What's Rachel Doing?

Since Rachel took this semester off from school, I kind of thought she would have all kinds of free time. In God's providence, her time off from school has been the help we needed in our home. It's no secret that planning a wedding takes a lot of time, especially when you do everything yourself to save money. Her blog documents some of her fun date times with Adrian and some of the work they are doing to get their apartment ready. She doesn't really keep documented there all of what she's doing, but she is busy non- stop.

But what I am so thankful for is her willingness to help at home. Lately, her first question to me every morning has been, "What do you need me to do today?" She has spent the past several months cooking when I can't, cleaning where I can't, and driving where I can't. All busy moms know that it takes a lot to keep up a home, do homeschool, and stay active in ministry. I am grateful that Rachel has been such a help to me these past few months. (No, she isn't perfect and we clash sometimes, but she is willing and available.)

Rachel and Adrian treated us to lunch in Dahlonega on a double date for a couple of hours.

Hockey? Street Fighting? Golf?

At Ray's latest marriage conference I was reminded of a hard truth I had to learn. We enjoyed the company of couples who had been married for nearly 50 years, engaged couples and couples in all stages of life.

One couple we sat with at several different meal times was friends that we've known for a while. I hadn't seen J. in a long time when I bumped into her and her husband at Target a couple of months ago. We stood and chatted for a while and she told me that she had started playing hockey with her husband and some other friends.

They came to the marriage conference and we were able to visit with them more. The subject of her playing hockey with her husband came up again. (She has also started learning a type of street fighting with him too.) The real reason came out about why she's playing such tough sports. It's a great way to spend time with her husband! At 45, she has one child left at home and they wanted things to do together that would keep them connected. How amazing is that? She had only ice skated a few times before she started this, yet she's strong and healthy (but jealously thin and beautiful). I love her contagious enthusiasm for life and joy in the Lord. But I'm so thankful for this reminder. Do what it takes to spend time with your husband!

About twenty years ago a man in our church would take Ray to play golf every once in a while. He told me that I should encourage Ray to play golf more often because he could be really good. During this time, Ray would often ask me to go with him to play golf and hang out, I could even drive the golf cart if I wanted to. I always had excuses about the children, my chores, I was too busy.... Eventually, Ray quit playing golf. I always felt a little guilty about that, like if I had encouraged him he might have continued on with it. He's always been pretty active, running and going to the gym to work out. So in the past few years I've made more of an effort to go to the gym, run and do other things with him. We try to have at least one date meal a week and spend over-nighters away a couple of times a year.

This week, again, another reminder to do better to spend time with my husband came along. Rachel is a good example of this. It was her turn to plan hers and Adrian's date this week. I was impressed by how much thought and time she put into planning it. I have been thinking, "Oh, I could do that if I had more time, Ray and I use to do things like that, but we're stuck in a rut. It's much easier on me if we just go out to eat. I don't have time to cook like that and do all the extra stuff."

Reading Feminine Appeal, I am convicted to "love my husband." I love him, but do I show him love? What little extra things do I do to go out of my way to show him that I love him exclusively? It's easy to come up with excuses, but Titus 2:4 is clear about the need for women to show our husbands affectionate love. That might mean a little extra thought into date nights, meals, what we wear, play hockey or golf... Rachel left her cute little date night spot set up so Ray and I could enjoy it soon. I hope I have (ahem, make) time this week for us to do that.

Wedding Showers

Rachel's aunts gave her a wedding shower and had everything perfect!

Aunt Amy, Rachel, Aunt Robin, and Aunt Anna

The wedding gifts were so exciting too!

Her bridesmaids gave her a shower that lasted all night long, and included lots of fun presents. I'm really thankful they included me!

There are two ladies I know and admire so much. (Don't tell, but I love their children like they are my own too.) They lived next door to each other for years in Honduras and became close friends. As God would have it, Melody's son married Maggie's daughter and now they have a great relationship sharing their children and grandchildren. I love to see pictures of them as friends before their children were married. Long term relationships like that mean a lot to me.

This past weekend Rachel's future in-laws came from Minnesota to visit Georgia. I had prayed that God would give us a good relationship and that He would be honored. The weekend went really well, and we are on our way to being great friends. We didn't have the privilege of living side by side because we are separated by half of the country. But I know that while we are sharing our children and (hopefully, lots of :) grandchildren, we can develop a wonderful relationship too.

I loved seeing Adrian interacting with his mom and dad and it made us love him even more. We went to Amicalola Falls and the place where the wedding will be. We got to talk a lot about the details of the wedding and stuff like that. While the girls went to a bridal shower for Rachel, Adrian and his dad worked on the kitchen in their apartment. Rachel has more fun photos of the weekend on her blog.

Guess What Rachel did on Vacation?

Admired how wonderful Adrian is... (He had these flowers waiting for her at the hotel.)

Shopped for her wedding to Adrian...

Talked to Adrian on the phone...

Thought about Adrian the whole time....

And ... she did find a little time for fun too.

All the Latest From Rachel and Adrian

Rachel and Adrian have set up two places to keep us up to date with all the latest news going on in their lives. I am thankful they are working hard to honor God.

This one has all the details about their wedding. Wedding website

Here is the place that they are documenting all kinds of fun stuff about their journey to married life. Blog

These are just a couple of their engagement pictures that Sarah took. She did a great job with them. There are more here.

Wedding Check List

• The most beautiful wedding dress ever bought - done
• The location of every girl's dream secured - done
• Registry for the greatest home ever completed - done
• Two bridesmaids' dresses bought - (only two more to go)
• Bible studies started for the most spiritual couple ever - done
• Bride and Groom still dreamy eyed - done

Left to do... Wow! The list is unbelievable, but it really is a fun process.

Adrian Rink's Proposal to Rachel Rhodes