Bloomin' Onions

Hello Everyone!

I'm back! Our trip was very good and we had a great time in the mountains of North Carolina. On Thursday, I ventured out by myself since my husband was in meetings all day. I found a mall near our hotel and spent most of the day in the beauty salon. I decided I needed a new hair-do, nothing shocking, mind you! I had a very relaxed lunch at a nice restaurant and did a little shopping. I found a great sale on pillows, buy one at regular price, get one for 88 cents! I found a twin pack, so I got 4 pillows total for around $11! They are plump and fluffy and I just love them! There was also a wonderful Christian bookstore down the street and I spent a great deal of time there browsing! I had my name engraved on a new compact Bible I had purchased elsewhere.

I missed you all and I'm glad to be back. I've been wanting to finish the stories of courtship between me and my husband and I will finish up with this one, which is very special. God revealed that I was to be his "help meet" in a very unusual way, which was crystal clear to me, more clearer that I had ever had anything revealed before.

Here's the story . . .

Our third date almost didn't happen! I was terribly disappointed. K- called and invited me to a ballgame and cookout some friends from high school were having. Their children were on the team and this was their last game of the season, so they wanted to do a cookout. I agreed to go, but a few days later, I found out that I had to help my dad on his blueberry farm. With a crop like blueberries, you have to keep them picked, so it was something I could not postpone. I had to call and back out of the date. I was afraid he would think I was just making an excuse and that I really did not want to go out again.

Then an amazing thing happened! The co-op that my dad ships his berries with, called and said they were going to be closed on the very day of the ballgame and cookout, and asked us not to pick that day! Now, I could go on the date! I was so excited, but how could I call and then invite myself back? Do you see my dilemma? What should I do? I finally called, although I could hardly speak I was so nervous about the whole thing. I asked him if the invitation was still open and he said "yes!" So the date was on again.

I met him at the ball field, we saw the game and then we went by his house to pick up some things he was taking to the cookout. Onions! He has agreed to make bloomin' onions for everyone at the cookout! He told me that he had fixed some at an earlier get-together and they were requested at this cookout as well. So we got the onions, breader mix, and the cooking utensils and headed out for his friend's house.

When we got there, I was introduced to everyone, about twenty people, and then we went into the "cookhouse," which was near the pool, and began the task of breading the onions. A cooker was set up and the oil was hot enough to start the frying. He put three huge onions into the large pot and the cooking began. I continued breading the other onions as he tended the ones in the pot. He asked me to hand him a platter with paper towels so he could take up and drain the onions that were ready. I got the platter, placed paper towels on it and stood beside him holding it as he placed the hot onions on it to drain. God spoke to me while I was standing there! It was not an audible voice, but it was God! I could feel Him speaking to my heart saying. "This is the man I have prepared for you! You will be his 'help-meet!' Just as you are standing by his side, holding the platter for the onions, you will stand beside him helping him all the days of your life!" As I am typing this, tears fill my eyes. God had a plan for my life. Not five months earlier, I had submitted my life to God in that I had resolved that if it was His will for me to remain single, I would! Up until the point I realized I was lonely, five months previous, I had never envisioned myself marrying. Now, God was telling me that I would!

I never recognized that marriage was a "desire" of my heart, but I think of the scripture in Psalms that says to "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

God put that desire in my heart and awakened it when I submitted to His will! I'm so glad He did! I am so thankful He made a good Christian man for me and that I chose not to go out in search for companionship and just "waited on the Lord!" He is faithful!

We have had many trials in our almost nine years of married life, but we both agreed from the beginning that, "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Psalm 127:1 The enemy has thrown all kinds of obstacles in our path, but we know Who built this home. God did! And His purpose will be fulfilled, whatever that is!

My prayer for each of you is to be submissive to the will of God, whatever that is in your life, as it is different for everyone. For me, that awakened God's plan for my life and gave me the "desires" of my heart of which I had been totally unaware. God is truly wonderful and awesome! I love Him and the wonderful man he made for me!

Be Encouraged,
Plant Lady