Name: Sheryl Taylor, husband - Stephen Taylor
Age
when you married:
40
Current
or former profession(s):
Realtor, Treasury Sales Officer, currently - Blogger about what
"Happily Ever After" looks like these days.
WHEN
WE FIRST MET
How
did you meet your husband?
We met on a leading and popular online dating site. We emailed and then spoke on the phone for
about three weeks before we finally met.
We both liked getting to know each other a little before we met in
person.
Did
you think “he may be the one” when you first met your husband?
Yes, but I had learned from past dating not to give
my heart too quickly. Through a lot of
prayer and studying lots of Christian material about being single, I had learned
to value myself enough to let someone win/earn my love. My husband won my heart quickly with his kind
and honest nature.
How
long did you date him before you married?
We only dated 8 months before we decided to get
married.
Were
you a little nervous about getting remarried after being single for years?
If yes, how did you ease your nervousness?
I wasn't very nervous. I had only been single for 7 years prior to
meeting my husband. We both had been
married previously, and our past mistakes served as learning tools for our
marriage to each other. We both felt
very calm, as if the Lord sent us to each other.
FAMILY
AND FRIENDS REACTION
What
was the reaction of your family and friends when you told them that you were getting
married?
Our family and friends had mixed reactions. Most of them are Christians, so they wanted
to make sure we used good discernment in moving forward with a second
marriage. My husband has two daughters
from his first marriage. I don't have
any children from my first marriage. It
was a huge adjustment for his daughters.
Was
anyone discouraging about the institution of marriage and encourage you to
reconsider? If
so, how did you deal with the negativity?
Both of my husband's daughters from the previous
marriage were very disheartened with the institution of marriage overall. I think, initially they were shocked at the
thought that their dad would be married to someone other than their mom. We both tried not to pressure the girls to
accept me. Time, lots of prayer and
patience paid off with both of them. Our
family and friends, in general, were supportive. As they grew to know us
individually, they expressed their support even more.
OUR
WEDDING
Where
did you get married?
We had a simple elopement in Savannah, GA. It
included a ceremony in a historic park called Monterey Square. The package included a bridal bouquet, a
groom's boutineer, petifores, sparkling cider, and pictures.
What
do you remember most about your wedding day?
How calm we
both were and how it felt like the right path to take.
WE
ARE MARRIED
What
misconception(s) did you have to overcome in marriage or discovered wasn’t
true?
We both knew that marriage was just the start of
everything. I had the idea that because
I had married the wrong person originally, the second time would not have any
of the same issues that the first marriage did. I quickly learned that,
although no two individuals are the same, there are many issues common to most
males. I think my husband would agree
that is true for women as well.
What
do you enjoy most about married life?
When I was younger and single, I always got
frustrated with people who said "if you are with the right person, it's
easy". I thought you should love
someone enough to try to change for them or vice versa. However, I finally realized what they meant
when I met and married my husband. Sure,
we don't always agree, but there's no real drama between us. It's very comfortable without being
boring. I enjoy feeling that i have a
true partner.
ADVICE
TO UNMARRIED SISTERS
What
misconceptions do you think never-been-married singles have about
marriage?
I think that it's easy to make judgments about
others and their circumstances, in general, if you've never been through that
situation. I found this to be true with
motherhood. I've gone back and
apologized to some friends for judging their parenting skills before I had my
daughter. I think I was judgmental prior
to my first marriage and thought I could do the marriage thing better than
others. However, I learned in a very painful
way, that I did not know much about marriage.
What
advice or words of wisdom do you want to share with single sisters?
Do your part by being prepared for "when"
God blesses you with a marriage partner.
Self-educate yourself by reading, studying, or watching Christian
information about marriage and about singleness. Observe your married family and friends, but
don't judge them. I'm sure you've heard
it, but make a list of what you want.
Include your negotiable characteristics and no negotiable
characteristics. It really helps avoid
the temptation to ignore something when you meet someone. I think women especially, think they can
change undesirable characteristics in someone with a little time. Be a whole person on your own and don't
accept anyone who isn't whole also.
Author's Note: Have you checked out my ebook Marry Over 40 By Faith Tips? I've included questions with scripture references for self or group studies. Maybe, you just want to talk to someone, in confidence, who has walked a similar path...me. I also offer coaching and mentoring.