This week I would like to conclude the story I've shared over the past couple of weeks on how my husband and I met, our courtship and how we knew we were meant to be together and eventually say the words, "I Do."

On a serious note, when a mother's been married before and she has grown children, receiving their approval and respect on a potential mate is not always easy (although Jerome and I didn't know at that moment marriage would be in the near future).  I believe it's important for peace and harmony within a family when family members approve and get along, but at the end of the day, a relationship has to be built on a foundation with God and be strong between each other first, no matter what.

After a time of courtship, both of us going back and forth between California and Vegas, meeting each other's family, lots of talking, laughing, and of course praying, we both knew this was serious in a very short amount of time.  I've often heard that when you know something is right, you know.  Sometimes it may take time for it to materialize, but when it's from God there's no mistaking it.  In January 2013 we decided to go down to San Diego and while we were at a quaint restaurant with a beautiful fireplace, Jerome left to go to the bathroom, and returned singing "Daddy's Home" with a couple of musicians trailing behind him, waiters with IPhones taking video, and a restaurant full of people watching.  After finishing his song, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.  For me, I knew the man I had dreamed of and desired had walked into my life and I was grateful and felt like a blessed woman.  Five months later we got married and are now beginning our life journey.

This past Father's Day weekend my husband said to me, "if you were to die, I would never marry again because I  know I've finally met my soul mate."  Well sweetheart, I feel the same way and our love is here to stay!

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Comments (0)     

As promised in my last article, this week I'm going to share more of my journey on how my husband and I met on Match.com and our courtship.  First, I must take you back a few years.  Once I became comfortable with the whole idea and concept of the possibilities the internet could hold for my love life, I actually decided to jump in and try several.  However, after navigating through the ups and downs they each had to offer and the type of people that gravitate towards one over another,  I became most comfortable with Match.  (So if you become lead to try on line dating you may have to sort through several until you find which one works best for you).

Research shows the holidays bring about a longing for companionship more so than any other time of the year.  I would have to agree.  It was right before Thanksgiving when I decided to log back on.   As I mentioned earlier, I'd been on and off various sites over the years, but I'd been off for a little while and I decided after several experiences, I would give "love" one more try.  They say when you're just about to give up your blessing is right around the corner. As fate would have it, the very day I rejoined Match was the one and only trial day my husband would be on the site. (This was his first attempt to try on line dating).  I saw his profile and sent him a quick note.  He responded pretty quickly and made sure I knew he was only on the site for one day as a trial.

Jerome sent me his phone number and told me he was only going to be on the site for that one day and then get off and the only means of communication would be by phone....so I called.  Once we started talking we both knew there was something special about to happen.  I was a little thrown off when I learned that he lived in Vegas, because I was done with long distant relationships, but he told me he was moving back to California and that if we both wanted to move forward the distance would not be a problem.  Of course like most romances in the early stages we talked for hours.  I felt like a little girl again always waiting for the phone to ring or the next text.  After a few days we decided we would meet. 

When we talked about how and where we would first meet, I told him I didn't know when I would be visiting Vegas, he asked me why I thought it was up to me to come to him (hello what was I thinking).  He told me his car knew how to get to California.  So we planed to have lunch on a Sunday afternoon.  The day before we were to connect, I was talking to him on the phone and I said, "I was going to invite you to go to church with me, but I knew it was going to be a long drive for you and that you had to work on Saturday." He then went on to say, I was just waiting for you to ask.  Our first date was attending my church Sunergeo in Upland.  After church we went to brunch and watched movies.  We never stopped smiling all day and he even got the thumbs up from my daughter.  Our journey had begun.  More to come next week!

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Comments (0)     

Love is truly a beautiful thing!  History shows people search for it an entire lifetime.  We also know that it doesn't matter how famous you are, how much money you have, or how attractive you may be, it's not something  you can buy. 

I recently learned that Martha Stewart, the famous diva of domesticity and entrepreneurship joined Match.com under the name,  "Thegoodlonglife." She's 71 years old and claims she's achieved many things including, being a mother and building a successful career.  However, she's "missing someone to share it with."  Martha's also tied in social media outlets such as Facebook, asking people to help her select the perfect photo she should include on her profile.   Donald Trump even tweeted that he supports what she's doing.  The Today show went as far as to bring her first two potential dates on their morning show. 

Over the years the way couples have approached dating and eventually marriage has changed.  Historically many marriages were pre-arranged by parents.  Marriages were looked upon as institutions of convenience or partnerships.  People were very concerned about issues such as faith and  how to keep wealth within certain families.  However, as our worlds have grown from small communities to a global environment  and women have become more independent and financially stable on their own, many are looking for true love and a life partner. 

Statistics show people tend to meet in places such as work, church, social outings, or through family and friends.  Relying on "public" ventures isn't  really all that new, many of us remember shows such as, "The Dating Game," where a candidate had three bachelors or bachelorettes to choose from and for the past couple of decades we've been introduced to internet dating.  Believe it or not many of the online dating sites are now actually owned by the same parent company (People Media).  We even have reality TV shows based on finding true love.

I wanted to share what will be a series of articles on what it's like for a regular person to actually meet someone on line and have a successful and happy love relationship.  Several years ago my daughter came home one weekend to visit me and she asked me why I was home on the weekend?  When I told her I didn't have a date she couldn't believe it.  She then asked me if I heard of online dating?  Of course I had, but like many I was a little fearful, I had a little anxiety and trepidation, but after she sat me down and showed me how it worked, it actually caught my attention.  Since getting married I've had several people ask me how I met my wonderful husband.  In my next article I am going to share our journey and yes we met on Match.com.  

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Comments (0)     

I'm sitting at my desk on the morning of my wedding with a heart full of joy and gratitude.  Gratitude that in spite of all my mistakes in life God still gave me another chance at love.  I believe as we grow older we start to understand the meaning of love in a different way from when we are young.  I also feel that we gain an appreciation for the things that truly matter.

My husband to be (he will be my husband by the time this article is printed) and I selected the theme "Love is a Beautiful Thing!"  Together we've been through a few marriages, five children and six grandchildren and although there were times we wondered if we would ever find our soul mates, we never gave up hope and we never stopped praying.

1.  Faith - are you equally yoked?  Not just spiritually, but in the things that matter to your heart.

2.  Family - love your family, but keep them out of your business.

3.  Finances -  discuss prior to marriage and make sure you have a plan that works for both of you.

4.  Communication- never stop talking, sharing, laughing and loving one another.

5.  Sex - yes, this is very important for the life blood of a marriage between a husband and wife.

6.  Health (Dominique DiPrima told me to add this one).  Without taking care of yourself, you won't be around long enough to enjoy each other!

Falling in love can be easy, it's the staying in love that can be a challenge.  Do all you can to be prepared for the life you plan with your partner.  Life is short, so don't major in the minors, but make sure you understand what is major and what is minor.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everyone who sent us well wishes and prayers.  Love is a beautiful thing!

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Comments (0)     

This is graduation season.  Over the next several weeks there will be many that will graduate from some level of higher education.  From "pre-school" all the way to post graduate degrees including Masters and Doctorates.  It's a time to  feel proud about your accomplishments, celebrate a milestone in your life and a time to plan next steps.

I remember when my son Freddie was just a wee little boy graduating from a Christian pre-school close to twenty years ago and he was given a little lamb called "fleecy."  He loved that little stuffed animal and would play with it all the time.  The lamb represented the fact that little ones still needed guidance so they wouldn't go astray.  However,  it gave him pride because it was a gift that showed he accomplished something, but it also served as a reminder that he still had more to learn.

If you're graduating or accomplishing a goal that you've strived to complete, pause and enjoy the moment, but don't stop there.  Keep striving to be the best you can be.  Learn as much as you can about the world, your community and the things that you're passionate about.  Try to find some sort of reminder (your own "fleecy") that brings a smile to your face and makes you proud, but will also keep you humble and hungry to keep going.

Life is short and none of us know how long we have on this earth.  Don't throw your life away by not becoming the best person you can be.  The goal is not to compare yourself to others, just to yourself.  Learn to be balanced along life's journey, but don't allow yourself to get complacent or lazy.  Continue to set goals and review them from time to time to track your progress.

Congratulations Graduates!!!

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Comments (0)