About 6 weeks later it was time for the big church meeting. I was scheduled to go to St Petersburg. I requested to go to Texas. I had to hard of a time getting food when I was there as I had no car and little offers to go with others. I lived in Mississippi. I had a tent and had camped before so I thought that would be best. He was going to change and go to St. Petersburg and changed his mind to go where his area was scheduled to go. I know our Father was working things out.

Toward the end of the Feast I kept being introduced to different young men. None of them appealed. to me. Way to short. Or teeth missing, barefoot and a beer in the hand. This one though decided I was what he was after. The one with the teeth missing. He informed me that he was going to come after me for services the next day. I told him I would not be there. I got up early and left. I saw him at the bldg. and he reminded me I was not there when he came to get me. I had told him not to come by the day before. This upset me. I was having blood sugar problems and I got sick from it. I didn't consider this was or not the one for me. They took me over to the Dr. and that afternoon I stayed at the tent and slept during afternoon service. When I got up there was a note on my tent that he was coming to pick me up for supper that night! OH NO!! So I go next door and get this gray haired man and ask him if he would p l e a s ecome sit with me as I didn't want to go out with that man!

This Jack had gone off, and every one up and down the street was looking for him for this lady and her husband. We had been there for about 30 minutes or so when someone say they saw him. I looked up and saw these two men coming though the pines with the light shining on them. I only saw one. Blond hair, a smile on his face and a bag of ice across his shoulders.

He came to camp and we were introduced. Every one disappeared. No one existed but us. Chuckle. He said when he saw me he knew who I was as he was going down to see where I stayed when he saw the other guy pull up. Only he didn't see him leave without me!

We started talking and it was so comfortable. I had sit there some half hour when there was a voice up in the air saying, "This is the one". I had asked for Him to tell me when I met the one He choose for me. We had talked a long time when his sister came by and asked him if he was going to put the ice in the ice chest. He had laid it on the camp table, and it had been there about two hour s. His family was in shock over him talking so long to anyone, as he was not a big talker!

About 10pm I thought I had to figure out some way to get him down to my camp so he would be the one to leave as I didn't want to ever leave him! It was a huge camp ground with about 8,000 people in it for this church function. I was a tad cool . < wink > so we went back for me to get a wrap. He did put his jacket around my shoulders. We sat out in the cool Oct. night air and talked until 2:30am. He is one that wants to go to bed at 9pm. When he started to go I wanted to touch him so bad. He felt the same way. We laughed an I touched his arm and he my hand. We still laugh about that.

I watched him as far as I could see him when he left. I dreamed about him all the way home. Some7+ hours. I came home, and started buying wedding clothes. He had never even come to see me! He was in Arkansas, and me in Mississippi. He was coming to see me Thanksgiving. It was wonderful. He called me every week-end. We talked sometimes 4 or 5 hours at $10 and hour. His first phone bill was over $300.

I forgot about the voice. It was in my spirit we were going to be married.

He came down Thanksgiving day. We had met Oct. 8th,1974 about 7:30pm. I expected him about 2PM as it was took about 7 hours for the trip. I had just washed my hair and rolled it when the phone rang. It was him, telling me he was already in town and it was 10:30 am. I had the nerve to ask him if he would wait 30 minutes for me to dry my hair! He told me it didn't matter as he was going to see me in rollers anyway. (?) oh? That was the fastest hair dry I ever done. It took 20 minutes!

He waited,then when he came he was better looking than I remembered. A million dollar smile and eyes that twinkled. I looked at him and thought, "oh my lands, he is so handsome! I feel so plain.

Seemed like everyone tried to drop by to see this guy. My neighbor just had to come over to see who sent me red roses every Wed. for three weeks before he got there. Later she even called him long distance and told him it was my birthday. Then later about where to go on our honeymoon!

He was going to ask me to marry him the next day after Thanksgiving, only I was so nervous. He waited until Sat. morning. He told me I would make him so happy if I would be his wife. I just sat there trying to say yes. I thought oh Father I want to say yes but nothing will come out! I had lost my voice. I could not get a word out Now if you knew me that would be funny as I talk non stop about something all time and to anyone that has ears to listen. After a bit I got out, " could we elope? He sat there for a few minutes. Then he moved to the edge of the sofa and looked at me in the eyes and asked me if that was a yes? He wanted a yes or no he told me later. I shook my head yes. He kissed me with a kiss so soft it could have been a butterfly landing on a flower. He asked someone to marry him that he had never even kissed!

He came back in Dec. we got our marriage papers. He bought a ring and gave to me. It was a wonderful misty day.

He came back in Jan. of 75 and we got married. I was so scared and nervous of standing in front of all those people that the lady started the wedding march three times. Finally my daddy pulled me through the door! Jack came part way as planned to take my hand and walk me the rest of the way. A short distance that seem so very long. I was shaking so bad my veil was shaking. Jack put his arm around me or I would have just passed out. The minister had never performed a wedding before. We all kept having to tell him what to do. It was a beautiful ceremony. My sisters stood with me. My brother and best friend. I didn't care about tradition. At the reception the candles were to close to the paper to cover and area and they caught on fire. Nothing big. So we had a warm reception.

New Orleans was in perfect form weather wise for Jan., and we were able to walk around in a light jacket. A beautiful trip, being to together was the most important thing.

We have been married 22 beautiful years. He told me he would have married me that night if folks would not have talked. He is sorry now he didn't just bring me home with him. He tells me he can not take me on another honeymoon as we are still on our first one.

He loves being loved. Is a toucher like me. Loves smooching ( kissing) we only wiggle dance, but that is great. He is considerate and so sweet he is sticky. We are perfect for each other and love each other as the other one is. We celebrate our meeting, his coming down to Ms., our getting engaged, and our marriage. When we say we have an anniversary son asks us what this one is for. He surprised me about being sentimental. He still has the pullover I wore that night, and I still have the shirt he wore. When we were going though things years ago I found he had saved all of our sons baby shoes!

If we let our Father choose the one He has for us we will not have adjustments that are major. We had to get use to sleeping with another person. You see our Father knows us in and out. He knows them and if He knew us before the world was formed He may just have that right mate for us already programmed for us and us for them. So go to Him. Ask Him to make the choice. When he does it will be right. Waiting for months to get acquainted will not be needed. We got to know each other after we married. I had no fear at all. It all was so sweet. The newness of getting to know each other was so wonderful. Most days they date and know all about each other and nothing is new but now they live together. We think of Isaac so many times how his bride was choose for him.

If He chooses you will know it all the way down to the very depth of your being. If He chooses He binds us. No one but Him, not a man. That is a marriage that no man may put aside.

©Mary Bierman, Mary's Treasures. Not for sale. This article may only be copied with permission, as is, with this all this information attached to it . E-mail mlbierman@oocities.com