It was the summer of 1970, when I was a fifteen year-old, teenage girl, that I first met this cute seventeen year-old boy, named Bill, who liked wearing this leather sun visor over his brown, long, banged hair. He had a cast on his left arm from a near fatal accident on a motorcycle when a car that ran a stoplight hit him. The scars on his arms, shoulders and back are his reminders, which he brags about to this day, reminders of how God and his helmet saved his life.

He recovered. And, while wearing his cast, still made it to Drum Major Camp that summer. Bill played the clarinet as well as being a Drum Major. He was popular among his high school peers, although he didn't think so,. Always happy, wearing a smile, outgoing, sociable, full of life, and flirty with the girls. He went to a Methodist church with his family where he was an acolyte, and he belonged to a Masonic affiliation for young men called De Moley. After their meetings, the De Moley boys would cross town to visit with the Rainbow girls after their meetings had ended. I was a member of the Rainbow girls.

At first, I thought Bill was much older than he was and my parents would not let me date him. When I turned sixteen I begged my father to let me go out with him. My father agreed only after he learned that the date would be chaperoned by De Moley parents.

Our first date was roller skating. It was fun and many dates followed over the next five years. It was the beginning of a lifetime of love and friendship that has lasted for thirty-eight years now.

While dating I daydreamed about who would be the one I would marry, have children, and spend the rest of my life with. One day after school while driving my car I asked God out loud, Who will I marry? What will he look like? You know, all those questions girls ponder. Is it Bill!?

Sometime after this conversation with God, I had a dream. It just wasn't any dream; it was a spiritual dream (although I didn't realize what a spiritual dream was at the time). In the dream, I was in Heaven. There were various shades of whites, creams, and silvers. Angels were wearing beautiful long satin white robes and playing their horns and trumpets. The instruments were of differing shapes and sizes, some long and others short. The music was beautiful and elegant like I had never heard. I saw God's Saints in tuxedos. There must have been hundreds or maybe thousands of saints and angels.

As I enjoyed the music in my dream and amazed at the glory of Heaven with the twinkling stars, and puffy clouds, I noticed two people standing in front of God. He was saying something to them while they listened intently. I looked closely to see this beautiful bride with an elegant dress of white lace, pearls, beads, and sequences. Her vale with pearls on her headset covered her face. She was standing next to her groom who was wearing a stunningly white tuxedo with a dark silver lapel. As I looked closer I realized it was Bill and I. Then, in an instant I was no longer looking at the bride but I was the bride, and I was saying wedding vows to Bill before God, with Christ standing at His right side, while a dove fluttered so lightly above. I didn't want to wake up. I wanted to stay longer. I had never felt so much love. It felt wonderful. I cannot express it in human terms, but in my spiritual nature I had this instant knowledge and knowing of what it was and what had taken place. It is an unforgettable memory.

I did not tell anyone about this dream for years.

When Bill was twenty-two and I was twenty we married. We had a lovely church wedding at the Methodist Church where I was a member. There were six bridesmaids, ushers, and a flower girl. Each one was dressed in a pastel color of the Rainbow (God's promise). Being still affiliated with most of our De Moley, Rainbow, Masonic & Eastern Star and Shriners, we had over 300 guests in attendance even though it was the middle of August. We were married on his parents wedding anniversary, August 22, 1976. After the marriage ceremony, my mother told me what a beautiful bride I was, how Bill looked so handsome in his blue tuxedo, and how the ceremony was so lovely. And then, she turned to Bill's mother and said it was like a marriage made in heaven. I didn't say anything, but I remembered my dream, smiled and thanked God for a dream come true.

The hope this dream brought to me has kept me going throughout the last thirty-two years of marriage. Like other married couples, we have had our share of joys, celebrations, trials, and tribulations. We raised two sons, and now have three grandchildren. Once, we divorced and remarried within the same year. As I look back over the years I can see that these are all testimonies waiting to be written about the faithfulness of God in our lives.

We believe in God, salvation, and attend church. I admit there were times we were not always walking and living in the faith. But even then, God was with us in our lives because of His Son, the Cross, and His great love for us.

It all came together for us and became a marriage made in heaven.

ALOA - I John 4:7 "Always Love One Another"