I know many people are wanting to hear the story about how Virginia and I met and what led to our courtship…so here is the short version.

My  life has taken on a drastic change. If you haven’t noticed by my last two entries…I am quite happy! As of this past Thursday, I have entered into courtship with the woman of my dreams. I have been praying and looking for that one special person that was made for me, and the Lord has brought us together. God’s hand has so clearly been in this from the very beginning…starting over three years ago.

February of 2005 is when it all started. I enrolled in Verity to get my college degree. I was planning on making it to the orientation, which was three weeks earlier than I actually went up there. However, my Mom was due to have a baby during that time. I waited an extra couple of weeks before going onsite so that I did not miss the birth. Virginia was at another location during the time I was supposed to be there originally, and we would never have met had I gone up as scheduled.

When I finally made it onsite at the Riverfront Character Inn in Flint, MI, I knew nobody up there. I met a few people the first day. I was standing in the cafeteria line one evening when I met someone in particular. And when I met her, I was instantly struck by her smile and sweet, joyful countenance. I believe it was Josiah Blocki who introduced us. He said, “And this is Virginia Landow.” Virginia stuck out her hand, big smile on her face, and said, “Hi. I’m Virginia.” I shook her hand and was instantly struck by her sweet smile and joyful countenance. I don’t think there was anything else said between us that evening.

Two or three days later, I was sitting down in the lobby at the RCI talking to a few people on the white couches in front of the fireplace. Virginia came over and sat down on the couch across from me and to the side. There was a bunch of chatter going on, but she and I began having a conversation about where we were from, our families, etc. We were talking across about three people having to almost shout to hear each other, but that did not stop me. I was determined to learn about her. We talked for about an hour about this and that, and then that was it. I was very careful not to say anything or act in a way that was not appropriate to a young lady I did not know. I have a strong conviction about treating young ladies as if they were someone else’s wife, because that is what they will be someday. I have also been very careful to never flirt with girls. I don’t like it when other people do that, and being myself is very important to me. If someone is going to like me or be attracted to me, I want them attracted to the real me.

I saw her from time to time over the next few days, and I remember always looking around whenever I was in a group of people, secretly hoping Virginia was around. But then next time I got to talk to her was in the same kind of setting, down in the lobby. We talked abut animals that time and I think we were both secretly and pleasantly surprised to find out that we had the same kinds of animals and an avid interest in them. We only had a few minutes before curfew though and only got to talk a little bit. So that conversation only lasted for about ten minutes. Then Virginia was off for the weekend and I did not see her for nearly four days.

When she got back, I was ready to take the US History II CLEP test. I remember very vividly, just as if it were yesterday, that when I finished the test, I walked into the hall. Virginia was standing right there. She looked at me, saw I was beaming with the fact that I had just passed a hard test, and said, “He’s still smiling. Guess that’s a good sign!” That made me smile even bigger. Not sure if she noticed that my smile grew…but seeing her smile at me and hearing her talk to me made me smile all the more.

Then I think that was it for that day.

Two days later or so, there was a vocal concert in which three of the Verity students were singing. There were two groups that were walking to the church it was in that evening. I knew everybody in the first group. But, Virginia was not in that group. I decided to wait and see if she was going to be in the second group…and she was! So, I walked to the church with her and about five other people. I don’t think that we really talked much on the walk…but she was there.

When we got to the church, we sat in the same row, but were separated by one person. That didn’t stop me from talking to her though. We talked about a few things, among which was a picture from the pew Bibles. I remember thinking that night that I really enjoyed talking to her and that I would like to get to know her better. However, I also knew that we both had just started school and it was nowhere near the right time for anything like that for either of us. So, I had no choice but to leave it to the Lord and trust His sovereignty.

Well, I finished out the week and went home. I remember that she was on my mind as I was flying back. And when I got home, I told my mom that I had a twin at Verity…Virginia Landow. Both of us are tall, blonde, and have blue eyes. I told mom all that I knew about her…that she was genuinely full of joy and the love of Christ, very friendly, liked animals and children…everything that I like and am all about. I also remember thinking how lovely she is. But, again, timing just was not right.

So three years went by…

During those three years, we would leave an occasional comment on each other’s Xanga sites…but I stayed very tuned to her site. VERY tuned. I would go online, check my site for comments, make an entry into my blog…and then go straight to her site to see what was up with her.

Then, in February of this year, I had my cell phone with me in Wal-Mart. For some reason, I am standing in Wal-Mart checking out the different features on my phone…randomly. I notice that I have AOL instant messenger as an application on it. So I signed on…something I have not done in nearly five years by that point. Fifteen minutes or less after I signed on I get a message from on my instant messenger, “Hi Joel! This is Virginia. Remember me?” I replied back to her and had a short, little conversation. I found out later that she only had a few minutes during that time because she was on a missions trip. I was going to sign off shortly because no one I knew was online, and I did not even know if it really was working on my phone. So, after three years of not talking or seeing each other at all, we got back in touch during a fifteen minute window…clearly the work of God!!!

That went on for a couple of weeks I think. Then one time we had a conversation that was pretty substantial. At the end of it I said, “Alrighty. Looking forward to next time.” She replied back with something to the effect of, “Well, it is not normally my policy to message other guys. So if there is a next time it will have to be on you.”

Well…shall we say I did take it upon myself to stay in touch. Over the next few months I would say hello and we would have good conversations. But we both made sure to keep our conversations broad and general. However, my interest in her really began to grow and deepen. I knew that I wanted to do something about it and get to know her better. So, in May, I asked her for her father’s name and contact information. She replied back with, “Yes, I will gladly give you my father’s contact information.” That made me very happy.

On the night of the Twenty-first of May, my birthday, I stayed up until nearly three in the morning composing a letter to Mr. Landow explaining who I was and my interest in his daughter Virginia. I asked his permission to write to her with the intention of getting to know her better and, if we both found ourselves to be compatible, enter into courtship. I sent the letter priority mail, and then waited.

 I was working late one night at Red Lobster when I got an instant message from Virginia:

“Hi Joel. Are you busy?”

“A little, but I can talk.”

“Ok, my dad got this letter in the mail today…and there is an email waiting for you when you get home. Just wanted to let you know. J”

Needless to say, I was not able to concentrate on work at all. I rushed home after I got off and went straight to the email and checked it. Mom was awake by that time and so we read the email together. I read it, jumped up out of my chair, and mom had to remind me that everyone in the house was asleep!

I spent the whole next day composing my first letter to Virginia Landow. I could not believe that I was actually writing a letter that I have been waiting to write for more than five years. I finished it and sent it priority mail.

A few days later I got my first letter from Virginia. I read it at least five times right in a row. I was quite pleased with what I was reading. We exchanged letters for about three weeks, and then I found out that the trip the Landow family was planning to take down to this part of the country was canceled. I was greatly disappointed to say the least. But then Mr. Landow sent me an email inviting me to come of there and visit so that Virginia and I could spend some face to face time getting to know one another, and so that Mr. Landow and his family could get to know me. Needless to say, I instantly accepted the invitation. I contacted my great personal travel agent, Heather Kern (thank you, Heather!) J, and started looking into flights. I had a flight booked within three days.

About the same time, Virginia and I began communicating via telephone. Wow…did I enjoy talking to her! The more we talked, the more I began to realize how truly attracted to her I really was. It was just so easy to talk to her. She and I communicated great. We never ran out of things to talk about and would go for more than an hour without a pause!

Well, I traveled up there a little over a week ago. The week started off great! I got off the airport shuttle bus in Mishawaka, IN. I was looking around when we pulled up to the station, but I did not see her anywhere. So, I got off the bus, grabbed my luggage, and heard a voice say, “Joel Pendleton.”

I turned around to see the lovely Virginia Landow, standing there with a big smile on her face, next to her father. I walked over, we shook hands, and then we walked to the van. After I got in, the talking started. And we did not stop talking for four days.

We did a lot together the first few days of the week. And everywhere we went we had a chaperone with us…either Becky or Candace Jones (thank you to the both of you for going everywhere with usJ). I could not believe I was actually up visiting Virginia Landow, after meeting her over three years ago!!

Then we went to the Creation Museum with “the group” on Wednesday. It was while we were there that it became clear to both of us through a couple of short conversations that we were meant for each other and we both wanted to enter into courtship. So, we left the museum and I was very, very happy during the long drive back to the house with seven other people in the van. We all stopped at Cracker Barrel for dinner, and I don’t remember having a meal in my life during which I was so happy.

The next day, I asked Virginia if she would like to show me the river that runs by her house. I had not seen it yet and thought it would be a great place for us to be able to talk. We walked down to the river and I began to tell her what my heart was since we began writing letters, talking on the phone, and now spending time together in person. I knew that she was the one for me….the one, special girl that my always  Mama told me the Lord had picked out for me from before the foundations of the world. I told her all this, stopped, looked Virginia in the eyes, and then asked her, “Virginia, will you court me?” She looked at me, big smile on her face, and said, “Most definitely!”

Well, my dreams were coming true. I have been praying, looking, waiting, hoping, and desiring to find her…that special young lady. And I knew then that I had found her.

I asked Mr. Landow for his permission to court Virginia, we made it official that evening, and then we spent the next two days that we had left together just so happy and constantly singing the Praises of God for how grateful we are. Virginia and I went for several walks together, and the whole time I kept thinking about how overwhelmed I was to be with her…my cup certainly runneth over!

The week went by crazy fast, and I am now back home. It was the BEST week of my life!!! I had such a wonderful time. I have returned a different man. I am now courting!!! I have found her. I have found the person I have been looking for and praying for and dreaming about for years and years. I miss Virginia, but I am so grateful and happy…words truly do fail me in describing the joy that I feel. God has been so good to me.

So…there it is. That is the short version. There are so many little details of things that have happened and conversations that we have had that just confirm to both of us that God’s hand is so clearly in this. From the incredible fact that we would never have met had I actually made it to orientation all the way down to the little things, like the fact that we both love to eat dill pickles and don’t even like the sweet pickles, and literally dozens of other things in between.

I’m so excited!!!

Thank you, Lord! You have truly blessed me beyond what I could have even dreamed!