Peggy the Matchmaker

                                   This is a picture of James and myself at the Singles Retreat. This was before we had even dated. People at the retreat kept asking us if we were brother and sister. hehe Someone sent this picture to me anonymously. I never found out who sent it but I have an idea.

"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match...." Peggy hummed the little tune as she wrote down the names of two people she knew from church on her yellow pad. She loved being able to put two people together that didn't seem like they would even like each other.

Peggy thought of Katy and her husband James. She managed to get those two together, and it wasn't easy. James was very stubborn when it came to be willing to be matched. James was known for not having much to do with women. It was, actually, his son Jeremy that helped to get Katy and James together.

This all began at one of the largest Baptist church in Houston, Texas. There were two 'Singles' groups. One was for the people that had never been married and the other group, who had gotten a divorce.

James had dark hair and hazel eyes and was working as a security officer at the time. He hadn't been divorced for very long, but it was a bad breakup. He was able to see his son every other weekend as long as he wasn't working.

Peggy would see James at church, and she remembered hearing him say, "The only way I will ever get married again, is to see a burning bush on the Katy Freeway (also known as I-10) at high noon." Peggy chuckled remembering when he said it. Guess he must have seen the burning bush.

Whenever the singles groups would go out to eat after the service, Peggy made sure that James sat by Katy. James seemed to never remember her name though.

One night, in May of 1989, the Singles groups had an event together. It was the ending of the hit series, "MASH", starring Alan Alda. Everyone was playing games in the big gym. A basketball game was going on in one corner, and the volleyball net was set up with a game.

Katy with her blondish-brown hair styled much the way Farrah Fawcett, but shorter also had hazel-green eyes.

Katy looked around and saw several of her friends playing volleyball. She also saw a little boy about three years old, with blonde hair and blue eyes sitting on the sidelines. She went over to him and started talking to him. They carried on a conversation for quite some time. Jeremy said, "We had cake and ice cream," He kept talking excitedly about his birthday party that he just had in April. He told Katy all about the party and the theme and who was there. About thirty minutes into talking to Jeremy, his father came up to see who he was talking to. Katy introduced herself. They made their introductions and then James went back to playing volleyball. Katy stayed with Jeremy most of the night hanging out with him. She even sat with James and Jeremy and ate dinner with them.

There was one night when church hadn't started yet, James sat down by Katy and started asking her questions. She told me later that she felt like she was on an interview of some kind.

Somewhere along the way Katy and James started seeing each other. First, it was just at church and going out to eat with the singles group. It seemed like they didn't have anything in common. Then they discovered that they both loved the shows, 'STAR TREK' and 'MASH'. The more time they spent together the more they found they had in common.

James would come over and watch Sci-Fiction movies at Katy's apartment. Sometimes, he would bring Jeremy with him. They would go swimming and have dinner. There were times when Jeremy would fall asleep on the book that he brought with him. James would gently pick him up and go put him on Katy's bed so he could sleep better.

The Singles' group went to a retreat at the end of August that year. During the retreat, James would flirt with all the other girls. He ignored Katy and wouldn't talk to her. After the retreat, James decided to break it off with Katy at church. He told her, "I just want to be friends. Hearing this was like the kiss of death. Katy wiped a tear from one of her eyes. She was determined not to let James see her upset.

Katy started to focus on her relationship with God. One day she was reading a passage and the scripture basically said," Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

Katy struggled, but she focused on that verse and knew that James was the right man for her. She just needed to wait for God's timing.

So Katy focused on work at her new job as a Teacher's Assistant in a Special Education classroom, and reading her bible. She also started taking classes to get her teaching certification.

She hadn't heard from James in over a month. She had been meaning to get a hold of him because she had a shirt of his and he had a University of Texas cup of hers, she wanted back. She loved that cup and it was the only one she had left from her college days.

Then one night, her phone rang and a little kid's voice said, "Miss Katy?"
It was Jeremy, "Miss. Katy. I miss you. Can you come with me and my dad to go to Galveston?"
How was Katy to compete with a three-year-old asking to see her? So, of course, she said yes.
James came and picked Katy up. Jeremy sat in the middle between Katy and James with his seat belt on. They got to the Ferry and parked the car. They got out of the car and would watch the waves while the ferry was going across the water.
Katy and Jeremy sang songs and read books all the way to the ferry and during the ferry ride. By the time they got off the ferry and into Galveston, Jeremy was fast asleep.
This forced James and Katy to talk to each other. They decided that day on October 29th, 1989 that they would try again when it came to their relationship. By December the 17th of 1989 they were engaged. On May 12, 1990 they became man and wife.
Peggy thought about it. I wonder if I actually had anything to do with matching them or not? Well, at least I know they are still together after 29 years and four children later.

Sure, there have been struggles that they have had to deal with along the way. Life is never easy for anyone.

Once Katy told Peggy that there was a standing joke between James and her. He would say, "Hey Katy, let's get married?"
"Sure, and you can bring a kid along for the ride."
James accused Katy sometimes of conspiring with Peggy when it comes to getting them together. The truth is, when God wants a couple to be together. He will make it happen.

Peggy was reminded of a scripture that fit the Moffitt's, "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1Corinthians 10:31
No matter what, the Moffitt's tried to honor God and give him the glory.

Peggy started humming her little tune again. "Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match...."
Peggy wrote down another name and went to work again thinking of how she was going to get the new couple together.

Two prompts were used for this story, Matchmaker and For the Glory. This is a true story told in delightful way I think. That is why I decided to make it fiction.