In 2004, I was a newly divorced single mom with two toddlers. Dating was not a priority to me. I cashed out my 401k and bought a home at 103 Henson in Smyrna, TN. Most of 2004 was spent on home projects like refinishing the deck and cleaning up landscaping. With two young kiddos, we essentially lived outside. Most evenings, I would write blogs or respond to others on MySpace.

MySpace friends encouraged me to consider dating. KIMBA was the dating cry. It was a made up word to essentially communicate, “Kiss It, My Beautiful Arse.” Don’t like short hair on women? KIMBA! Don’t like curves? KIMBA! Don’t like to Seek Sunshine or love God? KIMBA! Being saved by Grace means letting God save and change me- not people.

Beginning in 2005, my “deal with God”, was that I would pick three people off of a free dating website to potentially date each February. My rationale was that God has no obstacles…even mid winter blah Valentines.

In our natural element, February is not an ideal time to date. In my flesh, I would suggest late spring or early summer would be the ideal time to meet someone new. Better weather allows more outdoor activities and sunshine is naturally a boost! However, my heart was searching for a life mate, not a date. I knew God could send me my partner at any time. February seemed challenging to me, but I know He moves in His time, not mine.

In the seventh annual attempt, I met the man who would become my husband. I love Mark Aaron Clements! Lord, I see what you did there.

I should not be surprised it has taken a prime number of years, 13, to recognize we met in a PRIME year, 2011! It was also the only year that all three of my choices wanted to meet me, as well.

Mark and I met on a free dating website known as Plenty of Fish. The three men I chose as “potential partners” were completely different in every manner: physical, intellectual and spiritual. Steven was a father of two, a licensed psychiatrist and incredibly handsome. His maturity and depth allowed us to maintain friendship the past 13 years. The other gentleman was never married, no kids and a slick Sales Executive. Good guy, just not meant for me. Mark had been married for 15 or so years and never had children. What separated Mark the most was his deep faith and incredible humor.

I had been out with Steven when Mark messaged me on the website. My meeting with the second date was during the first few days Mark and I were emailing thru PoF. At this point, I still had interest in Steven, but knew I would not consider seeing the second date again.

While the emails were great, Mark sent me his phone number in case I ever wanted to talk. At first, I simply texted him and we bantered back and forth via short texts. Back then, you often had to press a number two or three times to get the right letter to text.

One of our favorite memories are tied up in lyrics from Grease. I texted him around Feb 8 that I was having chills during an ice storm. He responded by asking if they were multiplying. 🤣. The Grease lyrics directed us to talk on the phone very quickly. February 10,2011, he picked me up with ice still on the roads. The passenger door was frozen shut and he had to literally place his hand on my lower back to get me safely into the Expedition and climb over driver seat!

Since we both smoked cigarettes and the weather was terrible, I suggested we go to Baileys Sports Bar. The food was good and we could smoke inside at that time. It seemed both logical and reasonable to keep the distance short. Baileys was roughly five miles from the apartment. We are not fancy people and it was ideal. In fact, the most perfect first date possible. We laughed, ate, threw darts and enjoyed the music. I had zero doubt we were meant to know each other better.

Knowing I wanted another date meant taking a risk almost immediately. Because our first date was spectacular, I told him that if we were going to have a second date, it would need to include my kids. The last thing I wanted was to fall in love with a man who didn’t love my kids. Praise God, Mark emphatically agreed it was important to meet Blake and Morgan before going any further dating.

I understand that many parents do not let people meet their kids when dating. Certainly, it is different for everyone. For me, my kids met and still meet all of closest friends, male or female. They never associated men as being potential dates.

Within a year, Mark was living with us. First, at our apartment on Arborbed, then the rental home on Lamura Lane. Mark and I were not legally married but we were spiritually married. Still, there was internal conflict. Late April 2015, Mark officially asked me to marry him.

Roughly two weeks later, I was baptized. Coming up from the water, there was ZERO doubt I needed to tell my betrothed we needed to speed up a wedding date. It was pressed clearly into my heart. Baptised on May 3, we were married the following Sunday in my parents’ backyard. Only God would give my husband such an easy anniversary date of 5/10/15!

Praise, praise and more praise for my Lord and Savior! Thank you, God. Sweet Jesus, I love you! Beyond grateful my husband on earth understands why I love you more. 💜✝️💜