Page 111 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2025 - Online Magazine

LOVE STORIES

I asked these friends what advice she would offer to
people over 50 who might want to remarry in the second
half of life. Here are their thoughts:

“ Peggy

Don’t settle! I dated a handful of other men, and I
stood strong in my “criteria.” If it is part of God’s plan,
Melissa and Stephen you WILL find the right person. Continue to pray and
pay attention to who God places in front of you.
have always dreamed of. We each learned so much ”
throughout the early years of our individual lives
and past relationships that we have a much clearer
vision. Though some situations were very difficult, Melissa
all those steps were necessary to get us ready for one “
another. God is so good! First and foremost: PRAY! Ask God to open your heart

Melissa and Stephen’s Story and your mind to hear what He might have planned
for you. Second: go out with friends even if you would
We were brought together over a mutual love of
music and desire to support the Lubbock Arts rather stay home. You won’t meet anyone staring at
community. Stephen and I first met as board members your TV, so go to events that you enjoy. Chances are, if
of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. you meet someone there, it might be because you have
something in common!
After seeing each other regularly at board meetings, I ”
suggested, at a Christmas Party in 2023, that we go to
dinner to “catch up.” We met for an early dinner and
then closed the restaurant down.
to discuss fundraising, we realized that we were both “ Marita
Our first date was in January 2024. At that first lunch,

going through divorces after long-term marriages, and First, as I learned from my friend Georgia Shaffer,
divorce had been a last resort for both of us. He had author of 12 Smart Choices to Finding the Right Guy,
been married for more than 50 years, and I had been the biggest tip is to be emotionally healthy yourself
married for 30+ years. and to be someone a healthy partner wants to be with.

Very early on, it became clear that we had a lot in Second, be realistic. Don’t let perfection be the enemy
common—from our love of God and dedication to
our respective churches, to the importance of family, of good. Every long-term relationship has ups and
and our mutual love of art, music, and philanthropy. I downs and takes work.
never actually wrote down the qualities I was looking
for in a life partner, but I sure had a mental list. He We hope that hearing our stories will encourage
checked off every box with a few extras. those who might be looking for love in the second
half of life—even if they don’t know it! Our stories
He proposed to me on Easter Sunday—less than three are different, but I think we all agree that we never
months after our first date, and we married six months imagined we’d be living the life we now enjoy.
later. ”

Lubbock Senior Link 111