We met on a church bus – Italian honeymoon, Part 1

Give praise to the LORD, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done. (1 Chronicles 16:8)

On Wednesday, September 27th, David and I departed the U.S. on the first day of our official, long-overdue honeymoon. It hardly felt real to me, even as I listened to a pre-recorded safety message onboard our first flight – in Italian! Wow! The last time I traveled to Italy was with my mom in 2015 – eight years ago – which feels like a lifetime. Even then, I could never have imagined returning to Italy with my soulmate, my best friend, my incredible husband, David, who loves me.

David loves me! What a gift love is! There’s nothing else like it in all the world. God has blessed me beyond belief, and I am so grateful! Glory to God!

For the past few weeks, I’ve been working 10–12-hour days to be able to leave work in a good place without feeling guilty for taking time off. In addition to planning a 62-person, 3-day meeting in Katowice (pronounced like “pizza”), Poland, I support eight executives now. Four are traveling in October and also traveled in September. I’ve been coordinating their travel as much, if not more, than mine.

Honestly, my work has been completely overwhelming, so having this time away is a Godsend in many ways. I need a good rest – and while I know this trip will be challenging on many levels, I’m not alone as I always have been. This time is different. This time, I have David. This time, I have a partner. This time – for the first time ever – I know I am perfectly loved.

I am perfectly loved. Nothing on earth is as powerful, empowering, energizing, fulfilling, and beautiful as love. Nothing the world can offer can ever satisfy every longing of one’s soul like love.

As I said in my vows, all I ever wanted was to be perfectly loved. Even as a young person, I knew acceptance was impossible without love. No matter where I sought it, the only true love I ever felt was from God. No one could ever love me like God did. I knew that – and yet, I still hoped and prayed I’d find a love like my Creator’s. I didn’t – until David.

In David, I am whole. My satisfaction is beyond complete – it’s overflowing. I know how to find joy in God’s beauty and majesty. Still, I never knew what sharing God’s love with anyone else was like. How could I? I didn’t have David yet!

With David, I can now reflect on God’s glory with someone who understands it like I do. With David, I can celebrate the beauty of a bejeweled sunset or the incredulity of a visiting hummingbird as it flits from flower to flower. With David, I see reverence for our Savior reflected back to me. With David, through the power of God’s mercy, I am complete.

And so, despite my long, stressful work nights, and although the day began in a challenging manner as we rushed to the airport, I now feel peace, gratitude, and satisfaction such as I’ve never known.

While I felt relief in finally talking to the owner of the first apartment we rented in our 16-day, 16-city tour of Italy to get check-in instructions during our layover, my relief came from more than this assurance. Knowing that I now have David and God is all the stress relief I will ever need.

No matter what tomorrow brings, I am with my God-given soulmate – and that’s all I’ll ever need. I have peace such as I’ve never known and am so grateful.

What a joy to be loved! What a blessing to marry a man who loves me with a passion equal to mine. What bliss to be on my honeymoon with my David.

We met on a church bus. We got married and are honeymooning in Italy. Glory to God! I am blessed beyond measure, indeed.