I think I knew I would marry him the time he drove across town to hug
me as a sobbed into his shoulder only a few weeks into our
relationship. I had come back from Taiwan a little worse for wear and
was wondering about a whole lot of things. Rob was the stability and
reminder that I needed at that time that God was faithful and good and real.
Hence the fact that the words from our first dance song "God gave me
you for the days of doubt" speaks volumes about the beginning of our
relationship, and I'm sure at times the future of our relationship.
When I think back now about all the times Rob stepped in and hugged me and prayed for me during the first year of our relationship, and now, my eyes fill with joyful tears and my heart swells with love and joy. There was a lot of junk that man had to contend with in that first year, a lot of things that he prayed over me for. And yet as it ended up he still wanted to marry me. And I am a better woman today because of his faithful prayers, truth and encouragement.
It was reading week February 2010 and we went to go visit his parents. We were taking a walk with our "chaperone" (Jericho, their poodle) in the bird conservatory in Peterborough when he turned to me and said, "When do you think you'd want to get married?" I think I resisted the urge to ask him the question right back and thought long and hard about the appropriate answer. "What did he want me to say?" I thought to myself, "Right now is not an appropriate answer, this summer is too soon. Does he think next summer is too soon? What if I say two years from now and miss my chance?" Keep in mind we had just started dating that November.
The coming summer we were heading to the DRC, so I knew that was kind of out of the question. That summer we'd be dating for under a year and I hoped to work at camp one last year.
"Maybe next summer?" I asked tentatively, hoping this was the right answer. Rob grinned and continued walking along calm and collected in typical Rob fashion. I waited a little while until I couldn't hold the question back any longer. "What do you think?" He turned and grinned widely at me, "I was thinking the same thing too." At that point he scooped me up in a big hug and our chaperone stared on at our glee in great disapproval.
The next months flew by and we arrived at the end of exams with only two weeks before we headed off to the DRC. I was excited and nervous, and glad he was coming along. Apparently my mom had said that if we came back still dating than we were going to get married. Nothing like a missions trip to bring people together or tear them apart.
I learned in the Congo how much respect and love I had for him. For his calm character, for his ability to fit in almost any situation, for his leadership, for his humour (it's helpful in tricky situations), for his wisdom and for his prayers, and for his ability to speak French. ;) It was there that it was confirmed for me that he would be a great leader and protector of me and our future family.
It was in the Congo that we also prayed for confirmation that God wanted us to be married. And we were given confirmation. In various forms. Humourous comments ("She will make a big, good wife." was one of them I believe) and encouraging comments (people letting us know they felt comfortable around us). God showed us He knew we had a sense of humour through the way He confirmed it for us.
I remember once we were back and I was talking to one of my best friends in Waterloo Park about the whole Congo experience and I told her of our hopes and plans. What a joyful moment that was! We both cried many happy tears. She knew of the stuff we had gone through to make us strong enough to take this step somewhat early on in our relationship and she shared in that joy with me. (Side note: Man! Am I ever going to miss her when she goes to Thailand...)
Then, in August 2010 when I was back from camp for a weekend, Robert Amirault proposed to me on a beach, away from an audience, on a beautiful sunny day. It was perfectly simple and "us".
My response of "Are you serious!?" was probably not the immediate reaction/answer he was hoping for.
On our way back to the car to head out for our picnic we added "We're engaged!" to the "Alysha Loves Rob" that we had scraped into the sand moments before. Too bad I forgot to take a picture.
When we got back to my
parents house after hiking, picnicking and eating ice cream for the day, we told my
mother. She dragged me around the house by the hand crying happy tears and trying to find her
glasses so she could see the ring. That memory always makes me smile.
The next 10 months-ish were full of wedding planning, future dreaming and wondering just where God was planning on taking us. Then we ended up at that wonderful day I blogged about a few months ago...I seem to be doing this backwards. When I think back on that day and our honeymoon I'm filled with smiles. Especially when I think of driving through the beautiful Pennsylvania, gorgeous I tell you.
Now we are living happily ever after with wonderful hopes for what the future holds and an acknowledgement that we are in the wonderful hands of a loving Father. Praise God. :)
When I think back now about all the times Rob stepped in and hugged me and prayed for me during the first year of our relationship, and now, my eyes fill with joyful tears and my heart swells with love and joy. There was a lot of junk that man had to contend with in that first year, a lot of things that he prayed over me for. And yet as it ended up he still wanted to marry me. And I am a better woman today because of his faithful prayers, truth and encouragement.
It was reading week February 2010 and we went to go visit his parents. We were taking a walk with our "chaperone" (Jericho, their poodle) in the bird conservatory in Peterborough when he turned to me and said, "When do you think you'd want to get married?" I think I resisted the urge to ask him the question right back and thought long and hard about the appropriate answer. "What did he want me to say?" I thought to myself, "Right now is not an appropriate answer, this summer is too soon. Does he think next summer is too soon? What if I say two years from now and miss my chance?" Keep in mind we had just started dating that November.
The coming summer we were heading to the DRC, so I knew that was kind of out of the question. That summer we'd be dating for under a year and I hoped to work at camp one last year.
"Maybe next summer?" I asked tentatively, hoping this was the right answer. Rob grinned and continued walking along calm and collected in typical Rob fashion. I waited a little while until I couldn't hold the question back any longer. "What do you think?" He turned and grinned widely at me, "I was thinking the same thing too." At that point he scooped me up in a big hug and our chaperone stared on at our glee in great disapproval.
The next months flew by and we arrived at the end of exams with only two weeks before we headed off to the DRC. I was excited and nervous, and glad he was coming along. Apparently my mom had said that if we came back still dating than we were going to get married. Nothing like a missions trip to bring people together or tear them apart.
I learned in the Congo how much respect and love I had for him. For his calm character, for his ability to fit in almost any situation, for his leadership, for his humour (it's helpful in tricky situations), for his wisdom and for his prayers, and for his ability to speak French. ;) It was there that it was confirmed for me that he would be a great leader and protector of me and our future family.
It was in the Congo that we also prayed for confirmation that God wanted us to be married. And we were given confirmation. In various forms. Humourous comments ("She will make a big, good wife." was one of them I believe) and encouraging comments (people letting us know they felt comfortable around us). God showed us He knew we had a sense of humour through the way He confirmed it for us.
I remember once we were back and I was talking to one of my best friends in Waterloo Park about the whole Congo experience and I told her of our hopes and plans. What a joyful moment that was! We both cried many happy tears. She knew of the stuff we had gone through to make us strong enough to take this step somewhat early on in our relationship and she shared in that joy with me. (Side note: Man! Am I ever going to miss her when she goes to Thailand...)
Then, in August 2010 when I was back from camp for a weekend, Robert Amirault proposed to me on a beach, away from an audience, on a beautiful sunny day. It was perfectly simple and "us".
My response of "Are you serious!?" was probably not the immediate reaction/answer he was hoping for.
On our way back to the car to head out for our picnic we added "We're engaged!" to the "Alysha Loves Rob" that we had scraped into the sand moments before. Too bad I forgot to take a picture.
I did remember to take this picture though.
The next 10 months-ish were full of wedding planning, future dreaming and wondering just where God was planning on taking us. Then we ended up at that wonderful day I blogged about a few months ago...I seem to be doing this backwards. When I think back on that day and our honeymoon I'm filled with smiles. Especially when I think of driving through the beautiful Pennsylvania, gorgeous I tell you.
Now we are living happily ever after with wonderful hopes for what the future holds and an acknowledgement that we are in the wonderful hands of a loving Father. Praise God. :)
I had to take off my glasses and wipe a tear..of joy..as I read this!
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