On the last day of her mission trip to Mexico in 2003, Serenity Porras stood at a little taco stand in Tijuana bidding her friend, Jose, goodbye.
As they said their farewells, Jose asked Serenity where her husband was. She explained that she didn’t have one. Jose told Serenity that her husband was in her church.
“I thought, ‘oh, that’s nice,’” Serenity said. She didn’t really believe him. Jose said he would pray for Serenity and her would-be husband. She hugged Jose goodbye and headed home to Marysville.
It was about 18 months later when Russell Swanson called His Place Community Church in Burlington to get information about the church singles group. He was invited to a picnic where he met Serenity, but the two only spoke a few words to each other.
“I thought he was very cute,” Serenity said.
When Russell ended up at the same Bible study class as Serenity, she had a hard time focusing during the group discussion. Little did she know that Russell had been thinking that she was cute, too.
Russell was shy, so Serenity decided to make a move. Remembering he had mentioned that he had a fish tank with no fish, she went and bought Sparky, a Siamese fighting fish. She told Russell she had a surprise for him and he invited her over. Serenity presented him with Sparky and later dropped a hint about a movie she wanted to see. The fish went in the tank and Russell took the bait.
Serenity and Russell Swanson of Marysville celebrated their first wedding anniversary on Oct. 1.
The couple were married Oct. 1, 2006, at Hope Island Inn near La Conner.
When it came to getting married, Serenity and Russell had the place and rings picked out, but there had been no proposal. Russell had said that he wanted to wait until the time was right and take Serenity to a special place.
While she waited he told Serenity one day that they were going somewhere special and to bring her hiking boots. He drove to Gorge fish ladder, near Diablo, and the couple walked across a steel bridge. Serenity didn’t think this was the day for a proposal.
“I thought, ‘oh, no, not today. We really are going hiking,’” she said.
The two began to hike up the mountain and came to a waterfall. Serenity was so taken by the beauty that she got her camera out and leaned far out to take pictures.
Russell called her name but she told him to hold on, she was shooting photographs. The next time he called her more urgently.
When Serenity turned around Russell was on his knees holding out a ring. He told her that he loved her with all his heart and asked Serenity to marry him. He had hiked to the area years before and thought that it was so beautiful that if he were ever to find someone to marry that this would be the place to propose.
Serenity describes Russell as kind, sensitive and very good-natured.
“He is thoughtful and generous, and cares about other people,” she said.
Their first year of marriage has been great, but a lot more work than Serenity thought.
“But it’s better than I thought it was going to be,” she said. “He’s always there for me. It’s just the best.”
The couple is busy with Serenity’s 9-year-old son and their new son, born in August.
Serenity and Russell have been able to contact Jose to let him know his prayers were answered. Her husband really was in her church.
“I was never expecting to meet him,” Serenity said. “He was just a big surprise in my life. A gift from God up in Heaven.”
For information on Love Story and Celebrations call Christina Harper at 425-339-3491 or e-mail harper@heraldnet.com.
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