THIS ENTRY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE THE 11TH OF DECEMBER. SORRY. OH, AND BY THE WAY...

I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!
(sigh, i realise i've been waiting to scream and dance about this. who knew i needed to do it in hyperspace. maybe there i can jump higher...)
HELLO EVERYBODY AND WELCOME TO ALISON'S ENGAGED EXCITEMENT HAPPY JOY SONG!
(i recently came back from beach mission, i have been catching up on sleep, and i am well, though my left ear does not appear to be functioning as desired)

Tom proposed to me on the same bus route that he had asked me out on, in very nearly the same format he asked me out in, ie he used post-it notes to draw my attention to his train of thought, and then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

my ring is at the shop getting re-sized. i have thin fingers. i do hope it doesn't suffer.

it is so strange, so much needs to be done, and each time i have no idea how to do it, because i've never been engaged before, which is a common experience. engagement party looks to be the 19th of april...i think...
TOM AND I ARE GETTING MARRIED ON THE 10TH OF JANUARY NEXT YEAR!

I am very happy. life is obviously not perfect, as this world is covered in sin, and i still yearn more than anything for the return of my Saviour, and tom and i still get annoyed at each other from time to time (beach mission is a fatiguing place), but i am happy to be making this decision. i think i knew i was heading for it, knew it was in some sense likely, but now it's here it's quite startling.
while it is scary, i take time to reflect that it's not the wedding or the decorations that need to concern me - this is a decision to live with him, be with him, have him around permanently.
obviously that's not all marriage is, but it sounds quite nice.

he seems kinda happy too. :D

i've prayed that if this is God's will, it will happen, and if it isn't, it won't. tom and i have, only because of God's Holy Spirit, sought to make sure that our relationship is centred on God, and only in Him are we secure. that our combined lives will find meaning not in one another but in Him. that our love for one another is not in itself the key, but the love that flows from Him.

i've read in a christian book recently - once you're married, that man instantly becomes Mr Right.

i know tom isn't perfect, but i love him, and once we're married, i know and pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen me to keep loving him, for the rest of this life.

xa*