i'm sure on the way back home from our house you and your DH had something to say about me and DH, so please write me your thoughts about it if you have the time. I'm not sure if i clarified what i meant , when i told you .=) big smiles

-- jillian (daffodil_skunk83@hotmail.com), December 03, 2001

Answers

Jillian, dear, I am not sure why you chose to ask this on the forum, but I will answer you in the form of an open letter to every one else who might benefit from whatever I write.

Tom and I both have been impressed with Daniel H. We have also been blessing God all over the place for how He has changed your life so totally around. Before I ever met you, you were on my prayer list because of your uncle's concern for you. We thought we were going to lose you to the world in the worst way. But God changed all that, and now you are doing your best to stay close by His side.

We had a few anxious moments when you said you were "just friends" with another young guy who cared not for the things of God. We prayed a lot, and I watched for opportunities to offer carefully-chosen words. That relationship came to an end with your glad surrender of it to Christ.

It seems as though not much time passed before Daniel surprised you with his interest in you. We have watched and prayed as the two of you sorted out your feelings toward one another. You both have tried to stay focused on the Lord's plan for your life, and in so doing you have grown in a deeper relationship to each other.

Now you have taken your "official" relationship a little further so that you are now "officially" more than "just friends". You both have high school to finish, and then Daniel plans to go on to Bible college. He wants to be a pastor some day. You want whatever the Lord wants. You will both continue to write letters, call each other on the phone, and e-mail back and forth. Those written messages, whether short e-mail notes or longer written epistles, will reveal a lot, each to the other, in ways face-to-face conversation cannot. The two of you will be separated by long, sometimes lonely, miles, but the letters will keep you close in heart.

When you began to tell me of your latest communication with Daniel, I knew by the shine in your eyes and the blush of your cheeks what you wanted to say. I am sorry that we were in the middle of putting coats on little ones and trying to get them out the door. I wanted to pull you aside and question you further, but that will have to wait for a less hectic time.

The next time Daniel is up this way, I would love to have you all over for dinner. Tom and I would like to get to know him more, to make him as much a part of our family as you are.

As to what Tom and I discussed on the way home.... I asked him when he planned to be officially ordained (we are waiting for immigration to go through). You can make your own inferences as to why I would ask that question just then....

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), December 04, 2001.

I'm so happy that Jillian's post was about something that has made her eyes sparkle! I'm relieved too that everything is going well for Cathy and her family.

Jillian, I remember how I wanted the time to go faster when I was a teenager. I also remember how I hated to be far away from someone who was special to me. Be patient and pray. If God wants you to be this this young man, it will happen. If not, He has someone else picked out for you.

-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), December 05, 2001.

Hello Cathy dearest, i only asked you on here ,because you were saying before that you had computer problems, so i figured you would check this email , thread, than your own. If i was wrong. forgive me. But I am soo thankful from Gods work in my life as well, and the people who have encouraged me to live right for God. Theres more i have to say, but i have to go meet Jamie. she'll be at church tonight with me. pray for her.

-- jillian (daffodil_skunk83@hotmail.com), December 05, 2001.

JillyBean, here's the funny part: your uncle was here fixing the computer. He got my e-mail working, and the first message I got was a note from Melissa saying that you had posted a "mysterious" question for me on the forum! So I went over to the forum to check it out. I don't mind you asking me things here, just as long as you don't mind everybody else "listening in" on my answer:o)

Love you, girl; see you tonight!

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), December 05, 2001.

Hey you two, I figured it was about this budding romance!! I just didn't think you (Cathy) were checking the forum, so I wanted you to know that Jillian had posted here. After all love is somewhat mysterious isn't it!!!???

-- Melissa (me@home.net), December 05, 2001.

jillian My 20 year old daughter did not date from 15 until she and a young man from church started "Christian courting" March 21. He officially asked her to marry him Oct 6, but they knew that's where they were headed. Wedding March 23.

You may want to check out some Christian courtship sites and mold what you feel applies to you and your young man.

It's been interesting, explaining my daughter's decision to family and friends AFTER I learned about it.

Good luck and many times of sparkling eyes.

AngieM2 in Ala.

-- AngieM2 (ameininger@yahoo.com), December 05, 2001.

OK, just to clear the story, so people have an idea to whats going on , and whats been going on. There IS a young man, named Daniel, whom i have known all my life, Parents knowing parents, (that deal). And his brothers and sisters and i have gone to camp together since we were young. WEll just at the begining of this year, this particular young man had a birthday, in which i called him. And thence after, we started getting to know each other better. GOd has allowed us to shoot thoughts off each other concerning the bible, family, homeschooling, friends, blah blah blah. WE really agree on a lot of things. Through all this , have grown into a really strong friendship. My family even went to where he lives for a "family vacation" of canoeing, hiking, and other fun things. So just this past weekend, i was at their house again with my sister , we returned saturday night. ON sunday night, he asked me , if we thought we should take a step further and start dating. It kind of surprised me because we were always soo sure that courting was the best , and that people should never date. he came the conclusion, that it wasn't necessarily bad, but its the focusing on each other , instead of God, thats bad. SO with agreeing that God needs to be first in our relationship . we are know "dating". Nothings really changed in our friendship, we are just more official. i'm soo thankful for all the people who prayed for me. GOd has done much in my life. I'm also thankful , that God used Daniel, as one of the people who encouraged me to live right =)

-- jillian (daffodil_skunk83@hotmail.com), December 05, 2001.