Thursday 28 September 2017

So. Um. Yes. It appears I'm not gone for good after all. (a.k.a. Story time with Bonnie)

*creeps in*

*looks around*

Is anyone here? Anyone still hanging round these days?? After I went and ditched you all....?

You are still here? oh goody, because have I got a bit of a story to share with you all! So have a seat, make yourself nice and comfy, grab a cup of hot chocolate (preferably with one or two marshmellows) and enjoy the story.  You ready? Well, ready or not, here we go.....

on with the story...

So I  have this friend whose name is David.

Anyway, part way through last year, I began to get 'vibes' that he liked me.

I liked David very much as a friend and enjoyed getting to know him better over a period of several months.  Eventually, in August sometime, David expressed his desire to begin a 'courtship' or 'intentional relationship'.  He discussed this both with my parents and with me.

I didn't say yes.

This was because I was about to head off to the United States for 2 and a half months and I didn't want to feel like I was leaving half my heart in New Zealand.  I wanted to enjoy my time over there and decided that I would revisit the idea when I came home at the end of January.  Mum and Dad also thought it would be a good idea to leave the idea on the shelf for the time being.

Fast forward to when I was away.  While I was in the US, I prayed about the idea of a relationship with David lots and thought about it a heap.  I was still in (relatively frequent) contact with David - we facebook messaged often and video called a few times.

Throughout the time I was away, I eventually came to the conclusion that I thought it was best to say no once and for all.  There were a few reasons for this decision which I am not going to go into here.  Suffice it to say I didn't have peace about it (my reasons were a bit more substantial than this) and I didn't feel that the timing was right.

So sometime in January I sent David a long email telling him all about it and what I wanted to do - namely, to just be friends.  I even offered to help him find someone else!  We were really good friends and I didn't want to break our friendship, but I didn't want him to think I was happy to marry him, because at the time I really couldn't see that happening.

David was gutted, poor guy.

I felt terrible dashing his hopes like that (and I didn't find it easy myself!), but I justified it by telling myself and him that it was better for us to break up then than further down the track when we were both far more emotionally invested.

Then I came home to New Zealand and life resumed again.

I began studying the last paper in the Legal Executive diploma and got a full time job not too long after that.  Life was really busy and I was enjoying it.

It so happened that the job I got (as a legal secretary in a law firm in the central city) was only a few hundred meters away from David's work (he's currently a service desk support person at a computer / IT company).  It's true - I walk out of my building, walk down the road, turn a corner and his building is pretty much right there!

We would often bang into each other going for a walk on our lunch breaks.  We also were still in contact and were in several of the same friend groups, including the camp leaders group, so we saw each other at things like that.  We ended up planning kid's camp together and occasionally if my other transport options didn't work out I would get a ride in to work with David.

For months we were just good friends.  I knew it was really hard for David because he wanted to be more than friends and didn't give up hope that I would change my mind.  Yet I stuck to my guns and would suggest other girls that he could consider (none of whom he really seriously considered).  I saw myself just as a good friend but nothing more.

I kept thinking to myself, "things can't stay like this forever".  Either I needed to change my mind and decide I wanted to be in a relationship, or else David needed to change his mind and set his hopes on someone else.  I hated the feeling of being in limbo, of it feeling like something had to snap.  I kept seeking God and thinking about the situation.  Both of us were praying that God would change one of our hearts.

And you know what?

He changed mine.

Over the last few months (probably from mid July onwards) I just kind of started to slowly fall in love with David.  I'm sure it was God changing my heart.  I got a few random little 'confirmations' that made me know for sure that I was making the right decision.  My whole outlook on the situation changed.  All the reasons why I had originally told him No were either sorted out or don't really matter that much.

And so I was left with no more excuses and a new appreciation for this man of God who kept pursuing me when I had consistently stubbornly refused him.

Let's talk about this man of God for a minute shall we! :)

He is 21 years old and lives about half an hour away from me and my family.  His family (he comes from a family of 11 children as well) has been friends with ours for as long as I can remember.
He has an incredibly strong faith and always encourages me in mine. Just like David in the Bible, he really is a "man after God's own heart".
He's really gentle and kind.
He's a lover of Truth.
He is a man of integrity who stands up for what is right.  I know that I never have to worry about his character.
He is passionate and persistent in pursuing what he believes in.
He's really good with kids.
And he's really handsome too. :)

Now that you know him a bit better, I'll continue with the story.

David says he started picking up on some vibes I apparently was sending that I was starting to be a bit more 'interested' than I had been.  I don't know about that, but I do know that we eventually decided the time had come to discuss where our 'relationship' (or lack of it) was at.

We went for a walk on our lunch breaks on the 10th of August and discussed it.

And after we had both shared where we were at, and talked about it all, we stopped on a bridge above a river with daffodils and blossom covered trees lining the banks.  And David officially asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend.

And I said yes.

And it's that happening (and the events following) that prompted me to write this blog post.

We are officially in a relationship.  Or courtship.  Call it whatever you like, but we are in a relationship with the intention of marriage in the future.

And I couldn't be more happy. :)

David seems pretty happy too.  Which is rather a pleasant state of affairs for everyone involved.

This is an exciting stage of life and a part of the journey that neither of us have travelled before.  We are so enjoying getting to know each other better and better.  And developing those little 'inside jokes'.  And just really finding the whole adventure of love so exciting!



So yeah.  That's where we are at currently!

Hope you all are having a great week. :)

Love to you all,
Bonnie

36 comments:

  1. Such a cool story! What would you think if I compared you two to Beren and Luthien? :D

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    1. Is it bad that I had to google their story? Lol. The similarities are a little restricted I think, because I'm not exactly an elf (well not that I know of anyway). :P What a cute story though.
      And very Tolkien-ish I think. You know what? Compare us to whoever and whatever you like.

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  2. This post is so cute and heartwarming and I am so happy for you both, Bonnie!! ♥

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  3. well gracious isn't this adorable. XD so sweet you too!! <3 <3

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    1. well gracious aren't you adorable :D thank you for commenting Julia! xx

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  4. This was beautiful...truly. God has so many plans for us that we don't see at first ;)
    -Michaila
    seventytimeseven.com

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    1. Awww, Michaila, you're so sweet. What you said was so true! I sometimes think that I would be quite happy to trust God if I knew what he was up to! Lol. But we are told to walk by faith and not by sight.
      Hugs

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  5. Aw, I'm so excited for you both!! :D (And I have to say, you look really cute together... ;) Praying that God continues to strengthen this relationship as you both strive to grow closer to Him and to each other!! :)

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    1. Aw, you're so sweet Rebekah <3 Lol. Thanks for your kind words! What a lovely prayer. :) God bless.

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  6. This made me so happy to read!! Praying for you two as you continue in this sweet journey. :)

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  7. So I know I screeched on FB so I won't screech here but my goodness I am excited and happy for you!!! xx

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  8. Wow, I was just revisiting your blog (looking for your instagram name actually, haha) last week, and missing your posts! They were some of my favourites. :) Are you back to blogging regularly, or just popping in?

    Either way, it was lovely to read your's and David's story! I actually really appreciate that it's not a storybook romance, but a process of God directing each of you. Congratulations, and many blessings on this season of life!

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    1. My instagram name is @blessed_bonnie - what's yours?
      You are so sweet. I missed posting and keeping in contact with you all lovely people. I would like to blog regularly, I'll see how it goes. I'm definitely not blogging till after my big exam mid October. After that, well, who knows. :)
      Thank you for sharing your thoughts about our romance. I love that about it too. Storybook romances are fun to read and daydream about, but they aren't terribly realistic! :)
      God bless you. <3

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  9. WOW!!! Lovely story Bonnie! I'm so glad for you two!♥

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  10. Loved this story Bonnie! I think it's sweet that you were drawn together over time rather than had a "love at first sight" experience. So many congratulations to you beautiful lady!

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    1. You are so sweet, Arnica. Thank you for your kind words. :)

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  11. So amazing! Thanks for the update Bonnie!

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  12. Love this story! So happy for you! Hope this blogpost will be the start of many more...:)

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    1. Thanks! :)
      You take good photos by the way :D

      We'll see ;) After my exam I can think about other things again. Lol.

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  13. Yayyy Bonnie, this is so exciting! I came across your blog again after a long time and it was so sweet to read this story. Many blessings to you in this new season of life!! (and by the way you're so gorgeous! Although I've never met you I'm pretty sure David's got a beautiful treasure in you...inside and out!:)

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    1. Oh my word, Hannah, you are so kind... thank you for stopping in to leave your comment.
      You have made my day! <3
      Well I don't know about that, but I do know that I have certainly got a treasure in him :)

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  14. I'm so happy you started up your blog again!! And now your in a courtship!!! This is so exiting!!!!

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  15. Awwww Bonnie!!!! I'm so very happy for you!!! I hope everything works out for both of you <333

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  16. I can't believe I just realized you had a blog! And I love your story so much!!! This is just so cute and amazing :D It's really neat how you changed with time. And how he patiently waited. I also love that cute picture you posted on IG of both of you as little kids. Just so cute :)

    keturahskorner.blogspot.com

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    1. Haha, I've had a blog for ages, and I used to post on it frequently. It's kind of abandoned now due to life busyness and all that kind of stuff.
      Thanks for your comment! It made my day. :)

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