It was a gloomy, very early, spring day. I was bundled up in an old pair of ripped jeans, a sweatshirt and a fleece jacket and wearing a Michigan baseball cap. In front of the greenhouse, among the racks and stacks of terra cotta pots, I stood shivering in the cool morning breeze with my pricing list. My task for the day was to price them as all the moisture of my hands was sucked dry by the clay.
That morning a large pick-up truck filled with three men rolled up into the gravel filled parking lot. After a season with only a few customers a day I was curious as to what the men could be doing there. There were not many flowers unless you count the flowering indoor plants in the first greenhouse but these men didn't look like they were coming in to buy gifts for their wives. All the flats that were transplanted were just sprouting. The greenhouses were full of new life yet seemed lifeless without their future magnificent colors.
As the men walked past me, I looked up as I heard the tiny stones cracking under their boots. One of them caught my eye. He flashed a quick smile and continued to walk past me up the gravel path. That smile, I will never forget.
Over the next few days and weeks I would see that stranger's smile a few more times. I couldn't get him out of my mind. I found myself smiling just thinking about him. It was almost silly, really, the way he seemed to make my day just by coming in. On one of those occasions I was there to help him. After talking to him for a few minutes I knew; I knew I had to get to know him.
A few days later (after a little pep talk from a coworker of mine) that stranger with a smile pulled me to the side and asked me if I'd like to go to dinner sometime. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I was elated, on cloud nine, over the moon excited! My heart was racing as I gave him my number. Over the next week he called me almost every night and we must have talked for hours each time. Those phone calls were by far my favorite time of day and something I looked forward to all day long. He was no longer a stranger. He was James Laslo and my heart raced every time I heard his voice. After a couple weeks of talking on the phone because of our busy schedules, we finally made a date to go out for that dinner.
James picked me up in his cousin's BMW. I guess he thought the date might go a bit better
driving something a little classier than a dirty, purple Dodge Ram, work pickup. We went down to the city and enjoyed an amazing Italian dinner. After dinner we took a walk and decided to ride the giant ferris wheel at Navy Pier. It was a beautiful, crystal clear, spring evening. Up on the top we could see the entire city, complete with an array of brightly colored lights that seemed to illuminate as far as the eye could see. After our ride we drove to the lakefront and parked the car near the aquarium.
The night seemed almost magical as we walked for miles up and down the lakefront, taking in the sights and smells of the lake as the wind softly blew a breeze our way. Our last destination of the evening was Buckingham Fountain. There were tourists, families and couples strolling around the fountain as the lights changed from one color to the next. At one point James took my hand, pulled me close and he kissed me. At that moment if felt as if all time stood still. It was also at that moment that I felt like I knew I found the man of my dreams. I was head over heals for him and I knew after a kiss like that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. It really was that simple.
My life seemed almost too perfect. I had a beautiful little boy who was the light and joy in my life and now had found a man who made me feel the same. After many years of praying for "him" God led James & I together.
Our wonderful summer soon led into the fall, which seemed to quickly change into winter. Then something happened that would change our lives forever. An event that would test our relationship, our love and our faith. It was something that would separate us for months by a distance of a thousand miles. The separation was not something either of us wanted but it was here.
The love I once felt now seemed like a stranger. I felt alone. I experienced some of the darkest times of my life that winter and into late spring. I woke up every morning and headed to work to spend my days alone in a dark, cold greenhouse transplanting tiny plants from seed trays into flats. It was a mindless job. I hate nothing more than to be alone with my thoughts. As my mind wandered and those thoughts raced I made a choice. In previous nights I laid awake in my bed crying out the the Lord. I wanted my pain to end. The pain of my broken heart. I simply missed James. Each night I prayed with a Psalm I memorized in 6th grade. Here are the key verses that God reminded me of each time I prayed:
Psalm 147: 4 & 5 "He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit." He knew of this situation before James and I were even conceived. I could come to Him, my Savior and creator of all things and He would understand...even when it felt like not one person in my life could. He was my true comfort when no one and nothing else ever could.
So, the choice I made one morning at work was really something so simple but also life changing.
The Lord showed me His answer to those prayers through sound waves. The radio became an interesting vessel in which God chose to speak to me. Every morning I would grab my portable radio and head into the greenhouse to begin my work. I didn't set it to today's hits, classical music or even talk. I remember my mom listening to WMBI 90.1 Chicago my whole life. I honestly never really listened. I turned on Moody radio each new day to hear sermons, praise & worship music and was able to catch Midday Connection. The truths that God was pouring into my heart and mind were powerful. I would leave each day on a brighter note than I started.
I would go home each night and open the Bible that I received for my 8th grade graduation. Inside the cover of my student Bible a Psalm was written just for me. Psalm 25:4&5 "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long." I prayed those words often and God started doing a great work in me. I was being transformed as each day passed.
Soon spring had ended and just as summer began something wonderful happened. James and I were reunited. He was home. We took the rest of the summer getting to know one another all over again. But, as they often do, the seasons changed and fall was upon us. One late fall Saturday evening after work I had taken my little guy to a preschool birthday party. If you've never been to one, they are completely exhausting. After the party I dropped him off to spend the night at his grandparents. As I pulled up to an empty house and parked my Jeep in the drive I gathered all my stuff that had collected from the week in my car. I opened the door the house and walked inside. After putting everything away I made my way upstairs to take a shower.
I turned on the hallway light and saw something strange. I quickly flipped the switch on in my room and found quite a surprise. There were rose petals all over my floor, even continuing on my bed in the shape of a heart. On my bed sat a large box with a note attached to the top that read "Here's a little something for you to wear tonight. I hope you like them. Love, James." It was a box with a couple new outfits from my favorite store. As I turned around I encountered yet another surprise. James was standing in the doorway! After I screamed and spent a moment trying to catch my breath he came in an knelt down on one knee. That was the night James asked me to be his wife. After the shock wore off and I was able to comprehend what was going on I said "yes!"
The rest is, well, history. We really did have fairytale wedding. Every part of the planning and every moment of of special day was near perfection. We've been together for nine wonderful years and some days I almost can't believe it's only been nine. Together, James and I have been through it all. We've had ups and downs, had high points and very low points. Today the love we share is intense. We are best friends, parents and partners in this life. I don't think I'd want to imagine living it without him.
James is really an amazing man. He gets up before the sun rises in the morning and some days/months doesn't return home until after the sun sets. He works very hard for our family and is an amazing provider. Even after a 12 hour work day he still has all the time and energy in the world to play and care for our five amazing children. He can cook gourmet dinners, do countless loads of laundry and clean the house so it sparkles like the top of the Chrysler building.
The love James has for our family shows in all he does. He is such a wonderful model for our children and for me of how we should live our lives for Christ. He makes time each night to teach our children important truths from the Bible. I don't of many men who will get up countless nights and rock a crying baby back to sleep, then get up the next morning at 6a.m. with the rest of the children, get them fed and dressed and out the door ALL while letting his wife sleep in for a day here and there.
There are so many reasons I love him I know my heart can't even begin to write them down. I do know that over the years a hug from him is a common cure for my tears. His smile still melts my heart. I love the way he still reaches for my hand when we are in a public place and the way he always thinks of me before himself. A love like ours is hard to find. It's intense, crazy, wonderful and always there. In all our trials it has remained firm. Thanks to our heavenly father for his promise that if we built our marriage on Him it cannot be easily broken.
I could not be more thankful and blessed to be married to such an amazing man. Thank you, God for James.
