I've been told many times growing up that my family and my family's story could be made into a book and then follow within a year or two as a No. 1 box office hit. Now whether or not that is true is up to the senses of humor of the vast majority of the continental U.S. But if we did write a book, this is how I'd want the first chapter to go:

Chapter 1

A Priest and A Girl

So, there was once a Catholic priest (sounds like the start to some kind of perverted joke, I know). This priest was a very quaint man born and raised in a town that no one has ever heard about in Scotland, U.K. (That's the United Kingdom if you didn't know.) The second oldest of six, this priest had been raised in a house not much larger than the average apartment today. He would spend his mornings delivering newspapers to the surrounding neighborhoods. This priest spent many years in school and then discovered his passion and calling for preaching the good news of Jesus to all he met. So when this priest came of age, he went off to Spain to seminary where he would spend many years perfecting his art of proclamation. One day, his Bishop (the old guy who bosses the priests around) decided he and a group of other priests would fly all the way over to the U.S. for a couple of classes in theology. They were going to take these classes at none other then the world-renowned and highly esteemed Fordham University (I know you're probably thinking, "How the hell did a European Bishop find out about a Jesuit University in the Bronx?" God works in mysterious ways, my friends.) Now this priest and his other priest friends hopped on a plane and came to the U.S. to start their whirlwind adventure in New York.

Also in this class, there was a girl; but not just any girl. This girl was the "All-American" type. Born and raised in Long Island, NY, in a house on the waterfront, the youngest of five, this girl rode horses, drove a stick shift car, went to the prom every year of high school and beat up the school bully after she tried to beat the girl up in the locker room. She didn't take crap from anyone (typical, as all her brothers were Marines or in the military.) She was an Army/Air Force brat and what people today refer to as a "BA" (censored for all you young minds.) This girl had also decided after college that she was going to pursue her love of Jesus and find a way to make a living out of it.

This girl sat in front of the priest and his friends for the first few weeks of their class, most of the time trying to understand the words that they were saying (Scottish accents are unbelievably difficult to decipher). When he finally had worked up the courage to say hello, he was struck by how beautiful the girl was, and she was impressed by how interesting he was. The priest could hold a conversation like no other, constantly asking questions to further their exchange of words. And the girl -- well the girl realized just how intriguing this priest was. (The knee high tube socks were also easy on the eyes, I'm sure.) So after a couple of weeks of conversation, the girl and the entire group of priests began to "hang out." (The reason why "hang out" is in quotations is because one does not simply just go out with one priest. It has to be a group affair because, well, they're priests.) Weeks of group activities and outings (which must have been a sight to see. I can imagine the thoughts of people passing by: "That poor woman must be in need of lots of confession if she is walking with eight priests," or "She must be inquiring about the application to be a nun," or my favorite "Isn't Halloween in October?") brought the group closer and the priest and the girl closer together.

This went on for weeks, the girl and her posse of priests. Over time the girl and priest realized they had feelings for each other. In fact he told her one night he loved her (this after only knowing each other seven weeks), and she said she knew she loved him, but it wasn't meant to be (you see priests aren't supposed to fall in love). So they decided they needed to meet her family in North Carolina and just enjoy each other's friendship. While in North Carolina, the priest's dad passed away unexpectedly and he had to suddenly fly back to New York to pack and return home to Scotland. When he arrived there, however, he realized how much he missed the girl and called her daily. (I know you're picturing some sad 90's-based Nicholas Sparks film right now, but bear with me.) They spoke for hours each day, running up quite an expensive bill (remember the 90's were not cheap long-distance-calling plan days). A few weeks passed and the priest realized that the feelings he had for the girl were more, far more, than he realized. He made arrangements to fly back to the States to make sure they really were in love and not just a phone thing! After staying a few weeks, they both knew it was real. They wanted to be together forever. (Ugh, let's get past the sappy stuff already.) The priest invited her to come visit his home at Christmas time. She flew over knowing it wasn't going to be easy for her to meet his family, taking him away from the priesthood and the place where he was raised. He insisted it would be fine and the family would love her as much as he did. So she flew to a foreign land to be with her true love at Christmas. At midnight mass, on Christmas Eve, at a little church on the mountainside, the priest got down on one knee, and popped that question (and no, not "How have you sinned today?") but the one question every hopeless romantic longs to hear: "Will you marry me?" And we obviously know what the girl responded, because you wouldn't be reading this if she had said "Hell, no!"

So the priest and the girl came back to the U.S. to give the news to begin a life together after only knowing each other six months! Her parents agreed to go to the courthouse with them so they could be married "quietly." (The priest was technically an alien in the U.S. and no longer a student, so he needed to obtain a Visa to stay.) They did not tell anyone, except for the girl's parents; no one knew they were married. They planned a wedding for the fall and invited both families for the actual wedding. (Yes, they had two weddings.) So after some confusion and a lot of prayer, the priest and the girl got married on the grounds of none other than Greensboro College, her alma mater for her undergraduate degree (and a Methodist university...I know, we're all going to hell.)

I'm sure you all know how the rest goes, because for the Good Lord's sake, I'm here, aren't I? So there you have it. The story of how a priest from Scotland married a girl from New York and created the most incredible life for their four kids. I tell you this story because my parents deserve credit for creating the best conversation starter ever. Walk up to anyone and say, "My dad was a Catholic priest," and you will have heads turn faster than you can say, "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned."

But for real, my parents were/are incredible. I tell you this story because it was one of my favorites to listen to growing up -- getting to listen to how two people fell in love and challenged the ideals of an entire denomination. My dad was so loving and gentle, and such an incredible listener. My mom is superwoman, nurturing and teaching us how to be brave and strong every day. So yeah, I'm glad the priest fell in love with the girl. Overjoyed in fact. Because, the Lord works in mysterious ways people, mysterious ways.

It's important for us to know where we come from, because it has such an effect on where we go and who we are in the core. Take a minute and remember who you are, and if you don't, keep pushing to find out.