It was a beautiful, sunny June morning. I was sitting with my parents and brother in a quaint little Baptist church in Huntington Beach. Though it was our first Sunday attending this church, we had visited before and saw many familiar faces. Shortly after the worship began, the choir stood up and began to sing one of my favorite songs: How Great Our Lord. As I scanned the choir, one particular girl beamed with joy as she sang with all her heart. The song so stirred my heart, that tears began to fill my eyes. So began one of the happiest chapters of my life.
Though it was never planned, it seemed that our family nearly always sat a row or two behind the Stevens family. I often sat right behind Katie. It was hard not to admire her. Everything about her appearance, demeanor and actions was beautiful: her hair, the way that she dressed, her cheerfulness, her serious interest in things of the Lord, her love for her parents and siblings, and her love for the Lord. Even in choir she was hard to miss. She consistently smiled every week. I was also impressed with the friends she chose to spend her time with.
About six months later, Katie and I were assigned to go with several other people on door to door evangelism calls. I was impressed with the warmth she communicated to the people we visited. You could just feel her hospitable, loving, sincerely caring, sensitive, and encouraging spirit. In the following months, I observed several other instances when Katie exercised this gift of hospitality as she would greet visitors and try to make them feel loved, wanted, and welcome.
On Christmas Eve of that year, my family decided to go Christmas caroling at the Stevens' home. The Stevens were amazingly gracious for a surprise visit on such a day. They welcomed us into their home and even sang a song or two for us.
Over the course of the next year, our two families visited each other somewhat regularly. The more time we spent together, the more qualities I saw in Katie. I was especially impressed with her graciousness. Situations that could easily make a person flustered or irritated didn’t seem to affect her. She had a way of finding the right words to say at the right time.
One day, I found an excuse to drop something by their house. I chatted a little bit with Katie’s mom and Katie too. Time must have flown by quickly, for soon it was time for dinner. Mrs. Stevens asked if I could stay for dinner. I must say I was a little surprised with the warm welcome that she was giving to me, and very thrilled. J I gladly accepted. The evening was delightful and went by far too quickly. Mrs. Stevens invited me to come again sometime if I could. I took her up on her offer. J Not once, but quite a few times! Each time I talked more and more with Katie. And the more I talked with her, the more impressed I was. Everything I thought I had seen in her was true, and so much more. Even her tastes in little things were so much like mine. I found it so easy to talk to her, too. She even seemed to enjoy talking to me, and liked to ask me questions about things, and to know how I felt about different things. We began sharing books with each other, and even memorizing the same Scripture verses. It took me a little while to realize what was happening to me. I was thinking that Mrs. Stevens might be curious as to what I was thinking. Before I showed an interest in Katie, I thought I should probably talk to her parents. Little did I know how much I had already let my admiration of Katie leak out. I thought it was still a secret, but quite to the contrary. J Katie’s parents encouraged me in the interest I was showing in Katie, and talked with me about the way things should go from there. We continued to get together, and the family even invited me to go on their family fishing trip to Lake Casitas. I didn’t catch any fish, but I was more and more impressed at what a catch Katie was. We had some very special times talking heart to heart with each other about things that were important to us. The hours of the drive home flew by, and seemed just minutes.
In the months to follow it became increasingly clear that the Lord was turning my heart to Katie, and was opening the doors for me to pursue her hand in marriage.
About the turn of the year, I spent some time praying and seeking counsel from my parents, and felt the Lord was leading me to make my intentions known to Katie and her parents, and ask her if I could court her. On January 15th, 2003, Mom and I went to the Stevens’ home. Mom took Katie out to a Mexican restaurant to enjoy a fun time of fellowship. I took Mr. and Mrs. Stevens out to an Italian restaurant and asked their permission to begin courting Katie. We were seated in a secluded, private little cove that couldn’t have been designed better for the occasion. It is hard to understand the dynamics of our meeting without knowing Mike and Cheri. They are two of the most gracious, loving, and kind people I know. So, although I felt the weight of the seriousness of what we were discussing, at the same time I felt an even deeper level of love, support, and trust from this precious couple. I don’t think there was an awkward moment in the meeting. After they gave their blessing, we returned to their home and I told Katie what was on my heart and asked if I could court her. I was so thrilled when she said a hearty “yes!”
Time would fail me to describe the precious times we shared together in the months to follow. But one of the most important was that special day in November, exactly seven months before our wedding date, when she accepted my proposal and we were engaged.
I thank my Lord for the precious gift He has given me in my Katie. Every day I see more and more of what a treasure she is. I don’t know why my Lord has blessed me with such a virtuous woman. She is a constant reminder to me of the generous love of my Father and of the beauty of the work of His Spirit in the life of his children.