The Day I met my Husband

I met my husband, Tommy Hill, when I was 12 and he was 17. My family and I had been living in Waycross, GA since I was 2-years old. Tommy's and his family moved to Waycross the beginning of his Junior year in High School. Both of our families worked with a mission to get a Lutheran church started in Waycross. Needless to say our paths crossed a lot and I had a crush on Tommy. He had blue eyes and blond hair. The fact that he was too old for me qualified my crush as a forbidden fantasy. I just admired from afar.

The Summer after that year Tommy's family moved away because Tommy's Daddy lost his job and life went on......

When I was a Senior in High School my family and I moved to Atlanta. It was serious culture shock but looking back I am so grateful that I got out of Waycross. I had one serious boyfriend for almost 4 years after which I met my first husband, Steve. I thought I loved him but realized later it was only infatuation. He was a very good looking man and had a good job in the printing industry. Our marriage was really over before it got started but I stayed and the abuse continued. Four years and twin girls came to pass. I walked out and moved back to Atlanta with my parents. I had no choice but to seek and obtain government assistance and my parents helped me as much as they could.

Two years later (Nov 95) my Mom and I were at Trinity Lutheran Church volunteering when Momma saw someone she thought she recognized. It was Tom Hill, Tommy Hill's Daddy. He was volunteering on the same day and time we were. I did not recognize or remember this man or make the connection to my childhood crush. I jokingly asked Mr. Hill if he had any "good looking" sons. He told me, "I have one that's married and one that has a girlfriend." That was encouraging. So my parents and his parents reacquainted themselves with each other in the couple of months that followed.

That following January (96) Momma had planned a Super Bowl party and invited the Hills. The whole family came. It was Tommy's parents, Tommy's brother, his wife and kids and TOMMY! I still had not made the connection to this guy and my childhood crush. Even after Tommy and I hung out together I did not make the connection because he looked so different. He had dark brown hair and a red beard & mustache. What he didn't have anymore was a girlfriend. We had a good time hanging out, eating and drinking. At some point I headed upstairs to put my girls to bed. Tommy asked me if I needed help.  I was floored because the girls own father NEVER offered to help. I really was shocked. He was such a gentleman.

That night when Tommy prepared to leave I gave him my phone number. I am a bit aggressive and called him the next night. We talked until 2 am. He was such a breath of fresh air. I am not sure when I made the connection to him being a childhood crush but I know it happened. We had numerous lengthy phone conversations. We hung out with each other as much as possible and we were married that following May. That was almost 14 years ago and we are still very happy with each other. The twins (Emily & Sarah) are 17-years old and our son Zeke is 12-years old. We have our good days and bad days but it is all good for the most part.

I find it interesting that in all the areas of Atlanta we could have lived in and all the churches in Atlanta that we could gone to we ended up in the same suburb and same church. I think it was divine intervention. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't, but I thank God for Tommy.