Our Engagement

WILLIAM:  “Esther, believe it or not, we’ve reached our destination! You want to follow me?” Picture it… A guy and girl in matching colors, backpacks on their backs, hiking boots and bikes! We had a spectacular campfire breakfast in the woods near our homes that morning with family, and then headed off to a place Esther new nothing of, nor did she know all that was in store!

I started off the day with a gift to Esther from me. I gave her an outdoor sports watch that matched mine. I would, later that same day, replace the watch with another one! The next watch would have more meaning and purpose behind it. If she had any idea that I was to give her a watch for engagement, could I throw her off by giving her one earlier that day?

When we arrived at the parking area near Jim Thorpe, we unloaded the bikes and equipment and set out for a 2 hour bike trek over a rugged trail in the Lehigh valley area. This was no ordinary trail that you could just coast over with small gravel. You had to stay alert and “engaged” with the trail conditions for your own safety! Esther loved it and so did I!

At the appointed turn-off, I told her we had reached our destination and invited her to follow me down a very narrow foot path between rocks to a clearing. Here’s what our eyes beheld as we climbed off our bikes and walked down to the large rock which seemed placed there by God for us!

We could see and hear white-water rafters far below in the river which followed the U-shaped bend in the beautiful, endless mountains.

We both wanted to just worship…

We sat on the ledge of the rock, dangling our legs over the edge which dropped far below us,  and just drank in the view with a feeling of awe as we reflected on how very similar our 19-year friendship had been to the day’s bike trek. Many steep climbs, streams of sorrow to cross, and hidden turns…but oh…..the view that awaited us!!!

The expense of energy and time it took to get to this spot was certainly worth it, once you saw the view. Esther and I are seeing that in comparison to our courtship. We have found that the time of waiting has certainly added to the beauty of our relationship. But now we are able to share our feelings for each other and see how the Lord was using these last 19 years in preparing and establishing us for each other. It is a beautiful picture of what awaits us in heaven. At times the wait here on earth can seem rough, but just wait until we can see the beauty of Christ face to face!

In relation to the question I was about to ask, I also thought that this rugged 2-hr bike trip, will be a fresh and future reminder to both of us to the start of an “Endless Adventure” together. Up until now, all our adventures together were short and each one had an end!!! But things were about to change!

After about a half hour of just enjoying the expansive vista below and catching our breath from nearly 2 hours on the bikes, I asked Esther to come up to the upper ledge and sit beside me; I had some things I wanted to share from my heart.

Two weeks earlier, I had made arrangements for her father and I to meet at the same restaurant where I had asked his permission to court Esther. This time, it was to ask a different question!

My father agreed to join us as well, bringing his and my mother’s blessing to this “next step” I was taking in pursuit of Esther’s hand. As we met, I shared how my love had been growing for Esther and how God had been speaking directly through His Word to the vision He had for our lives being joined in marriage. I then asked him if I might have his blessing to marry Esther.

From a moment of accelerating and rapid “pop out of my chest” heart-beat, before the question, to a blessed peace, rest and great joy,  I now knew that I had finally received her fathers blessing!!! Wow, did I just get permission to ask Esther if she would marry me? Once again, I was reminded of God’s desire to be involved in my life. It was easy for me, at that moment, to see that God had already prepared my steps, before I even took them. He wants to influence your plans for your future. He wants you to give him your life, no matter the costs. He wants to use you for His purposes.

ESTHER: Ah, a Friday I’ll long remember! I was having a hard time getting to my specified time with God in His Word that day. Late in the afternoon, my father shared with me that he was going “shopping” at Wal-Mart and taking care of business in town.  After he headed off, the Lord opened the way for me to spend some precious moments with Him in the Word. Through a passage in I Samuel, the Lord gave me a “heads up” as to what was possibly going to be asked of me in coming days. It was as though He was saying, “Esther, when William asks the big question, your heart will be ready with the answer I’m giving you in this passage.”

About 4 hours later, my father came back from his “shopping” trip. I noticed that William was also coming home late, and so was William’s father! Hmmm….

I just played dumb for the next week and a half.

WILLIAM: Now that I had permission, when should I ask? When would be the right time? What place could I find that would be memorable? A place that would be worthy of asking Esther the big question was going to be a stiff challenge. I needed to find the place to ask her to join me in a lifelong adventure! What location around here would be appropriate for a proposal but would also express our love for ‘Adventure’? I knew the location must be outdoors! It had to be on a mountain top! But what mountain top? The week that followed was a blessing in disguise, since Esther was going to be in Ohio for a week. This allowed me the opportunity to gather my thoughts and find the right place.

I was told recently of some bike trails in Jim Thorpe, PA, and after some research, I discovered some beautiful mountain scenery there too. Since I didn’t know how far these spots were from the highway, it was nightfall until my brother-in-law and I got to the location I had in mind. We arrived at this spot at 9pm and still had a 2 hr hike back to the parking lot. But I was determined to find this beautiful, scenic location that I had just seen in pictures up until this point.

When Esther came home from Ohio, I told her I had something I wanted to take her to get that she didn’t have yet. She couldn’t figure it out and I was just glad to keep her in suspense.  We made plans to go to Cabela’s and get what she didn’t have yet. As we walked in to the shoe department there, she started putting pieces together in that we had discussed hiking and equipment for such. I bought her a pair of hikers that evening with the word that I had “plans” for Saturday, complete with a backpack lunch that I would be fixing.

We both enjoy the outdoors immensely and biking together has become a truly special time for us.  I had made plans to take Esther, in her new hikers, on a mountain bike adventure trek and there I would ask her the question overlooking the valley below.

ESTHER: It dawned on me a few days before this trip that he just might be asking me on Saturday! Oh my! A first ever!

As we biked and talked, we were both so full of joy as we recounted how God has led us these years, kept us for each other and blessed us with a deeper awareness of His personal involvement in our lives through what He has brought to pass.

Once we had reached our breath-taking destination, William invited me to join him on the upper part of the rock (away from the drop-off edge!), where he wanted to share some things from his heart.

William’s love for God and His purposes inspires me and speaks to God’s work in him through these past 2 months of our courtship. He shared how God had been speaking clearly to him, believing that we were truly designed by God for one another and fitted by His hand to spend the rest of our lives together for His glory in marriage. He then got down on one knee and sweetly asked me the dreamed-of question, “Will you marry me?”

Here was my answer (which he had prepared and rolled up into his backpack!

WILLIAM: I told Esther, the one I love, that my declaration of dependence and servanthood to her that I shared with her on July 4th, was being expanded. I have a new declaration to make! Its a new declaration of LOVE, a passionate devotion to her and to her alone. I believe God has orchestrated our friendship over the years and is now “preparing and establishing” our future together as one. The Lord has been gracious to both of us through this courtship and we are both anticipating His blessing in this next step He brought us both to! Praise God for His endless love!

1 O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained ~ Psalm 8:1-3

That last part of that last verse is spoke to me. “which thou hast ordained” means “which thou has prepared and established.” Here is what one commentator said concerning the heavens: “Made their respective spheres, and fitted them for their places. Space to matter, and matter to space; all adjusted in number, weight, and measure.” I believe God has done that for you and me! The work of Gods fingers has fitted us for each other. God adjusted us in weight & measure to aid each other in spreading the gospel message.

Our 2-hr trip back to the parking lot was blessed of the Lord as well. We were able to enjoy in this new fellowship with each other. We equally made a declaration before God to honor him in fulfilling His call to marriage. How exciting!!!! We are now experiencing new moments of joy from the Lord in our new ‘Engaged’ status!!

ESTHER: As we approached the entrance to the trail, I could see people mingling up ahead. It took a bit to dawn on me, but I started seeing camera flashes and knew it was so: William had arranged for our families to greet us at the return of our trek to celebrate with us! WOW!! There were hugs, tears, little nieces and nephews running joyfully to greet us with fist fulls of flowers! To continue our rejoicing together, we headed off to Friendly’s for an engagement celebration! What joyous moments!

To have the blessing of the Lord is our greatest desire, fitting us to be what He designed us to be, and enabling us to help others reach their fullest potential in Him. As we move forward with plans for a spring wedding, in God’s perfect will, we crave His presence even more and the blessing He wants to pour out for His glory! Thank you for praying with us to that purpose.

Among the surprises William had stored up for that day,were 2 dozen red roses, 1 dozen were waiting for me in his Jeep and the other were waiting for me at home when I returned that evening!

Childhood sweethearts~~~engaged!!!