engaged!

                                                                                photo by Sterling McLean

 

I'm so excited!!

Our oldest son David proposed to his girlfriend Chelsea

one week ago on Boca Grande Beach in Florida.

 I'm happy and thankful for many reasons.

I've always thought David will make a terrific husband:

 tender and compassionate,

has a great sense of humor and doesn't take himself too seriously,

is hard-working,

and (considering he's been a bachelor for 10 years)

he goes with the flow very well.

Best of all, David was incredibly patient in waiting and trusting

God for his future. He could've "settled" but didn't.

(and that was some feat, considering his mother kept pestering him to

"put a line in the water if you want to catch a fish.")

 

So who's the lucky girl?

Chelsea Barrett ... and we think he's a lucky guy, too!

We've only spent two weekends with Chelsea

and we love her already.

Any gal who can effortlessly spend Thanksgiving weekend in a house

with all 13 of us (including 5 kids under 5)

and sleep on a leaky air mattress without complaint has my vote!

Chelsea's an accomplished artist/graphic designer, loves coffee (a requirement),

seems to juggle many things at once, has a quick wit and laughs easily,

is up for adventure, is great with children (also a requirement, ha ha!)

and just has that comfortable I-care-about-others personality.

They both love God and have trusted his hand in their lives.

 

No word yet on a wedding date, but I was right about one thing:

this is going to be a very big year!

Congratulations, you two!