Our Story

Our Story

I’ll warn you, this is very lengthy. I cut it down as much as I could. As strange as it may seem, we actually met over the internet. It was late January 1999, and I actually sent him an email, a couple of hours later, I went in to unsend it. If you all remember back in the day with AOL, you could unsend your mail, if it had not been read. Well he had already read the letter, so there was nothing I could do. Just moments before I signed in. I signed off the computer and was nervous about signing back on. Then I did, and guess what I heard “You’ve got mail.” And it was from James. We emailed and chatted a lot over the next couple of months. We had exchanged photos, and had even been talking on the phone more. I found him too good to be true for many reasons. He was young and single, and he cooked regular meals. While on the phone one night, he made stuffed green peppers! You mean, he cooks and doesn't just eat junk, hmmmmm... wonder what the real truth is.... is just what I kept saying.... But it was true! I’ll never forget how much of a shock I was in at this. And I just couldn’t get over how real and down to earth he was.

At the end of Feb he had come down with the flu bug and he felt awful! He wanted to meet up that weekend, but he was just way to sick. So instead we spent the entire Saturday night on the phone talking! I was very ill with major female troubles and the next weeks brought on some more doctors appointments. I was cautious, as I didn’t want to waste either of our time. As our conversations grow deeper and deeper, I broke the news to him, that it is said that I will not be able to have children of my own, and since he wants children, that I believe it is best to call it off, before one or both of us gets hurts! He would not stand for this at all! He said to me, if it was to work out, the way he thinks it will, then I’d be all he wanted, and for children we could adopt. I was blown away, but scared out of my mind that he only was saying this. So I put up my guard and halted meeting in person. We kept emailing, chatting on the computer, and talking on the phone daily though. He would do all he could to reassure me that he meant what he said! It is only by God’s assurance that I found trust and comfort in this! Then the time came, it was late one Saturday night and he asked me to meet him for the day. I always guarded my family from meeting guys, unless I knew it was all good. So I agreed to meet him in Houston where he was (I was in the Dallas area). I drove to see him that very Sunday morning, March 15, 1999. I’ll never forget driving up to see him in person, and WOW, there he was. It totally took my breath away! He really had me from Hello! He walked up and said Hello, Patty, it is so nice to actually finally meet you. I was captivated. So we spent the day together, we hung out and watched the races (not a surprise, I know). He actually won tickets to a concert 2 weeks from then. We parted ways, and continued to talk all the time. Both had agreed to not see anyone else until we figured out what was going on. Then it was the weekend of the concert! We had the BEST time! And that is the weekend, that as we drove to dinner, You had me from Hello, by Kenny Chesney was playing. We looked at each other and said you really did have me from the first hello. I knew deep down he was the one for me.

As always, my family hosts a huge Easter celebration! It is always so much fun, all the family, and lots of our friends come over! It is one of my favorite times of the year. Well I break down, I invited him to attend! Can you believe it? He is not only going to meet my parents, or even part of my immediate family, but all of them! And even more, he is getting to meet most of my friends too! He arrived early, so he and I could hang out! He fit right in and everyone LOVED him! And my family said they knew that very minute, he was the one! After our annual Easter get together, my parents baby sat my friends kiddos, and James and I, and my friends headed out to the dirt track races! Oh yes, you know it, racing was a big part! He stayed the weekend. When he headed home, I was devastated. I couldn’t believe it! I had never felt this kind of loss and love at the same time! A week or so before this, I had lost my job. The next week, while I am job hunting, he asks me if I wanted to job hunt in Houston, he said I could stay with him. I didn’t want to just live with him, so I had several friends in the area too, that were more than generous about offering places to stay. So I sent out some resumes, and guess what, April 8th, I headed to Houston. I had a suitcase and a bag packed with me. Before I sent out my resumes, even though I was at the age of 23, I did talk to my parents about this and had their blessing. End of April I ended up very ill and in the hospital! This is the VERY moment I knew he was the one for sure, and without any doubts! I was there for 17 hours, these were the scariest hours, I was far from home, the doctors thought I might not make it. It was test after test, after test! But with lots of prayers, God kept me alive and got me through. But he showed me, that James was real! James stood by my side this day, he held my hand, he went into the room for several tests with me, he cried, he cared for me, he comforted me, and he was a great strength to my parents! I knew at that moment, he was the one! No doubt about it, he was the only guy I knew besides my daddy to have stayed right with me. As we grew closer, we really started talking about what we wanted out of this, where we wanted this to go. But I was still scared, as was he. So decided we were sure we were meant to be together, but we did want to take it slow. I still wanted and had been looking for my own place to rent and not live together. My parents were really old fashioned, and I was too. Well at the beginning of May, my dad said to me one night in a conversation on their front porch, (I had gone home for a few days to take care of some business) Dad says to me, “Baby girl, why don’t you just live with James.” My mouth dropped! What was my dad saying? He said “no, hear me out. I’d feel much better with you being there with him, he is a good man. He loves you, and I’d have to say nearly as much as I do. I know he will do whatever is needed for you and take care of you. I wouldn’t have to worry about you so much, while you are sick. What if you have one of your really bad spells, and he is not right there with you.” I started crying, he was right. He said to me that day, I’ve been doing some thinking on this, and God has showed me that James is the one.” I was blown away, and I agreed to stay for the time being. As I returned to my new home, I still was hung up on getting my own place and this dating thing taking a year or two before we were engaged. James even offered for me to stay in the extra bedroom, and we would not be sharing a room, if it would help me have peace of mind. He would do anything to comfort me. He was always right there, supporting me, and we had lots of fun! But God had another plan! On July 22, 1999 we decided we were getting married, and made it officially known on July 23, 1999, that we were engaged to be married. This was a shock to me, even though I knew he was the one and only for me. We were to attend marriage counseling at the Church. The Pastor after our first session, said, the two of us were more mature than half the couples he had seen that were together for some time, and that he could tell we were truly in love. He said we had already made it through some really rough times (with my health and stuff), and he gave us his blessing. He agreed to marry us, and said we were done with our pre-marital counseling. It was really awesome. What a true testament to God’s work. The next several months flew by so quickly! I had moved back home because of health and to see my old doctors regularly (several times a week). James came up ever single weekend, I’d run outside and give him the BIGGEST hug ever, I’d hold him and not let go, and he would do the same. Then every Sunday would come, and he would have to go back home. I’d cry as he drove away. We planned the wedding, and managed to get it all done. James didn’t want to wait to get married. He was more than ready, this coming from a guy who had said he wouldn’t ever marry again or say I love you for a very very long time. So instead of a wedding in the next year, we were married on Dec 4, 1999.



Many said it wouldn’t last, and others said it would! We knew it would, because we belong together!

Look at us, nearing 10 years together (March 15) and working on many more years to come! We are blessed beyond! I know I sure am! He is a wonderful loving man, my BEST Friend, the most awesome husband, a terrific Daddy, he is funny, caring, sincere, gentle, tender, and just all around wonderful! We has worked hard to provide for us, and to take care of me and the girls! He protects us, comforts me, loves me unconditionally! We have seen some really hard times and some great times too, but it has all been worth it! We are now the proud parents of 2 beautiful daughters, by gifts from God, Adoption! They are our world! I’m honestly humbled to have been picked by God to be his wife, his best friend, his biggest fan, his biggest cheerleader, his supporter, and everything I can be to him! I’m so grateful that we have each other and our children!

I’ll share with you this link to a video, this is our song ~ All I ever needed, by Brett Michaels! Video Link or below



James is all I ever needed in a husband!!! He is my everything!!! I love you, James!
Always and forever!

Thank you for making it through this long story of how we started our life together! Know that if you keep God center, it will all work out! No matter who may try to rip it down, they will not succeed! God put us together, and because of God’s grace, we will always be together! “Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this blessing in my life, for the husband you gave me, the one you picked out! The one you opened doors that should have been shut, and you poured your favor on us! Thank you for all you have done, for all you do, and for all you will do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

Mark 10:7-9
This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.

With this, I have to say, no one will ever split us apart! Love does conquer all! Stay tuned… We are planning on renewing our vows, it’s a reaffirmation of our love to each other. James and Patty together forever!!!

Hugs and Blessings,