I met my wife Lacie's mother long before I met Lacie, although I didn't know it at the time. According to the legend, I was whining about the scarcity of quality single girls during a Wednesday night class and she said to herself "he just hasn't met my daughter." Turns out she was right.I met Lacie through her little
sister, Ola. It was a Wednesday night and I was leading the kids singing during our VBS-style main session. Afterwards, Ola came by and told me I needed to learn a certain song and sing it the next time. She said her sister could help her teach it to me. I only knew Ola was a pretty blonde girl from the high school group. I didn't even know her mom was the same lady who sometimes sat in the singing group with us on Wednesday nights. But I was happy to meet an older sister.I followed her over towards another blonde girl, only a little older with a spiky haircut and gorgeous blue eyes. No, I didn't realize at the time that this was the woman of my dreams, the girl I would marry. But she certainly was pretty. Ola told her why we had come over and the two of them proceeded to belt out "Who's the King of the Jungle (Huh, Huh)?" complete with motions.
To be honest, wh
at struck me more than Lacie's beauty was how frank and open she seemed to be. Here was a girl who was being introduced to a new person... a guy at that... and was immediately asked to perform a silly song (and yes, it IS a silly song... that's part of the fun) in front of said guy. I think a lot of ladies would have balked if their little sisters had made such a request. But Lacie just smiled and sang her heart out, motions and all. I thanked them for teaching me a new song, but made a mental note of this new person on the scene.I next met Lacie at a Halloween party held by some folks at the church. I'll spare you the long story and cut to the chase. I recognized Lacie from the earlier meeting and decided to take a chance by striking up conversation with her. My smooth line? "Hey, you're Ola's sister, aren't you?"
The courtship began. Some highlights:
- My sister-in-law Jenni (a fantastic person with only one significant character flaw.... she refuses to bow at the altar of a Dallas Cowboys helmet) met me the morning after I first brought Lacie over to share some family Christmas time and told me, "She's perfect! Perfect!"
- My mom thought she was Ola when she first met her because she looked "so young."
- I accidentally knocked her over with my Charles Barkley move playing basketball. She told me that all she saw was "this big red thing" (I was wearing red shorts) and she hit the deck.
- Lacie made me a "romantic dinner" of PBJs and electric candles hosted upstairs in the music building at Sterling College where she attended at the time. She played songs from "The Princess Bride" for the mood.
- I traveled to Mexico accompanied by Lacie's mom and Ola (it was part of a church mission), but Lacie gave me the first hug when we returned.
- And of course, we were wed on March 15th, 2003.
8 years later, Lacie is the best person in my life
(excluding Jesus, naturally). She is still the same open, cheerful person I met back then. She has shown tremendous character overcoming a painful loss and greets each day with new hope. She continues to inspire me by the way she tirelessly cares for our daughter Jesstine. She graduated from Wichita State with a degree in Music education, and teaches elementary kids how to recognize rhythms and sounds. She still sings like an angel and looks like one too. Simply put, Lacie makes life better. As Dick Van Dyke would sing, "It's a jolly holiday with Lacie...."Happy Valentine's Day, Babe. I love you!
