On the advice of a dear friend I read this entire thread, post to post. I laughed uproariously and now I'm bawling like a baby...and of course have a story to share of my own.
I met my husband on a complete fluke in 2007. On Myspace of all places! After my mom very unexpectedly passed away in 2006 I was left a complete mess. I went back to my roots, writing, trying to cope with what was an immense loss. During that process I also lost my dad and my abusive marriage finally imploded - but I couldn't imagine my life without my abuser either. I just wasn't strong enough to leave. I read a lot of blog posts during that time.
May 23rd, 2007 I read a poem about a mountain by a British scorpio chap. I commented that I liked the poem and thought it was pretty cool he was a scorpio like me as well. He messaged me back and we became friends pretty quickly. Really, it was like finding my male counterpart half a world away. Everything I believed, so did he. Everything I felt, so did he. Everything I respected, so did he. I fell madly in love with a stranger who was never really a stranger at all.
He's also a psych nurse who has personal family experience with domestic violence. He innately knew what I was going through and he knew he couldn't push me out of a relationship that was hurting me. Instead he reminded me of my own strength and slowly helped me rebuild my confidence and restore my faith in my reality. A month later I filed for divorce. My new friend, now husband, was with me every step of the way - through every threat, every court appearance, every time I found my STBX lurking outside my house. He came along in my life when I would most need him, without me even realizing it. An ocean, thousands of miles, a very chance meeting, and a whole lot of romantic poetry. :biggrin:
Eventually we met in person, I moved, and we married in Scotland in 2009. He is the kindest, most patient soul I've ever met. On our wedding day he started to cry during our vows - promising he'd spend everyday of the rest of our lives reminding me I deserve to be loved and cared for. There's never been a moment of doubt how much he loves me - or how incredibly grateful I am for finding such an absolute gift after so much sorrow.
So I believe pretty strongly in serendipity, fate, kismet, and kindred spirits. And, as I believe is true for my husband and I, angels bring us together. I believe everyone we meet is not without purpose. I'd only posted a bit until this case...and its this case, Travis' case, that has brought out such beauty, such kindness, in so many that I am left in tears from the sheer weight of it all. It seems very fitting.
You all are so much more amazing than I can even find words for - your strength, your conviction, your resiliency mean so very much to me. Thank you all, thank you Katie, and thank you, with an immense amount of gratitude, to our gracious and very beautiful benefactor. I really can't express my gratitude fully or really tell you how much strength so many of you have lent me on the darker days of following this trial, how much you all inspire me to try to be a better person, and how very much you all matter. I am so, so honored just to 'know' you all. You remind me how beautiful the world can be. Thank you so much.
:grouphug:
:tears:
