What I Love About My Man

Many of you know my husband Piotr, but with him being a typical Eastern European, unless you spend a good amount of time around him, you may not realize what's beneath that serious surface. I say he's the best-kept secret...so I'm going to brag on him today.

We met in August of 1997 at the Millersville International House. I had finished my first year at the university and was taking some time off from school to determine where the Lord was leading next. I had discovered that studying Art and learning new techniques was fun, but not something I wanted to devote myself to in the work world. So I agreed to take the Hostess/Housekeeper position at MIH for the next 12 months. Pete was heading into his senior year at MU as a Physics major with a teaching certification. He had just accepted Christ as his Savior in July and was full of questions. And so when he moved into a room in the smaller house at MIH and I was next door on the girls' floor of the big house, it wasn't long before we became good friends.

SIDE NOTE: Now, MIH is quite an interesting place. Its purpose is to provide housing for mainly international college students, while the staff and a few North Americans are there to be "salt and light". While I lived there it was not uncommon to have 30 residents representing 12 different nations, many more languages, and religious beliefs. I loved it!

Over the next 3 years our friendship and budding interest in one another went through many highs and lows, but in January of 2000, with our parents' blessings, we became engaged. On June 24th of that year we were married--one of the happiest days of our lives--and you could say the rest is history! :-) A grace-filled history.

I have seen this man truly become a man. God has grown him not only in his personal Christian walk, but as a servant, as a leader, as a gracious husband. He not only takes very good care of Natalia and I, but seeks to serve and honor his mother by helping her keep her household in working condition. Since she lives alone and still works full-time I know how necessary this is, and how it blesses her. She gave up so much when she left Poland and brought the boys here to join their father/her husband in 1987. Can you imagine having to learn a new language at the age of 42 and starting all over in a new country/culture without your family and friends? I have the utmost respect and admiration for my mother-in-law.

Our move from Maryland to Pennsylvania this past summer was largely due to the desire to be closer to our families. One result is that Pete left a WONDERFUL job behind. He had his own room, loads of technology at his fingertips, great support staff and administrators, and a strong department much to his credit and hard work. Much of that has changed at his new job...though we still agree this is where he is to be in this season. But I know how these factors play into his every day, and I so admire his perseverance and trust in the Lord.

You know, when I first met him in '97, my thought was not "this is the man I want to marry". He wasn't the type I'd grown up envisioning. I assumed I'd marry a local Mennonite boy--someone who's upbringing and life basically mirrored my own. (Now I'm not speaking against that in any way!) But, God knew just the vessel to sanctify me, encourage me, lead me, and reveal His tender love.

This is the man I want to grow old with. He makes me laugh--oh, you'd be surprised at how silly and goofy he is! He is my faithful teammate. He is my lover and my friend.

Kocham cie Piotr!