I have a very good friend named Candace. I don’t blog about her a lot… she likes her anonymity. I’ve written about here here and there, but not by name. She’s kinda like an secret agent, except not. Exactly. I can’t give you the details- too risky. Anyways, we’ve been friends since the fall of our freshman year at UGA. That would be 1998. That would be 9 1/2 years ago. Wowsa.
We are really funny. She recognizes that I am hilarious and I recognize the same trait in her. And we recognize that our combined hilarity makes people love us. And we have been through a lot- sometimes trouble we managed to get ourselves into (planning beach trip 2001, I believe), sometimes troubles others thrust upon us, and sometimes just junk that we threw on each other because believe it or not, we are not perfect people. But our friendship has miraculously survived and transformed. And by “miraculously”, I mean “only by the grace of God have neither of us killed the other at some point in the last 9 1/2 years”. So I guess you’d say she’s kinda like family. Can I get an amen to that?
I have another very good friend named Jason. We also met my freshman year at UGA. He was an intern at the Wesley Foundation. I will never, no not ever, forget his kindness towards me as the new kid on the block. And through the years we have remained good friends, mostly via email. Emails that always included this line- “Any update on the dating front? Yeah, me neither.”
July 2007- “Candace, you’ve met Jason before, haven’t you? Jason, you remember Candace, right?“
January 3, 2008- God exceeds every expectation.I’ve cried three times since they called me last night to tell me of their engagement. Well, four if you count the moment they told me and my emotions got the best of me. [I’m getting it all out now so I can be under control come summer.]
I cried when I wrote in my journal how grateful I was to God for being so good to two people whom I love dearly.
I teared up (no full on tears) when I saw Candace’s ring this morning.
And, of course, I’m crying a bit now telling you.
Because, in case you didn’t know, I’m a crier.
BUT more importantly because it never ceases to amaze me when God, in His goodness, hears our prayers and answers them; gently and slowly weaving our lives together until two threads are woven so closely together that they decide it would be best to just be one.
I’m thrilled. I would say “I’m thrilled beyond words”, but that is obviously not true. 🙂
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
His greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend Your works to another;
they will tell of Your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
and I will meditate on Your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of Your awesome works,
and I will proclaim Your great deeds.
They will celebrate Your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
He has compassion on all He has made.
**P.S- I did get the couple’s permission before proceeding with this blog post.**