we're getting married

We became friends when we started going to a community group at the Austin Stone. A few people from our group would hang out at coffee shops on early Saturday mornings and talk about how to make a difference in the world. We prayed together, and walked together, and read books together. One weekend, everyone was out of town, so Caleb and I met for our normal Saturday morning coffee and prayer in the park and talked for an hour with an elderly couple. Caleb asked me on a date, and we’ve kept having coffee together ever since.

In the same place we started, Caleb took me on a picnic in the park. He surprised me with homemade food and brownies and sweet tea, all piled in a picnic basket. We sat on a blanket in the shade and read (like we normally do), and we watched the people walking their dogs and flying kites. After a while, we headed to another surprise - the Wildflower Center. I had always wanted to go, but we’d never gotten the chance. We walked the trails and chatted about the flowers, and daddy longlegs and caterpillars. Caleb got quiet and kept saying, “I love you.” Finally, we went up to the tower where you can see all of the Texas hills in the distance. Caleb said he needed to change his camera lens for a wide angle, and I totally believed him. I turned around and he had a ring - not a camera lens! :) He asked me to marry him, and I said yes!

Marriage is a big thing, and so is a wedding. It takes a lot of planning and there are a lot of dresses and venues and cakes to pick out. And although the day is going to be amazing(!) and all about our love story, it’s also just a reflection of the love story each of us have access to, each and every day, through a holy Creator. As cliché as it sounds, we truly do love because He first loved us. :)