“I had a hope chest, a gift from my grandfather, in which I had saved some heirlooms. I had started a small collection for a someday home. It was an old fashioned tradition.”
(This is a short excerpt from my memoirs, that tells a story of first love, of loss and ultimately being reunited. It is not always easy to piece together the memories of the past—Like trying to remember which small detail happened first or the exact date an event occurred. But I do remember, from the dates that Kent and I went on, that he was a planner. He still is!)
1988
Our dates were often impromptu. He wanted my opinion even if he already knew where he wanted to take me–whether it was a movie, or a new restaurant. Kent was always up on the latest news. He was the planner, the driver, and knew the location of things… (like the mall, which was the place to be in the 80’s.)
After seeing a movie, we leisurely strolled through North Cross Mall, passing the ice skaters and meandered into The Bombay Co. There was an array of framed artwork, globes, and dark lacquered furniture. He paused and pointed out a dark cherry wood table. “Now, I like this…. someday we will have furniture like this in our home!” He exclaimed excitedly. I agreed with him, admiring his good decorating taste and could just imagine our future home together. I could not help but think that we would be married someday.
On my sixteenth birthday, my grandfather had given me a hope chest. Since that day, I began a collection of heirlooms and cute kitchenelia for a someday home.
One day, Kent and I opened the hope chest together. We examined china teapots, vintage wedding ring quilts and little “bear chef” salt and pepper shakers. “When are we getting married?” he asked as he so often did. I smiled shyly and thought inwardly, “When are you going to ask me”?
Although we spoke of marriage as if it was a given, and talked about what our future kids might look like and even thought of a few baby names, marriage and all that it entails was on the back burner. (Even if at the forefront of my mind.)
(Above) “This blue and white transfer ware decorative antique tea pot was among the things in my hope chest.”
We were crazy about each other. Yet at eighteen and nineteen, neither of us were ready to be married. I was still in high school, and Kent was in college, a pre-med student at UT. Originally, he wanted to become a surgeon. He told me back then that he was interested in doing some medical mission work as a doctor. I too, was trying to find my calling. Having a heart for music ministry and for Kent, I tried to imagine what our life might be like together.
I thought about him constantly. I carried his photo with me to school. His senior picture was neatly tucked in my Bible. It was a picture of him wearing a tux. During the mundane school days, it was a pleasant indulgence to pull out his portrait and have a good long stare. “Yes I pondered, when ARE we getting married? Distracted from studying I wrote in my spiral notebook the name “Laura Acheson” all down the page.
Since Episode One was first posted on December 17, 2025, I have released short excerpts from my memoirs of our love story. You can also start at the beginning (*recommended) by clicking here: https://laurapsalmistforjesus.wordpress.com/tag/love-story/
Copse and Spinney 
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