The Story

Okay, so there is just no time to post on my blog! Can I tell you how busy I am right now? I am so blissfully happy these last few weeks, I'm flittering around trying to come down to reality often enough to feed and clothe my kids and do my job! But anyway...I am so very happy right now, as we all are when things are going right. But I'm sure that you can imagine it runs deeper than that. I'm looking at a big picture and I see God's hand. And can I tell you? This whole blessing of an amazing man to be my husband and a dad to Benjamin and Cait is so not deserved. Seriously. I mean, God cared for us and lavished us with His care and provision and salvation. Hello! That would have been so much more than I deserve in and of itself. But...isn't it just like God to give us what we don't deserve to show us that it isn't about us. It's about Him and His unfailing, ever-flowing love. I am one blessed girl.

So...how did he propose? Well, going back even further, I told you the story of how we met here. If you didn't hear that story you can go catch up. It has been 8 months since that first meeting and God is so good to lead us here! Woo Hoo!

So, on September 14, Paul and I had a great day together. The kids were with Chris, which is unusual for a Sunday. But none the less, we went to La Madeline around lunch time and had brunch. This is one of our favorite things... to go there for brunch and sit outside. We bring our Bible and devotional book and read to one another. It's wonderful! That day was no exception. After brunch we ran to the mall and we shopped a little. He bought me a new pair of jeans and himself a few things also. It was a fun afternoon hanging out. Then, we went back to my house and got ready for dinner. He took me to my favorite restaurant...Jaspers. It is WONDERFUL! It's at the Shops at Legacy. Divine food!

Okay, so the reason this restaurant is significant is because this is where Paul took me on our second date. The first date was awkward!!! But the second date had given us two weeks of getting to know one another over the phone and it was comfortable, fun and sparks began to fly that night. Can I just tell you how handsome he is??? OH! He makes my heart flutter! I remember how I felt the beginnings of that flutter that night. It's a night we go back and relive often. "Remember on our second date when..."

So we drove to the restaurant on THE night and he had asked for our table. The waitress walked us straight there. No suspicions yet. Then I see Paul has a beautiful gift bag in his hand. Then I start to get nervous. We sat down and chatted, giggled and gazed at one another. He was so stinking relaxed. "This isn't it!!" No way could he be relaxed if he were about to propose!!!

So after the meal he pushes over the gift bag. I open it and find a Kodak book that he had made for me. It was the story of our courtship. It documented every little thing with words and pictures. I love that man! At the back there was a message from him that said that these memories with me and B and C were precious to him and that he wants to make a lifetime more of memories. He said that he knew God's hand had been in brining us together long before we met and that now he's grateful, eventhough it was hard to wait for me sometimes.

And then I turned the page one last time to read:

TAMRA
WILL
YOU
MARRY
ME

I looked over at him to find him with a ring box in his hand and tears in his eyes. How precious he is...oh if you only knew! I've waited for that day for a long time now and I can't believe it came with all the joy and healing and promise that I hoped it would.

Can I just say that my blog title, "Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow," has so described my road. God gave me those things because He is perfectly faithful. Thank you Lord!

Paul and I are excited to be engaged, but more excited to be married! So, the plan is to have a tiny family wedding on November 22 (yes, of this year) here in Dallas. Paul's dad will perform the ceremony at this beautiful little chapel we found. Cait will be our flowergirl and Benjamin will walk me down the aisle. They will be the only ones to stand up with us.

Intimate is our theme for the wedding and I think we have that mentality because of the kids. We know that hundreds of people will be rejoicing with us in that day, whether crowded in the tiny chapel or not.

THANK YOU for your prayers and your joy expressed for us! It blessed us beyond belief to read your comments! God is good!