In the next two weeks, I quickly adapted to the idea of dating Jason. I grew more attracted to him physically, and I would take any opportunity to snuggle up next to him. It was on December 5th that I realized if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. And so, on December 6th I made Jason drive all the way out to Martinsburg just so we could talk in the car, and I told him I was ready to be his girlfriend. Wow--looking back--what a road we've traveled.

It wasn't until right before Christmas that I started to feel as though I needed clarification--I needed commitment, I needed reassurance--how did he see me, what did he think of me. In his mother's kitchen, standing at the stove and cooking something yummy, Jason took my face in his hands, looked deep in my eyes and told me his intentions: he was going to marry me. See, we would never have started dating if it wasn't for the purpose of marrying, of determining if we

were compatible for marriage. But I am always that person that needs to know right up front what's the point and what's the purpose and what are you really thinking; basically, if it's not that way now, then what's the point of continuing foward? It's a strength and a weakness all at the same time. But God knew it was what I needed. And so that night in Nancy's kitchen, Jason told me in no uncertain terms, and I knew. And then I started crying and then Jason and Nancy had no clue what to do with me because they'd never seen me cry before. Haha... that's funny; now they're probably like, oh here she goes again. ;-)

And on Christmas Day, driving out to my grandparents house in a mad dash, we planned our wedding. Of course, then we had no clue that it wouldn't be for ANOTHER WHOLE YEAR... but that's a different story for a different time. At this point, I'm content to say that each day, I love Jason more. I knew the Lord would work that in my heart. I never would have pointed to Jason as