Norma Urrabazo: [00:00:00] He said, “I remember when,” he said, he was sharing this one time, “I remember walking through the door and feeling this love just come on me.” He said, “And my heart was melting.” He said, “I couldn’t-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah …

Norma Urrabazo: I couldn’t say

Pasqual Urrabazo: anything.” But, but, but my thing, no, I would say, I would think in my mind, “She’s up to something.”

I had this thinking like, “What is going on? She’s up to something.” You know, like…

Dawn Pruszkowski: Love stories fill us with joy and inspire hope for the future, and a true life romance can remind us that sometimes just one spark is all it takes to change everything

He was addicted and losing control. But when she suddenly changed, that got his attention. Welcome to Unexpected Love Stories. I’m your host, Dawn Prushkowski, and today I am so honored to have Pascual and Norma Urbazo here with us. They are such a precious couple. [00:01:00] Together, Pascual and Norma have ministered nationally and internationally for decades through heartfelt teaching and authentic ministry.

They help people encounter freedom and healing and the transforming power of Father God’s love in such a personal way. ‘Cause as they say, everyone deserves a beautiful life. Now before we begin, I just wanna mention that this interview was filmed during the early days of the podcast when I was just beginning to understand how to run things.

Recently, I revisited and reworked this conversation because Pascual and Norma’s story of restoration, faith, and forgiveness was simply just too powerful not to share. So let’s jump in. Welcome, Norma. Welcome, Pascual. Let’s get into, um, things like how did you guys first meet? But before we got, get to where you first meet, where were you before you knew each other?

Pasqual Urrabazo: You go ahead.

Norma Urrabazo: You want me to say? Yeah, you go

Pasqual Urrabazo: first. [00:02:00]

Norma Urrabazo: We, that’s unconventional love story couple. We’re so not the traditional, uh, you know, love story couple. We don’t have a traditional story. You know, I don’t know where you’re watching or where you’re listening at, but we are in Las Vegas right now. We, we kind of, we kind of feel like we’re, we’re in different cities, uh, ’cause we travel all over, and we consider Vegas one of our homes, and we also consider Texas one of our homes.

And so I say all that to say that, you know, the story is like Las Vegas and all the things you hear about, you know, this and this and that. I was very much that heathen girl, right? And so this heathen girl was, in that season, uh, you know, it, very lost, and I was coming from a broken home, and I was coming from a broken relationship.

And so that’s, that’s where I was. So I didn’t know the Lord. I had never been introduced to His love and His redemption, and so I was very much that wild girl. And, uh, where were [00:03:00] you?

Pasqual Urrabazo: Well, well, I, I grew up in church. Uh, I’ve lived here in Las Vegas all my life, except for two years of it. But, uh, I grew up in Las Vegas.

My p- parents helped plant the first Hispanic church in Las Vegas. It’s just, uh, I was just, grew up in church. And, um, later on in life ended up, uh, walking away from the Lord, and, um, just things tr- went the other way. And so… And that’s what happens. You turn around from, you turn from God, and all of a sudden you end up going a different direction, end up getting lost and, and finding your way back after a while.

And, but I found something that helped me get back on track, and that was Norma. And then we both-

Norma Urrabazo: Mm-hmm. In that moment … came

together,

Pasqual Urrabazo: and we were a hot mess together.

Norma Urrabazo: We were a hot mess together.

Pasqual Urrabazo: We were just a messed up… But like Norma said-

Norma Urrabazo: I know. This has got to be a judgment-free zone, people. So if you’re listening, if you’re watching, this has got to be a judgment-free zone.

Because-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah …

Norma Urrabazo: you know, people that see us now and then hear our story, they’re like, “What?” Like, “No way.”

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah.

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah. If there’s hope for us, there’s hope for [00:04:00] anybody,

Pasqual Urrabazo: okay? Yeah, there is. Mm. There… So I, you know, I just said the word hot mess. Well, you know, when you’re- meet each other, you’re just a hot mess for each other.

And then all of a sudden, you know, things start to work out and, but it takes a little bit of work. And our story has lots of twists and turns, but we can say that there is restoration, there is recovery, and, um, it’s just getting on that right track back again.

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah. So we, we met because my husband had, um, suffered a- an accident, a motorcycle accident, and so he was managing a video store.

Yeah. Actually, that’s, I mean, if that’s, if you really want me to get into the nitty-gritty, and then I went into the video store, and then that’s when, that’s how we met. Yeah. So we met, he was coming out of a really hard, uh, season in his life. Um, you know, he was coming out of a divorce and then, and then I, I was a hot mess like, like he was.

That, I mean, that’s probably the best way of explaining it. We became good friends, and there was something about him that I [00:05:00] absolutely loved, and it was that he just had this love for life. I just wanted to be around him all the time, right?

Dawn Pruszkowski: Mm-hmm.

Norma Urrabazo: And he was having these barbecues and, you know, he would have like volleyball barbecues and volleyball games in the backyard.

And so we, we would all, we would go over because he was just the, uh, that fun guy, you know, that fun person. And even though, I mean, he was going through a really tough season in his life and he was struggling with major addictions, um, and, you know, major things that I was really naive to, really unaware to, um, at, in that, in, at my young age, um, we totally, um, I just, again, it was just something that, that, that was drawing me to be with him.

And so eventually we, we started a relationship and we moved in together in a b- in pure Vegas style, right? So we moved in together at just like, “Okay, we’re, we’re gonna be a [00:06:00] couple. Let’s just get together,” and so we did. So we lived together for two years- That’s right … before we got married. And then, um, so I guess at that point, it’s when li- like our story really shifted because we were just living life, you know, like people do, you know, in the world all the time.

Like, like I said, this is not a typical story. So we, we were just living life and then, you know- Of course, his family was, you know, trying to understand, like, “What is going on?” Like, “You married this girl,” like, “What, what,” you know, “What are you thinking,” right? “What were you thinking?” And for me, I wasn’t think- I was just having fun.

I was just having a good time.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Okay, you, what was it that, um, made you decide to get married? Because now in today’s, today’s society, they think, you know, people think, “Why get married? We’re living together. It’s just the way- Okay … that it is.” So what, what was it that made you take that step?

Norma Urrabazo: I’m, I’m getting there.[00:07:00]

So basically-

Dawn Pruszkowski: Okay …

Norma Urrabazo: we were just living together. Everything was fine. We didn’t… We were just having a good time. We loved each other. Yeah. We were committed to each other. We were raising our children that we had brought into the relationship together. Um, he had a son and I had a daughter, and so we were living like a family.

It was like, “This is awesome.” And then his sister decides to invite me to this revival service. And so I, sitting in the back, guy’s just preaching up a storm, you know. I don’t understand what’s going on. All I know- … is the diary, and he’s like, “Ah, la, la,” you know. And I’m sitting in the back, and then when he’s, gets ready and he’s doing the altar call, Dawn, and everybody listening, I’m like I think he’s talking to me.

I, I’m not even kidding you. It was like nobody else existed in that moment. That word was coming right to me. And he’s doing this altar call, and I feel the presence of God. I don’t know what’s going on. I feel my s- my heart all of a sudden has [00:08:00] broken open. I’m… I… All I know is that I’m, I wanna run up there.

I wanna go up there. So I look over to my sister-in-law and I was like, “I think he’s talking to me. I, I, I can’t believe it.” And she goes, “What?” And I go, “Yeah.” She goes, “You wanna go forward?” And I said, “I, I think so.” I mean, I don’t wanna, I don’t know. I mean, go forward for what? You know, what are they gonna give you, a prize?

So, you know, I wasn’t- So then in that moment he prays for me, repeat the prayer. I repeat the prayer. He lays hands on me, and I, I’m just put full of the h- full of the Lord, full of the Spirit. Then after that when the service ended, they did, like, a dinner and, you know, they had dinner and stuff for everyone.

And then when I went back to the house, I felt so different. I felt- Yeah … like, you know how when you feel the presence of God kinda like wrapping around you, and I felt the presence of God and I felt clean. I felt new. I felt l- loved. I felt just like I had a blanket of love on me, and I [00:09:00] didn’t want to, like, come out of that bubble.

You know what I’m saying?

Pasqual Urrabazo: So- It’s a whole different-

Norma Urrabazo: It was a whole different… So after that, I, I, I, like, immediately knew. I had a sense that-

Pasqual Urrabazo: You need to get married …

Norma Urrabazo: I needed to do something different with my life. Mm. Some things had to change. And I remember going to him, you know, very, you know, shortly after that and saying, “Hey, you know what?

Like, this is awesome and all, but we need to get married. Like, we need to make this right. If this is, you know, if this is it, then we need to make this right.” And so we went, and in full Vegas style, we just went d- we just one night just decided in the middle of the night, “Tonight, right now, let’s go.” Uh-huh.

And we went down to the justice of the peace, and we got married. I mean, just the two of us, and the Lord, obviously. And, and we didn’t really tell anybody for a few months that we had done that- No … because we were like, “You know, people are gonna think something’s wrong. You know, they’re gonna think all these crazy…”

And I was working at the church, and we had a, um, it was like a couples dinner at one of the pastor’s house. [00:10:00] And, um, very long ago, in the very beginning when we, I first started w- working there, I think you were already working there as well. Mm-hmm. And, um, they had this dinner, and it was like, “Bring your wedding picture,” you know, so it’s f- And so in that moment, I was like I had this moment of, like, recognizing, like, I don’t have one.

Like- Mm-hmm … I don’t have a wedding picture. I don’t have this, I don’t have that. And then I started feeling bad that I didn’t have that. And so I told Pascual, “What, what should I do?” “Oh, let’s take one of those pictures that we took at a Christmas party right before we got married.” And so we brought the picture, and it was he and I standing in front of a Christmas tree at some party for one of your jobs, and we were just kinda standing there.

I was wearing pink, and you were wearing a suit. And then, um, when we were at this party and everybody was showing their wedding albums and, you know, the beautiful bride with a veil and, you know, all these things that you, you know of as the trad- the tradition, and there was our picture, and we were just kinda like, “Hey,” you know?

And it was just me and like… [00:11:00] And it wasn’t until years later when I started going to… When I, when I think I made a dec- the decision when my, when our daughter, our youngest daughter was born, that something had to be, like, different really. And in order for that to happen, I had to make changes. Because at that time, our life had taken, like, a spiral t- it spiraled down, down, down.

And Pascual, I mean, you can share-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah, yeah …

Norma Urrabazo: this part of your life.

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah. Well, uh, the, the thing was, um, there’s something that you brought up earlier that’s really important to know that, um… You said There’s a, it’s a song, Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Mm-hmm.

Pasqual Urrabazo: We’re two people. She was looking for love in all the wrong, and I was the other person looking another, for all the wrong reasons.

And all of a sudden you have this encounter. You meet, you meet, we meet each other, then one of us [00:12:00] has an encounter with Jesus, and then all of a s- next thing you know I have this encounter with Jesus. But it, it’s interesting that how you’re out there looking, you try everything. You know, there’s some people that go from, uh, bar to bar.

Some people go from club to club. Some people go from different things-

Norma Urrabazo: Project to project. Church to church.

Pasqual Urrabazo: Church to church. Anything, yeah. Looking for this something to be filled with. Mm-hmm. And, but when God puts you with another person, that they encounter what the love is, what they were missing, and all of a sudden things change, so it’s two, two f- it’s a friction there.

Next thing you know, you’re changing and you become one. So I believe out of all this that’s happened in our lives, that we were able to found, find that true love, what true love is. What we thought was love was not love. It’s, it was, you know, totally different things. But I believe that God had a plan in all this, connecting us together to make sure we get on the right path.[00:13:00]

So I hope that makes sense, uh-

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah, but in, in that season when I was growing in the Lord, our life was a total contradiction. You know, my husband’s addiction had spiraled- Yeah, yeah … and really he was on the verge of death. I mean, he-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah. I was a mess.

Norma Urrabazo: There was a lot of-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah. I was drinking quite a bit. I was doing drugs and ended up just a mess.

Um, just, you know, almost just where I almost di- uh, died a couple times and- Mm-hmm … been in some accidents and all that. But it was just that, I believe the prayers of a praying wife and family members that shifted my thinking. And next thing you know I woke up one morning, I said, “Take me to church ’cause something’s gonna happen.

Either I’m gonna hurt somebody or so- I’m gonna hurt myself more. I just need to change.”

Norma Urrabazo: I remember in, in 1996, it was in April, I had made up my mind that I was gonna leave, like no matter what. Like, I was like, “This is it.” Mm-hmm. Like, I can’t live like this anymore. So, and this is not, you know, I

Dawn Pruszkowski: don’t- [00:14:00] This is…

When were you married?

Norma Urrabazo: In 1989. ‘

Dawn Pruszkowski: 89.

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Yeah. Okay, so this is like seven years into the marriage.

Norma Urrabazo: Yes.

Dawn Pruszkowski: And then about nine years into the relationship.

Norma Urrabazo: Correct. Correct.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Okay. All right. ‘Cause I was thinking, and I was thinking too for people who don’t understand, um, we talk about putting in the work, it would be almost like- saying, “I want to lose weight,” or, “I wanna get fit,” but they don’t want to put in the work.

Right. They don’t want to change their diet. They don’t wanna go to the gym. They don’t wanna get out and walk. They don’t want to say no to, you know, dessert every night or whatever. Um, and that’s, you know, that’s just not gonna work. I mean, you, you, you can say, “I want something instantly. I want instant change, so I’m gonna go, you know, get liposuction,” or whatever.

But [00:15:00] if you don’t change your life, you don’t change that, the, you know, it’s, and put the work into it- Yeah … it, ’cause it takes work. Absolutely. So I’m just, yeah, just trying to, to connect- Yeah … you know, what, what you’re saying about a change here and here-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Right …

Dawn Pruszkowski: with, with what, uh- Well, and for me- … almost everyone struggles with.

Norma Urrabazo: For me, it was not just a change in here and here. It was a change in here because I think my m- my words had to change as well in the way I related to him, even in the struggles that he was… I mean, it’s funny how when we tell the story, when I hear him tell the story, he just says, “Something changed.” Okay?

Something changed, you know? Yeah. And so what happened is that day I had gone to church, it was in… I have my little journal from ’96. I used to write everything down in my journal. You know, the little calendar journals, and it’s like this is the date. Mm-hmm. So on this day, what happened is I had already made up my mind, like, [00:16:00] “Lord, your grace is gonna cover me,” right?

I’m learning, right? I’m learning the word of God. So your grace is gonna cover me. Now I’m not a proponent of women staying in abusive relationships, physically abusive, and, uh, none of that. Like, so that is not what I’m talking about, okay? And I know that, and I don’t share this story with judgment. I share it full of hope because if it doesn’t relate to your marriage, it’ll relate to your family, it’ll relate to whatever situation you’re in.

Like, when God gives you a word to hang on to hope, you gotta hang on, you gotta hang on to it, and you have to fight for whatever that breakthrough is. So I do want to say that right there, okay? So this was in April. Then I had pretty much decided that I couldn’t, I couldn’t hang on anymore. I remember going to church that day crying, and then at the end of the service the pastor comes down from the pulpit, and he walked right over to me and, you know- He just stood right in front of me and he goes, “Listen,” he said, “I, I think I ha- I think God is [00:17:00] saying that this year, this year your husband’s coming back.”

Yeah. “This, this year.” And so he, he was very, like, uncertain about what he was saying , you know? ‘Cause kinda like, you know, when somebody tells you s- you… And you’re hurting, you know, you’re gonna take that word to the bank. The

Pasqual Urrabazo: Christ.

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah. So when he released, when the pastor released this word, I immediately felt, like, hope fill me.

And, like, it felt- Oh, good … like strength fill me. And when I walked away from the altar, I had this determination on me that it was like, “It’s on.” Yeah. Right? It is on. And I remember… I wish I could say that h- the next day he woke up and everything was great. That’s not what happened. Mm-hmm. And it, and in some sense, in some sense, you know, it got worse because then at that point I could tell that it was really a life and death struggle.

Because I remember not long after that happened, you went through s- like a [00:18:00] really… We thought he had died. Like, he, you know, he was- Mm. .. overdose situation, but I didn’t understand what was happening because it was happening in our home. And, um, I was like, “Man,” like, “this is really a b- battle for his life,” you know?

And I would remem- I remember he would come home and I would cry out to God, “Give me grace. Lord, you said you see him differently. Help me to love him. I wanna love him with no condition. I wanna just pour love and grace upon him.” And so he would come in, and instead of fighting with him and, a- you know, and, like, antagonizing, like causing, you know, more of a d- drama situation that really never led anywhere but, you know, worse fights and so on and so forth, I just started saying, you know, “I love you,” you know, “Can I make you dinner?

Would you like this?” Or, you know, “Would you like,” you know, “to rest?” And so then that, even though he was intoxicated and out of, you know, not in his right mind, that moment of the reality of the love that [00:19:00] was coming through from me, like it was supernatural. I wish I could say it was all me. It wasn’t. Like, I would cry out to God and I would say, “What is…”

You know, and I would for a moment, sometimes I would run to the bathroom and I would just pray and ask God, “Give me a, give me another… Give, I need more strength. And what, you know, what should I say? What should I do?” Mm. And so then I started really pouring love upon him and then, you know, he says… When, when he shared this testimony one time from church, he said that he started coming home, he says, “And I…”

He s- he said, “I knew that I knew that God had done something different in her because she started to love me without any kind of restriction.”

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah. And he says- What ha- what, what it is is that when you s- you come home and, you know, some, some couples, you know, the man Doesn’t wanna walk in the door ’cause the first thing he’s gonna get is probably something’s hap- there’s gonna be a confrontation.

So once that changes, when I walked into the house and she wasn’t confronting me or saying anything to me- [00:20:00] Come at him. And I, I said, “Uh-oh. Some- she’s up to something. Something’s happening here.” I started to recognize all that. And, uh, because I was so used to coming home and it getting totally the opposite.

Norma Urrabazo: Sure. We were engaging in different

Pasqual Urrabazo: kinds of- And so then- … conversations … and I noticed that that wasn’t happening anymore. And, um, I, I believe it was the love of Christ through her killing me softly.

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah. He says that he- He says he’s being- With her

Dawn Pruszkowski: words?

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah. He, he felt like… He said, “I remember,” he said, he was sharing this one time, “I remember walking through the door and feeling this love just come on me.”

He said, “And my heart was melting.” He said, “I couldn’t-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah …

Norma Urrabazo: I couldn’t say

Pasqual Urrabazo: anything.” But, but, but my thing, no, I would say, I would think in my mind, “She’s up to something.” That’s because all I had was thinking like, “What is going on? She’s up to something.” You know? Like, I’m trying to figure it out. Plotting

Dawn Pruszkowski: something, yeah.

Pasqual Urrabazo: Coming from a man’s perspective, a, a husband- Yeah … is that scripture clearly [00:21:00] says the act of kindness turns people to repentance. The act of love can turn things around. And we s- feel, start feeling this love and not the other s- not, not the other part, all of a sudden you go like, “Hmm. Uh, this sort- this does feel good.”

Mm-hmm. You know, you start to like it’s okay to come home and be hugged, uh, instead of getting the other. Something’s going on here. It’ll change you. But I, I believe it’s that one of the things is that what we s- what Norma spoke to me, you know, I believe the miracle’s in your mouth. Mm-hmm. What you speak is who you are.

So she, when she start, instead of saying something, the opposites, coming like, “Hi, honey, I’m glad you’re home. Let me make you something to eat.” And I would- So this does not compute. Something’s wr- something’s wrong here. I, my-

Norma Urrabazo: And I’m a fiery person. So that- I’m not that kind of person that’s just

Pasqual Urrabazo: gonna lay down

so then all of a sudden- I mean … all of a sudden things start to [00:22:00] change because it’s also the words. ‘Cause the Bible talks about this. It says, it’s, it, there’s a, it’s a proverb. It goes, “A foolish woman can tear her home down.”

Dawn Pruszkowski: Mm-hmm.

Pasqual Urrabazo: It’s not that she tears it down physically, it’s with her words. She can build or tear down.

And next thing you know is that I’ve, she’s just loving me unconditionally, and I could feel this love, and it’s getting to me, but I would fight it. I would fight it because I c- it was hard for me to receive that love because of my past issues.

Norma Urrabazo: Mm-hmm.

Pasqual Urrabazo: See, and today I s- me and Norma speak about s- this message we got.

It’s called Our Past is Not Our Future. And many couples think that the, whatever happened back there is their future now. That, your past doesn’t need you anymore, your future does. And so, and I believe that her words is the ones that started to… I, I, you know that old song called You’re Killing Me Softly?

It’s by- Mm-hmm. Uh, it’s, it- Yeah … it’s an old song. Well, anyway- Yeah … all this love was, like, was killing everything that was [00:23:00] negative, everything that was not good. It was mo- removing all that piece by piece, little by little, just, just changing me around. And I believe that I got to that point where that one Sunday morning I got up, I said, “Hey, you need to take me to church,” and these were my words: “Either I’m gonna kill somebody, or someone’s gonna end up killing me.”

I was like, I couldn’t see, like, the future, my destiny. I was just day by day with, no, would have this thing on me. I don’t, I couldn’t expl- I could explain it- Yeah … but that’s another, that’s,

Norma Urrabazo: that’s

Pasqual Urrabazo: another topic. That’s another

Norma Urrabazo: story. And we’ve, we actually made a commitment that long ago that it’s like even though we’ve been married, you know, 35 years now, it’s, we’re coming on 36 very soon, uh, in another month or so.

And so, um, we have a commitment that, and we talk about pretty much everything, but if we ever get to the point that we can’t see through things, and we have a couple that is, like, our best friends, [00:24:00] um, you know, that we are very accountable to. And so when we, um, you know, have conversations that we can’t break through or we can’t both come to agreement, even if it doesn’t mean we always agree with each other- Yeah

you know, then we go to our friends. And then if together we can’t, like, talk about it, they’re pastors, and w- if we can’t process through and get through to, you know, to break through, then we, we will go to a counselor. That’s right. So we’re not, we’re not exempt. We don’t think that that’s a one and done thing.

In some seasons it was more intense, and so now it’s like we have a commitment that if we ever get to a place where- We just can’t. We’re so committed to each other, and we’re so committed- Mm-hmm … to our marriage- Well, yeah … that we’re gonna do whatever it takes to press through. And not a lot, not a lot of people will do that.

Yeah. It’s not … It’s harder to do that. Yeah. It’s harder to make that commitment-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah …

Norma Urrabazo: even after 35 years of marriage, and to do it, Don.

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah. What

Norma Urrabazo: happens is this- Especially when you get older, right?

Pasqual Urrabazo: What happens is this. A strong marriage is built on two good forgivers.

Norma Urrabazo: Mm, mm-hmm. [00:25:00]

Pasqual Urrabazo: But there’s some times that you’re gonna need a third party.

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah.

Pasqual Urrabazo: You know, you’re gonna need that, even though-

Norma Urrabazo: Even though you pray together- Yeah … even though you talk everything through.

Pasqual Urrabazo: But we, we learned, we learned that we, we don’t attack each other. We attack the problem.

Norma Urrabazo: Mm-hmm.

Pasqual Urrabazo: So the problem could be some issue, something happened or, or, uh, something like that.

Just go after that. But we learned to forgive one another if it’s anything between us, because when there’s unforgiveness in there, that’s just the whole … Opens up a lot of things. So that’s-

Dawn Pruszkowski: Oh, yeah. Have you lived an unforgettable love story? We wanna hear it. In Unexpected Love Stories, we’re collecting real stories of love that came out of nowhere or changed everything.

Whether it started with a glance, a prayer, or a second chance, your story matters, and it could inspire the world. Visit unexpectedlovestories.com and share your love story today, because the world needs more stories

Norma Urrabazo: like yours.[00:26:00]

Dawn Pruszkowski: I think one of, some of the things that you said, like that you’re building something. Sorry, using my hands a lot ’cause I’m building something. Because I, I think that, uh, a lot of people get married and then they think, “Our love will carry us through,” or there’s, you know, how do we, we, we just do life now And, um, I like what you said, Pascual, about, um, you know, you’re going day by day.

It’s not, um… You’re not, like, able then to see the future. You’re not able to build. Things can come in and attack you-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Uh-huh …

Dawn Pruszkowski: you know, ’cause you don’t have vision for the future.

Norma Urrabazo: I grew up in Mexico and he grew up in America, and our families were, uh, there are many similarities, but very different culturally.

And then it was [00:27:00] like, okay, now we have another culture shock of, like, all the things that he’s talking about that I have no idea, I have no grid for because I didn’t grow up that way, you know? So this is where, you know, Pascual always talks about the commandments of marriage, communication, communication, communication.

He’s like, “Here’s what you do. Communication, communication, communication.” He goes, “If you don’t communicate…” And then like, for me, I was the person that I was like, I would shut down and I would close up, uh, ’cause that’s what we did in my culture.

Pasqual Urrabazo: You don’t- What I would, what I would say to Norma, the, the Ten Commandments of marriage are commu- are communicate.

It goes communicate, communicate, communicate, communicate. If there’s no communication, all lines are down.

Norma Urrabazo: All lines are down.

Pasqual Urrabazo: So now you’re guessing.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Absolutely.

Pasqual Urrabazo: Now you’re… Now you’re assuming. Go ahead, uh, yeah.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Mm-hmm. I was gonna… And then, and communicate doesn’t mean talk to. It means- Right … talk with and listen.

Yeah.

Norma Urrabazo: Mm-hmm.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Yes. You know? And a lot of people are like, “Well, I’m talking. I… What? I’m communicating. I’m talking to him. I’m talking, I’m talking, I’m talking, I’m talking, I’m talking.” But are you listening? [00:28:00] But it’s

Norma Urrabazo: not… Are you listening? Yeah, and then the interpretation, okay? Because remember, like- Exactly … if you talk to me, even though I know you’re talking to me and you’re listening to me, and he would get really close to me, and he would want to resolve things right away, and I would be like, “Ugh,” like, you know, like, “What?”

You know, and then I would… Then, you know, all that stuff rises up, that it’s like- Mm-hmm … “Get out of my…” You know, that kind of, “Get out of my space and move back,” or whatever. It’s like, whoa, we’re not fighting each other. Like, we’re trying to get through something. But in my, in my world, you didn’t do that, you know, as a woman.

You just be quiet. Like, just shut up and hold onto it. Like, just, “You’re a strong woman. That makes you strong.” And it’s like, no, that didn’t make me strong. It made me, uh, uh, closed up, resent- resentful, angry, bitter, and I don’t want none of that. I want all that out. Mm-hmm. I want it all to come out. I don’t want to live the rest of my life with that capped up inside of me.

It’s like, this is the courage that I… You know, we talked about earlier, like, the courage that you have to have to have- Mm-hmm … these moments where you’re looking at each other, where [00:29:00] you’re processing these things. And then it’s like, okay, like, we’re not, you know, okay, sometimes it… ‘Cause sometimes when you can be right once and you think you’re always right, but you’re not always right.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Aren’t we always right? Isn’t that… Yeah.

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah, but-

Dawn Pruszkowski: Yeah …

Norma Urrabazo: good times, huh?

Dawn Pruszkowski: Oh. Agreed. So, so you had the beautiful tr- traditional Las Vegas wedding. Um, just a question, um, did you ever take a honeymoon? Did you ever Get to have a, like a wedding celebration with the rec- or like a reception with-

Norma Urrabazo: No …

Dawn Pruszkowski: being celebrated?

Norma Urrabazo: No. Ooh. And actually- Hmm … you know, like, I’ll be honest with you, I remember the first time after, you know, well, like I said, when that shame came on, I started longing for that, right? You know, you start seeing… And it wasn’t until, [00:30:00] um, our children started getting married and started, we started seeing that the beauty and, you know, really even the whole, the, the importance of the covenant and how important it is to see the different process of the covenant take place as, you know.

But again, you know, a different grid because now we’ve raised our children with those expectations when the w- with those, you know, things that in, in themselves that they would, that they would long for that i- in their own lives. Mm. So then of course it was like, oh man, like, you know. But I remember it was in 2007 that we first did our, you know, when we were mar- when we did our vow renewal at the church, and it was like a massive vow renewal.

Everybody and their brother was doing because it was like 7/7/7, and it was the call. And you know, they did this big wedding ceremony, blah, blah, blah. And my husband had surprised me. [00:31:00] It w- it was so wei- it was so random because like, “Let’s, let’s do a renew our vows. Okay, let’s renew our vows.” And everybody’s, everybody…

So there was like, um, Pasqual and I and this other couple, Pastor Frank and Linda Holland, um, I think you know them. We renewed our vows that day in front of that group of people that was there in our church at, at this prayer meeting, and my husband had surprised me and purchased this beautiful ring, and that I never had.

I mean, I, w- he gave me a ring when we got married, but it was like, you know, like a special somewhere you know? It was like that kind of thing. You know, a special from somewhere, and I think the diamond fell off at some point. I don’t even know if it was what it was. But anyways, um- He brought me this beautiful ring, and then I was like, I was crying.

I was overwhelmed with th- the, his thoughtfulness and, you know, and all of that. And I remember we were just wearing, like, T-shirts and jeans. And, you know, I have that desire, I just have not materialized it. And I think when, when it was, like, our 25th anniversary, I was like, “We should [00:32:00] do something.” And then, you know, we were so busy in that season.

We were busy with everything, and we didn’t really prioritize it. And then last year he did buy me a nice ring, and he got on his knee, and he proposed to me like a proper man

Dawn Pruszkowski: would.

Norma Urrabazo: Aw. So he did that, and that brought tears to… And I was like, “After all these years,” you know what I’m saying? So someday, yes, I wanna do that.

I would love to do something beautiful, and with a dress and all that. I mean, I don’t know, maybe it’s always deep down inside it’s every girl’s dream, but yeah. So w- what

Dawn Pruszkowski: goes on between- I think, I think, I think part of that is because it shows, um, that you’re the prize.

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah.

Dawn Pruszkowski: You’re, or you’re prized, you’re precious, you’re…

Um, and, and that’s why, I think is why the women, that’s why women want that. It’s- Yeah Yeah … it’s kind of like that whole thing of you are the one that I desire. You’re the one I’ve longed for. You’re the beautiful o- you know, like, there’s just, like, the whole thing a- about it. [00:33:00] And, um, and then of course the beautiful thing to see the groom when he first sees his

Pasqual Urrabazo: f-

Dawn Pruszkowski: His bride

bride-to-be coming down, and the tears and stuff. It’s just such a beautiful,

Norma Urrabazo: it

Pasqual Urrabazo: is- Yes, it is

Dawn Pruszkowski: Yeah.

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah. Well, I mean, we have stuff. We, we do spend a lot of time together, uh, even more than traveling all over for ministry. We do go on a lot of va- like, you know, it’s like we didn’t have that one honeymoon, but now we got…

We’re making up for it, like, for the rest of our life. So we don’t, we don’t long for travel in that regard or for special moments. I think that’s one thing that I can say, you know, going back to the love language. It’s like Pascual is such a lover, and he’s such a gift giver, and he’s such a… He’s, he’s the guy that just, you know, just does, overdoes s- the special things and, and he knows I love that.

So that is very much-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah, I know she knows it.

Norma Urrabazo: So he does, does all the nice things. And then I, you know, obviously love him, and adore him, and [00:34:00] speak his language, and all that stuff, so. But it is, it is, uh, it is… Maybe in the future, you know? Who knows?

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Okay. All right. Well, I just wanna tell our friends here to please make sure to visit our website, unexpectedlovestories.com, so you can see the photos of Norma and Pascual.

As you know, it’s not gonna be their wedding photos. Um, as, as well as read more about, well, what they do and how to connect with them. The link is in our episode pa- uh, guide. Down in our show notes, you’ll see there’s just a little link. Click it, and it’s gonna take it to their episode page. Um, and while you’re at the website, I want you to be sure to catch up on the stories of other couples, and also download that free gift that I have for you.

And if you’re saying to yourself, “Hey, you know what? I’ve got a really great love story,” please be sure to share it on our website, and just maybe you’ll be a future guest on the podcast. So let’s finish this up with Norma and Pascual. [00:35:00] And you said you’ve been married for 35 years now, right?

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yes. Yes.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Okay, going on 36.

That’s awesome. Um, would you share some of the ways that, um, people who are looking for love or are in the early stages of a relationship, um- Some just words of advice that you would have for them.

Norma Urrabazo: I would say, um, be- become a friend to the person first. Obviously, we all say that, sounds so cliche. Mm-hmm.

Spend time around them and, you know, watch their lives, not just around you, but around other people. Um, really get to know the person in, from all angles and all perspectives so that you can kind of understand. And go after the person that you see that is full of joy and really treats you well, the person that is interested in your dreams, and that, that is interested in what y- you know, [00:36:00] helping you become the best version of yourself.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Yeah.

Norma Urrabazo: Um, but that’s, that’s what I would say. I would say spend ti- take the time to see, see that person from different angles and really, uh, you know-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah …

Norma Urrabazo: see how your friends interact with that person. Yeah. And see, see what that looks like for you.

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah. Yeah. I, I think it’s the same thing. Just get to know the person, get to know their families, uh, get to know who they hang around with.

Um, what, what, what are, do they go to church? Do, what are their activities? You know, uh, what would you guys like to do together? Just get to know each other, and don’t make quick decisions. You know, take your time and, and, uh, ’cause time is valuable. You know, we can replace money, we can replace all kinds of things, but time we cannot replace.

So make sure it counts. And that’s, that’s what I would say.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Mm. Love that. So anything else you’d like to say that we didn’t cover?

Pasqual Urrabazo: I would say, uh, the best is yet to come.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Mm.

Pasqual Urrabazo: You know, uh, your [00:37:00] future is bright. Uh, s- just get on the right path, pretty good. But be ready to change some things, though, because- Mm

to get further into ahead, sometimes you must let go of the things of the past. Mm. And a lot of things people try to live their pa- their future in their past, and it’s not gonna work. Uh, especially if it’s negative, uh, things are not just terrible, you don’t wanna take that into your future. So focus forward.

Your past does not need you anymore, your future does, and I believe the best is just ahead.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Mm, that’s wonderful. And I know that a lot of people are gonna be touched by your story.

Norma Urrabazo: Mm.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Um, so would you just share with them quickly how they can get in touch with you?

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah. We are, both of us are on social, so Instagram, Facebook, or our website is beautifullifeglobalministry.org.

I think. God, now I’m forgetting it. But you, I’m sure you’ll list it there. Um-

Dawn Pruszkowski: Yes, it’s on the website.

Norma Urrabazo: I apologize. I’m like, “Okay, what is [00:38:00] it?” That’s okay. Beautiful Life Ministries. And so you can just find us on, um, beautifullifeglobal.org. There you go. Mm. Beautifullifeglobal.org. And, uh, yeah, and I mean, we, we’re, Pascual’s really active on Facebook, so I mean, just-

Pasqual Urrabazo: Yeah

find us … no, I believe every- everybody’s life should be beautiful.

Norma Urrabazo: Yeah.

Pasqual Urrabazo: I’m not saying it’s gonna be perfect, but it should have some- something beautiful in it.

Norma Urrabazo: Yes.

Pasqual Urrabazo: God created us to be beautiful people. No matter what you look like or whatever, God says you’re beautiful in His eyes. And I believe we’re supposed to have a beautiful life.

Enjoy the time that we’re here on this earth. Yes. That’s really what Beautiful Life, uh, our ministry, is helping people, uh, just be- find out that beautiful thing that they have in them and just move forward- Mm … to destiny.

Dawn Pruszkowski: Remember, some of the most beautiful love stories are built one step at a time through forgiveness, healing, faith, and the decision to not give up on each other.

Now, if this story [00:39:00] encouraged you, would you share it with just one person that may be struggling in their marriage or walking through an addiction, or may be believing in the healing of their relationship? And be sure to hit the subscribe button so that you never miss a single story, because every love story is different, and each one has the power to inspire us in unexpected ways.

I hope your heart feels lighter and full of hope after hearing this beautiful story, because, you know, sometimes the best love stories are the ones we never saw coming. So keep your heart open, because love truly is waiting for you. We’ll see you next time. Bye.