THE Story…
They say it happens once in a life time, and so all my life
I’ve been waiting for my turn to see it come true. The day a prince appeared,
the day I was swept off my feet, the day I knew I had fallen in love. Well, like most people my own story is a little more
complicated than the fairy tale bliss. However, it’s not far off.
I was 18 years old. Not even a year out of high school and I
had already traveled to the opposite side of the world to participate in the
YWAM Townsville 6 month discipleship training school. Life changing experience
is an understatement. It shattered everything I thought I knew about God,
myself, and the world… in a good (and much needed) way.
After two full on, very intense weeks of lectures up in the
Aussie bush, my school and I received an emergency warning to evacuate our
location as soon as possible due to an incoming tropical storm. Needless to
say, no one was very thrilled at the forced reality of returning from such a
wonderful experience to the busy, familiar world. On top of that, our return
crashed the joyous graduation of the October 2008 training school and no one
was very pleased about the intrusion. Frustrated and grumpy, I stayed back
while all my friends went off to “Maccas.” It was that decision that set me up
for a chance encounter. While waiting for my friends to return, I noticed a
young man sitting on a couch telling his friends about his recent return from
East Timor. Intrigued, I moved closer and asked if I could look at his pictures
and there you have it – an instant connection.
For the following day and a half we were inseparable. We
shared all about our families and thoughts on God, Australia, youth, our
training schools, outreaches, hopes and fears. He played and sang songs for me
and I remember that we laughed a lot. We spent so much time together that one
of my friends asked us if we were going to get married which actually became
the only reason we became friends on facebook so we could changed our statuses
to read “married” as a joke!! [Super funny NOW].
Fast forward three years of being best friends. Emotions,
attractions, confusions… still separated by a vast ocean and still both in
fulltime youth work. Both of us decided something’s got to give. In vulnerable
conversation we both agreed to pray and ask God what was going on and if there
was something there from him. For Ryan, the answer came clear and easy, but he
waited patiently for me to feel like I had heard from God. I on the other hand
went through months of being
impatient and a whole lordship process. God took me through completely laying
down and surrendering my rights in every area of my life… especially Ryan. God
revealed all these secret fears and insecurities I didn’t even realize I had.
It wasn’t until 6 months later when I finally got to the place of being OK if
nothing ever became more than friendship with my relationship with Ryan that I
felt like God spoke. It was unexpected and almost caught me off guard. I was
praying in my room late one night and I felt to ask God one last time if he had
anything to say about Ryan. It was then I felt like he gave a green light to
pursue a relationship with Ryan. Processing carefully with trusted leadership,
I started to unpack what a green light to proceed might mean. When it came time
to have a deep conversation with Ryan about this development, it made sense
that I picked a logical time to do it…. Not the case. Ry was really sick with a
fever and it was after midnight… I didn’t plan to have the talk then, but after
a few years of close friendship, he could read me like a book and knew I wasn’t
telling him something. That skype conversation may have started with Ry looking
like a sick puppy dog, but it ended with him as hyper as a 5 year old kid on a
sugar rush! It also ended with him asking me to be his girl friend… Awww
After spending some time together in California over
Christmas, and dating strong for several months, it was time for Ryan to make his way over to
my home (and the place where it all began) in Townsville, Australia. At first
it was a bit of an adjustment as our two worlds combined, but both of us knew
that our two short weeks together would be significant.
Part way through our time together we celebrated our 7 month
anniversary. It was a perfectly beautiful day as we sailed to a tropical island
just off the coast of Townsville. Exploring our way along the coastline of
perfect white sand beaches, we found my favorite beach and settled there.
Playing in the waves and drinking in the sun, it was paradise. We went to a cute
Italian café for a late lunch and then decided to go hiking. Part way up a
mountain path we found a secluded waterfall flowing into a lagoon. Although it
was shallow we played in the water for a while and then sat along the edge to
admire its beauty. It was there in those peaceful moments along the side of the
waterfall that Ryan grew very quiet. Finally he turned to me and said; “Liz,
you know I love you. And today is our 7th month anniversary. And I
want to continue to love you, and cherish you, and protect you, and provide for
you, and share life with you.” Then he asked me if he could ask me a question,
so I said yes. Then he asked me if I trusted him – I said yes. Then he reached
down and pulled out a purple ring box and opened it in my lap as I sat there
speechless. Then he said that one question I’ve been waiting my whole life to
hear: “Liz, will you marry me?” and I smiled back my response with glistening
eyes and then answered yes!
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There are many chapters in between those events, but that is
the summary of my fairy tale thus far. At the moment we are back to being long distance as I am still with YWAM Townsville in Australia and Ryan is back as a youth
pastor in California. We aren't planning to get married until spring 2014, but I'm sure that time will fly by.
Thank you for your friendship and celebrating with us during this exciting time.
xx Liz
