A Sequence of Events

January 26, 1985 C Scholl photo

 Yesterday was our 41st anniversary. It was a quiet celebration compared to last year's open house that was fun, but also a 'once in a lifetime event' for us. 

 Since that party, I've spent time thinking about the sequence of events that had to happen for us to get here. As the story unfolds, it's clear to me our wedding was part of God's plan.

 Way before I considered which college to attend, Dad interviewed for a job with Texas Instruments. It was serious enough that dad, mom, and my little sister flew to Lubbock, Texas.

 If he was offered the job, we would have moved to Texas for my last three years of high school. It's unlikely I would have gone to a college in Des Moines, Iowa.

 That sequence aside, going to Drake University was just one step in the series of events. My majors were radio and TV production, broadcast news, and political science. 

 During my second year, I applied for an internship as a reporter with KWWL-TV covering the Iowa legislature. I hadn't taken any classes on TV production, but I was still selected for the semester-long position.

During that same time, my wife was completing her senior year of high school, and was chosen to serve as a page in the Iowa House of Representatives. Our paths crossed a few times early on, but it wasn't until she invited me to go with her to the Page's Ball that we had our first date. At the time, I wasn't dating anyone, and thought it might be fun, so I said 'yes.' 

We went on a few dates before the dance to get to know each other. I met her parents and older sister at the dance (it was a fundraiser for Iowa lawmakers).  After she returned home after her time as a page, we wrote letters and talked on the phone, and saw each other a few times during the summer before she ended up moving to Des Moines. 

That's the short-version of the real life fairy tale. There other sections where the sequence could have unraveled.  Thanks to God, we not only made it down the aisle, we've survived and persevered 41 years now, and for all of that, I'm thankful for the 43-years we've spent together.