Bigger in Texas

February 22, 2026

As we prepare to leave the big state of Texas, which we have seen only a small portion of, I am reminded of all the things I have noticed that are “bigger in Texas.”

First of all, the cows are bigger in Texas. I thought it was just me, but I googled it and it’s true. There are larger breeds of cows raised here than back home.

Then I noticed that the wind turbines are larger than those we’ve seen in the Midwest. And, at least on the coast where we’ve been, the wind is bigger than anywhere else we’ve been so far. It seems that the wind never stops blowing here. I guess those two items kinda go hand in hand.

I know we haven’t traveled to many states yet, but the bridges also seem longer and taller. And the roads between cities seem so very long.

And some of the trees we’ve seen are the largest in height and width that we’ve ever seen. The tall tree in the photo is at San Antonio’s Riverwalk, and the lit tree was at The Alamo.

But the thing that I found that was bigger in Texas that I am most thankful for was the love I have for my husband Terry. It was while we were in Texas that we shared the story of how we met with you all and that was very special for both of us. Telling the story reminded me of how special our relationship is and how blessed we are to have each other.

 July 6, 2025 

 So much baggage 

Why do we keep so much stuff? Possessions, habits, negative thoughts. . . why do we allow excess baggage to weigh us down? 

As my new husband and I begin our new married life together we are also preparing to transition from a 1200 sq foot home to a 635 sq foot cabin. We’ve had to severely downsize. Furniture, memorabilia, even habits and negative thoughts. 

Ok, so mostly it’s just me paring down the negative thoughts. I admit, I’m a Negative Nellie, a true Debbie Downer. My best friend kindly labels me as a Realist, not a pessimist. What a sweetie! But I blame it on my previous life experiences. I’ve experienced quite a few unhappy chapters in my life. 

I believe that if you’re really happy where you are, look out! Something bad is bound to happen, and soon. Or at least that’s what I used to believe. 

Have you ever met someone that no matter what has happened to them in the past, they still exude positivity? Consistently? All of the time? Even when life gives them lemons, they continue to make the sweetest lemonade? 

Well, I know someone like this. From the moment I met him, I could feel he was different. An odd duck, so to speak. I was confused, bewildered at how easy-going and confident he was about EVERYTHING. It was a little unnerving. Until he explained it to me. And then I felt really bad, about myself. 

You see, his attitude was all about his faith. In God. In trusting God. In believing that everything will be alright, in the end. 

Isn’t this what I had been taught, growing up in a Christian home? I suppose, but. . . look at all the bad things that had happened to me in my life, I countered. God allowed me to go through them; He allowed me to suffer through those events. So when something good came along, of course I thought, oh, boy, it’s going to get crappy again real soon. 

But I was looking at it through the wrong lens. Yes, I suffered through these events. But God rescued me from each one of them. He was with me the whole time, I just wasn’t aware of it. He was molding me. He was preparing me. He was guiding me, always rescuing me. And when I got to the point where I asked Him to truly lead me, He did. And when I continue to ask Him for direction, He leads me even further, closer to His side. Where I belong. Where I feel loved, cherished, protected. 

Proverbs 3:5: "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." 

Isaiah 44:2-3: “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." 

To say I feel like a new person after learning this, is an understatement. It is an amazing feeling, trusting God with everything. Don’t get me wrong, I still have days where I forget this lesson. But I have a friend that reminds me that “God’s got this.” And I hand over my worries yet again. For a while. But those times are becoming less frequent. For this, I am so thankful. 

So what baggage are you lugging around? Can you give it to the One who wants to carry it for you? He’s waiting for you to let go of it. Trust Him.

 

An Other Worldly Experience

February 17, 2026

Have you ever been to an ethnic restaurant where the staff spoke really fast to each other in their native language. . . the decorations are from their home country. . .and the food is prepared more authentically than you usually experience?

Terry and I enjoyed a delicious Chinese lunch recently at a small-town Texas establishment. It was mid-afternoon and there were only a few other patrons there. It was a quiet meal, which we appreciated being the introverts we are.

And then Terry leaned over and remarked, “They’re playing Country music!” Indeed, they were, old stuff too. Yee-Haw!! We smiled at each other.

I wondered to myself as we boxed our leftovers, were they die-hard fans of that genre of music or were they playing it because of the geographic location of the restaurant and wanted their customers to feel comfortable?

Either way, it made for a positive memorable experience for us.

I can’t say the same for how our leftovers made the cooler in the van smell!

 

The Simple Life

February 16, 2026

Traveling in the van for the majority of the past three months, Terry and I agree we miss very little of the “stationary life.” Of course, it’s really handy to have a full bathroom under the same roof where you sleep. And a real TV with a remote is very enjoyable. We also miss the solitude of our cabin, only seeing other humans when we have errands in town.

On the road if we have Wi-Fi, we watch Netflix or YouTube on the iPad or play card games in the evenings.

We also spend time learning. . . about God, each other, locations we’re planning on visiting.

And if we feel there’s too many people around, we can simply drive away.

We have all the necessities tucked in our van: a comfortable bed, large efficient cooler, warm blankets, and a potty. We’ve discovered we don’t need extravagant extras to be happy.

Living in such a tiny space, we have learned a lot about each other. . . the good, the bad, and the ugly. And we’re still very much in love. Because we know what is important.

We are very grateful that God has given us the opportunity to travel in this way. And to live the simple life.

Bluebirds Visit

February 15, 2026

In the book of Philippians, Paul writes about a “peace that surpasses all understanding” which only God can provide. This is the peace that continually rained down on me every time I went to the cemetery to talk to Liz after her death.

Those of you who know me are aware that I am not much for small talk. So, my conversations with her were not lengthy but mostly just updates on what was going on in my little world. I would pull weeds, wipe the headstone down, and just dilly dally, trying to come up with something to say.

One day while visiting, I decided to mention I was thinking about getting back out and date again. As I wrote in my post a few days ago, Liz and I had discussed this numerous times in the past. We agreed that neither of us wanted the other to be alone when one of us passed. That we should carry on with life and be the happiest version of ourselves.

That was easier said than done.I prayed and prayed about that. Should I? Should I not? Liz, I wish you could answer me just one more time about this. Please tell me again it’s ok and that you want me to be happy.

And then, the bluebirds visited. Not just once, but several times as I wrestled with this. At first it was just one. Then the pair of them showed up. Always at the cemetery.

There are many interpretations of encountering a bluebird such as a symbol of joy and hope or that good news will arrive soon. Some believe that bluebirds represent a connection between the living and those who have passed away.

I’m not saying I believe that, but the timing was certainly interesting. And it got me thinking about what I DO believe. . .

I do believe in angels. The following is what I learned about angels today, which comes from the article “What About Angels” by Former LCMS President Dr. A.L. Barry. The link to this article can be found in the first comment below.

The word “angel” comes from the Greek word “messenger.” Angels are God’s creation who He sends to serve as “ministering spirits” to us, His people (Hebrews 1:14). They are occasionally ordered by God to appear in our physical dimension (Acts 12:7).

The Bible does not indicate the exact number of angels there are, but the Book of Daniel says they number “10,000 times 10,000.” And most of the time, we are completely unaware of their presence.

God sends His angels to serve and protect Christian believers (Psalm 91:11-12).

Were the bluebirds actually messengers from God? I’d like to think so.

They did provide me with the peace and comfort I asked for. And the realization that God wasn’t done with me yet.

Psalm 103:20-21, “Bless the Lord, O you His angels,

You mighty ones who do His word,

Obeying the voice of His word!

Bless the Lord, all His hosts,

His ministers, who do His will!

--Terry

Avocado Toast

 7/4/2025

Before I met Terry, there were certain foods I had never tried but I firmly believed I would not enjoy eating. Avocado, fish, egg rolls. . .they just looked nasty tasting. But when Terry would press me and ask if I’d ever tasted them, I would admit that I hadn’t. I just knew that I wouldn’t like them.

So, one of the things I love about my Terry, is that he encourages me to get outside my comfort zone. Guess who now loves guacamole, several kinds of fish, and egg rolls?

My sweet husband made me avocado toast for breakfast this morning. He used peach salsa, as that’s what we had on hand, and what he called “the perfect avocado.” (If you’ve never had peach salsa in your avocado toast, don’t knock it until you try it. For those of us with a sweet tooth, it is quite delicious.)

For those of you who aren’t familiar with avocados, I’ve learned what makes one perfect is if it gives a little when you gently squeeze it. It is not hard, nor squishy, but in between. If it is hard, it is just not ripe enough yet and you will need to wait to use it. If it is squishy, it will be brown in the middle and should simply be thrown away.

Isn’t it wonderful that God does not see us as avocados? He can use us in any of these stages. He doesn’t dispose of us if we are a squishy mess, physically or emotionally. He doesn’t have to wait for us to be the perfect ripeness. He uses us where we are, how we are.

Isaiah 55:11: “But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Don’t wait to start using your gifts for His good. He will guide you, He will mold you, He will use your imperfections to His glory. Don’t be an avocado on the shelf.

Happy Valentines Day Becca! ❤️

 

A “Short” Story

 

February 13, 2026

And so, our relationship began. But there was one little thing that bothered me. I realized that one of the stats on Terry’s profile was incorrect. It was definitely NOT the truth. Did he intentionally lie on his bio?

After spending many hours with him, I didn’t want to believe he was capable of telling mistruths. Yet, he is human, I reminded myself. We have all sinned.

So I questioned him about it.

And he denied it.

“I really am 5’6” tall! He said as he whipped out his wallet. “See?” He showed me his driver’s license.

“But you CAN’T be 5’6” tall because I’M 5’6” tall!” I exclaimed.

We laughed at each other because we were not seeing things eye-to-eye. My eyes were at least an inch higher than his. We let it go for the moment.

Terry went to work and told his coworkers the story. They measured him and he apparently has lost an inch in height in the years since he first got his license. Which is completely normal.

I was relieved that Terry hadn’t lied. He truly believed he was the height his driver’s license said he was.

But a man’s height does not equal his integrity. Terry’s measure in that category is one of the reasons I fell in love with him.

So Much Baggage

 July 6, 2025

Why do we keep so much stuff? Possessions, habits, negative thoughts. . . why do we allow excess baggage to weigh us down?

As my new husband and I begin our new married life together we are also preparing to transition from a 1200 sq foot home to a 635 sq foot cabin. We’ve had to severely downsize. Furniture, memorabilia, even habits and negative thoughts. Ok, so mostly it’s just me paring down the negative thoughts.

I admit, I’m a Negative Nellie, a true Debbie Downer. My best friend kindly labels me as a Realist, not a pessimist. What a sweetie! But I blame it on my previous life experiences. I’ve experienced quite a few unhappy chapters in my life. I believe that if you’re really happy where you are, look out! Something bad is bound to happen, and soon. Or at least that’s what I used to believe.

Have you ever met someone that no matter what has happened to them in the past, they still exude positivity? Consistently? All of the time? Even when life gives them lemons, they continue to make the sweetest lemonade?

Well, I know someone like this. From the moment I met him, I could feel he was different. An odd duck, so to speak. I was confused, bewildered at how easy-going and confident he was about EVERYTHING. It was a little unnerving. Until he explained it to me.

And then I felt really bad, about myself.

You see, his attitude was all about his faith. In God. In trusting God. In believing that everything will be alright, in the end.

Isn’t this what I had been taught, growing up in a Christian home? I suppose, but. . . look at all the bad things that had happened to me in my life, I countered. God allowed me to go through them, He allowed me to suffer through those events. So when something good came along, of course I thought, oh, boy, it’s going to get crappy again real soon.

But I was looking at it through the wrong lens. Yes, I suffered through these events. But God rescued me from each one of them. He was with me the whole time, I just wasn’t aware of it. He was molding me. He was preparing me. He was guiding me, always rescuing me.

And when I got to the point where I asked Him to truly lead me, He did. And when I continue to ask Him for direction, He leads me even further, closer to His side. Where I belong. Where I feel loved, cherished, protected.

Proverbs 3:5: "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Isaiah 44:2-3: “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

To say I feel like a new person after learning this, is an understatement. It is an amazing feeling, trusting God with everything. Don’t get me wrong, I still have days where I forget this lesson. But I have a friend that reminds me that “God’s got this.” And I hand over my worries yet again. For a while. But those times are becoming less frequent. For this, I am so thankful.

So what baggage are you lugging around? Can you give it to the One who wants to carry it for you? He’s waiting for you to let go of it. Trust Him.

The Butterfly Effect

 

February 10, 2026

We agreed to wear bright colors for our date to the Butterfly House as their website said it would make us more attractive to the butterflies. And who doesn’t want to look more attractive to butterflies when one is on a second date?

So, I wore a bright pink short-sleeved sweater and denim shorts. Terry showed up sporting a vibrant orange tee shirt and khaki shorts. He didn’t look half bad. Not many men can wear orange well.

And yet, it wasn’t Terry’s appearance that struck me on this outing with him. It was how he carried himself. He was comfortable in his own skin which made it easy to be with him.

We hadn’t made it far into the warm humid environment when the large brown butterfly in the photo landed on my right knee. We were both delighted!

At first, I just stood there in awe, believing that he would fly away after a few seconds. But he didn’t! After we took a few pictures of him to capture the special moment, I decided to keep walking and exploring with Terry. And he still didn’t fly away!

That beautiful creature stayed on my leg most of the time we were there.

I know that butterflies are attracted to the salt and sweat of human skin. And I was certainly sweating in that tropical environment. And I definitely sweat more than cool and confident Terry. So, it was not out of the ordinary that this happened, right?

Or was this a sign? A signal of some sort? I wasn’t sure.

We decided to extend the date and drive to old town St. Charles. After grabbing some lunch, we walked the old streets and explored several shops. Terry was such a gentleman, guiding me with his hand, attentive to my clumsiness as I almost tripped on a couple of steps.

Inside one place, an art gallery, cool and confident Terry somehow knocked over a large metal sculpture standing in the middle of the floor. Nothing broke and he was not injured. And I remember thinking, “Aha! He IS human!” meaning he makes mistakes, too. . . he’s not perfect either.

But Terry handled it with a smile and grace that impressed me.

A few dates later, I asked him about his consistent happy demeanor especially after losing his wife and how he doesn’t seem to let things bother him.

Terry explained it’s just who he is. A child of God.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Later, I thought about what he’d said and wondered, “Why don’t I act more like that?”

First Impression

February 9, 2026

I had never been hugged so hard in my entire life!

He is really strong! I thought to myself. Yet he seemed sincere. . . I didn’t think he meant to hurt me. And that was my first impression of Terry.

Well, that and the fact that he was NOT 5’6” tall like his bio said. But that is a story for another day.

Since I had endured quite a few more first dates than Terry, I was cautious, guarded even. I tried not to be overly optimistic.

Sure, he checked quite a few of my “must-have” boxes. But was he the Real Deal?

So, I went through the motions. Answering questions, asking a few of my own. I avoided most eye contact as I didn’t want to make a connection and just get my heart broken, yet again.

But as the conversation continued, I felt myself loosening up a bit and started to enjoy his company. He was very witty and made me laugh easily, something I hadn’t done for a very long time. Something that I had really missed doing.

By the end of our date, I realized I really wanted to see him again. Thankfully, he agreed. We made plans to go to the Butterfly House Saturday morning.

As I drove home that night, I thought about how easy it would be to fall in love with him. But I couldn't, I told myself. He’s just going to hurt you, like all the others. And have you forgotten your most recent failed relationship? The one where you almost died?!

You’re right. Of course, you’re right. I can’t go through that again.

But don’t I have a right to be happy? I countered my own thought.

I just wasn’t sure anymore.

The photo is of a plaque we found at the Butterfly House on our second date.

Please Like and Follow us to find out what else we found on that date.

Shared Journey, Terry’s Story

 

February 8, 2026

So, there I was, sweating like I’ve never sweated before. I put on so much deodorant I could barely put my arms down.

Why am I so nervous? I asked myself. It’s not like I’ve never been on a first date with a woman before. Well, you have, I told myself, but only once before and that was 43 years ago! More deodorant, please!

Finally, I prayed for peace. And for God’s guidance in what He had in store for my life.

As I pulled into the parking lot of the café where we were to meet, I saw Becca had already arrived. I got out of my car and as I walked toward her, it happened. . .

I heard a voice say, “Here she is, Terry. I have prepared her for you. Take care of her, love her, and cherish her.”

It was then that I realized Becca was who I had been praying for.

As I met her in the middle of the parking lot, I reached out and hugged her so hard she gasped, “Don’t break me!” I released her and we smiled at each other. And then she gave me the gift she held, a small candle.

I was overcome with emotion, knowing this was the beginning of something so very special.

We went inside and sat at a table with our food. And we talked. And it was so comfortable we lost track of time and actually missed most of the concert we had intended to listen to together.

But Wow! What a first date!

IYKYK – If you know, you know.

And I definitely knew. . . this was something special!

Apology Accepted

February 7, 2026

Have you ever said something that as soon as it left your lips, you start trying to suck it back in? Oh, man! I shouldn’t have said that! Too late, it’s already out there.

Proverbs 16:23 NLT, “Intelligent people think before they speak. . .”

Well, long story short, I was not intelligent. I spoke before thinking and I hurt Becca with my words. My careless tongue hurt the person I love most.

Now, the words I said could only be forgiven. . . not forgotten.

Thanks be to God that the two of us understand the power of forgiveness. I confessed to her that I was sorry for the pain my words caused and that I had not loved her the way a husband should love his wife.

I asked for forgiveness and that is what she gave me. Which is exactly what I needed.

This quote also seems to apply:

“Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.”

Not sure where that came from. Most likely someone’s momma.

---Terry

Small Things

February 6, 2026

As Terry and I take a break from writing about our story today, I want to take a moment to explain why we are sharing it. Our lives are pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe. The events that happened to us before we met are not that uncommon in today’s world. We do not proclaim to be better than anyone else who has gone through similar circumstances.

Our purpose is simply to share how God has worked in our lives. And to let you know He can make a difference in yours as well.

Below is an excerpt from today’s devotional from Our Daily Bread that shows how God can use even little things or ordinary people like us to make a big difference:

"In 1848, engineer Charles Ellet Jr. puzzled over how to begin the process of constructing the first bridge over the Niagara Falls gorge. How would they get a cable across the river? Prompted by a dream, Charles decided to host a kite-flying contest. American teenager Homan Walsh won five dollars when his kite landed on the American side of the river. Homan’s kite string was secured to a tree and used to pull a light cord back across the river, then progressively heavier cords until heavy wire cable was in place. This was the small beginning of the construction of the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge.

Even though the tasks God has appointed to us may seem insignificant, we can be encouraged knowing He uses small things—like kite strings—to accomplish His great works.

By Kirsten Holmberg

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

God is in the business of using small things to accomplish His purposes. He used a shepherd boy and a stone to slay a giant (1 Samuel 17:49-50). He used a boy’s five small barley loaves and two small fish to feed five thousand men (John 6:9). Jesus was born as a helpless baby into a poor man’s family to save the world from sin (Luke 2:7; John 3:16). He said to Zechariah, “[Do not] despise the day of small things” (Zechariah 4:10). God delights in using ordinary people like us to do great things for Him even when our tasks may seem insignificant.

K.T. Sim"

Shared Journey

 

February 5, 2026

And so, our journey began.

Both of us hopeful, yet cautious.

We messaged on the site for a few hours, started getting to know each other. We really did have a lot in common. Then, after a quick background check, I decided to start trusting him. He seemed to be the person portrayed in his bio. Could he really be that wonderful?

He was certainly witty. And human.

I laughed more that evening than I had in years.

He also shared about his beloved wife’s passing. And how it was his faith that had gotten him through the terrible loss.

I was intrigued. So, we decided to meet in person.

The Christian radio station we just happened to both listen to (coincidence?) was having an on-air concert event the following evening. We agreed to meet at a café halfway between our homes to have dinner and listen to the music together.

As we prepared for our first meeting, I admit I was focusing on just getting to know him better, more as a friend than as a potential mate. You see, all my previous relationships had ended in failure. The odds that this one would be successful were pretty slim.

Of course, the difference this time was that God had chosen him for me. But I wasn’t fully aware of that at this time.

So, I prepared my heart to be disappointed.

A friend of mine had gone through a candle-making phase in order to make money. On a whim, I grabbed one of them on the way out the door.

Here goes nothing. .

Are you enjoying our story? If so, Like and Follow our page to find out what happened when I arrived at the café.

Terry’s Story, continued again

 

February 4, 2026

So, then it was just me.

And that was fine, for a while. Because if there was a Hall of Fame for introverts, I would certainly be a first ballot inductee. Sorry, baseball language. What I mean to say is that I prefer my own company. I am content to be by myself.

My well-meaning friends had other ideas. They believed I should “get back out there.”

In my mind I argued, it had always been Terry and Liz, for over forty years. I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I’m not into the bar scene. I’m not even much of a conversationalist. Heck, Liz was the only woman I’d even dated.

And yet, I knew Liz would want me to, just as I would have wanted her to. In fact, we had several conversations over such a scenario as that. We both wanted each other to be happy. Those talks became more frequent the closer Liz came to the end. Carry on, be happy.

I was still uneasy about the idea. What would people think? What would they say? How would I even go about it?

And then one day, a friend suggested I do it online. Just set up an account on a dating website. Everybody’s doing it these days or, so I was told.

Isn’t that for losers? I thought to myself. Sounded risky to me. But it would be nice to have a new friend. . . someone to do stuff with, talk to occasionally, maybe go to a game with.

I looked into several sites and finally chose one that had a Christian name. It would be wonderful if she shared my faith, I thought.

So, I put together my profile, being as authentic and honest as possible. (I truly thought I was 5’6”, but that’s another story!) I posted some photos and my bio and BAM! The craziness began!

It did not take long for the “wackadoodles” to find me. Women from other states who would “love to meet me” but could I first “send them money for a plane or bus ticket.” Women who were covered with so many tattoos and body piercings, they were unrecognizable.

Did they even read my profile? I wondered, as the website continued to send me notifications on women they suggested would be a good fit for me. I had nothing in common with these people!

I dug deeper into the site and happened to find a profile who matched 70% of my interests. Yet somehow the site hadn’t sent me her information. Her name was Becca. I dropped her a message, “Hi.” But there was no reply, just crickets.

But the wackadoodles kept coming, in droves. . . DELETE—DELETE—DELETE.

A few days later, the site finally suggested Becca, the 70% match. I shrugged and sent her another message, a smiley face emoji. What did I have to lose at this point?

Still no reply. Nothing but crickets.

Frustrated with my results, I decided I needed to trust God do His thing. If He has someone in mind for my future, He will bring us together. His timing, not mine.

And so, as I was moving my cursor to hit “delete my account”, another message came through. Another wackadoodle, I thought. But my cursor moved to read the final message. . . it was Becca!!

Terry’s Story, continued

 

February 3, 2026

After Liz’s passing, I was quite often asked, “How in the world did you get through that?” That is a fair question for a non-believer to ask. But for a believer in Christ, the answer is clear.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.”

Quite simply it was our faith in Christ that got us through the most difficult time in both our lives.

Liz had a very strong, deep faith and she was not afraid. She knew where she was going. And we both held steadfast in our faith trusting God’s promises including His “red letter” words He spoke to Martha in the Book of John, Chapter 11. . .

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

The two of us held strong to that promise with a resounding YES! We believe!

That is how I am able to carry on. . . the hope I have in Christ and His promises, pure and simple.

Attached you will see a sticky note Liz wrote to keep her head and heart in the game. She kept this posted on her computer at work, always in front of her, always to remind her. It’s a simple, basic, easy to follow guideline for all of us to lean into and live by.

1 Thessalonians 4:18, “Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Please Like and Follow to find out more about Terry’s story.

Brought Together, Terry’s Story

 

February 2, 2026

There’s a saying that goes something like this. . . If you want to make God smile, let Him know your plans.

Liz and I had our plan all figured out. The kids were grown, all settled in with nice homes and secure jobs. They were starting families of their own.

We had just a few more years to work, then we would retire and spend lots of time with our grandkids. After nearly 40 years of marriage, the final pieces of life’s puzzle were falling into place.

Then came the “C” word. . . cancer.

What started out as back pain she thought was due to constipation, turned into Stage 4 ovarian cancer. Talk about a punch in the gut!!

God, that was not part of our plan.

And neither were the 15 months that followed which included enduring multiple surgeries, many rounds of chemotherapy, and several experimental drug trials.

In September of 2022, she was gone. And I was left behind.

All of our plans were just that. . . OUR plans. Not God’s plans.

Isaiah 56:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

Like and Follow us to hear what happened next.

Becca’s Story, continued again

 

February 1, 2026

So, here I was. Pining over a man I hadn’t even met but who was saying all the words I craved to hear, describing his relationship with God on a public site, checking countless of my boxes. . . frustration began to creep in.

Two days later, he sent me another message on the website. That I couldn’t read because of my stubbornness.

Two messages sent, two chances to connect. What if he is The One? Did I really want to throw this opportunity away? Didn’t I trust God to provide what I needed, who I’d been asking for and praying for?

I waivered. . .

I would just get the cheapest subscription, I reasoned with myself. It was only $49.99. Fifty bucks for a chance at true love? It was suddenly a no brainer.

Once I made up my mind, I rushed through the application process, signed on and immediately read his message.

Little did I know that at that exact moment, he was reaching to delete his account with the dating site.

Like and Follow us to hear Terry’s Story.

Below is the screenshot I took of the beginning words of Terry’s bio. . .

Becca’s Story, continued

 

January 31, 2026

I thought I could fix him if only I loved him hard enough.

But that was a lie.

I thought he loved me. . . he said he did. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. But real love does not hurt in all the ways he had hurt me.

The relationship started off well. He was kind, attentive, and sweet. He listened to me and made me laugh. He didn’t drink or smoke or curse. I was checking off the boxes in my head. It was looking good.

A few months later I was recovering from a bout with the flu. He commented on my not having washed the dishes for several days. I replied sarcastically and he suddenly went into a violent rage. I thought he was going to kill me. But he didn’t.

After obtaining an Order of Protection, suffering through many scary sleepless nights, and asking myself countless times “Why did this happen to me?”, I slowly started to heal from the trauma. I started to live again.

I found myself back in church and I realized God wasn’t done with me yet. I decided to fully put my faith in Him to lead me to my “Mr. Right.” I began praying for this man I hadn’t met yet. That God would prepare his heart. As He was preparing mine.

It was a little scary, but I put myself back out there. I got back onto the dating website world. Except I decided to pick a different site to hopefully avoid more of the undesirables.

And, as God does when we’re open to His guidance, He led me straight to him. The perfect man for me. Or at least that’s how he seemed in his online profile. This guy seemed too good to be true! Too bad he was on a site that required a subscription to message with others. My penny-pinching, budget-conscious mind would not allow me that pleasure. So, I simply sent him a free “smile” and kept searching.

The next day he sent me a message! But I couldn't read it because I stubbornly refused to pay the outrageous subscription fee the website required to read messages.

Instead, I spent the evening studying his profile, taking screenshots of his bio and his photos. I compared our interests and ideals. I was intrigued by his admission to being a “foodie” and having a warped sense of humor.

But it was the words about his faith that had the most appeal for me. None of the other guys’ profiles mentioned faith the way that he did.

I dreamed about how wonderful it would be to meet a man like him, but I decided I just couldn’t go against my belief that messaging another person should be free. No matter how perfect he seemed.

Like and Follow us to find out how we finally connected.

Brought Together, Becca’s Story

 

January 30, 2026

This is the second marriage for both Terry and me. We came from totally different love life experiences.

My first marriage ended after 24 years with a divorce. My ex-husband and I were very happy in the beginning but then he found someone new.

Terry’s beloved first wife passed away due to ovarian cancer. They were happily married for almost 40 years. She was the only woman he’d ever dated.

After my divorce I struggled with my baggage. . . low self-esteem, trying to figure out who I was now that I was no longer married. And like the old song, I looked for love in all the wrong places.

I was trying to do it all on my own. Without God. Because I didn’t fully trust Him. I didn’t believe that He knew what I needed. And I thought I did.

After being rejected in my first marriage and several relationships in the years afterward, I thought I had to change who I was to find acceptance and love in a mate.

And I believed if I loved someone hard enough, I could fix them. It was this belief that almost ended my life. Abuse from someone you love deeply is never okay. Get out and get help.

If you are living in a violent environment,

Call 911 or

Contact https://www.thehotline.org/ Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline

Or call 1-800-799-SAFE

In St. Louis, contact https://alivestl.org/ ALIVE – Alternatives to Living In Violent Environments

Or call 314-993-2777

Experience and statistics prove that it will most likely not be just a one-time occurrence.

Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

God rescued me from my situation. And He is continuing to heal me.

Like and Follow to see what happened next and to hear Terry’s story.