Jan 30, 2012

The Story Of Us


After reading a comment on a recent post on good old Facebook I came to the realization that though it feels like I have been able to tell lots of people about Freddy and I there are still friends who are out of the loop. So to remedy that situation, here is the story of us...

Before moving to Rome to serve as a missionary in 2010 I went thought a year or more of training, but I also fell in love with Salsa dancing and began taking classes in Santa Cruz. I enjoyed it so much I would even go by myself. During my last few Salsa lessons at the Palomar I thought to myself, I wonder if I can find a place to continue learning when I get to Rome, it would be a great way to meet people, even before I can speak the language.

Fast forward a bit...Turns out that one of the guys who started attending out home group Bible study was a Salsa instructor. He also was in need of some work, so I arranged to pay him for some lessons. After a few lessons he determined that I wasn't half bad and wanted to take me out to some Salsa Club in Rome so I could practice with other people. Sounded completely fun and intimidating to me, so I said yes.

When we arrived he introduced me to Freddy saying, "Dance with him, he is a great dancer and good guy I have known him forever." So, Freddy and I danced a few times that night and afterwards Daniel (our mutual friend) asked me what I thought of Freddy. I said, "he seemed nice." Daniel was not satisfied with that answer, because he thought I should really LIKE Freddy, and asked again. I explained that I had not really known him enough to LIKE him, and that it appeared to me that he was there with a girl so, case closed.

However, the case reopened the next time I went out dancing with Daniel and it turned out that we were going with Freddy and he was the DJ. Freddy and I talked and danced the whole time he was not DJing and though I was not allowed to date because of my position job I think it is safe to say looking back that we started falling in love that night...though if you ask Freddy he will tell you he knew the first time we met that I was different from every other girl he has ever known, and that he wanted to know me more. So maybe for him it was love at first sight.

We spent a lot of time together with his friends and family the next few months, and the more I got to know him and his family the more I fell in love. When I resigned from my job last June, we "officially" started "dating" But I was in CA and he was in Italy and Bolivia (where he is from) So, we dated long distance.

I returned to Rome in November. Finally together and allowed to date and figure things out after 6 months apart. We spent our 2nd Christmas together with his family. His sister and brother and law live here with him, and they had their first baby, so his mom and other sister were here to celebrate with us. I had met his mom before but this was the first time I met his sister. I just love his family.

Right before his mom left I asked her permission to marry her son (I asked in Spanish, with some help from Freddy) This was important to him, and part of his tradition. She gave her blessing. Then a week ago, Freddy and I skyped with my parents...


and Freddy asked my parents permission to marry me (insert HUGE smile)

I was there as translator, Freddy had prepared what he wanted to say, (he told me a head of time that he had got some words of wisdom from his mom on their way to Madrid) So, he said in Italian and I repeated in English (while blushing)...

"That he has known me for over a year now and from the first time he saw me he knew he liked me a lot, and wanted to know me more. I am unlike any woman he has ever known, I am a wonderful woman with good character and that is what drew me to him..."

Then he asked in English..."I would like your permission to marry your daughter."

Then may parents spent an hour asking him questions such as... what are 3 things you love about Trinity, and 1 thing you cannot stand?

" Like I said I love her character, but I also love that we can talk, we communicate well, and we are of one accord. She is the one I want to be with forever and start a family with. I hate that she drinks cappuccino all the time and that she cracks her neck!

Tell us about your Relationship with Jesus...

"I grew up knowing about Jesus and in a relationship with Him, my mom and dad are Christians too. I went to a Christian School. I read the Bible and Pray, but not as much as Trinity. When we are together I will go to church with her. (right now work is in the way)
What will you do to help Trinity grow Spiritually and Emotionally?
We will read the Bible together at night before we go to bed, so that we can dwell on His Word throughout the night.

Are you willing to go through pre-marital counseling? YES

If we say no, what will you do?

To which he responded: Steal her and take her to Bolivia to live with me forever On and on...

In the end they asked him to make a promise in his own words to them to care and love me...

"I promise to always be close to Trinity. When things are good and when things are bad. I promise I will never leave her EVER if she is sick or healthy, if we are poor or rich. I will love her and stay with her forever."

After which they finally said yes!

Then on Saturday when we met for what I thought was going to be lunch he offered to wander the streets of Rome with me, one of my favorite things to do, but not one of his (as he has lived here for almost 6 years) Then as we started walking he suggested we be looking for my engagement ring, so that he would be sure to get something I was happy with. So we meandered our way though Rome for 5 hours browsing the ring selection.

So there you have it friends we are one step closer to getting married!!! We also found a plane ticket for me to come home to CA so you can mark your calenders...Your friend will be home Feb 19th!

At which time I am hoping to jump full time into a job, so if you know of one please let me know. I will turn in our request for a fiance visa and really get this party started.


Thanks for sharing in our story, can't wait for you to meet him! So, pray the documents go though so much faster than normal :)

Jan 3, 2012

Don't know if you Heard?


Hey so as it turns out I am now more than just a blogger. I am an author. That's right blogger friends, I have published my first book and it was to be sure a scary and intimidating process. I am not the only author of the book, I along with 3 other of my dear friends spent one year contributing stories from our lives as single 30-something women living on four different continents. I gathered up all these wonderful tales and made them into a book. The book is titled "Single Minded" and you can get your very own e-book copy of this book from Amazon.

It is harder than you would imagine to take your life and put it on display for the world to see, but we 4 gals did our best to lay it all out on the table, hoping to paint a picture (or 4) of what it really looks like for 4 single girls to live out their faith, and ministry in four very different parts of the world. I truly hope you enjoy and are challenged and stretched by the lives shared on these pages.

quotes i love

  • "they will never care how much you know until they know how much you care."
  • "never be afraid to trust a well known God with an unknown future." - Corrie Ten Boom
  • "God doesn't need you, He loves you, that is much better."
  • "the world has yet to see what God can do through a man/woman who is totally commited to him." - D.L. Moody
  • "be who you is, cause if is ain't who you is, you is who you ain't."-
  • "some people say movies should be more like real life. I say real life should be more like the movies."