FIRST TOUCH

                "Personality prickly as desert cactus, skin soft as eiderdown, too wild to tame, too soft not to touch." So tugged Ted's heart toward trouble and love in that not so much by chance crowded church pew seating.

                And in that crowded pew neath God Is Love t-shirt sleeves, the bare arms of Tess and Ted first time touched, a touch, a spark not of coincidental static electricity, but a spark heavenly planned. Thus spilled out lips of the Ted into Tess ear, "Jesus loves you," he whispered, "and so do I."

                More than a few next them snickered.  Even the Sunday school teacher smiled.  Seemed they all too knew before the two, the inevitable had come to bear for the bare armed pair.

                But my oh my how Tess flushed, recoiled in maiden blush, raised porcupine quills. Yet grasping heavenly gravity, she cocked her head, more than glanced at the petrified Ted, noticed he too blushed bright pink red, as he bashfully stared straight ahead.

                By the time Tess shoulder bumped Ted to turn his eyes to hers, the teacher had stopped teaching, every eye eyed them, and fadingly a frowned, Tess ignored them all, "Just how do you love me?" Words of honey spilled from Tess lips.

                And oh how Ted breathed, "Like Jesus loves the church," as his almond eyes danced in the dream of her emerald eyes trance.

                Thus did Tess slide arm of eider down round the arm of Ted; and the corners of her plush pink lips raised up to heaven and matter of factly said, "Thank you Jesus."

                "And that my precious sons and daughters," to kiddos huddled on and round well worn leather couch in front of warmth breathing hearth, "that," Ted attempted to finish story of first touch tradition, "that is how your Mom and Dad were so led to wed, and I might add have six little Tess and Teds.

                "But you left it out Daddy," little Tess Ana reminded.

                "Yep, you did," in unison Tess Bess, Tess Colette, Ted Red, Ted Ryan and Tim Ted chimed in.

                "We want to hear bout Mommy again," Tess Ana, hands on hips postured like her Mom in prickly moments sometimes did.

                 Tess snuggled closer to hubby on couch, hugged Ted arm tighter, and eyes into eyes of husband began that at least once a year said. "What a dilemma, two teenagers in love just about to graduate from good ole Liberty High and bound off to college 1,221 miles apart..."

                "What to do? What to do?" Kids in unison sighed well rehearsed, heart felt part.

                "We prayed," Ted nodded, "and listened, and obeyed, and what we did was not the wisdom of the world."

                "And not at first what our parents thought best." Tess gave side of lips smile.

                Ted added, "Although, through prayer of their own the financial savings and wisdom of our decision dawned on them.  For you see although our decision was not for everyone, praying to God and listening is."

                "Community college." Tess smiled. "After researching which four year colleges our required prerequisite courses would transfer to, it just made blessed sense to our parents too."

                "Boring!" Little Tess Ana added healthy, "Hmmmph!"

                "Yeah, tell us about that romantificated part," Tim Ted tee-heed.

                "The romantificated part!" So cued the rest of Tesses and Teds.

                Ted began, "It was a dark and stormy night..."

                "No it wasn't!" Tess Ana pouted. "Quit fooling round Daddy. Tell it right."

                "Twas a dark and stormy night, that your Dad to be proposed to me under that weeping willow on that cliff..."

                Tess rebooted Ted with elbow. The kids giggled.

                The rebooted Ted then said, "Lolling neath that picnic tree, from poignant to evocative, to reminiscent, to blessed, I said to my Tess, "You are the fuzziest little peach ever rubbed to cheek. To which your Mom to be replied..."

                "...I am your peach, you are my tree." Tess completed now line of tradition.

                And just like that time of not so long ago, the Tess and the Ted kissed a kiss, heavenly planned.

                To which little hands on hips Tess Ana observed, "What I'd like to know is why every time you two get that silly look in your eyes and kiss, we are blessed with another little Tess or Ted in about nine months.  Every time it's the same old thing, Another Tess or Ted will make seven."

Can we even imagine the newly created on earth first woman and man's very first touch? (Genesis - Adam & Eve)

Proverbs 3:5-8 KJV: 5)Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6)In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7)Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD and depart from evil. 8)It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 KJV: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12)Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.