"Once Upon A Time..."

For those of you who know me (Rebekah) I am hardly ever at a loss for words. When it came to writing down my own courtship & engagement story I found that I had way too much to say! And so “short & sweet” turned into “our life story”.

“Keep it brief, “ said Michael, “Maybe two paragraphs or so.”

Well, let’s just say I tried… ;) 

We first met the Thomas family in the Spring of 1990, shortly before I was born. In the beginning our relationship grew slowly ~ but surely! Our father’s shared a love of music, while our mothers shared an interest in natural healthcare, natural foods, and home-schooling. Our families would get together every so often to have dinner and fellowship. Throughout the years there were Mother/Daughter Teas, summer baseball nights, and church parties.

I was twelve in 2002, a lively, energetic girl dreaming of her fairytale future (a dream that included meeting Prince Charming, getting married and having many children :). I started to take notice of Michael, who had recently turned eighteen. He appeared so “grown-up and mature”, and in a moment of girlish fancy I thought: “Hmm, maybe I’ll marry him someday.”  

Four years past… I never told anyone I liked Michael, anyone that is, except my parents. With them I confidentially shared about the attraction I felt. They were understanding, and prayed with me ~ but also encouraged me to control my feelings, guard my heart and wait on the Lord.

In 2006 I began to realize that Michael and I spent a great deal of time talking together. My siblings and I had close, cousin-like relationships with all the Thomas children. Michael and I shared a lot of common interests (gardening, music etc) and could easily wind up in a long conversation. We had developed a friendship and the more we talked the more I appreciated who Michael really was. This made my struggle harder, especially since I didn’t know whether Michael shared the same feelings. After a series of conversations together, my father decided to approach Michael’s father. He knew that if Michael didn’t care for me, my parents would need to take extra-measures to help me control my own emotions.  

In 2007 my father, unbeknownst to my mother or me, met with Mark Thomas and delicately asked him if any of his sons had a particular interest in any of our girls. The answer was a surprising “yes”. In fact, Michael had been praying for some time and was just waiting for me to grow up! Within a year, Michael himself approached my father and asked for his blessing to win my heart. I was seventeen at the time and both our families were busily preparing for the marriage of Melissa Thomas in early July 2008. My parents thought it best to wait until after the wedding to tell me. 

In August, my parents took me out on a dinner date and joyfully informed me that Michael wanted to court me (by using the word “court” I imply a family-involved relationship with marriage as the goal). The news brought astonishment and tears of relief. I couldn’t believe it! For years I had been praying and asking the Lord to work out His perfect plan and He had been working!  

During the next 2½ months of our relationship Michael and I were able to spend a lot of time together ~ there were Sunday afternoon walks, bike rides in Lexington, treks across muddy Cape Cod, even an evening spent weeding the garden. :)  

And so, we come to The Engagement. Being the inquisitive female that I am, I occupied a great deal of time wondering exactly when it would be. There were a few “false alarms” and I was on alert throughout the final weeks of October… but the funny thing is, I was perfectly oblivious when I woke up on Sunday the 26^th and readied for church. Here I’ll insert my (appropriately abridged) journal entry of the day:

October 28^th 2008, Tuesday

…After church on Sunday the Thomas family took me with them for “a walk”. They were rather “undecided” about where we were to go and when we got into the car some of the boys (trying to put me off track) started loudly demanding that we “Go HOME!” It was here that Michael handed me a beautiful bouquet of roses (pinks, reds & yellows) and said, “that since they were kidnapping me for the day, he hoped the gift would sweeten my captivity”. I later learned that the roses, though truly a thoughtful gift (Michael knows how much I love them!), were also another attempt to throw me off my guard. They worked in the reverse, surprising me so much that I began to think, “Hmmm, I wonder?” When it was finally decided that we would be going to Blithewold I was even more suspicious (the Thomas girls, my sisters and I have always talked about how many lovely proposal spots is has ;), but tried not to think about it too much ~ I didn’t want to disappoint myself if Michael didn’t end up proposing. :)

It was a beautiful fall day & there were various groups of people wandering about the grounds. We all walked together down “Lover’s Lane” in various discussions, chatting and taking pictures down by the water. As we crossed the lawn I spied the others impatiently waiting for us by the wooden lawn-chairs (note: it was at that exact same spot that two years before on my 16^th birthday Pa gave me my claddagh ring…). Once again I thought, “hmmm…” and as the minutes moved I became more and more convinced that this might be “it”.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas took a turn getting their pictures taken in the chairs and then~ “Ok, it’s our turn” Michael demanded, and we sat down. While Melanie began snapping shots the rest of the family wandered away down the path, eventually calling her after them to “get a picture of this!” I stood up to follow, glancing back at Michael with an “are you coming?” look.

“Would you like to talk a bit?” He asked,

“Sure,” I replied, plunking myself back down into the seat as the “chaperons” vanished through the trees, “That was easy,” I continued with a giggle… and than we began to talk for 5-10 minutes about “nothing in particular”.

“Well,” I thought, “It would be rather ridiculous if he doesn’t propose now and we eventually just get up and leave.”

I felt like Michael was trying to move the conversation in a particular direction and tried to be as helpful as possible… but I blundered a few times by stupidly changing the subject. Finally we got onto the topic of our courtship: how much fun it had been, how at times it was even rather stressful and etc.

“Well,” Michael said, (I’m paraphrasing here), “Courtship is just another step in a process and no matter how much I‘ve enjoyed this it has got to end sometime.”

“It” had finally come and all I could do was sit back, smile and nod…

Here, as every Jane Austen Fan knows, we leave the couple blissfully alone… :)

And so, after 6 ½ years of waiting and praying my 12-year-old desire has been fulfilled in the Lord’s perfect timing.  I am now engaged to be married to Michael Thomas, a young man who I have known and respected for years as a precious brother-in-Christ, for the past few months as the dearest of suitors and presently as the most wonderful sweetheart! On February 21^st 2009 we shall become man-and-wife… Praise the Lord!

“Trust in the LORD, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the LORD,

And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

 

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,

And your justice as the noonday”

(Psalm 37:3-6) 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And lean not on your own understanding

 

In all your ways acknowledge Him

And He shall direct your paths”

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

“My soul magnifies the LORD and my spirit has rejoiced in GOD my savoir… for He who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation…”

(Luke 1: 46,49-50)