I've decided to tell a story. Mine and Casey's story. It's our very own fairytale and we love it. We've told a bit of it in church but I'm hoping to jot down every detail of the night we met. Even the parts that aren't easy to talk about, just because they are equally important to our story. So in honor of our 4 years together, here we go...
Most know that I was previously married... that marriage was nullified earlier in the year that Casey and I met. To not have to deal with all the emotion and responsibility that comes from a divorce, I decided that becoming the manager of the local coffee shop was a good idea. More time working, less time at home alone. I also agreed to running a concession stand on the side for this company. All that to say, I worked about 60 hours a week.
Casey had recently moved to Indiana to heal from some instances in his life and help a best friend through some tough times as well. He decided that it would be smart to get a part time job. It just so happened that a local bar found him to be very (over) qualified and hired him on the spot! His first day on the job it was his responsibility to change the "help wanted" sign. I was driving home through town from a particularly long, emotional day, and noticed him changing this sign and thought to myself, rather negatively... "I've changed outdoor signs before, not too fun." Also, I did notice he could probably handle the job since he was pretty fit. I arrived home shortly after the first viewing of what would be the rest of my life, to find my doggie had destroyed most of my tiny house. She was pretty emotional from all the recent changes too. As I was cleaning up, I stubbed my toe. No big deal, right? Except this was the last straw. This was the moment everything that had been suppressed came to a head and I fell to my knees in tears. (partially out of physical pain, but mostly emotional pain) All I could get out was "God I can't do this anymore, please do something. Please." <<< I kind of yelled. My dog was terrified.
My emotional break down ended a few hours later and I went to bed. The next day was another draining day, I worked from about 5 am, then headed off to my night at the ball park. It ended pretty late and I was starving. Not wanting to eat another night of concession stand food, I logically thought bar food was better. Well, in my defense, this bar food WAS better. So there I go, smelling like a grease trap, no make-up, the weight of my stress all over my body, and my Beatles shirt. I walk through the doors of the bar, take a seat, smoke a cigarette and order my food. I tell you about my horrible smoking habit because it's important. See, Casey had a rule, no dating girls that smoke. When I see Casey I think, "He's pretty cute" and move on. There's no possible way I'm ready for a relationship. Casey and I start chatting it up, smiling, and laughing. I'm doing pretty good at subduing my stress, because for the first time in while, I was smiling because I was actually enjoying myself. We talked and talked. He accidentally ignored some patrons because he couldn't disengage from the conversation. Good thing these patrons were pretty easy going. One in particular, whose name was Willie (you've got to be laid back when your name is Willie), asked us how long we had been together. We told him we just met. Then drunk, old Willie said the most profound, foretelling thing... "You kids treat and talk to one another as if you have been together for years". We laughed awkwardly and I asked Willie to play some pool. (mostly because I wanted to show off my sweet billiard skills to this cutie that made me smile; Casey not Willie. Willie was old with not many teeth.) There I was, being a pool shark, sneaking some smiles, and having the best time watching Willie play air guitar with his pool stick until closing time. I was pretty certain Casey was interested in me too, but when I went to walk out the door he still hadn't asked for my number. I got all the way out the door, but marched back in to do something I had never done before. I gave a man my phone number in a bar. Later, I found out about his rule of not dating a smoker and it made more sense as to why he didn't ask for contact info. However, something inside of him made him over look that rule and he sent me a text message as soon as he was off work. I thank God for showing him there was more in me than a horrible habit. We went on our first date a week later (the county fair) and have been inseparable ever since. (Maybe I'll tell you the story of our first date in the future... it's a pretty good story too)
This was God "doing something". Some people may roll their eyes and say that Casey wasn't a God intervention it was just my broken heart looking for a rebound. Well, I don't put my God in a box. My God can use any situation for His glory. God called Casey, and still calls Casey, to challenge me to be a better me. God uses Casey to point me to Him. Casey is one of God's gadgets used to heal, protect, and restore my heart. I'm so thankful for my love. I'm grateful for his integrity. I'm continually overwhelmed at his discernment for God's voice. And I'm also thankful that he didn't get close enough to me that night to smell the grease trap. That surely would have sent him running! The past four years of our life together have been a roller coaster of learning and new experiences. It's been years full of forgiveness and grace, and a continual strive for Christ to shine through our love. I Love You Casey!
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