Danielle Burkleo

a love story

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hi everybody! i’m bridget from tales of me and the husband and i am delighted to share my crazy love story with you all. thanks, danielle, for having me!!
here goes nothing…
i first met my husband when i was a freshman at a school in new england. the school where he taught. ooooh… scandal! do you want to hear more? so, he was a great teacher. seriously, engaging to listen to (and to look at). i had a crush on him. settle yourselves, it was innocent and i was not the only freshman girl who had one. he was married with kids and a dog and i had a boyfriend! like i said, it was innocent.
well, i took one class with him, then i took another class with him, and i declared him to be my favorite professor ever. he was incredibly smart but completely normal and down-to-earth. i thoroughly enjoyed his classes (though, he’ll remind me now, i did skip a few). so, during my sophomore year while enrolled in a class of his, the campus was informed that his wife was sick. it was cancer and the outlook was not good. it was nothing short of devastating. there were 24-hour prayer vigils, constant updates, and lots of tears. after a month long battle with cancer including a hopeful surgery, during which the discovery was made that the cancer had spread too much, his young wife died. the kids were 2, 4, 10, and 12.
steve disappeared from the campus. the college gave him the semester off to be with his kids, to get his head above water. i didn’t stop thinking of him and his family and feeling absolutely broken-hearted for them. he came back the following semester and i would stop in his office once in awhile, bringing him banana bread and seeing how he was. he had many student-friends… we might call him the young-hip-professor-man. all that to say, it wasn’t weird to stop in his office to chat.
now we’re in my junior year. early on, in september, i discovered that he needed a babysitter. i called as soon as i heard and told him i could do it. i felt a strong desire to be a part of his kids’ lives, to be a part of his. and still, it was truly innocent! i can only explain it now by saying God somehow knew what he was doing. i thought nothing would ever come of it–the thought truly didn’t cross my mind. so, i began babysitting for his young kids while he would take off for the day, going to counseling and other errands.
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before he left, and when he’d get home, we’d talk and talk… conversation was effortless. if he were my own age, i would’ve thought there was some flirting but with the age difference and the whole professor-student thing, i didn’t trust my instincts! it was quite confusing, to say the least. we would laugh, talk about life and love, his wife, his kids, my family, school, anything. after a few months, it was obvious. we liked one another but both of us were too scared to say anything. i forced myself one day to pick up the phone and address it. sure enough, i was right.
and we began to date. quietly, slowly… beautifully. we fell in love pretty quickly. it was scary… there was some unchartered territory here… mom of 4?? 21 years old?! come again?! but it was love, and i wasn’t going to give it up.
we got engaged in july (in switzerland. he got mucho points for that scheme of his.) and then were married the following december. we’ve been married four years now and he’s my best friend. i can’t ask for more than that.
i love you lots, steve. thanks for marrying me.
the story, but much longer, is also on my blog here.
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Comments

  1. oh my word, i love this! soooooooo scandalous. LOL. it's amazing how God weaves people together unexpectantly. He's so smart like that.

  4. i've read this story (in its entirety) on bridget's blog but i just read it again here…..i love it.

  5. Such a beautiful story:) Thanks! Wish you both a great day
    Kisses

    Ps: I am hosting Paloma’s Nest GIVEAWAY today:).Just in time for Valentine’s Day!

  7. so awesome! You have the cutest little boy ever!

    xoxo,
    Sarah
    Peacefully Hooked
    murdockmemoirs.blogspot.com

  13. Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL story. Beautiful, beautiful girl. For all of those who haven't read the ENTIRE story… you've just GOT to… you will laugh… you will cry… and one of the best parts is that her hubby writes a chapter. it's PRECIOUS!

  14. Love this story! It's amazing to see how it their lives intertwined and worked out out so beautifully.

    P.S. Beautiful blog! I popped over via Bridget's. xoxo

  16. I've read this story before, but reading it again makes me fall in love with the entire idea of love.
    Its such a beautiful story.

  18. I heart you Briget!! Obviously, I stalk your blog and I already knew the love story, but I enjoyed reading it here again! 😉

    And Danielle: Caaauuute blog!! New follower here!

  21. I love your story. It's beautiful and lovely. Way to trust your heart and the Lord and just GO!

  25. Bridget, I just found your blog yesterday and totally wolfed down the whole love story in one sitting. I was so excited to get this little recap today. I love it. You two are a brave and beautiful pair!

  27. I am so excited for this series Danni! And I love Bridget & her hubby's sweet story! Read the whole thing a couple months ago and just cried! So sweet! Amazing to see how God brings people together!

@danielleburkleo