Give Me Thine Heart...

   We are raising our children to expect the principles of courtship, as we see portrayed in the Bible,  to be the guide to their future relationships. We discovered the principles of courtship a few years ago and our first problem was, we do not know anyone who lives by them in our community. How, we asked ourselves, were we going to make sure the girls understood the why and how so deeply that when they came of age (they are only 9 years and younger now) they would hold these practices and beliefs as their own? We didn't want to "drag" them through the experience. Of course we talk about it anytime the subject comes up and we know people through long distance relationships who believe as we do but we wanted to come up with something "special". And then Valentine's Day came around. A week before Valentine's Day it all kind of came together for us, Lee bought a tiny box of chocolates and a rose for each (Only Bri and Tori at the time). The night of February 14th he read the story of Issac and Rebecca to them and explained the concept of courtship and that that was going to be a picture of how they would get to the marriage altar (family involvement, no one-on-one dating, etc.) . After he explained these things he asked each to give him their heart, handing them their rose as they answered he prayed with them, then they got chocolate ;). This year will be the third time that we get to share this beautiful tradition with our daughters. Ladies, I can't tell you how special it is to watch this little ceremony between a father and his daughters.



     Tori~ February 14, 2005   

   This will be the first year that we have a boy for Valentine's Day and we have decided that we will be giving Andrew an artificial rose each year and keep each of them for him to give to his future wife on their wedding day as a symbol of his purity and commitment to her. We thought of drying real flowers but I didn't like the idea of Andrew having to give his future helpmate something dead on the first day of their new life together, I thought the symbolism of something that can last practically forever was more fitting.    

   Daddy's are so important in the lives of their children. My children are so blessed to have a daddy who loves them and goes out of his way to teach and guide them. I am so blessed to have a husband who loves, protects and provides for me and who makes it a point to use his time to show his love and concern for us. I love you Honey!!!

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. ~Proverbs 23:26