Stephanie Rische - I Was Blind (Dating), But Now I See: My Misadventures in Dating, Waiting, and Stumbling into Love

If youve ever been brave enough to outright ask God for the desire of your heart only to be met with what feels like stony silence, this book is for you. Whether youve prayed for a husband or kids or dream job or healing or hope or home and havent heard back, this book is for you. Stephanie asked and God did not answer in any of the ways he could have. Through eight blind dates, God did not change his answer. Instead he changed Stephanie. And if you read her book, Im pretty certain hes going to change you, too.

LISA-JO BAKER

Author of Surprised by Motherhood and community manager for (in)Courage

In I Was Blind (Dating), but Now I See, Stephanies funny, tender, and insightful words take the reader on a journey that points to Gods faithfulness and kindness at every stop along the road. Youll have a blast reading this book youll laugh, youll nod your head, and you may even cringe at some pretty spectacular awkward moments. More than anything, though, youll be encouraged by the compassion and the care of our very good God. Well done, sweet Stephanie!

SOPHIE HUDSON

Author of Home Is Where My People Are and A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet

This is not just a book about dating: Its about living, about not putting your life on hold. But more important, its about surrounding yourself with a spiritual posse mentors, friends, prayer partners, family who will walk with you through the valleys and around the blind corners. Stephanie Rische is one of those people: honest, hilarious, and wise. Her book is a treasure!

SARAH ARTHUR

Author of The One Year Coffee with God and Dating Mr. Darcy

Ive known Stephanie Rische primarily as a fine editor, but it was fun getting to know her as a skilled and entertaining writer! Not only singles but marrieds will readily identify with this engaging book. Stephanie is refreshingly honestly as she addresses, with good humor, lifes awkward moments and unwelcome emotions. Her transparency, charm, and faith in Christ are magnetic. I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it!

RANDY ALCORN

Author of Happiness and Heaven

Finally! An honest look at the journey we call dating. With the winsomeness of a pit bull in a tutu (her words), Stephanie opens her heart and soul to the twists and turns, the anticipation and disappointment of this daunting endeavor. She has the courage to let us in to the parts of her world that most of us work hard to keep hidden, and that is the best gift of all.

NANCY ORTBERG

Author of Seeing in the Dark

If youre struggling to hope that you will ever find Mr. Right, Stephanies story is proof that God is a good Father who gives good gifts to his children. In her book, Stephanie tells honest and humorous dating stories from her single days and the lessons she learned. An encouraging and thought-provoking read for anyone navigating singleness and dating.

PERRY NOBLE

Senior pastor of NewSpring Church and author of Unleash! and Overwhelmed

This book has a piece of my heart, and Stephanie now feels like a dear friend who knows my Starbucks order and shows up at my front door in her pajama-pants just to talk because she knows Ive had a rough day. I laugh-cried through every inch of this book and felt every feeling right along with Stephanie. She has such a gift of bringing each date off the page and into full, living color for me to hold and learn from. I adore her vulnerability. And as I leaned into every story, I was once again reminded of the beauty found in life when we allow our relationships to teach us something deeper about ourselves and how we love.

KASEY VAN NORMAN

Bestselling author of Named by God and Raw Faith

Wise, warm, funny, and deep Stephanie Rische writes in a way that will draw you in and keep you reading. Honest about the ache of being single when you long to be married, she has written a story that will deepen your hope and delight your heart. I loved traveling with Stephanie on her journey from one harrowing blind date to another, with loads of surprising experiences along the way.

ANN SPANGLER

Author of Wicked Women of the Bible

Bad dates, confusion in faith, real sin, fumbling around for grace: It takes guts to lay bare stories like these. It takes wit and charm to do it in a way that reads so endearingly. This book is a delightful telling of how God, in his kindness, allows himself to be seen.

LISA VELTHOUSE

Author of Craving Grace and coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Your Beautiful Heart

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I Was Blind (Dating), but Now I See: My Misadventures in Dating, Waiting, and Stumbling into Love

Copyright 2016 by Stephanie Rische. All rights reserved.

Cover illustration copyright by Nicole Kaufmann. All rights reserved.

Designed by Jacqueline L. Nuez

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked RSVCE are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1965, 1966 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Rische, Stephanie.

I was blind (dating), but now I see : my misadventures in dating, waiting, and stumbling into love / Stephanie Rische.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-4964-0481-7 (sc)

1. Single people Religious life. 2. Single people Conduct of life. 3. Dating (Social customs) Religious aspects Christianity. 4. Marriage Religious aspects Christianity. I. Title.

BV4596.S5R57 2016

248.8432--dc232015030322

Build: 2016-01-11 08:18:01

For Daniel, my last blind date ever