A Quick History of our Journey.

Lucy and I met in October, 1976, at a roller skating rink in Pomona, CA. We had been invited by a mutual friend in the hope that this “blind” date would work out. Well, it didn’t. Lucy wasn’t too impressed with me, and I was oblivious to her, she says. I was not into dating and had sworn off all encounters with girls until I knew what the Lord wanted in my life. I had told this mutual friend that I would not kiss another girl until I knew we were to marry.

Flash forward a few weeks and we were each asked out for lunch by this mutual friend after church at a famous Pomona Mexican Food restaurant called “Espiaus.” So, rather reluctantly I agreed and apparently Lucy did as well. When I prayed over the meal we had ordered Lucy said she fell in love with me and later told her grandmother she had met the man she would marry. I still wasn’t convinced.

During lunch Lucy mentioned that she had just moved into a new apartment and needed some interior paint. I had gallons of several colors in my garage where I lived in Pomona. I told her I would be glad to get rid of it and I would bring it over to her apartment. Arriving I found a small upstairs 1 room apartment that needed a bunch of help. I dropped off the paint and left, basically. I came back a week later and she had used the paint and was busy wallpapering. I asked her to go to a Thursday night Bible study I attended nearby, and we had our first “date,” per se.

The Bible study “date” went well so she asked me to come over Sunday and walk to her church with her. I had no idea what was waiting for me! Arriving an hour before church service at her apartment she had the most amazing coffee cake I have ever tasted waiting, right out of her oven. Enjoying that, I began to wonder if the Lord was really in this new acquaintance. The walk to church was really wonderful and we talked the entire way. She had my heart, she loved the Lord, and was ready to do whatever He said to do.

The following week I dropped by her apartment in the evening and she was painting inside with her best friend. I knocked, and she came out, embarrassed by the way she looked, and we sat on the front stoop of the apartment building. We talked for a short time and I kissed her. Just once. I knew the Holy Spirit had put us together. I knew we would someday be married, and I found out later that she felt the same way that night.

We were married on July 7, 1977 at Upland Brethren In Christ Church.