is the song “Cherish” by Kool and the Gang. I cannot hear it and not think of Jonna. See love stories are more than the oooh and the gooh…it is how you stay together during the difficult days. When your spouse is sick for twelve years and you don’t leave, you love him in spite of it and through it. When your wife decides to go back to school you celebrate it and help her dreams come to pass.
You've heard the saying, “Marriage is made in heaven…but so is Thunder and Lightning!” But boy, doesn’t it create a beautiful show when the heavens are lighting up?
Jonna: Don has officially gotten me “out of my box” and sometimes he probably wonders if he created a monster! But over the years he has been my encourager to go and do and be the best that I can be. It was him who watched the kids and went the extra mile when I decided to fulfill a dream of mine to be a nurse. When I didn't think I could make it....he was there telling me all the reasons why I could. He has helped me out of my shyness and continues to lovingly push me to speak my heart and to be the person that God intended me to be. I am so blessed to be doing life with Don and I thank God that I was positioned at the right time and the right place to connect with him....I know that it was God's plan all along!
Don
& Jonna: Everyone has a beautiful wedding day and so much time and thought and money has been put into that one event. We had 7 bridesmaids and 7 groomsmen and well....it was more like a circus! But in all of that all you have when that day is over is likened to a seed. At first glance the seed really isn't very pretty and there just isn't much to it. Trust me...the first few years of our marriage weren't very pretty! But just like a seed if you diligently take the time to plant, water and nourish it; it can bloom as a wonderful flower that has the potential to be even more beautiful every single year.
Marriage, like life, brings with it many joys and also many challenges. And we also know that love, while beautiful, does not always show its prettiest face. There are days when we may find it hard to express the depth of our love for one another. Sometimes it is difficult to find the right words to say “I am sorry” or “I forgive you”; “I need you” or “I am hurting”. There have been days we wondered, "what in the world did we get ourselves into?" But we have found that even when things don't smell like fresh flowers and all those feelings and goosebumps aren't there...well...there is still something that is deeply rooted in our lives that is powerful and it is sacred as well as fragrant and it is just waiting to bloom. Sometimes we just have to move in faith to get past issues for that thing to come forth. There is nothing more beautiful than a maturing flower that catches your attention and causes you to stop and stare in wonder. That is our prayer for our love and our marriage as well as yours.
You may find yourself today as you read this; that you don't feel like you are living a love story...it is likened more to a horror story! Don't lose heart and don't give up....plant that thing in prayer and water it in time and in faith look for it to bloom into a new thing. Speak to the King in Him or the Queen in Her and you will start to see a King or Queen rise up. Whatever the situation; love, understanding, acceptance and forgiveness has the ability to make things grow the right way.
Happy
Valentine's Day!
Don & Jonna
