Our Trip...and Some Very Big News!

 

We set out.

 

Beautiful Elisha!

 

Eating Lunch!

 

All of us except Elisha : (

And here's the very big news--Erich Ehlinger and I are getting married!

Here's a summary of my side of the story...

May 6th 2012, Dad asked me to have a talk with Mom and himself in the guest house. I was very, very surprised when Dad found it hard to say anything, and then told me that someone was interested in marrying me!

Proverbs 3:5-6 became very meaningful to me as I sought the Lord for wisdom in this hugely important decision. I had liked Erich before, but marriage shouldn't be based on mere liking!

What a blessing it was to have Dad and Mom's guidance and greater knowledge of Erich, and to know that his parents were very much in favor.

"Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

Through the next two months Dad, Mom, and I had many meetings in the guest house before bed to talk. : ) We saw Erich twice within this time period, but because we wanted to be totally sure that this was God's will before we got emotionally involved, we acted toward each other as if nothing was going on. (At least I thought we did at the time )

As much as I had liked the Ehlinger family before, what I saw of them on those two occasions was so much more reassuring/ endearing/ lovable/ exemplary, than ever before. How I look forward to being part of their family!

And all these are very much side issues when compared to the character and maturity displayed in Erich's life. That I should have been chosen was very hard to believe for me,--especially as it began to sink in.

Finally on July 11th, I told Dad my answer was Yes! Our similar views and standards, our families "hitting it off" together, Erich's ability to provide, his wonderful example of being under authority, his humor, work ethic, honor of God and God's laws....

So when Erich asked me if I would go on a walk with him after dinner on the 13th, I said "Sure!" (Of course I should have said "certainly" instead of the slangy "sure")And when he asked me on the walk if I would be betrothed to him--I said yes!

 

Visiting at the Ehlingers!

 

Two very sweet new friends! 

 

Erich and Austin came back with us to attend the Basic Seminar. What a huge blessing to have the whole week to start planning the wedding! 

At the Seminar

 

Back home getting home design ideas... 

 

A suspicious Austin

 

Elisha looks very glamorous here--Andrew's not quite put together.

We found out that doing a registry takes a lot more time than we had to spend--we'd rather talk of other things together.

The park at the Seminar was a nice place to sit before sessions!

 

They had fun too!

 

We spent one morning looking at churches...

 

Deborah's Rose

 

Mrs. C. finds that the orange juice they were selling was mostly corn syrup and water!

 

An appropriate colored shirt here!

 

Something excites Stephen!

 

My husband-to-be!

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalms 8:3-4 

 

We dressed up the morning Erich and Austin left to get a few more posed pictures before they left...

 

And there they go!

 Psalms 37:5-7  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.