Family News

My Parents’ First Date

…was 45 years ago, TODAY! It was May 3rd, 1969.

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They had a pretty rocky relationship. Almost every time they talk about their past they insert comments like, “We were so immature.” “I wish someone would have taught me …” and, “We made a lot of mistakes.”

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After my mom rejected my dad for about a year, she finally agreed to go with him to a Youth For Christ Rally where they were doing Bible Quizzing. (My dad was a coach.) She thought Dad was “just okay.” [smile]

She didn’t fall in love with him till a while later when she saw him in some ministry leadership roles. (As a side note, my dad continued leading Bible Quizzing and it was a huge part of our family activities growing up. It’s difficult to express how grateful we are for this now because of all the Scripture it caused us to memorize. If you’re interested, see here. )

20140503_134659_26597 They think this was the first picture they ever took together.

20140503_134837_26600 My mom at the the first Youth For Christ staff retreat they went to together, talking to her girlfriends … probably about “Harold.”

Mom and dad kept breaking up and getting back together. One time my mom even transferred to a different college, hoping separation would help the relationship!

At first, my mom wouldn’t even talk to my dad. But then, once she fell in love with him, my dad couldn’t decide if he should marry my mom! He called off the wedding after it was all planned, and my mom moved to Florida as a school teacher. All I can say is praise the Lord they actually got married!!!

My parents are quick to share about their past mistakes and all the lessons the Lord has taught them. The hard times they went through has given them wisdom, compassion, and understanding.

Email from Dad to Mom today:
Our first date was 45 years ago TODAY! Saturday, May 3, 1969

Reply from Mom to Dad:
Wow….that is amazing! Well, after going through A LOT in the last 45 years I can truthfully say that “we are crazy about each other!”

One of the (MANY) things I really respect about my parents is their humility with us kids, with each other, and with others.

I am so grateful to the Lord for them. Of course, I could go on and on about my amazing parents [smile] … but I think I will stop there for now. They are leaving for a date now and I need to get them to proofread this before they go [smile].

I’ll conclude with one picture that will sum it all up [HA HA HA, I’m so glad Mom and Dad are letting me post this one!]:

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And here they are walking out the door for their date tonight, which they seem pretty excited about. 🙂

15 comments

  1. Aw, so sweet! Thanks for sharing your old photos with us Mr. Mally and Mrs. Mally!

  2. so adorable love the pictures! we are married 39 almost 40 years and i hope we are as much in love as your parents, quite bumpy times right now! Bobbie and Chic Norris

  3. This was such a sweet post! Thanks for sharing, Grace. 🙂 And happy 45 years, Mr. and Mrs. Mally!

  4. Thank you for sharing! Such a great testimony of our Heavenly Father’s faithfulness. I enjoyed seeing the pictures, too, and my fave is the third one. =) Blessings to your family!

  5. I am so, so, so, so, SO, so, so, so… okay, that’s enough “so”… glad you shared this testimony of your parents with us… incredibly encouraging and inspiring to me, and I’ll be sharing it widely. 🙂

  6. Ah, so sweet! The pictures are great and look what God has done through their love! Powerful!

  7. Harold and Rebecca, Love the hipster pictures! They are adorable. God is so faithful and full of goodness! Thank you for your example of a godly family and many blessings on you for many more years. Love, The Lenz’s

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