The Love Story of Michael & Karen

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned."

Song of Solomon 8:7

(KJV)

Graphic Design by Zach Smith

"The Love Story of Michael and Karen"

"My husband and I grew up in New Jersey.  We lived in towns that were just 15 minutes apart from each other for 19 years without meeting each other, until a night, in looking back, that God so clearly ordained.

 My friend, Linda, and I were trying to decide what we wanted to do one Saturday night.  We really weren't in the mood to go out, but decided to anyway.  In fact, I had said to my friend, "Watch, this will be the night I meet my future husband."

We went to the Lighthouse which was a club on Lake Hopatcong that had a rock band that played upstairs, and there was dancing with contemporary music downstairs.  I was a bit of a wallflower, I guess you could say, and didn't usually have guys approaching me.

My friend and I were sitting and talking when two guys approached and started talking to us.  They introduced themselves as Michael and Rocky Casanova.  No joke, that was indeed his name!  Lol!  Rocky started talking to my friend, Linda, and Michael was talking to me.

Michael asked me if I wanted to go upstairs to hear the band, and we proceeded to do so.

During the course of the evening, I found out that Michael was supposed to meet up with a different girl that he knew who was a no-show, a girl who I apparently resembled.

At the end of the evening, we made plans to meet the following Saturday, same time, same place.  Linda and I showed up a week later, and indeed Michael and Rocky did, too!  I was really enjoying spending time with Michael.  We decided to meet again at the Lighthouse the following week, another Saturday night, only it wasn't just any ole Saturday, it was Valentine's Day.

My friend Linda said that Michael would probably bring me a rose that night, but I dismissed it as I had never really been pursued by a guy before.

Linda and I showed up Valentine's Day at the Lighthouse at our designated meet-up time with the boys, but they weren't there.  The week before they were right on time, but not this week.  As the minutes ticked on, it looked like they were going to be no-shows.  My disappointment was settling in.  Then I looked up and saw Michael AND he presented me with a single stem pink rose!

Michael and I enjoyed our evening together at the Lighthouse and at the end of the night Michael walked me to my friend's car where we shared our first kiss, me holding the single-stemmed pink rose that he gave me between us.  When the embrace ended, I realized that during the kiss the rose had been crushed, coining the phrase, "the crushing rose kiss."  Lol!

We went on our first official date, just the two of us, on February 22nd.  Michael took me to a really nice restaurant.  I felt like I was dreaming.  I couldn't believe such a good-looking, nice guy, was interested in me!

Michael proposed to me the following year on our anniversary.  He took me to the same restaurant we went to on our first date.  We were married the following August and right after our honeymoon, moved from New Jersey to Rhode Island where Michael had been accepted to a college.  I was able to transfer my job with AT&T.

I can see how God's hand ordained my husband's and my steps all those years ago to the Lighthouse, our falling in love and ultimate marriage, followed by a move to Rhode Island, brought about by Michael "choosing" that college and being accepted, establishing our home's borders to meet key people who would play a role in both mine and my husband's salvation many years later, and leading us to a church where Michael sensed the call to become a Pastor.

Indeed, I did meet my future  husband on a night I really didn't want to go out, and I'm so glad I did!  And I'm also glad the girl Michael was supposed to meet up with was a no-show and I happened to look like her.  Lol!

Isn't it amazing the way God can orchestrate innocent circumstances for His big plans.

Praising God for His Sovereignty and will over mine and my husband's lives which led us to Him."

 

Bio: Karen is currently working on expanding her Christian Blog, Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge, with a focus on providing Biblical insights to encourage and equip women to grow in and through their struggles. Michael is the Associate Pastor at their home church where Karen also serves as the Women's Ministry Leader. They enjoy taking nature walks and when the weather permits, going fresh water fishing. In the winter, you will find them looking for the resident snowy owl that makes its return every year or enjoying local museums and mansions.

I hope you take the time to visit Karen's Blog, where you will find much spiritual depth, edification, and Godly wisdom. You can also connect with Karen on Facebook and Pinterest. Also, be sure to check out our exclusive interview with Karen by clicking HERE!!

Michael and Karen, thank you SO much for sharing your amazing testimony and love story with us!  May God richly bless the two of you with many more happy, healthy years together serving Him together and reaching the lost!  You are such an inspiration and blessing!  

 In case you missed it, you can read a previous Love Story Post by clicking this link:

The Love Story of David & Wanda