I'm ENGAGED!!!

 YEP....I'm engaged to Alan Halbrooks! I'm getting married!!!!

Now that's I've got your attention I'll share my story with you.

At this very minute Alan is also blogging about our engagement. So if you would like to hear his side of the story, visit his blog at: http:.//ahalbrooks.wordpress.com

It's true, I'm engaged and to the most wonderful and perfectly suited godly man. (don't get me wrong, he's not perfect) Alan and I have officially been dating five months and it will likely be four months of engagement. You may think it's fast but when you know, you know.

We anticipated that this past week was going to be busy. I knew that Alan would be preaching this Sunday as well as giving his testimony. In attempts to be a "good girlfriend" I gave him space and time to make sure he was prepared. With this in mind, I had no expectation that Alan would propose on Sunday between the two speaking events. He knows I've been wondering so was quite clever in the choosing.

Since I returned from my trip to the states we have been having picnics on Sundays in tree houses on centre. It has become one of our favorite times together. Of all the tree houses on center there is one that trumps them all. The Swiss family Robinson would be proud! This tree house extends between two trees and is connected by a hanging bridge. How cool is that!

Knowing that it was going to be a crazy week, I asked Alan if we could picnic there this Sunday. He asked the family but little did I know that he had planned to propose to me in that tree house.

On Sunday we packed our picnic of grilled cheese, carrots, some strange lime juice, and apples and headed to our next tree house adventure. As we were walking I noticed that the tree house had two green table clothes draping over two sides of the tree house. I told Alan that maybe the family had put them up to give us a bit of privacy (which is something they would do. But no, Alan had put them up.) He agreed that they would do something like that. What a stinker!

We climbed up (tree houses are not designed for adult hips) and ate our lunch. After a while Alan pointed out a basket. I hadn't seen it earlier. He went over to investigate. After inspecting it he told me to come look. As I came nearer I saw that it was a very pretty basket but I still suspected it was one of the kids toys. I think I even told him that there was probably nothing in it. He had tied the basket up to a pulley system, and when it was at my eye level I saw this: a shepherd puppet I had made before we started dating (he always talks about wanting to be a shepherd), a bunch of lovely roses, a sign that read Will you Marry Me? and a ring box with a ring drawn on a band aid (I had a dream that he gave me a band aid-ring and asked if I would be okay with that, since he couldn't get the ring here any sooner). Each item brought a different emotion. The shepherd made me laugh, the flowers made me smile, the question was a shock and also a great excitement, and the ring...well I was not sure WHAT to think about that! haha!

I then turned around to find my boyfriend down on one knee, holding up the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. To be honest this part is all a bit fuzzy. I remember grabbing the ring and wrapping my arms around him screaming, "YES!" I think he was only able to get out the words, "Will you..." before I agreed! Shesh, I'd better be careful. He could have said anything, "Will you hold on it this ring? Will you wash my dishes tonight?" This question was a no-brainer to me. Of course I would marry him!


We left the tree house and started to walk to the Hansen's house. I wasn't quite sure who to tell next or how to tell them. Most of our family back in the states were sleeping already. We agreed to go to the Hansen's. I pushed open the door and there they were, all my friends! My sister Kelly and her family were there along with Brandy (my new roommate), Mandy (my last roommate) and her husband Steve, my friends Donna and Leah and of course the Hansen family. I was shocked and also very excited! They were the first ones I shared my story with. The rest of the day we shared with whomever would listen.

That night at youth group, Alan shared his testimony. He talked about all the different stages of his life. At the end he said something to the affect of, "And now I will begin a new stage, that of marriage because I am now officially engaged to Amanda Wulff." All the teens and adults started to cheer. I lifted up my hand in agreement but I kept my eyes on my future husband. I am proud to be his fiance and soon...his wife.