The History

Ruth Schroeder distinctly remembers the Sunday the 5th of June 2005 as the Sunday after the Sunday she decided not to attend church resulting from a game of rock-paper-scissors. It was shortly after leaving Union University. 'Ironically' that was the Sunday the Pastor asked all those who had just graduated to stand up. Ruth sheepishly stood up and sat down, little knowing there were two eyes looking her way the entirety of the service.

If you here the rest of the story told by Will you learn of falling over folding chair in order to gain an audience with the young lady he was watching, but as seen by Ruth that Sunday was the day she met a lovely your man named Will Reno.

Will hung around church until all had left the premises except the Schroeders and some family friends. He was promptly invited to lunch at which he sat around listening to family tales of Ruth growing up at Community Bible Church and how she approached adolescence. Will was attentive and an easy laugher. Ruth thought, who is this guy? They parted ways and there were no numbers exchanged or talk of meeting again. The next Sunday, the 12th, Will barely made eye contact with Ruth. She resolved that this had amounted to nothing.

If you hear this story from Will's perspective you would call this period in time 'playing it cool.' He didn't want to seem to desperate so the Sunday of the 19th he asked for her number. Bold move if you know Will!

Ruth received a call that week and plans were made for the 23rd to go out. She thought he was just a pilot who wanted someone to show him around Nashville. He had psyched himself up to think this wasn't really a date. They met at the YMCA after he had come home from a 4 day trip. Ruth with her hair wet from swimming and Will in his uniform. They were both trying to keep it casual. No expectations. They proceeded to eat sushi and Ruth fell out of the car and then walked around Nashville where she proceeded to spit off the bridge and pick the wrong kind of ice-cream. This guy was a goner as far as Ruth was concerned. Will went home and told his sister he had found the girl he wanted to be with for the rest of his life. At least he was pretty sure.

The next few weeks in Nashville were full of lunches at Applebees (where Ruth was working at the time and she thought Will just drove 20 min for the burgers:), Canoeing at the lake, boating on Percy Priest, Fireworks by the river, Humid runs and an agreement to try the courting relationship. Will even went on two dates with Ruth's dad so they could keep seeing each other. It was good to have the family involved and kept the relationship where it should be, focused on the Lord.

Alas though it was time to leave. Ruth already had plans to move to California and with a truck and a roommate in hand she was going through with it. The couple sat on a hammock before hand trying to define their relationship. Ruth told will she just wanted to know if he began to see anyone else while she was gone. Will said there was not chance of this. She was beginning to learn what a man of his word he was and is.

Will kept his word and the pursuit of a relationship with his new found princess over the miles. He encouraged her through long phone conversations and turned her head with bouquets at the door. The first chance available he came out to California. Ruth really began to think, who is this man? The month of August was spent traveling. Marcelle, Ruth's cousin and roommate, Ruth, and Will made the unconquerable trio as they traversed from Tahoe to LA around San Fran, by the beach and then back again. Disneyland was a highlight as Will and Ruth ran around in their Mickey and Minnie ears. They realized this was something special as they talked of respect and friendship to the sound of waves. A wonderful week in September was spent in Colorado watching the aspens turn and biking in the mountains. Individually they wondered, Is this love?

Will continued to be a friend to Ruth as she began her first job and flowers were waiting at the unit. He helped her move into her first apartment and surprised her after a boring day of orientation. He stretched his tastebuds and learned to like sushi and food from the orient. Ruth started thinking of trying to eat chicken, a big step for a vegetarian:) They were learning to pray together and share what the Lord was teaching them.

Thanksgiving was spent together in Nashville again. It was a sweet time as Ruth had not returned home since moving to CA. Will took Ruth to PF Chang's and in a momentous night told her that he loved her. He had never told a woman that he loved her in 33 year. Well besides that one time....:) But this meant he wanted to spend his life, the rest of his life with her. She didn't realize this at the time but knew it was a sweet thing to be loved by this man.

Time rolled on...December was spent at a wedding in CO, January apart as Ruth's friends came to San Fran, February and March between Tahoe and Colorado and San Fran just skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, biking in the park, and learning about the individuals that God had made them. They were falling in love. Learning how to disagree civilly and relate unselfishly. Discovering how to forgive and encourage one another to love the Lord more diligently. They knew there was real life to come but began to realize there were no coincidences. That meeting at church was divinely ordained.

They realized real life was to come and knew they wanted to tackle it together.