Picture it: a sunny Sunday morning in October. The bells in the tower at Cornerstone Reformed Church, Carbondale have ceased their ringing, and the worship service is about to begin. A light breeze blows. The leaves in the trees are about to change. So is the rest of my life.

I met Drew that Sunday. He decided to sit on the opposite side of the sanctuary than where he had sat, undetected by me, for the past few weeks. This was not missed by me, and when it came time to greet your neighbor, I meandered my way towards this stranger and made a point to shake his hand and say hello. Nothing else. Don’t be foolish, Elizabeth.

After worship, I dropped some things off in my car, not missing the fact that the same guy from the hand-shaking occasion stood nearby, visiting with my church friend’s dad. Lo and behold, I got called over and introduced. Not a matchmaking effort, but a job search inquiry. Who’s complaining though?

Drew Snider. A senior at SIU, neat. In Forestry?! That’s the exact same thing my dad did! My dad has his own forestry business, yes. Is he hiring? I’m not sure, you can ask him. Here’s his number.

Drew and I immediately connected over forestry, but from different angles. I grew up in the Ozark mountains, immersed in forestry, planting trees, participating in prescribed burns, etc, but without most of the scientific knowledge. Drew came from the flatness of Central Illinois croplands and was just finishing his university years.

An extended coffee date, numerous phone calls, and countless hikes later, I am marrying Drew.

The gratitude I have for the people that held me up when I was sinking and rejoiced with me in my gladness, cannot be expressed. This is the goodness of God.

The clock was ticking on that sunny October morning. I had procrastinated too long before leaving my apartment and the service was about to start. Fortunately, there was an open seat in a pew a few rows over from where I usually sat.

This was very opportunistic for me as a girl I had noticed just a week before was seated just a few rows ahead. When it came time to speak peace to your neighbor, the girl, who introduced herself as Elizabeth, walked calmly and confidently up to me and shook my hand. Happily striding back to my seat, I found that a smile was cementing into my expression for the remainder of the service. I knew I had just met someone very special.

While I was certainly glad that I got to introduce myself, I thought that was too brief. I had to prompt another opportunity. Perhaps next week or the week after. Anyway, I had a lot on my mind: I needed to find a job and I thought it worth while to ask around after the service. While that morning did not end with an avenue to a potential job, it did end with grace and chance. God was gracious to me by placing Elizabeth in the right moment and time. We talked about forestry, her dad, and the weather. Now, we are getting married. How blessed am I to have Elizabeth in my life and to be my bride.