Winter “Break”

I’m not sure how much of a “break” this will be… there’s a lot to do!

I’ve got everything packed (I think) to head to my parents house tomorrow in Anderson for a few days. While I’m there, I’ll probably be back and forth to Greenville to help babysit my nieces because Josiah is coming home on Thursday (www.thewilsonheart.com)!! Friday I’m off to Charleston to see my fiancé and his family and Saturday we’re going to visit with our reception venue and then we’re going to see A Christmas Carol (by the Charleston stage company)!

Throughout break, I am working on an Independent Study for school on the Prison Epistles.

I want to finish reading Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus, read Forgotten God by Francis Chan, and perhaps another book.

I have to write and send out support letters to raise $5000 for my internship and make a scrapbook about Cambodia.

On Dec 17 my sister Charity graduates from grad school in Charlotte and on the 18-20 we’ll be in Boone with the Redwines.

I’ll head back to my parents for a few days and will probably visit Milo and Erin and also my grandparents in Aiken because my cousins from Cali will be in town!!

Christmas Eve afternoon we’ll be in Columbia with John Mark’s family and back in Charleston that night for the Christmas Eve service and the opening of presents.

John Mark and I will head back to my parents Christmas Day and maybe go to Aiken around that time.

We will be heading back to Boone for a CSU family reunion with 16 of us I think to celebrate the New Year!!

Probably back to my parents and perhaps John Mark’s in NC before we possibly head to NY so he can meet my extended friends and family.

I also have 2 exams for my independent study too.

Yikes, so much to do, but so much to come in this next year. I’m very excited, a little overwhelmed and will be happy when it’s all said and done!!

Merry Christmas everyone. I can’t wait to be with the people I love.

I’m engaged!

Well, it happened… John Mark Redwine proposed to me on Friday, Nov 20th!! It was a bit of a restful week (other than meetings and dinners to end the semester) for me after an extremely stressful, sleepless and busy week before. On Monday, Jessi called me to go to a play on Friday with her and Erica. I didn't really ask what the play was, but I was just excited to hang out because I had been in my room busy as a bee for a few weeks straight. I told John Mark about it and he was glad I was going to do something fun.

John Mark did tell me there was a surprise for me on Friday, but I thought it was a bouquet of flowers, but there was nothing in my mail. Friday afternoon Jessi called and said, I'll pick you up at 430. We left here around 5 and on our way to Chattanooga and the play, Jessi said, "let's go to Sunset Rock, you know how to get there right Rahel?" I really didn't feel like going because the sun was already about to set and we were wearing dresses… but oddly, I didn't ask questions. We got to Sunset rock just before dusk and as we were walking down to the view, John Mark turned the corner and proposed.

It was hard for me to grasp it all because all day and all week for that matter John Mark had been lying about what he was doing (He and Jessi and Erica devised this story about the play). He told me all about his day on Friday: having a tough workout, going to work, going Christmas shopping than going over to his friend Brack's house (mind you, John Mark lives 10 hours from me). John Mark left at 4am to drive to Chattanooga and called my aunt to make plans for us to stay at her house for the weekend.

Of course, I said YES! After, I asked a lot of questions as to how he was here, with me… But it was such a surprise! I was a little saddened when I heard there was never any play. But, on Saturday we went to lunch at the Pickle Barrel, went to the art museum, got coffee and walked around the art district of Chatt, went to see a play "Screw-tape Letters" by C.S. Lewis at the coolest theatre and had Japanese for dinner (all Spontaneously)!! It was an awesome weekend with my amazing fiancé!!!

We were able to spend Thanksgiving engaged and tell our friends and family all about it.

John Mark and I became great friends second semester of our freshman year at CSU. It has been an amazing and transformational 4 years for John Mark and I. We have grown up quite a bit and learned a LOT about each other. Our entire dating relationship has been long distance other than a few months around each other here and there and every few weekends, but friends and family know we're inseparable. Truly being best friends for such an extended period of time (3 years) helped to prepare us for the long distance. We've spent many hours on the phone from several states, countries, payphones, cell phones and homes.

We are so excited to see where God takes us and are looking forward to spending this next year engaged. This is going to be an extremely busy year, but we are so ready to be in the next stage of our relationship!

Love you John Mark Redwine,