What Happens When Mr. Right Walks into the Room {An Uncommon Love: Chapt. 3}

 *This is Chapter 3 of An Uncommon Love – our true-life love story. You can also catch up by reading Chapter One: If He was the Last Man on Earth and Chapter Two: Where Is She? {Searching For My Forever Girl}. 

I knew it as soon as he entered the room.

He walked through the doorway with his confident stride. Wearing a thick, manly sweater, black Levi’s, and western boots.  Tall, dark, and handsome, just like she said.

With those unforgettable blue eyes.

It’s possible I fell in love at that very moment. At that very first dinner party.

No, surely not?

I mean, no one really falls in love with a pair of boots . . . do they?

No, of course, they don’t.

So maybe it was his smile.  Or his honest expression.

Or it might very well have been those beautiful blue eyes.

But mostly . . . mostly it was his soul. Somehow his soul came clear through. Shone a bright light right across the room and then settled deep into my own.

And in that moment I knew.

There is the man I am going to marry.

Just like that. Simple, straightforward, and as distinct as if a Voice had spoken.

There he is. Your future husband. Right there.

All of this happened in an instant. This sense that the rest of my life was standing tall before me. I felt surprisingly calm considering the implications.

My one thought?  Wow. I can’t wait to get to know him. This man I’m going to marry.

Wait A Second Here . . .

Wait a second . . . I thought Lisa said something about, “If he was the last man on earth, she wouldn’t date him .” Now she’s ready to marry him? ?

And you’re right.  I did say that. And  I meant it too.

But a lot had happened in the 8 months since that disastrous first meeting and the horrendous lunch that followed.

You see, God had been working in me.

Over time, He had been slowly softening my heart and showing my need to listen to Him. Because up until then, I had been the one calling the shots in my love life. Telling Him what I did – and did not – want in a man.  I was determined to stay in control.

I wanted to be in charge.

Yet my Heavenly Father had been gently pressing on me that I needed to learn to trust Him with my heart. That He could and would take care of me . . . if I would only let Him.

So, yes, a lot happened over those 8 months.

Which is why I could make that shocking announcement on New Year’s Eve.

A Surprising New Year’s Resolution

The table fell silent for a minute or two.

All my friends became quiet, not sure if they should laugh,  sympathize, or . . . what.

It was New Year’s Eve and we were all lightheartedly sharing our resolutions. Some were semi-serious and others were less so. We went around the table and each of us had something that we’d hoped to aspire to in the coming year.

Then came my turn …

I’m going to get married this year, I announced as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

And while there’s certainly nothing unnatural about a 26 year old girl getting married, there was this slight problem.

I wasn’t dating anyone and hadn’t for several years.

Not only was I not dating, I wasn’t even acquainted with any eligible guys.

And then my friends couldn’t contain themselves any longer and burst into laughter. They considered my statement as something of a big joke.

I considered it something of a big step of faith.

Give the Guy A (Second) Chance

Which brings us to March 13, 1992 and the evening of the dinner party.

A few weeks previous to the party, my friend Linda had called me and once again asked if I’d be coming up to Portland anytime soon. Her boss really did want to meet me, she assured me, and this time it was his idea.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but she had been busy praying for the two of us, truly believing that we were meant for each other.

And wouldn’t you know it? One day, that boss of hers (you know, the proud, arrogant one?) walked by her desk and mentioned in passing, “You remember that friend of yours? The girl down in California? Well, I really would be interested in taking her out, if she was ever up this way again.” And kept walking.

I believe my phone was ringing about three minutes later.

And as it turned out, I was coming up to Portland in a couple of weeks.

You know . . . to be a bridesmaid.

For the 13th time.

Yes, I’m serious. Sigh.

So I figured if I didn’t want to be a bridesmaid for the rest of my life, I’d better start opening up to the possibilities that came my way.

And this guy was definitely A Possibility.

Because in spite of the bad impression he had first made on me, he had a very good reputation everywhere else.  He was known to be a sincere and godly man, kind and considerate, along with a fun sense of humor. Not a bad combination, as far as I was concerned.

Maybe I should give him a second chance . . .

The Dinner Party That Changed Everything

The dinner party was a dream.

Mr. Blue Eyes walked straight over to me and began a conversation that might have gone on forever.

Except that our hostess called us to dinner abruptly reminding us that there were other people in the world. Or at least other people in the room.

So I had to settle for staring at him from across the table.

Because by then I was in love.

I was looking at the man I was going to marry. He was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with—talking, laughing, and loving together.

My happily-ever-after.

My very own Mr. Right.

At the end of the evening, we stood out in the driveway and talked some more before we each went our separate ways. He threw something out, like maybe we should get together again before I went back down to L.A.? And that was about it.

So I was left to wait.

Waited and waited through the longest week-end of my life.

I was to be in Portland for only 8 days. Eight. Now 3 were down and we had only five left.

So what was taking him so long to  call me ??

To be continued . . . .

Matthew will be taking it from here next Wednesday!

*Just for fun, what are some of the neat qualities that first attracted you to your husband? Please share!

In His grace,

*Chapter One: If He Was the Last Man On Earth

*Chapter Two: Where Is She? Searching for My Forever Girl

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