Love Story: The Love Connection

This is a story of how I met and connected with my soul mate.

On the first day we met, I joined in a conversation when I heard her talking. I was immediately attracted to her. I sought out to have more conversations with her. We took a break by the back of the building and talked much more in private. I knew she was someone I was going to be connected to right away! I ended up asking her to stay back after work to spend more time chatting with me. She shocked me by staying behind as she worked double shifts that day! We connected right away again that very night as well. We spent the night laughing away and sharing thoughts and feelings. We exchanged email addresses and I wrote to her for the first time that night after work as I so wanted to talk to her again.

In that email, we joked about getting a one bedroom apartment together. Nobody would have thought that we would literally go there one day. I ended up only working there for two weeks! It was more than enough as we remain connected for the rest of our lives. I got fired shortly afterwards and we never worked together again after that night. However, we had already connected and a beautiful relationship was already in motion.

Shortly after that night, we had our first date. What a night! I think I could write a book on it if I had the time! We emailed and chatted online for about a week. I learned that she liked Arabic stuff, so I looked online for an Arabic restaurant to take her to. I wanted to be sure that she knew that I listened to her and that I cared about what she said. I also had to deal with the fact that I needed to tell her I was still married, but separated in mind and spirit. I practiced all day long with my mother and best friend, Marie on how to tell her this. I was sick in my stomach at the thought of losing her if I didn't approach it the right way. I knew what was in my heart and I needed to be sure to convey it correctly to her. The Arabic place turned out nicely and she was surprised when the belly dancer came out and started dancing. Later on, she conveyed to me that belly dancing was also something she was very much into. I think she knew right there and then that I was serious about us and this was not a fly by night relationship.

After the meal, I arranged for us to go to the landing in downtown Jacksonville that night. I wanted to be close to the water as I knew we were both stronger emotionally next to it. We walked around a bit and enjoyed the Christmas decorations in the surroundings. She behaved like a kid in a candy store upon seeing the huge lighted Christmas tree with all the lights and ornaments. I walked with her at the same time thinking about what needed to be discussed. I looked around for a warm quiet place. I remembered telling her I had something to discuss with her and she stared at me dead in the eyes. That actually made the task even harder. Summoning my courage, I told her what needed to be told and naturally, she was shocked.

We continued walking by the water while I gave her time to absorb what I just said. We ended up sitting down in a pavilion next to the water where we continued talking. The talk finished with both of us still feeling connected. After we left the pavilion, I stopped her and gave her a big hug. That was our first true embrace and we almost kissed right there as well. I knew I wanted to but she turned her head before I have a chance to plant my lips. We went to a bench where we watched a light show on the Christmas tree which moves in sync with the music. I moved her so I could massage her shoulders for her. Soon, I had her in my arms on the bench. We finally kissed and it was like nothing I could ever forget. I had kissed many times before but it was pure electricity with her. I was falling in love with her. We broke many rules that night in regards to what we said we were. It was as if our rulebooks in life went out the window! We had both previously agreed that we don't like to kiss on first dates in the first place! My only explanation is that it was meant to be. From that point on, I knew that I was going to have a relationship with this woman.

By JamesWe never stopped talking about that night we met at work. We continued talking Every Single Night ever since then. Sometimes, it goes on for many hours while sometimes it is only for a short moment. However, one thing which we agreed on is that we would never let a night go without somehow connecting. Words cannot describe how connected I feel with her. We feel every single emotion together and every single thought. We don't even have to talk to know what the other person is feeling. It is as if we are twins and are connected in the mind. It really does amaze me in that sense that we are so totally connected in mind and spirit. It has been about three months since that infamous first date and we have not stopped loving each other since then. We are now in the midst of moving out to start a new life together. Who would have known that we would have grown to love each other to this level of understanding and commitment through a simple meeting of minds!

Short Bedtime Stories: When the Wind Blows

Years ago, there was a farmer who owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer.
"Are you a good farmhand?" The farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows." Answered the little man.

Although puzzled by the answer, the farmer hired him as he was desperate for help. The little man worked well around the farm and was busy from dawn to dusk. The farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

One night, the wind howled loudly as a storm approaches from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed to the hired hand's sleeping quarters.

He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!"
The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all the haystacks had already been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down and nothing could be blown away.

The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant. He returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

Moral - When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally and physically, you have nothing to fear.

Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.

Boy Story: I Love You Too

Girl: Why doesn’t he like me?

Boy: I'm sure he does...

Girl: I try to be perfect

Boy: He doesn’t need perfect...

Girl: I just want to tell him.

Boy: Yeah, I think you should.

Girl: Okay, I will. Thanks for the help, I'll talk to you later.

Boy: Okay... Bye.

Girl: (Goes home to call boy.)

Boy: (Walks home, disappointed and broken.)

Boy: (Sees answering machine blinking... Pushes play... Girl's voice comes on.)

Girl: I just wanted to tell you... I just thought you should know... 

(Long pause) 

Girl: I love you…

Boy: (Whispers) I love you too....

Boy Stories: A Boy's Greatest Fear

A teacher gave a journal prompt to her seventh grade class asking what their biggest fear was. When the class was done writing, she asked a couple of them to read out what they wrote. Most children that spoke out said they were afraid of being abducted or dying or bugs or stuff like that.

She wanted to hear from someone new and hence, she asked the kid that never speaks at the back of the class to read what he wrote.

He said,

"Sometimes when I lie in bed at night while my father is off fighting fires somewhere, I'm afraid that the floor above him will cave in and I'll never get to see my daddy again.

I'm also afraid when my mom is off bartending late into the night that a man will assault her and she won't be the same mommy I once knew.

I'm also afraid that my baby sister will roll over while she's sleeping and suffocate herself.

I lie in bed thinking about this stuff every night.

That's why I don't get annoyed when my baby sister cries in the middle of the night or when I see headlights in the driveway at twelve o'clock as it means my mom is home late or when my dad calls home at eleven because he forgets to say goodnight to me, my mom and sister.

On top of anything else, that is my biggest fear."

When he finished reading his journal he looked up to see all of his classmates with tears in their eyes.

He smiled and said, "Well... What did you expect?"

Life Story: Never Mind, There's Tomorrow Part 2

One day, disaster struck and his wife was killed in an accident. It was a hit and run accident. On that day, he was in the middle of an important meeting. Failing to understand that it is a fatal accident, he arrived by his wife's deathbed only to see her on the verge of death. Before he could mouth out the words, "I love you", his wife passed away.
The man became despondent and tried to find solace with his children after his wife's death. However, he soon realized that the children did not even try to communicate with him. Soon, his children grew up and found their own families. Nobody cared for this old man who didn't spare his time for them in the past.


He moved into the best old folk's home which provides excellent service with the money he had saved for his fiftieth, sixtieth, and seventieth wedding anniversary celebrations. All the money intended for Hawaii, New Zealand and holidays in various countries went into the fund that pays for his stay in the home.
From that time until his deathbed, there were only old folks and nurses taking care of him. He felt the loneliness that he did not feel before. 
Upon his deathbed, he called a nurse in and said to her, "Ah. If only I had realized this earlier... ", and died with tears on his cheeks.


Time never stops for anybody. Before you realize it, you have gone very far along the path of life. Hence, if you had quarreled with someone, make up quickly! If you feel you need to hear your friend's voice, don't hesitate to pick up the phone. If there are many dreams that you wish to fulfill, fulfill them as soon as possible.
Lastly, but most importantly, if you feel you need to tell somebody that you care, don't wait until it is too late. If you keep thinking you will do it another day, then that day will never come. If you always think that tomorrow will come, then 'tomorrow' will run out quickly and you'll realize that time has already passed by. Treasure tomorrow and don’t live a life of regrets.

Life Story: Never Mind, There's Tomorrow Part 1

Once, there lived a child. He lived in a happy family with parents and siblings. However, he never stopped to think about how wonderful his life had been. He just kept on playing, squabbling with his siblings when they did not want to play what he wanted to play. 

However, whenever he wanted to apologize, he would always say, "Never mind, there's tomorrow."

When he grew up a little, school was a very nice place for him. He learned, made friends and was very happy. However, he never thought that this was happiness to him. It all came so naturally that he felt it should become part of his life. One day, he had a great fight with his best friend. Though he knew he was in the wrong, he never took the initiative to apologize or made up with his best friend. 

His excuse was, "Never mind, I'll do it tomorrow."

When he grew even up some more, that best friend was no longer part of his life. Even though he still sees his friend around, they don't even bother greeting each other. However, that was all right because he still had other good friends. He and his friends did almost everything together including eating, playing, doing homework and fooling around. Yes, they were a bunch of very good friends.

When he graduated, work kept him very busy. He found himself a very pretty and virtuous girlfriend and she soon became his constant companion. He made himself busy with work because he wanted to get promoted to the highest position within the shortest time possible.

Sure, he missed his good friends. He missed them a lot but he never tried keeping in touch with them, not even a telephone call. 

He always said, "Boy, I'm so tired, I'll catch up with them tomorrow." 
It didn't affect him at all because he could find colleagues who are always willing to go pubbing with him. As time passes by, he slowly forgets about his friends.

After he got married with kids, he works even harder in order to bring comfort to his family. He never buys flowers for his wife nor does he remember his wife's birthdays and their wedding anniversaries. It was all right because his wife always understood him and never blamed him. 
He felt guilty at times and wanted very much to have a chance to say to his wife, "I love you", but he never got down to doing it. 

His excuse was, "Never mind, I'll do it tomorrow for sure". 
He never made it to his children's birthday parties but he did not know how it would affect the children. The children began to drift away from him as they never really spend any time with their father.

Real Story: Both Halves of My Heart

With no one special in my life, it was easy to lean on a stranger that I'd hardly known but was somehow sure would be part of my future.

The place was slightly less romantic than a Kate Hudson movie, but what else could a waitress working double shifts at a diner expect. I'd been working at this hole-in-the-wall diner which was adjacent to a gym and a strip joint for three years, with no hope for promotion. My boss and my life sucked and I was on the verge of a psychotic breakdown.

One day, a charming man came into my life. He'd been eating at the diner regularly for about a week before striking up a conversation with me. I was a lonely, desperate and broke waitress covered in burger grease and smelled like pickles. What did this mystery man want with me? After dating for only two months, I fell madly in love with him and we decided to elope in Vegas.

When we arrived in Vegas, we didn't have a witness for the wedding ceremony so we paid a black-jack dealer we met fifty bucks to stand next to us while we read our vows to each other. The black-jack dealer attended our "reception", which was actually a couple of drinks at a bar. The guest-list includes James, the black-jack dealer, Adam, my groom, and me. We got stinking drunk and had the best honeymoon possible.

We stayed married for two years before Adam was diagnosed with terminal cancer. His condition worsened and he had to stop working eventually. I was back to doing double shifts at the crappy diner. I struggled to make ends meet and tried my best to help Adam. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders and went into a depression. Adam passed away and I attempted suicide but never achieved it.

I was still praying for a miracle but had almost given up on God when I went to work that day and served a cheese-burger with no lettuce and extra ketchup to a very familiar looking man. Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that the man eating that burger was James, the black-jack dealer who witnessed my wedding and attended my reception. At first I was furious with God for reminding me of my lost husband when I had finally started to pull myself together again. However, James smiled and offered me a bite of his onion ring as we talked about the past, the present and eventually the future.

Not a day goes by that I don't think about my Adam and the love that we shared. Nevertheless, I will never cease to be amazed by the mysterious plans fate had laid out for me. James and I fell in love. Not a greater love then the one I had before and also not better or worse but different. It is a new love with a shiny silver lining. James is now a lawyer and I swapped my job at the diner for college and a medical degree. He proposed and we're planning a big wedding. Adam might not be there when James and I say our vows but I know he'll be looking down at us as a witness to another amazing love. I hated that diner but it was there that I found both halves of my heart.

By Jesse Gresl

Bible Stories: My Happy Ending Part 4 (END)

“Grace! Hey, thank God I ran into you. I heard about what happened, are you okay?”
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, I ran into Jake. I mean it was nice of him to care but really, why him?
“Hey Jake.” 

“I know I’m not the person you really want to see right now but please let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“No, Jake, I-I’m fine, really.” I lied. 
I wasn’t fine, especially after seeing him. He smiled and leaned in to hug me. I just went along with it.
“I know you probably hate me but I don’t care. I’m here for you Grace, always. You never left my mind since that day we broke up and I was out in the rain all alone. That was the worst day of my entire life.”
“You did that to yourself.” 

I turned around and started to make my way towards the grocery store.
“I know I did but I’ve changed.” 
I turned back around. 

“I love you. I told you I will always love you. You were the best thing that ever happened to me.” 
How did our conversation turn into this? Not this, not now. I just lost my husband for heaven’s sake. Why did he have to come along? As if he was any consolation. 
“Jake what are you doing?” I asked as if I didn't already know.
“I want another chance.” 

At this moment I knew what any sensible person would do; laugh in his face. However, despite what he did to me or how silly he sounded right now, he deserved my attention and so I gave it to him. 
“Do you think you could do that? Do you think you could find it in you to forgive me? I know what you’re thinking but as soon as you left me I went to church. I got saved and I never wanted to leave. I don’t know why I didn't do it sooner; so much weight has been lifted from my shoulders.” 
I smiled.

“That’s great and I'm happy for you. Nevertheless, I just lost someone very special to me and I'm not ready to get back out there yet. Not any time soon.” 
Once again, I started walking towards the store.
“Please! Please Grace, please!” He yelled. 
When I turned around I could have sworn I saw tears welling up in his eye but he didn’t let it fall. 
“Just one more chance, I swear if I screw up this time I'll be out of your life forever. Please.” 
“I can’t bear to be hurt again.” 
“I won’t hurt you! I promise I'll never leave you or lie to you ever again if you just give it a try.” 
The tear fell. He quickly wiped it away. It didn't matter because I had plenty of tears to match him; he had me crying by now. 

“Come on, the man is begging. Just give him a chance or you might miss out on something great.” A passing-by customer said to me.
“Okay.” I told him and his face lit up. 
He picked me up and swung me around holding me so close that I could barely breathe. 
“I love you!” 
He set me down and kissed me and it was then that I realized I never really stopped loving my first love.

- Ten Years Later -

“Jamie, Sarah, its time for dinner! Come sit down.” 
I love dinner time. It’s so old fashioned but who doesn’t love the chance to talk to your family. I love my family, I love Jake and I love my baby girls. The girls are now three and a half years old and are extremely smart. They get that from Jake. He has always been a smart guy. 
“Ok, who wants broccoli!” He said. 
They all said, “Eww…” 
They hated it but which kid doesn't.

That night Jake and I lay in bed talking. We talked about everything from our past. You would think after all the time we had been together we would have talked about everything already. However, it would take longer than a lifetime to explain all the feelings and emotions we had ever felt. Then we got onto a painful subject I was praying with all my might that we would stay away from; death. I hated the subject but I loved the fact that if it was ever on my mind I could talk to Jake about it. However, we never talked about Alex. Jake knew better than to bring him up. I missed Alex a lot. I still can't believe he's gone but I'm happy with Jake and I think Alex would be happy for me too. I thought my life was over when Alex died but that’s what I thought when I first left Jake too. It seems that every time something good in my life falls apart, it’s because something better can fall together. God really does work in mysterious ways.

Bible Stories: My Happy Ending Part 3

“Yeah, I don’t think a date is a good idea, Alex. Don’t get me wrong! You seem like a really nice guy but I just got out of a long relationship and I just don’t know.”
“Oh, when?”
“Oh, um… Around two years ago.” 
He raised his eyebrow. 
“I know that’s a long time but…”
“Don’t stress, I get it. He must have been pretty special. I know how that is but if you spend your life wallowing about the past, you’ll miss out on some great things in your future. 
“Like Philippians 3:13 says ‘…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.’” 

He began to make his way to the cashier.
“Wait!” I yelled to him. 
“That verse?”
“What about it?”
“It’s from the bible.”
“Nothing gets by you.” 

Wow, so he’s a Christian. As soon as I heard that, I got a feeling inside me just like the feeling I got when I was on my first date with Jake, except this time it was stronger.
“That’s really cool. Now about that date…” 
This could be good and the best part was, I wasn’t even thinking about the loser who broke my heart.

- Five Years Later -

“Please don’t do this to me, Alex. Please don’t go.” 
The tears stung my eyes but I couldn’t even feel them. There was a darker, scarier feeling inside me that conquered every pain I had ever been through. As Alex was lying on the bed dying from the horrid disease, I couldn’t help thinking that God should take me too if he’s going to take Alex. I didn’t want to be in this world without him. We’ve been through so much together. We got married two years ago and we dated for three years before that. How could this happen? He is the greatest man I have ever met and he is so good to me and faithful to the Lord. The tears continued to roll down my eyes. 
“I love you, Grace. You know how much I love you, right?” 

I nodded my head. I moved my lips but the words just wouldn’t come out.

I never left that emergency room. The nurses brought my food with Alex’s even though he was unconscious most the time. I never took my eyes off him except when I slept. People came and went. They include family members, friends, friends of friends and friends of family. It seemed to hit them all pretty hard as they didn’t usually deal with this kind of pain. However, it’s different for me as I had lost many loved ones in my lifetime though it was not all necessarily to death. Sometimes I don’t understand why it happens but I know God has a purpose. He always has and he always will. 

Nevertheless, this is something you can never get used to and the pain never lessens. It’s always hard to let go especially when you don’t expect it. It’s been three months since we got the news about Alex. He will go anytime soon to a better place but I can’t bear to watch him go. I cried more than I have ever cried in my life. I knew it is all going to end in a matter of days, hours or maybe seconds. I held on to Alex with all I had left, refusing to let him go. I couldn’t let go even if he did. I planned on staying that way for as long as I could. I would have held on to him forever if I could.

Alex died the next day. There were more tears, more pain and more sleepless nights. 

I tried to tell myself not to worry and to be happy for him but it was never convincing. I used to think it was only hard when I was young and it would be easier when I grew older but here I am still stuck in the same painful endless cycle at aged twenty-five. I grieved for months and people thought I was in such a deep depression that I would never be the old me again. They were right. I was never the same after that but the weird thing was instead of losing hope like most people do, I gained more faith than ever before. I don’t know why but I realized that God is the only way out of this suffering. I thought about the verse Alex had said when we first met five years ago in the grocery store. I looked it up and read the whole thing.

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”

That verse was very special to me and it was actually the main reason why Alex and I started dating. I missed him so much. Tears streamed down my face. I didn't think I would have any left but I did. I was running out of food even though I barely ate anymore so I went to the grocery store. I decided I would go to a different grocery store from the one where it all began. I would go to the one close to home, the one where it all ended.

Bible Stories: My Happy Ending Part 2

“Grace! What in the world are you doing? It’s freezing cold and…” 
Jake paused when he saw that I was crying. 
“What’s wrong?”

“You can cut the act, I know now.” 
I could tell he was about to ask another question again but I interrupted. 
“You didn’t have to lie to me Jake. If you didn't like me, all you had to do was say so, but no! You had to put on this big act!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I love you. I’ve told you that. You know that. You know I love you, Grace.” 
How could he lie straight in my face!? 
“Yeah you also mentioned something about being a Christian but I guess we can’t all tell the truth.”
“What do you mean by that?” 

He knew exactly what I meant. I wasn’t the kind of person to be mean or rude about this even if he did lie to me. I just wanted him to leave.
“You know, you’re a good guy Jake, and I’m sure there is a pretty girl out there just waiting for you. Why don’t you go find her?” 
That was the nicest way I could put it.
“I don’t have to because you’re right here.” 
“Please go now.” 
I was crying again.
“Don’t do this to me.” He begged. 
He was crying too.

“I’m only doing this to protect what I believe in. Jake, I love you and I always will. Please don’t forget what we talked about, don’t lose what faith you gained while we were together. You betrayed me and I can’t deal with that. Please leave.” 
I pleaded once again. I didn’t care what Jake did for the rest of his life. I just didn't want our breakup to affect the trust in God he had gained while we were together.

He was speechless and tears streamed down our faces. I had never seen him cry previously. He usually wasn’t an emotional guy. I stood up and walked away. I couldn’t stand to see him like that. He didn’t come after me. I guess it was a good thing but it hurt too much to look back so I stared straight ahead and walked into a whole new beginning; a world of loneliness.

- Two Years Later -

I saw him today, I didn't really know what to say but I knew the mature thing to do. 
“Hey.” I said to him, smiling.
“Hi.” He replied blandly.
“How are you? It’s been so long.” 
I realized how dumb that sounded after I said it. Of course it’s been so long. We wanted it to be this way.
“I’m uh…” 
Someone called his name. I guess that was a relief for him.
“I got to go.” 
“Okay, bye.” 
That was it and then he was gone.

I couldn't believe this. I couldn't believe that we could just walk right past each other and not even acknowledge each other, or that we couldn't even look each other in the eye because we are scared that the memories of heartaches and lonesomeness will come flooding back. It’s unbelievable. I don’t know about him but for me, those memories never left. It has been two years and I’m still hurting. I’ve been on one date in the past two years and even then, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Sometimes I think it’s the stupidest thing I ever did; breaking up with him. Back then everything inside me was telling me he had to go but right now it’s as if I couldn’t tell how much longer I could go on without him. This went on for months.

“Excuse me Miss, I know that you don’t work here but do you happen to know where I can find some band-aids?” A man said with a smile. 

I hardly knew where anything is in the grocery store but I knew where the band-aids are due to my clumsiness. The guy was extremely handsome and polite. He reminded me so much of him...
“Yeah, sure. Right down that aisle.” I said as I pointed out the band-aid aisle. 
He gave me another one of those familiar smiles and went on his way. I smiled back. As soon as he grabbed the band-aids, he came back up to me. 

“I just wanted to say thank you. So um… Would you like to go out sometime you know, like on a date? Dinner and a movie?”
“A date? I don’t know uh…”
“Alex.”

Bible Stories: My Happy Ending Part 1

Today is my first day at school in Burbank, Illinois. I miss my friends back in Carolina, but the people at this school seem nice. Then again, a lot of people seem nice before you meet them. I met this boy today and his name is Jake. He’s really cute and kind. He walked me to all my classes, even the ones on the opposite end of the school from where he was supposed to be.

After that day, he missed a week of school.

When he got back, he walked me to my classes again. I told him how much I really appreciated it. He was the only one who even tried to befriend me. After a week of walking me to my classes, Jake finally asked me out. I am a Christian and only hang around fellow Christians who are people that will be saved by God. Hence, I asked him if he’s Christian and luckily, he said yes. 

“How long have you been a Christian?”
“A few years…” He replied slowly. 
That was when he changed the subject.

The date was amazing and everything went right.

He continued to walk me to my classes everyday for months. We went out together more than twice every week. We held hands but there was nothing more. He knew that, for me, even kissing a guy is a big step and I need to be really serious with a guy before we can take that step.

We were together for two years when he came up to me with his hands behind his back.
“Hey! Guess what I made it to the tennis team.” I told him.

“That’s great!” He gave me a huge hug. 
“Let’s go celebrate!” He pulled out two tickets from behind him. 
“For real? Oh my goodness! The basement! Are you serious?!” 
The basement was a big Christian group that tours and performs at different places. They preach, dance and do all kind of cool stuff. Jake knew how much I love them and how much I had wanted to go to their concert together ever since we first met.

After the concert, Jake grabbed my hand and led me somewhere I’d never been before. 
“What are we doing here?” I asked. 
He had a weird look on his face and I got worried. 
“I love you, Grace.”
“I-I… love you too, but why…”
“You mean it?” 
There was a long pause while I tried to figure out what was he trying to ask. What was going on with him?
“Of course I mean it.” I replied.
“Then kiss me.” 

I was hoping he would say that but I was still really confused. I kissed him anyway. It was my first kiss.
“I love you, Grace.” He said again
“You said that already.” 
“I know, because I really… I love you, Grace.” He whispered slowly as if he didn’t know what else to say.
“Is there anything you want to tell me?” 

I wanted to have some clue on what was happening. My head was still spinning from the kiss. He shook his head. I didn’t understand it at all. All I knew was that at that moment right there, I realized how much Jake truly loved me… Or so I thought.

Three weeks later, Jake and I were closer than ever and probably the most in love teenagers you would ever meet. I went to meet him during his last class. He was chatting with some friends so I decided to stand outside the door and wait for him.

“Tell us the truth dude.” I heard his friend say.

“Okay, I lied to Grace. Obviously, I’m not a Christian but…” 
I couldn’t wait for him to finish his words when I heard what he said. I ran as hard as I could down the hallway and out the doors. I needed to get away. My heart cracked and I didn’t even remember where I left the pieces. How could he do this to me? He said he loves me and I believed him. He said he wanted to be with me forever and I believed that too.

I didn’t know where I was or how long I was there but I knew that I never want to go back to the classroom. I didn’t think I could stand it. How does someone deal with that? I began to question my faith. Why, God? Why? I knew God wasn’t to blame but that was the only way I could vent my frustrations. There was no one left anymore. I felt left alone out in the cold. Jake didn’t leave me here but he made it such a way that I could go anywhere but back home. It’s said that the will of God will never take you where the grace of God won’t protect you. Why would God bring him to me if he knew this would happen? I started to think about what I had heard again. I broke down into tears once more.

Crazy Love Story: Love and Madness

Long time ago, before the world was created and humans set foot on it, God placed all the “human qualities" in a room.

Since all the qualities were bored, they decided to play hide and seek.
"Madness" was one of the qualities and he shouted, "I want to count, I want to count!"

And since nobody was crazy enough to want to seek "Madness", all the other qualities agreed.
Hence "Madness" leaned against a tree and started to count, "One, two, three..."
As "Madness" counted, the qualities went hiding. "Treason" hid in a pile of garbage.
"Lie" said that it would hide under a stone but hid at the bottom of the lake instead.
“Madness” continued counting, "...seventy-nine, eighty, eighty-one..."

By this time, all the qualities were well hidden except "Love". For stupid as "Love" is, he could not decide where to hide. This should not come as a surprise because we all know how difficult it is to hide "Love".

"Madness" counted faster as he approaches hundred, "...ninety-five, ninety-six, ninety-seven..."
When "Madness" got to one hundred, "Love" jumped into a rose bush where he hid.
“Madness” turned around and shouted, "I'm coming, I'm coming!"

As “Madness” started seeking, "Laziness" was the first to be found because "Laziness" was too lazy to hide. "Madness" searched madly and found "Lie" at the bottom of the lake. One by one, “Madness” found them all - except “Love”. “Madness” got desperate as he was unable to find “Love”.
Envious of “Love”, "Envy" whispered to "Madness", "“Love” is hiding in the rose bush." 

"Madness" jumped into the rose bush and he heard a loud cry. The thorns in the bush had pierced "Love" eyes.

God heard the commotion and went into the room. He saw what happened and became very angry. He cursed "Madness" and said that since "Love" became blind because of “Madness”, “Madness” shall always be with “Love”.

As a result, from that day onwards, Love is blind and is always accompanied by Madness!

Touching Love: Story Married to a Stranger Part 2

Emergency medic Combs remembers his plea, "If my wife's going to die, I want to be there."
By the time Kim reached Albuquerque five hours later, Krickitt was in a coma. The next morning on Thanksgiving, her parents flew in from Phoenix. However doctors held out little hope. 
Kim recalls, "We went to the chapel and started praying." 
That day, the swelling started to subside and her dangerously low blood pressure slowly began to rise. In five days, she went off life support. Ten days after the accident, she emerged from her coma and she was transferred to Phoenix's Barrow Neurological Institute.

When a nurse asked her what year it was three weeks after the accident, Krickitt responded, "1969." 
She was able to name her parents. 
But when the nurse asked, "Who's your husband?" 
She replied, "I'm not married."

Tests soon showed that she had maintained most of her long-term memory. As for her husband, he was a complete stranger and she felt nothing for him. 
"I don't have a visual memory in my head and I have no memory in my heart," she says now.

Kim remembers comforting himself by saying, "This isn't my wife; my wife is in this body, trapped and trying to get out." 
He worked to encourage her rehabilitation. But Krickitt found his presence and pep talks annoying.

"I think she resented his pushing because at that point she wasn't Krickitt," says her mother, Mary, adding that the process of re-teaching her daughter the most basic tasks "was like raising her again." 

Facing medical bills in excess of two hundred thousand dollars and relentless bill collectors, Kim returned to his Las Vegas job with serious doubts about the future.
"I honestly didn't think our marriage would work," says Kim, but he wouldn't give up. 
"I made a vow before God," he explains, 
"'Until death do you part.'"

Making steady progress, Krickitt travelled with her mother to visit Kim, and then returned on her own to see him again. 
"I figured, if I fell in love with this guy before, I guess I just need to meet him again," says Krickitt.

Almost five months after the crash, she moved back in with him. However, their life together was difficult. Her injuries had caused deep emotional swings and left her quick-tempered. She was also baffled by her re-entry into marriage.
"I remember asking, 'How did I do the wife thing? Did I cook for you? Did I bring you lunch?'" 
Her neurological problems posed other difficulties. She was unable to drive and couldn't remember directions.

She tired easily and her emotions were jumbled. She would laugh when she meant to cry and cry when she meant to laugh. 

Says Kim, "I was thinking, 'Man, I'm living with someone with two different personalities."'

She has slowly regained control of her life and returned to work in August 1994. Nevertheless, a new personality emerged - a blend of her old self with new, more outgoing traits. (She is likely to have chronic lingering effects, including short-term memory lapses and occasional clumsiness.) It was difficult to make the marriage work again. 
Mike Hill, a therapist the couple started seeing in fall 1994 pinpointed the problem, saying, "There wasn't that emotional attachment that comes through the early part of the relationship. You need to establish some memories of your own." 
So Kim and Krickitt began dating again - chatting over pizza, shopping, jet skiing at a nearby lake.
"I got to know my husband again," says Krickitt. 

"There was a point when I really started to enjoy this companion. I would miss him if he wasn't around."

This year on Valentine's Day, Kim proposed again. Krickitt accepted. 
"I could've not fallen in love with him again, but the Lord didn't allow that," she says. 
On May 25, the two again exchanged rings. The rings were new and they also read newly written vows. 
"Only one thing can surpass the painful events we have felt," Kim told her. 
"That is the love I have for you."

By Thomas Fields-Meyer and Michael Haederle