I said YES!

Ryan and I are going through Merge at Watermark, which is a pre-marital class that you can do if you are seriously dating or engaged. They told us the first night that the most important decision you make in your life is to accept Christ as your Lord & Savior. The second most important decision you will make in your life is who you choose to marry. When Ryan asked me to be his bride, it was the easiest question I've ever been asked...

Before the proposal- I had no idea that Ryan went to my parent's house on Monday to chat with them and ask them if he could propose. I'm so glad they said yes! We had talked about rings only a few times and I told him that I loved the oval or pear shape, and my dream would be to have a yellow diamond. What I didn't know is that Ryan had been ring shopping for a couple weeks. He had designed my ring with Scott Polk and the ring came in just in time, 5pm on Friday. Ryan picked up the ring, dropped it off at this house, and then picked me up for my birthday dinner. We went to Tillman's in Bishop Arts and it was amazing. I had no clue what was coming the next day. When he left me that night his sister called him and informed him that the March of Dimes actually had a walk the next day at White Rock Lake where he wanted to propose. There were 40,000 people signed up to be there! Ryan spent the rest of the evening and early Saturday morning trying to figure out if he would even be able to take me to "our spot" or if he would have to come up with something else. Fortunately he got information of a parking lot near by that we would be able to get to. He still wondered what it would be like to propose with all that going on. Ryan had told me he wanted to take me for a birthday picnic at White Rock and that we'd be going after to a nicer birthday lunch for his mom so I could wear something cute if I wanted. His mom's birthday was the day before mine and we hadn't gotten to celebrate her yet so this made total sense to me. We have gone out to White Rock for picnics throughout our relationship so that wasn't out of the ordinary either. He also had told me that week that he had Sunday planned for us to go look at rings, so I had no idea that he already had one and was going to be proposing. 

Photo by Chris Landry

The proposal- Ryan picked me up and we went out to White Rock Lake around 9am. He brought my picnic basket that my Aunt Diane & Uncle Dale gave me for Christmas and Ryan knows how special it is to me. We sat down and he started taking breakfast out of the basket, I still had no clue. He then pulled out a bottle of champagne and said something about celebrating my 30th birthday. This was the first moment I thought, wait champagne? At 9am? He took out his phone and showed me a picture of this exact spot that he had taken last summer. He started telling me how this was the exact spot he first prayed about whether or not he should pursue me, and he knew the answer to that was yes. I already started tearing up. He then pulled out his journal I had bought him while we were in Haiti out of the basket. He said he wanted to read me some of what he had written these past nine months. He shared with me prayers he had prayed, scripture that he read that made him think of me, and moments when he knew he loved me and wanted to marry me. He talked about what biblically a marriage looks like (Ephesians 5:21-32) and that he wanted to love me the way Christ loved the church. He quoted this from Song of Solomon to me and I couldn't hold back my tears...

"How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh how beautiful...Like a lily among thorns is my darling among young women...you have stolen my heart, my bride, you have stolen my heart..." 

He got down on one knee and for the first time in our relationship told me he loved me. This was something he wanted to wait and say until he could promise us forever. He reached into the picnic basket and pulled out the ring box and opened it up. He asked me, "Will you be my bride?" 

Right as he got on one knee all the March of Dimes people must have stopped behind me, I was facing the lake with my back to everything going on, but you could hear them saying "look he is proposing", "they are getting engaged", "look!" As soon as I said yes and gave him a kiss you could hear probably 100 people start clapping and cheering. It was awesome. After a few moments of telling Ryan for the first time that I love him I realized our dear friend Chris Landry had been there the whole time capturing it all in pictures. He took some amazing shots and I can't wait to see all of them. 

Photo by Chris Landry

The ring- He got me the most beautiful oval yellow diamond I have ever seen. It has a halo and diamonds on the band. It's more than I ever could have dreamed of.

My nephew Garrett

After the proposal- We called our families and had some time to ourselves. Ryan said we needed to head up to my sister's house that he had talked to her about us going to see them. When we got there I was so surprised he had both of our families all there for a celebration lunch. It meant so much to me to get to have our families all sit around the table together and just hang out. So special. 

We then went to my friend Brittany's house for what I had thought was going to be a 30th birthday party. It was that and so much more! My friends had already bought "She said Yes" cakes for us and had pictures printed and framed, including one from the proposal in a frame for everyone to sign! They had food catered in and I was overwhelmed by all the sweet cards and gifts. I've never felt so loved in my life. 

I promise I'll stop taking pics with hand in the air :)

It truly has been overwhelming taking in how much the Lord has blessed me with an amazing family, and now family that I get to be apart of. Incredible friends that I don't know what I would do without. Ryan, the most godly man I know who wants to spend the rest of his life with me. He has lead me so well in every area of our relationship: physically, emotionally, spiritually. He has been consistent, honest, patient, forgiving, and always comes through. I can't think of a day where he hasn't made me feel cherished and cared for. He's been an example to me of seeing me the way Christ sees me, and I am a better Christ-follower because of him. He is truly my best friend. I love him so much and am so happy I finally get to tell him every day! I tear up even now writing this. God has been so good to me and I just pray that Ryan and I's relationship/marriage would always glorify Him. I pray that we love each other selflessly and continue to seek God first.

Thank you all for the sweet calls, text messages, facebook messages etc. Ryan and I have been overwhelmed by everyone's love and support. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

~The future Mrs. Wall! 

30 for 30 (#16-30)

30 for 30

16. God's hand is in everything. 

Even when things don't make sense in life. You can find peace knowing the you are in the Lord's hands and he is sovereign.

Psalm 71:16

17. There are angels on earth. 

It seems like whenever I am going through something tough God has someone in my life that is there to help see me through. Friends, family, and even sometimes strangers have truly been angels on earth for me. 

2 Corinthians 1:4

18. God is the hound of Heaven.

I heard this once and love it. When you look at scripture you will see that even those who have been the biggest enemies of the cross Christ recklessly pursues them, saves them, and uses them. Even when we don't want to turn to Him, He continues to pursue us.

Romans 5:8

19. Our worries and anxiety come from a lack of trust in the Lord. Always.

Matthew 6 

20. The opposite of loving God is loving self. 

We too often want to be our own god, not worship the One True God. We make ourselves the center of everything and think it's all about us, instead of realizing that our lives are all about Christ.

Luke 22:42

21. It is often the poor that are rich. 

Being on mission around the world I've realized that the people the world would consider poor are often the most rich because they have less to distract them from realizing their hope and joy is found in Jesus Christ. 

Mark 10 (rich young ruler)

22. Take time to celebrate the small things. 

I love doing toast at meals. Just to cheers to the good things in life. Celebrating the small things helps find joy each day.

23. Take time to simply encourage someone. 

Often we call people for a purpose. To share something, get advice, or just to chat. What I've realized though is sometimes a simple phone call or note or email just to encourage someone randomly can truly bless them. Try it, you'll be blessed too.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 

24. Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. 

Just because everyone is doing something like our parents told us as kids, doesn't mean that it is right. Just because our society or culture changes, that doesn't mean that truth has changed. Be careful that just because something is permissible, it doesn't mean it is beneficial or good for you. 

1 Corinthians 6:12

25. Comparison is the thief of all joy. 

(stop. it.)

John 10:10

26. Guard your heart. 

Don't let your heart inform you, inform your heart. We were made to love, but too often we give our heart away too easily. Be careful in thoughts, words, and actions. 

Proverbs 4:23

27. God is love. 

Love is a decision and an action. It isn't simply a feeling. Love is demonstrated to us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us on the cross. Love is sacrificial and selfless.

1 John 4:8 & 1 Corinthians 13 

28. Community is a game changer. 

If you want to truly experience life and grow find a group of other believers and do life with them. Study God's word together, pray together, share what's going on in your life, hold each other accountable, and encourage one another towards love and good deeds. Being in community has truly changed my life.

Proverbs 13:20 & Hebrews 10:19-25 

29. Forgive. 

Forgive as Christ has forgiven you. Forgive not only the people in your life that have hurt you, but also how that has affected you. You will never find more peace and healing then when you let go and let God. Holding onto bitterness, anger, etc usually weighs you down and keeps you from peace and joy. 

Colossians 3

30. There is only one true Gospel. 

Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. Jesus lived a sinless life because we cannot. He died on the cross because it takes a perfect sacrifice to satisfy a perfect God. Through his death our sins are buried, and in his resurrection we too can have eternal life. We can't earn our way to heaven, we will never be good enough when the standard is perfection. There are both good and bad people in heaven and hell. The difference in the two is that those who are in heaven are the forgiven. Those who declare with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in their heart that God raise him from the dead. 

John 14:6 & Romans 10:9-10

Praying that all will come to know and love their Savior and experience the abundant life of peace, love, joy, and hope that I have found. I pray that the Lord would use me these next 30 years for His glory and my good. 

30 for 30 (#6-15)

30 for 30

6. The only advice you should rely on is Scripture. 
Often times we give advice from our experience or what we think/feel, or we don't want to "hurt" someone so we don't speak truth. The most loving & best advice you can give someone is to give them God's Word. That is loving, that is where life is found.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

7. We miss out on life because of busyness. Life is found in the margin.

Our society is always in a rush. It reminds me of the country song that says "rushin rushin till life's no fun..." When we are busy, even with good things, we miss out on building relationships. We put off having time with the Lord; we run out the door with out giving our loved one a hug and kiss; we miss the opportunity to ask someone how they are doing...and give them time to genuinely respond. We miss out on life. The sweetest moments are when we stop and are still. 

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that has to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed- or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

8. "It's ok to be hurt, but remember hurt people hurt people and it's not ok to hurt people."
Blog post:Looking in the Rear View Mirror

9. Breakups are a good thing.

Someone said this to me and at first I thought they were crazy. Breakups are so painful. You experience a loss of something: a dream, a friendship, a hope, a love. However you end up with either a better version of that person if for some reason in the future you get back together, or you end up with someone better for you. Either way it's better. Hopefully you draw near to the Lord during the process and grow in your dependence on Him and your awareness that He is enough. God's always up to something. Trust Him. 

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

10. Own your role in conflict. 

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:3-5

11. Communicate. 

Most often conflict comes from not communicating well. Expectations aren't communicated. Assumptions are made instead of asking for clarity. Don't be afraid of what you think might be an awkward conversation. Communicate well. Communicate often.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20

12. Life feels short, but is eternal. What you do with your days matter. Don't waste them.

13. We are nearsighted. God is farsighted. Trust in Him.

Often times we can only see what is right in front of us. We can't see the big picture. God is always us to something bigger than us. He knows what is coming next. Trust in Him. His plan. His timing. 

Blog post: Walking by Faith

14. Throw your list out the window and seek God's best for you.

Blog post: Crosshairs on Godliness 

15. Never will He leave you, never will He forsake you.

For a long time I wondered where was God when bad things were happening to me and those around me. I realized 3 years ago God has never left me. He has always been there waiting for me to turn to Him and trust Him. He doesn't promise to keep us from the fires and storms, just to carry us through.

Blog post: I'm Not Strong Enough

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8