Gina and I were both committed to the concept of waiting for God’s timing, This was not easy for either of us as many times we wanted to see something happen sooner than it was happening. Our individual struggles intensified on several occasions to the extent that we doubted God’s plan for us and even questioned His love, almost thinking that God enjoyed making our lives hard for us or that He didn’t want us to enjoy marriage. I’m not saying that we lived in this state, but we did at times struggle. Boy, how wrong we were. God was preparing the most incredible love story for both of us and I can truly say that it is well worth the wait. God you are SO good!
At about age 25, I began having increasing desires to be married. I had left my position with the Christian ministry I had been serving with and was moving into the stage of working on my providing skills. Interestingly enough, my parents and I both had agreed many years ago (when I was 14 or so) that it would most likely be age 27 before I would be married. We had nearly committed to the idea that unless God lead differently, I was to stay entirely focused until this time not even “thinking” about this stage of life I tried, my very best not to but the reality was that I was “thinking about it” at age 25 and thinking a lot.
My appreciation for Gina began in July of 2003 during a short walk I had with her dad (Dewey Novotny). (I know that it’s a little different appreciating someone whom you’ve never even seen or met.) Her dad and I were discussing several visionary ideas for the Student Resource Department of the Advanced Training Institute (ATI). At that time I was sensing that God was moving me on from my position within the department and had been impressed that Mr. Novotny would be an unbelievable perfect addition to what we termed “The Dream Team.” Dewey began sharing some of Gina’s interests and ideas which she had laid out and they were nearly identical to what I had been envisioning. I made a mental note at the time to myself thinking that I need to work out a way to get to meet this girl (I mean can you imagine a more perfect girl than someone dreaming up the identical plan as what you had thought up).
Not too long after this time, Gina came up to work in the Student Resource Department joining her dad. I remember my first impressions of her being “this is a really sweet girl who loves the Lord.” Her smile and face glowed with a pure radiance. This was one of the most genuine girls I had ever met. Roughly a month after meeting her, I called my parents asking them to “check her out” at an upcoming conference which we would all be attending together. My parents did and both gave very positive feedback on her.
Over the next several years, Gina and I both had several points of communication with each other as we worked through projects related to the Eternal Impact Summit (an annual conference for 23 and older students who seek to make an eternal impact with their lives), and my current work with CollegePlus! (a coaching program which guides students through earning their accredited bachelor’s degrees in a fraction of the time and cost). Our interaction was on a professional business level.
During the several yeas between the fall of 2003 when I left the Student Resource Department (and Gina who was serving there with her dad), my parents and I both were observing Gina. My mom fell in love with Gina immediately and began encouraging me to further consider her. My dad, upon spending time with Gina and several other girls who had come up to visit at our family’s cottage in Holland Michigan, also spoke highly of Gina. There were several very direct conversations where they basically said, “you are missing out on the most beautiful girl you can imagine. You need to pursue her.” The decision was always mine to make and they didn’t pressure me, but they did give their strong encouragement. For some reason, I just wasn’t feeling a peace about it. Maybe it was just the uncertainty and the actual question of how to pursue her that kept me from jumping on it. I really have to believe that it just wasn’t God’s timing.
The middle of October of 2006, I felt impressed of the Lord that I should be praying about this matter intently. I called my dad and asked him to be praying with me about this as well. He and I talked a number of times. The prayer and discussion culminated when I spent a week with my family back in Indiana/Michigan. God had already given me several very clear rhemas that I was to begin courting Gina. It so happened that midway through my time at home, Gina and a good friend of hers (Sarah Danaher) had asked to meet my mom for coffee not knowing that I was to be in town. Their idea for coffee turned into my whole family and I meeting together for dinner with Gina and Sarah. My family and especially my dad and brothers teased me about this meeting all week long leading up to the dinner (they obviously knew of my desires for Gina). Our dinner was delightful and pretty well “sealed the deal” for me that indeed I was to pursue this.
The next day, my parents and I drove together on an hour and a half trip and discussed how we were going to start this relationship. It was so new to me and I valued and appreciated their counsel on this. Again, my mom and dad both loved Gina already and were 100% on board with this whole idea. Later that week, I called Mr. Novotny who had just returned from an international trip. I explained my deep interest in getting to know Gina better (starting a courtship). What a blessing to be able to call a good friend (Mr. Novotny) and talk with someone whom you already know. (Mr. Novotny’s been an incredible encouragement and mentor in my life for several years. He knew me well my strengths and many weaknesses. Mr. Novotny, thanks for your friendship and support through this. I literally couldn’t ask for a better father in low. You are incredible!!!). Long story short, Mr. Novotny expressed his joy at my calling and interest and said that he and his wife Chardell would discuss and pray about this.
Mr Novotny gave his full blessing and support to begin this relationship. He mentioned that there had been one guy whom Gina had expressed strong interest in over the years and this guy’s name kept coming up every 2-6 months, her having to die to it. As he shared this information, my heart sank thinking that Gina was really interested in someone else. Feelings like “who’s the guy; I’ll kill him” came to mind. After a very leading start, Mr. Novotny then said, “Woody, you’re the guy, the one and only guy Gina hsd expressed interest in.” My jaw hit the floor in total astonishment. It was at that moment that I truly began “falling in love” with Gina. He then said that he and he and his wife had actually been praying intently for the past month that I would call to start this relationship. God you are So good! You talk about answered prayer on all fronts. Wow!
As Gina was currently at the Dallas Training Center speaking for a week to the Excel girls on singleness, Mr. Novotny and I both agreed that this would not be the best time or place to start this relationship. We arranged a time when we could both be there with her in person to surprise her with this news. Mr. and Mrs. Novotny gave the excuse that they needed to fly down to the Dallas area to visit their property located an hour North of Dallas and that while they were in town they would take Gina out to a nice dinner. Mr. Novotny being the true romantic winner of hearts thought that dinner atop the magnificent Reunion Tower overlooking the city at sunset would make for the ideal meeting place. He was right. The Reunion Tower had always held special significance for Gina.
To continue the story, we encourage you to click on the Photo Album link on the left-hand column and to let the pictures and story continue from there.
Direction from the Lord and Confirmation from others to pursue Gina:
- Clear blessing and encouragement of both parents
- Mr. Novotny's specific answer to prayer of “awakening” in distinct timing
- Confirmation of timing during Gina and Novotny family transition
- Couldn’t be better timing for Woody with transition and seminar/convention down season
- Gina didn’t commit to singleness for another period like she had been praying about
- Gina’s interest (only interest) in me
- Valued friends specific encouragement and support of this.
