Old friends. New beginnings. We're getting married!

Stuart and I met at Sam Rayburn High School in our hometown of Pasadena, Texas. We actually attended the same junior high school but our paths didn't cross until we were in high school where a friendship began long ago. It wasn't until after Stuart had attended McNeese State in Louisiana for a year and I graduated from high school that we met again and a summer romance began. Stuart and I dated for about six months. It was love but we were so young and I had plans of transferring to Texas A&M University and he was headed back to McNeese State after a year at San Jacinto Community College. As Stuart will tell you, I broke up with him after meeting another guy also headed for A&M and that's almost where our story ended. Thankfully, Stuart and I stayed connected over the next few years while I was at A&M and he was finding his way. He visited me at A&M and we were friends. After I graduated and he finished school at University of Houston-Clear Lake our lives took different paths. We both had marriages that sadly ended but were both blessed with beautiful children.

Fast forward thirty years and I receive an email via LinkedIn inviting me to have coffee with Stuart W. Norton while he was in town on a business trip. It was so unexpected and I was giddy! I wasn’t even thinking romantically about Stuart. I was just so happy to hear from my old friend. After several text messages we finally made a plan to have an early lunch in New Braunfels at Krause’s Café. Our lunch lasted four hours ending with coffee at Two Tarts Bakery. Conversation with Stuart was so easy and I felt a joy in my heart that I had not felt in a long time. Stuart had to rush off for a conference call and our lunch/coffee meeting abruptly ended with an awkward hug and peck on the cheek. I watched as he drove away wondering if I would ever see him again. Later that day, Stuart texted me apologizing for his hasty retreat and we made plans to see each other again the following evening. Since we were meeting as friends, I offered to head to downtown San Antonio to pick him up at his hotel and get dinner. We ended up at Southerliegh’s at The Pearl Brewery and we were once again swept up in conversation and laughter. There was an obvious spark between us and after dinner as we strolled around the shops of The Pearl, we had our first kiss, again. We had dinner one more time before he left town that week and this one was an official date. I told him he’d have to come pick me up and meet my kids if he wanted to go out again. He readily agreed and did great meeting the kids, it was awkard but good and I even “met” his son Jacob on the phone in his truck while we headed to Gruene for dinner at The Gristmill. Jacob: “Whatcha you doing dad?” Stuart: “I’m taking a young lady to dinner.” Jacob: “Like a date?!” Stuart: “Well, Jacob, I washed my truck.” Jacob: “That’s like a serious date!” I was so nervous as Stuart opened the truck door for me and held my hand. It felt so comfortable and yet I never dreamed we’d find each other back together again.

Stuart and I are not young kids anymore. We went into this relationship with the same frame of mind - you date to find your helpmate. Stuart and I spent literally hours on the phone every night talking about our views about life and marriage and children and work and we have shared the same values about faith and family. Christ has been our center and we began praying each night together whether on the phone or in person for God to bless our relationship and our lives. We have prayed that "He would be a light unto our path." And we have been blessed with a love that continues to grow in respect and honor of one another. In those hours spent on the phone and together we've talked about marriage from the very beginning. I think we both just knew our future was together. But Stuart surprised me on Easter Sunday after a lovely day attending mass, cooking Easter lunch together, taking an afternoon nap and hunting confetti eggs with the kids with a simple but perfect proposal. We were sitting on the back porch just talking about our life together and what it will be like when all the kids are gone. And he said "So you'll love me even when I'm an old codger?" And I said "Of course!" And the next thing I know Stuart is on his knee and pulling out a black box. And asking me "Then would you marry me?" I wasn't sure what was happening at first, and it was dark outside except for a little light, but I could see the ring in the box. And I put it all together and understood he was asking me to be his wife and I said " YES!"