Gillian & John

John writes:
Little did I know that 55 years ago when I first tied the knot in marriage that I would be tying it for a second time on April 22 this year after being widowed for 6 years.
It was very soon after joining CC I found Gill. Although I found her photo to be very attractive, of much greater importance was her profile. In it she had shared what seemed to be a very full, active and interesting life. What, however, impacted me most was her commitment to Christ and her involvement in Christian ministry.
In my ignorance to how the system worked I had waved to those who had responded to my profile thinking in so doing I was waving goodbye as I was not wanting to pursue contact! As I was leaving the room my elder son called me back and said ‘Dad you have a reply’! To my amazement it was non other than the lady I had set eyes on. She had sent an email reply to my profile.
We lived only one hours bus journey away from one another and so began a weekly meeting with one another.
Very soon on I realised this was the woman I wanted to marry. As we continued our friendship we found so very many shared interests and discovered a mutual wicked sense of humour. Laughter has played a large part in our ongoing relationship. We enjoy praying together and sharing our faith in Christ. We are blessed with very many friends and supporting family and over 250 of these shared in our Wedding Service, very many describing it as inspirational. We are praying that the Lord will open up to us new ways of serving together.

Gill writes:
What attracted me initially to John was not his photo (which was not flattering!) but by far more importantly what he wrote. The fact that he lived within striking distance was a plus. The first time we met I was attracted to his easy manner and lovely smile and found in actual fact he was quite handsome and as a friend later described him as “very debonair”! However, I was unsure for sometime as it seemed we had lived very different lives, with me having travelled widely and with family had lived abroad whereas John had lived all his life apart from holidays in the same city.
It was 2 of my granddaughters as well as a Christian friend who encouraged me to continue with the friendship when I was seriously thinking of discontinuing it. I’m so glad that I took note of the advice they gave as well as being led by God’s Spirit. Our relationship has grown over these months with daily texts and love letters when unable to meet up.
When, after 5 months, John said he wanted to marry me my response was that I needed more time. He made it clear he would not pressurise me but “would like an answer by the time the snowdrops came up”! To which I hurriedly replied “I’m not sure about snowdrops, more likely primroses or bluebells”! We became engaged at snowdrop time and married
when both primroses and bluebells were in flower. These romantic symbols have been a constant theme throughout these months and reflected in our wedding in our colour scheme and flowers.
Both having been widowed after long marriages we are immensely grateful to our loving Heavenly Father for the joy and the union he has brought us. An added joy is that our respective families are so happy for us.