|
Leading Through Servanthood |
|
Apostolic Leaders.org |
|
Our Stories |
|
It is amazing how Jesus Christ sometimes uses the not-so-good times in life to bring about the most awesome times… Our story began January 2002. Unfortunately, it took the death of Nick's grandfather on January 14, 2002, to bring us together. We hadn't seen each other since we were children. Nick's grandfather and grandmother, Neil and Ellenor Smith, established the church my dad - Rev. Al Dudley - now pastors in Cambridge, Ohio. I really don't remember Nick as a child, but have lots of memories of the ladies in my church talking about the "cutest little blond child" they had ever seen. So when Sis. Smith introduced us to each other at Bro. Smith's funeral, I was taken aback. I was certainly not expecting to see this extremely tall and handsome man. All my mind could conjure up was the "cutest little blond child". But he definitely was no longer a child. He was now a gorgeous young man. I'm not sure how it all happened, but we ended up talking for the longest time. It was amazing to finally meet a man who felt to me like my equal on all levels (even though he was two years my junior). I loved talking with him and didn't want to stop. However, we did have to go our separate ways. On my way out of the funeral home, all I could think of was the song "Going to the Chapel". Too funny - singing "Going to the Chapel" at a funeral home! But as Christ would have it, things did not progress as I would have liked. I was hoping that Nick would get my phone number from someone in his family. But it didn't happen that way. So a year went by and I heard nothing from him. I was disappointed of course, but figured that Jesus had other plans. Nick and I just weren't meant to be together. However, just as I stated above, Jesus sometimes uses not-so-good times to bring about the most awesome times. And let me tell you He did. In February 2003, the horrific tragedy of the shuttle disaster happened. Not only did it hurt NASA, but it hurt all of us as Americans. I remember feeling devastated - just as I had on January 28, 1986, when the Challenger shuttle exploded. But Jesus was about to bring something awesome to the table. Just over a year earlier at Bro. Smith's funeral, Nick had told me that he worked at the Kennedy Space Center. So when the shuttle disaster occurred, Jesus strongly (let me emphasize 'strongly') impressed me to send Nick a card and offer him a hand of friendship. (I had no idea that Nick no longer worked at Kennedy.) I prayed about it and told the Lord that it wasn't my intention to ever contact a guy that way again. I had made too many mistakes in the past by stepping out first in a relationship. But He was adamant that I contact Nick. So I did - and gave him every way possible to contact me - but I tried to convince myself that it was only done as a token of friendship. If Jesus wanted more, He would have to do the work. But don't you know, it took Nick a month to respond to that card? A MONTH! By that time, I had pretty much convinced myself that I had been listening to myself and not to the Lord when I sent that card. Then I was at work one day in March and I got an e-mail from a Nicholas Blizzard. I was so excited that I didn't even read his e-mail before running into the office of one of the girls I worked with and told her that he had e-mailed me. I know - stupid!! But there it was and that started the beginning of our dating relationship - e-mails, phone calls, and plane tickets. And did we ever talk. I have never in my life spent so much time talking to any one person. I tend to be private about my life, but there was none of that with Nick. We felt from the very beginning that we were going to get married and so we really got to know each other. Most people date face-to-face for whatever length of time they feel necessary to get to know another person. But since Nick lived in Florida and I lived in Ohio, we had to do it long-distance. And we did. Distance was not going to be an overriding factor in our relationship. Nick bought me a cell phone and shipped it to me so we could talk anytime and anywhere (what a guy!). We actually found out that our cell phones had a security feature on them that even our contract carrier didn't know about. The phones would shut off after being on for two hours. Nick took his phone into the store where he bought it and asked them about it. But they told him that no one had ever talked for two hours on their phones and so they didn't even know the phones had that security feature. Well, they know now (smile). But, we also communicated on-line with instant messenger. (I have to laugh when I look back at trying to keep my mind on my job while communicating with Nick at the same time.) But I do not regret any of it. We actually got to know each other better and on a deeper level by our separation of distance. We were forced to communicate and get to know each other - not just hang out. Nick visited me in Ohio over Easter and then I visited him in Florida at the end of May. Before flying down for my vacation, I prayed that if this was all in the Lord's will, would He please let me feel at home immediately. Not only with Nick's family and the church family, but also with Florida. And I have to say that He answered my prayer with a resounding "YES!". I felt at home in Florida as soon as the plane landed. I also felt right at home with Nick's family and they accepted me immediately. Then Nick took me to see the church on Saturday. I felt right at home as I walked through the front door. I could feel Christ's presence - even though Nick and I were the only people there - and that is what I had been longing to feel. While we were at the church, Nick formally proposed to me. He led me to the altar area and got down on one knee. I don't remember everything he said because I was so excited, but I do remember him saying he wanted to propose to me at the altar since we would be spending our married life working for the Lord. He was a little shy about it since most guys propose at a favorite restaurant or a beach, but I told him that it was the perfect place for him to propose. I have always felt Christ's calling on my life and so I wouldn't have wanted him to propose to me anywhere else. After I returned to Ohio, it was a whirlwind of preparing our wedding, wrapping up my job, and moving out of the house that I had bought three years earlier. By the Lord's help and with the help of our friends, Nick and I were able to be married on August 2, 2003. (And, yes, we played "Going to the Chapel" as the ring bearer, flower girls, and matron of honor walked down the aisle.) I'm thankful to Christ for all of His direction and caring over the years of my life prior to Nick and me being married. There were both good and bad times for sure, but He was faithful through all of them. I often look back over the course of my life and thank Him for being there all the time. I can see His footprints indelibly stamped in my life, and I can see the times when He so graciously carried me. I know He is directing Nick and me in our marriage, and I know He will be faithful to the end. I'm also thankful for everyone who prayed that I would find the 'right' man. Jesus has answered their prayers. They were there to encourage and to pray for me when I was lonely and feeling like He would never answer my prayer for a Christian husband. They encouraged me to wait on Him, telling me that He would provide.
- Janell Carin Blizzard
In loving memory of my grandmother, Eloise Christine Pierce. She didn’t have the opportunity to meet Nick because she died of cancer on July 17, 1996. But I know she would have approved of him and his walk with the Lord.
I miss the long talks she and I had and the way she made me feel; like she really saw me for who I am and she understood me. No one else until Nick seemed to really see me and really understand me.
I loved her all the more for the encouragement she gave me to follow Christ and to seek His will in my own life. She would listen and then encourage me without trying to tell me what she thought the Lord wanted for my life. She knew that through my walk with the Lord, I would get there on my own.
And most of all, I appreciate the heritage she left me - her own walk with the Lord. and thank her for being a living example of Jesus Christ. |
How We Met |
