Could I be any happier?

I am so thankful to the Lord these days… such amazing stuff is happening in my life, and there is much to smile about!

 

First of course is my engagement to Hillary, and all the joy that comes with that. We are having a good time planning for the wedding, and are very excited about getting married on July 10! It’s just before my 31^st birthday and also Taka and Aki’s 5^th anniversary – added bonuses! J

We’ve got a theme, and are having fun looking around trying to find various things that we can give as gifts and use to decorate, etc. And talk about smiles – we have been blessed with some super nice gifts that will help us get ready for the wedding and begin our life together afterwards! It’s really amazing.

I am falling more and more in love with Hillary every day. I praise God for bringing us together.

Meeting Hill’s family was so much fun, too. We got along well and I enjoyed beating them at cards every day I was there ;)

 

Some other things to smile about…

Knowing that I have friends on both sides of the globe, and getting to see all of my friends in Japan again… and sharing about the engagement with them.

Being met at the airport by a friend (after the 17 hours of flying plus layovers) and them saying, “You’ve forgotten all your Japanese!” And then the very next day them telling someone, “Yesterday he forgot how to speak Japanese, but now he remembers it all.” J

Oh yeah, and the day after I arrived in Japan, finding a fabric softener sheet in the sleeve of the hoodie I had worn all the way from America… I had no idea it was there!

Getting home, as always, and having a full refrigerator because my teammates had stocked it for me…

Our Friday Night singles outreach went so well last night. There were 3 new people there, and everyone had a great time… even the quiet ones were really getting into the games! It was so much fun.

 

Today I am going with the Reisters to Ube to help them build a fence for their dog Bosco since he will be staying with the Weinhofers while the Reisters are on furlough. Then next week is our Annual Retreat… so much to look forward to!

I'm getting married!

Yep, that’s right! I’m getting married!

Hillary Anne Timmons is the most wonderful woman I have ever met, and I am just beside myself that yesterday she said yes when I asked her to marry me. We’re getting married!

Yesterday started out rainy, but soon cleared off and turned out to be a gorgeous sunny day here in Winnipeg… and warm, too! Not the norm for up here at this time of year I understand J So we made a picnic lunch and went to the Forks, a historical park area here in Winnipeg by the river where her family goes ice skating in the winter (most of the ice has melted off the river now). We sat down on the bank of the river with the geese and enjoyed a quiet lunch… There were quite a few people around, but we were in our own world. I had written a picture storybook for Hillary about us (you’ll have to ask her to see that one!) and after I finished reading it to her, I got down on my knee and pulled out the ring, and with a few tears from her and from me, I asked her to marry me. She said yes! Ohhh, she said yes!!!

I couldn’t be any happier right now!

We are planning to get married this summer, so there is a lot to do between now and then. Pray for us! I return to Japan on April 13^th, alone… but before long I will be back in North America for our wedding!

God has been so good to me all my life, and now I just thank Him from the bottom of my heart for the great gift He has entrusted to me in Hillary. Wooo-hooo!!!