Goin' courtin'....

Remember those "wonderful happenings going on" that I mentioned earlier? Well.... *wink*

Remember this gal? Sister mine?

Remember how she's been at home busying herself with helping mom and learning the ins and outs of being a homemaker while she waits for God to bring along the man He has for her?

As of 3 weeks ago, Stephanie is officially courting, and I can't put it any more beautifully than she has herself: "It's been well worth the wait!!" God truly has been good, and has brought a beautiful thing about in His time, which is always perfect!! Stephanie took a step of faith years ago in her desire to obey God, and has had a beautifully rich time being fully invested in her family, and now - God has seen fit to add another wonderfully beautiful and joyous and rich facet to her life! We are rejoicing!!!

But, I'm not finished sharing....

Remember this gal?

Other sister o' mine?

Well, just over a week after Stephanie and Andrew began their courtship, Hannah began courting another wonderful young man from our church!

So, these two dears, who have always dreamed of going through this phase of life together...

are giving us all a whole lot to smile about!

We were able to have them, "their guys", and two other couples from our church over last week, and we all had such a joyfully fun and wonderfully refreshing time together over dinner and games. (And watching the most adorable little baby.... the precious blessing to these two dears.)

See what I mean? 

Can babies get any cuter??

Sweet Fellowship

The beginnings of our Dutch Blitz tournament

Needless to say, Steph and Hannah are basically two huge smiles... hence the reason I end up with pictures like this:

And this:

And so, these days are gloriously sweet and oh-so-much-fun-to-watch... We're getting a front row seat in a truly glorious display of God's grace, His mercy, His kindness, His love, His goodness, and His faithfulness! 

The Four
(We've gotta come up with a good moniker for this quad)

"Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
 sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
 All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.”
Selah

 Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
 He turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
 who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
Selah

 Bless our God, O peoples;
let the sound of his praise be heard,
 who has kept our soul among the living
and has not let our feet slip.
 For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.
 You brought us into the net;
you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
 you let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

 I will come into your house with burnt offerings;
I will perform my vows to you,
 that which my lips uttered
and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,
with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;
I will make an offering of bulls and goats.
Selah

 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
 I cried to him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue.
 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
 But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

 Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!"

                                  -Psalm 66