When I first typed a quick hello to this Harley guy, I
had NO IDEA how God would lead me to a new and wonderful life! When I first
wrote, Harley typed right back and said that he didn't believe in meeting people
over the internet and his profile was in Shining Star's because he'd been in
there "just to check it out" and then had tried to delete his account
several times! I wrote back. Then he wrote back and said we could just e-mail
now and then just for fun!!
We wrote through the month of Feb. and March and then
sent pictures of ourselves and our kids. He started to send me silly cards. We
kept on with the e-mail and the "snail-mail" letters. After we'd seen
each other's pictures, we were MORE interested. I told Harley I would love to
hear his voice. I didn't give him my phone # and he didn't ask. A couple days
later he called directory assistance and called! What a wonderful surprise!!
It was interesting to get to know each other through
e-mail. We would write about the difficult things in life that a couple wouldn't
discuss in two years of dinners and movies type dating. We discussed our
divorces, life goals, how we raised our children with discipline, the church -
our views and involvement. It was good to be open and honest and just say our
opinions. If the other person didn't care for what they were hearing they could
just say good-bye and it wasn't a huge heartbreak because we hadn't known each
other face-to-face yet. The basis of this was deep and open honesty. Also, it
was the Lord leading us to one another.
I loved Harley's e-mails. In June, Harley came out to
meet me. We took a Myers-Briggs Personality test on Saturday night and we found
we had very complimentary personalities. Our warm friendship deepened into a
genuine warmth. Because so many of our values and background were the same, we
were very companionable. Harley told me he loved me at the airport. He was the
kindest, most gentle man I had ever met. I loved him too.
The fourth of July weekend, I flew to Denver and we got
engaged at the top of a mountain at sunset.
Debbie and Harley Freeman
Harley and Debbie were married
Sunday, September 6, 1998.
10/4/00 update
Hi Nannette and Larry,
Just an update. Harley and I just had our 2 yr. wedding anniversary. The first year we were married we had a baby girl, Sara Renee, but she was still born. This year we had a healthy baby boy. James Freeman was born June 6, 2000. He is four months old now.
God is so good.
With Love,
Debbie and Harley Freeman
