Right after we got divorced, Ian and I went to a line dancing lesson together. I know, I know, WTF. Anyway, we had a ton of fun and line dancing lessons became a source of joy for me during a really stressful time.

At some point, I decided that I needed a pair of cowboy boots. So I could really be legit.

Naturally, I started telling people and mentioned it during on of my CrossFit classes. A member piped up and asked if I’d heard of Tecovas. I had not. She told me that they were a really affordable brand and made some really cute boots.

I looked them up and discovered that they are super cute. And that she and I have very different definitions of affordable. So I thought to myself that maybe I would ask my brother to try to find me some used ones at a great price since he’s really good at that.

Which I promptly forgot to do.

A few weeks later, I was on a walk when my brother called me. When I answered, he said, “Hey, so I just got these cowboy boots on Marketplace and they don’t fit me but I’m pretty sure they’d fit you perfectly.”

I smiled and asked him what brand they were because I just knew.

“They’re a really great brand but I don’t know if you’ve heard of it - Tecovas. I’ll send you a picture. Want to come try them on and see if they fit if you like them?”

I hung up, thanking God for this sweet gift and example of His abundant, extravagant love.

The story of how I got my wedding dress is similar.

I saw it shortly after our divorce behind the counter at my friends’ shop and loved the style. It reminded me of a dress I’d had once that I called my goddess dress because it looked very much like the ones always depicted on Greek goddesses.

I also always felt beautiful when I wore it and I was sad when I shrank out of it. As I admired it, God said, “that’s your wedding dress.” So I told my friends because I’m weird like that.

Then naturally forgot about it.

Several months later, after Ian came home and proposed, I went to claim my dress. I tried to pay for it and they said that it was meant for me all along and to take it as a gift.

It was a tiny ceremony, with our children, and two of our dearest friends present.

I wore that dress and my Tecovas to remind me that I am loved and God ALWAYS fulfills his promises, no matter how impossible they seem.

When I started this Substack, I named it Redeeming Home in hopes that God would fulfill the promise He made to restore my marriage. Not only has He done that, but He’s brought our entire family closer together and made changes in all of us that I had dreamed of but thought impossible.

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