1979

1979 – Meeting and Marrying

• The meeting.

Nancy and I met in an unusual way. We were attending two different churches which were both involved in a recreational softball league. We met as a result of a game between our two churches. It was the first time for both of us to participate and since we were short a player she willingly joined our team for the night. She played third base, and I was in left field. I had a great view all night.

After the game one of her teammates invited all to her house for a social time. During that time, I asked Nancy if she would help me clean my apartment. I had been building furniture in my bathroom and there was dust everywhere. She agreed (an unusual pick-up line.) She says she has been cleaning up after me ever since.

• The proposal

This was the end of June. Two weeks later we began dating. At the end of August (actually on my birthday) my parents were coming to the cities and would get to meet her. She was late arriving which made me a bit concerned. The reason for her lateness was the fact that she was involved in an accident on the way to my house. Any frustration I had over her late arrival disappeared as I dealt with what had happened. My parents arrived and we had a pleasant time together. Later I took Nancy to the stairwell of the apartment and asked her to marry me (real romantic right). She said yes.

• The counseling

Neither of us was really interested in holding a wedding in the churches we attended. One was a basement, the other a very large split chancel cathedral. Then I remembered that the church my parents attended when I was born was nearby. We went there and the pastor was more than happy to host the wedding and perform the ceremony. My parents had been his youth leaders years before. We finished three sessions and then he invited us to dinner. He stated he was satisfied with all he saw and then offered me a job as his assistant. (This would be the avenue that led us to serve as missionaries with the Wesleyan church.)

• The wedding

We decided not to wait and so scheduled our wedding for December 15, less than six months after we had met on that softball field. It was a bit unique in that we had to do the rehearsal, bachelors’ meal, and wedding all in the same day. This was due to the fact that many of Nancy’s family were farmers and being away from the farm more than one day is not simple. All went well and on a chilly day in December we were married.

• The honeymoon

We chose to have a winterish honeymoon and headed for the ski resorts of northern New Hampshire. When we arrived, there was no snow. Thankfully it snowed that night, and it all went well. We also spent some time with a friend in Boston touring the sights. Just before we left, we bought a lobster which we shared with Nancy’s family on Christmas day. Fun.

• So, there was no long courtship and within less than three months of meeting we were involved in ministry at a church. Welcome to our world and all that lies ahead.