A Tale of Two Sweethearts

Many years ago, as God called each of them to follow Him, Adam and Staci realized that there was both a beautiful and yet hard road ahead – one with twists, turns, and sometimes desert & difficulty.  But in time they would also see that God does cause all things together to work for the good of those who love Him, that His desire was to use everything to lead them closer to Him (and to each other one day), and to make them stronger through every trial and testing.  Really, this is all about 222 – Genesis 2:22-24, that is, and a tale about how God wrote their love story. Although there were many chapters prior to their “becoming one” that were filled with prayer, waiting, and seeking a godly spouse with an eternal perspective, God clearly demonstrated His perfect timing as He drew them together. Come and enjoy their first steps together as you read on!

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7/7 – Staci reluctantly gets started with online dating with the nudging of her friends (and God?) 🙂   Adam is sure she just doesn’t exist and is ready to give up with online dating!

7/14 – Staci and Adam match and begin talking…hitting it off immediately, noticing that many of their hard line “spouse requirements” seemed to fit perfectly in each other (and so many of their preferences, too)!

7/21 – a flurry of online messages during this week leads to their first phone call.  They both say to themselves about the other, “WHO IS THIS PERSON!?!”  (which they will keep saying for months).

7/25 – by now, they have shared a couple of their songs with each other, and are utterly amazed and delighted in it all and, cautiously, in each other.

7/26 – After several hours on their first Facetime video call, they begin a committed relationship. (Adam also has a crazy sense that she is the one, according to his journal from the next day). 

Earlier on this day was the first time “222” began to appear, as Staci drove home from some time she spent with her dad & stepmom to discuss a “special someone” in her life. More on this later…

7/28 – Looks like love, folks!  After 7 hours on a Facetime video call, they decide to fast, pray, and wait on God for the next 3 days and nights over everything.

8/1 – Adam drives to KC to meet her in person – the realization of something amazing! They sing together for the first time at her piano and spend lots of time laughing & catching up on their lives over the last few decades..

8/14 – During this week, the many emails and texts and Facetime start getting deeper. On this day they begin to discuss opening up about each other’s self – lots of vulnerability with all the years and life to cover;  the “what was”, “what is”, the fearful “what if’s” – and also the “…BUT GOD”. 

8/15 – 222. “It’s time.” 

I need to take a moment in the narrative and provide some context. What I’m about to say may sound strange to some, who might question whether the Spirit of God speaks directly to us humans. Even for those who are saturating themselves with the Bible, who are humbly submitted to Him, waiting on Him, and patiently seeking Him, answers to prayer are not always as clear as most would like.  But from this day forward, this one became unmistakably clear.  

Not too many months earlier, Staci was approached by a couple who themselves had committed in their own marriage to the structure in Genesis 2:22-24 – the providence and the directive of God’s institution of marriage:  leave the primary affection of family and other soul ties behind, cleave (glue) to the spouse, and weave their lives together around God, as a 3-stranded rope; not to be broken.  This couple committed provide support for Staci with this passage in mind, and to pray that God would provide a husband and a godly marriage in the same way for her as well. 

In the middle of a season of some doubt and uncertainty, Staci had gone downstairs for something and was somewhat startled upon seeing 2:22 on the clock. She heard, almost audibly and within, “It’s time.”  As in, “prepare to move forward with the relationship” – even in the midst of the fears of the potential of failing & messing things up; or, of being hurt deeply in relationship, or possibly even worse.  But, as she is normally very patient & careful to weigh out her steps, this was God’s kind reminder to not dwell in the “what if’s” but instead, with continued care and wisdom, to trust that He is present and will continue to guide as He promised.  

8/16 – Another facetime.  This time, the hearts are vulnerably exposed as they ask and open up about the past relationships, struggles, and questions they had about each other; each met with patience, grace, understanding, and even forgiveness.  (Adam secretly books a flight from Minneapolis where he was working.)

8/17 – Surprise! Later this day as Staci finishes her scheduled time of serving late at night, she walks outside and is quite startled, because – there is Adam!  Though still having plenty of laughs, conversations would also begin to become more solemn and meaningful during this trip.

8/18 – A Sacred story. The next day, they sing & play together at her piano again. After singing Kari Jobe’s “Blessing”, both are overcome with wonder and awe of God.  Not long after, as they sit on the floor together, Adam asks (almost unintentionally) if he can wash her feet (no,they did not smell!!!).  Startled, Staci cries in disbelief…  Her response is, “Yes!  Right now?” This is a fulfillment of a specific word from the Lord to Staci that He spoke to her in 2021 (and there’s even a journal entry to prove it), “You will know this man is from Me because he will wash your feet.” (Both are somewhat surprised in the whole event; that God had apparently been preparing it for this moment!)

8/23 – Adam drives down again (this trip was already planned) & goes with Staci to meet Staci’s dad and stepmom in Kansas. Hears the father’s side of her story and has some other… *intentional* conversation.
~Although Adam was only able to meet her mom and stepdad a few weeks later on a video call, we look forward to celebrating together with them in person as well!~

8/31-9/2 – One week later, Adam retrieves Staci for a 2 day trip to Nebraska for her to meet his parents & church family, see his house, and enjoy a nice walk through Nebraska City’s Arbor Day Historical Park.  Before dropping her back off back in KC…they look at engagement rings!

9/8 – The next weekend, Adam drives down and semi-surprises her again. From the secretly solicited advice of her very kind landlords / housemates, Staci and Adam go for a nice walk around Powell Gardens and wander over to look inside the big chapel, where Adam takes a knee!  (And, semi-surprises her again!!)

To this day, “222” continues to show up all over the place. As fun, interesting, and beautiful as the initial story is, both Adam and Staci are most interested in walking with God, abiding in Him, and sharing that joy with others.  Keeping godly mentoring and biblical counsel at the forefront, they remain thankful and amazed at how God has configured & prepared them for a unique calling, prior to ever meeting each other.

We hope you have enjoyed our journey so far – please also see our links to our wedding weekend, our future plans, and our registry.