Journey to a husband

Guest post by Arlene Pellicane

Although I loved my college experience, I managed to graduate without that coveted “MRS” degree. Four years after graduating, I was studying for my masters degree when a certain young gentlemen flipped my hamburger at a student orientation. A few weeks later, I met that same  young man – James – in a van load of students headed for a nursing home. It was a Friday night and we were going to sing for the residents and visit with them. When James shared a Bible study with the residents (half of which were sleeping), I was wide awake and prayed, “Oh Lord, I want to marry that man!” 

We ended up becoming good friends and I readily decided I would love to date him. Every smile, invitation to Dairy Queen for blizzards, and phone call I interpreted as a sure sign of progress. But he just wanted to be friends. After a year and a half, I finally got the message. We were just friends. About the same time I released my desire for James to God, James was opening his eyes to the possibility of love. 

He was going to take me to his usual place – Dairy Queen – but thankfully the university librarian suggested something a little more substantial. At Outback Steakhouse, James pulled out 2 roses for me – a yellow one for friendship and a red one for love. He said we had been friends and that he would like to court me. That was the best dessert at Outback I’ve ever had! 

After that moment, we were inseparable. We took a road trip to New York City to visit his family friends for a few days. My mom asked, “What if you don’t get along and you’re trapped with him for a few days?”  I told her she had nothing to worry about. She didn’t! I’ve been happily trapped with James in marriage for the last 11 years. We married about 8 months after that road trip to New York. Our journey has led us from Virginia Beach to Dallas to San Diego, and every mile has been made so sweet with my best friend and lover James. Now he’s flipping burgers for me and our three kids!