Meet My Husband Part II

Yes, my husband is in a wheelchair.

I have never seen my husband stand.

I sat beside my husband when we said our wedding vows.

I can not believe the dear and sweet comments I have received from so many of you after my last post.  I am so touched and amazed.  I am no different than any of you - you would do the same thing.  So many of you deal with harder things than my family every day.  I have been amazed and encouraged by your grace, strength and faith as you blog about your days.  Thank YOU!

Jillian, Inc asked how we met, and she must have read my mind, because that was going to be the Part II of my blog.  My students asked as well!  Here we go...

Mike is my second husband.  (My first marriage was an emotional nightmare.  Don't have to elaborate...)  We met (you probably will stop following me after this) on Match.com (didn't tell the students that part!) when a friend told me I "was too cute not to be dating anyone".  It's hard to begin again - and where on earth does a nice girl in her 30's with two small children find someone?  Bars are so out of the question.  My church was a very two-parent family type.  So I said, "what the heck" and threw myself in.  I must have written a great description of myself as I never contacted anyone first and went on some very nice dates at only the best restaurants in town.  Anyway, I saw a picture of Mike (very handsome)  and he saw my cute picture LOL.  Next thing I know, we start emailing and talking on the phone for a few weeks.

I noticed his voice was a little slurred when we spoke and was initially a little worried.  (My ex is a NON-recovering alcoholic.)  However, he had such a fun way about him that I was OK.  And we didn't have to meet face-to-face.  Also, he lived in Aiken and I, in Columbia, so I felt there was enough distance.  After a few weeks, he told me he wanted to send me an article that had just been written about him in the local paper.  It was a good article, he told me, but if I never wanted to talk with him again, he would understand.  Of course that made me more than just a little curious as to what it was about. I agreed, and he immediately emailed me a copy.  (It's a pretty long read for a blog, but if you want to see it, I can show you.)  It was about him living (to the fullest) with his "diffability".  After I read it, I actually was relieved:  He WASN'T another alcoholic!  He was just in a wheelchair.  I can deal with that!

That was in March of 2006.  We got married June 2, 2007.  So I guess we are still newlyweds to some of you.  It was a day with not a dry eye.  Small, with only 50 friends and close family.  Sumter and Jackson walked me down the aisle in matching "Palmetto Tuxedos":  navy blue blazers, white shirts, khakis, and (Vineyard Vines) ties.  My uncle performed the Episcopal ceremony in the little Baptist chapel.  It truly is a match made in heaven - for us!  Mike never ever thought he would ever get married.  With all of my baggage as well, who's to say I would have also.  Our road, like all others, is filled with questions, anxieties and uncertainties.  But, like all others, it is also filled with laughter, hope, and faith.