A few weeks after Jason and I had our little non-date at the diner, I remember him coming over to me at House of Prayer as I was journalling, and he asked to sit next to me on the floor. We spent a little time journalling together, and a couple from my church came over to greet me warmly. I stood up and was talking to the wife when another dear woman from HOP came over and gave me a hug. "I love this girl so much!" she said. "Whoever God has for you to marry is going to wake up every morning thanking God for giving him this beautiful princess," or something like that. I blushed, hoping Jason was far enough away and engrossed enough in his journalling that he didn't hear.
By the time I sat back down to journal again, J had gotten up to worship or journal elsewhere. I was ok with that; he was my friend, I was comfortable if he wanted to hang around but fine if he didn't. I kept journalling.
Well That Was Awkward
I was doing Night Watch at this time, going to bed at 6am and waking up around 2:30 in the afternoon. Me and my darling cousin Hope were interns with 3 others who "kept the fire on the altar" and spent the night hours praying, worshipping, studying the Bible on our own, journalling, and keeping the doors open so people could come and pray in the night & early morning hours.
On Tuesday, I woke up and texted my best friend, Fee. "Jason's such a sweet guy. He journals just like me, and he wants to visit youth group to see Franki!" (Franki was one of our mutual friends at my church's youth group). UNFORTUNATELY, I was also texting Jason at the same time, about the next day's worship set, and I got mixed up and sent the text to the wrong person!! Jason got the message that I think he's a sweet guy!
I was SO embarrassed, I apologized to J, telling him what happened and he said it was no big deal, he's done that before, it's an easy mistake to make. I remember shrieking into my pillow at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, sleeping over Hope's house, waking her up and going ballistic. "I can't believe I just did that!!! Do you think he thinks I like him??" Hope was like, "You're over-reacting, Kristina, I'm sure it's going to be just fine," as she rolled groggily out of bed. It took me a while to get over it, but looking back, it really wasn't as big of a deal as it seemed!
The Call
The next day, Jason and I were there alone to lead the day time set again. I don't think anyone came. We sang together, and then I left for the mission where I volunteered (Wednesday was my volunteer day). I forget specifics about that day, but after a long day of waking up "early" (12:30), leading worship, and doing the after-school program at the mission, I took a nap around 9pm before heading into "work" at midnight for the Night Watch shift. (It was kinda a crazy season of my life. But I loved every minute of it!)
During my nap, I got a phone call from J, but I was too tired to answer. About twenty minutes later, I couldn't really fall back asleep so I listened to his voicemail. He said he had a question for me, and sounded like he was nervous and trying not to be. I felt bad for him, he sounded so sweet, I didn't want him to be on pins and needles waiting for my call. So I called him back... wondering if the question was what I thought it was, but also not really expecting it to be.
I told him I had been napping but got his voicemail. He pretty much got right to the question: "So, I was wondering, if I could take you to dinner sometime?" I was surprised how much I just took this in stride, since I'd never been asked out by someone I was actually really interested in before. "Well, what are your intentions?" I asked him. "I'd like to get to know you better," he answered. "I would like that. But anyone who wants to take me out to dinner has to get my dad's permission first. I'm kinda old-school that way." I was thinking, 'This is it; if he thinks I'm old-school, whatever, but he has to pass this test.'
He replied, "I'm up for that, that sounds great. When can I talk to him?" That was the first time I got a taste of J's "whatever it takes I'm willing to go for it" attitude. I really love that about him!
We tried to schedule a night, realizing Friday nights would probably be best - remember, I was doing Night Watch and a million other things. My family has Movie Night every Friday and it's always an open invitation to have friends over, so I felt like it was the least awkward way of having J meet my dad. He agreed. BUT, I had events going on the next 3 weeks, so it would have to be almost a month before he could ask my dad! He was ok with that, too.
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What would it be like to hang out with him in this in-between stage, when we weren't going out but we knew we might?
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