Anna Dumaresq: Mrs. Kircher

Jessie's getting married.*Gulp*

The more I think about it, the crazier it seems. Jessie, my friend since I was 11 (almost half my life now), is getting married on March 30th! This past weekend at her wedding shower (which, despite my responsibility of hostess, was super fun) and into the week as I was helping her plan "tablescapes", all I could think was--"Is this really happening!?" :)

Despite my own surreal feelings, I know without a doubt that it has been the intricate weaving of the hands of the Creator that has woven the fabrics of Jessie and Andrew's lives together in such a beautiful way. Despite their "less traditional" way of meeting ;), God is writing a beautiful story for them and working out even the smallest details.

A quick version of the story:
Jessie Bannan and I met when I was 11 and she was 12. We mutually agree that neither of us liked the other at first impression--I thought she looked snobby and she really did not want to be acquainted with ANOTHER stranger. You should also know that, because we were both home schooled our mom's were kind of nudging us towards each other because 1)I had no friends and 2) Jessie's mom is great at including everyone. So Jessie was kind of fighting that "Mom says I have to" feeling ;). We laugh so often about it now, but I truly know that the Bannan family was a gift from God. They became a second family to me, including me on camping trips, kayaking, hiking, bowling, snow tubing, beach trips, gingerbread house making parties--you name it, we probably did it. Jessie and I also went through a lot of molding and shaping under God's hands together. Sometimes the outcome was awesome, and sometimes really really painful. But God knew we needed each other. :)

Jessie moved to North Carolina over a year ago, specifically to be a nanny for her 2 nephews. There, through interesting circumstances, she met Andrew Kircher (who is a Marine) and it ended up that they went to the same church! Funny thing was they had never seen each other =p. They got to know each other over time, I got to meet him and he survived lunch out with my family!(haha!) He proposed the weekend of New Years and they are getting married March 30th!

Out of all of this (extremely) shortened story, 2 things continue to blow my mind:

1) I have always prayed that whoever captures the heart of my close friends could actually be MY friend too. I have had bad experiences with feeling used, or where guys pretended to be my close friend because they liked my best friend, and then they drop all contact when things don't work out. But Andrew is actually a really neat guy and I have a lot of respect for him. I feel blessed that I feel comfortable around him and can call him a friend.

2) All of the times I've prayed for Jessie's husband, I've been praying for Andrew.
Pretty crazy huh? All the times I've prayed that her husband would be strengthened, courageous, seek God--everything--I was praying for Andrew.....He actually exists! :)

awww...Aren't they cute? ;)

I'll sign off with this. I've been struggling so much with some really heavy burdens, some things which feel like burdens I know I can't bear without Jesus' help. It's in times like this it is CRUCIAL to remember the testimonies in my own life where God has proven himself to me! The list is a prettttyyyy long one, too. And even now as I think about my friends, all I know is that God will take care of his people....and He will take care of me. Just as he spent years crafting both Jessie and Andrew for their life together, He is crafting me specifically for purposes which He has set before me. Whether it involves a future spouse, or just trusting Him with day-to-day needs, He WILL provide and care for His flock. He is the called the Good Shepherd for a reason! Trust him, friends. He will not fail us. :)

"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.[...]As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;for he knows how we are formed,he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass,they flourish like a flower of the field;the wind blows over it and it is gone,and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts." ~Psalm 103:8,13-18

"But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me." ~Micah 7:7