JEI: Romance Edition!

It is the final day of January! Heading right down the chute is the month for love – February! Because of that, Alicia over at Sweeping Up Joy is hosting a special JEI: Romance Edition.

How did you meet your spouse? Or, how did you know your spouse was “the one”?

It’s no surprise I believe in the concept of God giving us free will. I’ve only reminded readers of that a few times. I met my husband through my sister and her family. I was, at the time, pursuing my options, going through discernment for a religious order. The Carmelite Sisters of Los Angeles had been the only order willing to take me on as a teacher and house me, guide me, mentor me toward becoming a religious sister, while paying off my student loans. Upon forgiveness of my debt, they would be willing to allow me to make my initial step toward becoming a postulant.

Insert my (now) husband into my life. A man who spoke (and still does) glowingly of his mother. A man who was grounded, and placed his love of country and duty above all else in his life. A man who had lived in the same town from a very tender age, and over two decades later, still had friends from that town. A man who wanted a family, and who wanted someone with whom to grow old.

Before I knew what Adoration was, I sat in front of the Blessed Sacrament, begging God to allow me to be a mother of my own children. To allow me the ability to be a wife, and instead of being a spiritual mother of hundreds of children as a teacher, to allow me to raise my own children, day in and day out. As I sat there, praying perhaps more earnestly than I ever have in my life, I realized I had two choices:

My (now) husband, or the Carmelite sisters.

And, I felt a weight lifted when I heard deep in my soul, “You choose.”

So, before my husband knew what hit him, I had asked God for His permission to make my then-friend, my husband.

What’s your ideal date? Or, what’s your funniest dating story?

My ideal date has been my birthday the past two years – getting to go to Barnes and Noble, get a coffee, and peruse through bookshelves for over an hour, sans children. Two years ago, we actually went on that date together; this past year, we had our children with us, but my husband kept them occupied while I browsed.

What couple from literature, television, or the movies best mirrors you and your spouse?

I recently realized Anna and Kristoff would be accurate descriptions for our relationship – Kristoff as the practical, solution-oriented pragmatist, and Anna, the “everything’s going to be alright,” starry-eyed optimist.

There you have it! Our JEI: Romance Edition questions asked, and answered!

I’d love to hear your thoughts and your answers to these questions. Leave your answers below, or leave your link to your own JEI post in the comments below!

• How did you meet your spouse? Or, how did you know your spouse was “the one”?
• What’s your ideal date? Or, what’s your funniest dating story?
• What couple from literature, television, or the movies best mirrors you and your spouse?