Daniel

The day we stopped corresponding, I sent an email to Kristina's parents, letting them know about our decision. A few days later, Kristina's Dad called. At the end of our conversation, I volunteered to come and help them during the summer. He seemed very favorable to the idea and within a couple days we had purchased the plane tickets. I would be spending the summer in Washington!

Daniel

Spending the summer in Washington gave me an opportunity to get acquainted with Kristina's family and even to understand Kristina better. It also gave Kristina's Dad lots of time to ask me questions. We had many good discussions while working together on a building project.

Towards the end of my stay, her parents and I had a chance to talk more seriously about our future. When I returned home, it was with her parents' approval for us to correspond with careful boundaries. Soon, my Dad and I were on our way to New York to pick up my brother and several other colporteur students. My heart filled with joy at the thought of seeing Kristina once again, yet it was not without a bit of apprehension. How will Kristina respond, after so many weeks of not hearing from me? I wondered.

Daniel

Though I didn't even know what I was praying for, all year I had been praying for a miracle. God was now answering this prayer—by a miracle that I never dreamed possible. God used the time of silence to work a change in our friendship and in our hearts, and now we were beginning once again, this time on a more solid foundation.

Daniel

In December I drove to Minneapolis for GYC. The following morning I met Kristina and Elisabeth at the train station. Despite the winter weather, the three of us enjoyed a quiet stroll through an indoor tropical rain forest before checking in at GYC. This year we had every bit as much fun as the previous years—and perhaps a little bit more. Though I teased Kristina that she "had a hitch in her get-along," it didn't slow us down a bit. What fun I had pushing her wheelchair back and forth to meetings! After the last meeting, the three of us drove through a blizzard back to the tropical gardens for a little time to visit and rest. By the time the train pulled out of the station Sunday evening, I knew that our lives would never be the same again...

Soon vacation was over and classes started again. Yet, a flame was burning in my heart that couldn't be extinguished. It had started as a spark, long before, and slowly, quietly, it was growing. Each time I saw Kristina or even talked to her, her sweet spirit fanned the glow of love in my heart. I was certain God had been leading us, and now was the time to do something—something that would forever change our lives...

Daniel

Yes, I had done something. After talking with my parents, I knew it was the time to act. I tried to keep it a secret from Kristina—a hard thing to do, I'm learning. I called Mr. Reeve on Sunday evening, while he was driving home from Spokane. We talked about business, school, FiForms, and more business—All the while I kept trying to get up enough courage to ask him the question. Finally, I realized it was now or never.

"Oh, by the way, Mr. Reeve. I have a question for you—" (deep breath—long pause)

"Yes—?"

"Um, well, I just wanted—" (another pause)

"Yes—?"

"Well, I want—to marry—your—daughter."

There, I said it! The question was out. Now I sat, trembling...waiting for an answer. How long I would wait, or what that answer might be, I had no way to know.

"Well, I kind of expected that question," Mr. Reeve replied in his usual calm tone. "As you know, I'll need to talk it over with Susan and pray about it. We will probably have a few questions for you, before we can give you an answer."

We chatted a few more minutes, and he asked me a few more questions, and that was it. A few minutes later I phoned Kristina, trying to act like nothing had happened. But, I couldn't keep the huge grin off my face. I was excited! I was ecstatic! I was exuberant! I'd actually asked one of the most important questions of my life—and he hadn't said no! Well, at least not yet. I was still in suspense. Waiting . . . for the questions.

Daniel

I don't know who was in more suspense: Kristina or me! The next day, the first round of questions arrived by email. I responded to those, and soon more followed. And more. And more! Some days I was encouraged by the responses; other days I felt almost overwhelmed. Yet it was a blessing, and I appreciated the counsel and encouragement that filled the bulk of each email.

Over the following weeks we exchanged more than seventy pages of emails, and discussed topics ranging from goals, compatibility, marriage preparation, and the role of a husband and father, to education, health, biblical beliefs, finances, and recreation. They also contacted my parents to get their approval and feedback.

One month later, to the very day, I received a call from Mr. and Mrs. Reeve. With a pounding heart, I answered the telephone.

We have seen that you have what Kristina would accept as a life companion, possessing pure, manly traits of character, one who is diligent, aspiring, and honest, and one who loves and fears God. From much prayer, study, emailing, and our former acquaintance we have seen that you would be a suitable companion for our daughter. ... Yes, we give our full approval to marry Kristina if God has also led her to that decision. ... So, when do you plan to ask her?

As I heard the words, joy flooded my heart and the tears threatened to fill my eyes. We prayed together, and they gave me their blessing. My confidence that this truly was God's leading was now firmly established. Spring break was one week away, and Kristina would be starting her summer tour of nature meetings in only three weeks. Whatever I did, I had to decide quickly. Before we got off the phone, we had arranged for me to fly to Washington for a visit, one week later. I immediately bought a plane ticket, at an amazingly affordable price (yet another miracle). That's when it hit me: in exactly one week, on March 10, 2008, I had another important question to ask!

Now with Kristina's parents' full permission for our engagement, it was my turn to plan the suspense. We wanted to surprise Kristina. Under normal circumstances this would have been impossible, but with my travel date only a week away, I thought, just maybe, we could keep it a secret. I would be flying early, and should be in Spokane by mid-morning. I'd just tell Kristina I was busy in the morning, and she wouldn't be too worried. And it worked—almost...