A Courtship Story

It's Buddy the Elf Friday!! What has me smiling today? Well, how about part two of our love story? :)

Part Two

"Lord, if Ryan truly is the one you have for me... You're going to have to work fast because he's about to move!" I prayed as I watched Ryan walk to his car after making sure I was safe to go on my way in my green VW bug, Sweetpea. My heart had been so full this evening as I listened to him share his story of how God worked in his life through difficult times. I just knew in my heart that God placed him in my life for a reason. I drove off towards home thinking and praying for God's will to be done.

I walked into the kitchen to start practicing the German and Italian songs I had to know the next day for the college choir trip. I began belting them out, totally engrossed in the music when my Daddy walked in. He motioned for me to turn the music off and said he needed to talk to me. - Just as a side note, normally when something like this happens someone dear to me has either died or I'm in trouble, so I automatically think the worst. - I went into the living room and sat down still able to hear the Italian song playing in the next room. "I had a visit today from Ryan Vaughn." (Ok, Cat, breathe in and out.) "He came to ask my blessing and permission to court you with the ultimate intention being marriage. Now, before you say anything I would be more than happy to tell him no if you are not interested and you can have as much time as you need to think about it."

Ryan now says that as he received the call at 11pm that night a huge weight had been lifted off of him and he was able to sleep the whole night through after months of praying and wondering what to do. From what I hear, though I was not present during the meeting between him and Dad, Ryan was a nervous wreck and had never been so scared in his life! Oh - by the way - the date of this momentous day? April 1, 2004.

I did not see Ryan until the next evening after returning home from Houston. Our first outing was to Walmart to get Blue Bell ice cream and hair rollers! The first few weeks were spent trying to adjust to this new place in our relationship and we had very few words for each other. Once we got over that obstacle we spent a lot of time talking, setting firm boundaries and getting to know each other with the understanding that if at any time one of us had any hesitation we could end the relationship. I will never forget one precious little boy that I was close to just couldn't understand why Mr. Ryan wanted to be my husband. He said to his parents, "Catherine doesn't need a husband. She has a Daddy." :o)

The courting days were so special. We were able to spend a lot of time with our families and friends. We both began working together with a children/youth ministry in a church dear to us and made lifelong friends as a couple.

Our prayer and desire was that our relationship would point others and each other to Christ as we sought His will and made Him the center of our relationship. I am thankful and blessed that today we still desire to serve the Lord and be in His will. He is the one who holds us together.
Originally posted January 21, 2010