Karla and Daniel's Wedding

Several years ago, when Tim and I were leading a Life Group for our old church, Karla approached me and asked if she and her friend Valerie could come to our group. Well, it wasn't a closed, invitation-only group, so of course it was fine. But I had to wonder why a couple of early twenties, still in college girls would want to be in our group. Our group was older singles and married couples for the most part. And there was already a very popular college age group. I was nervous she would regret it her first night.

But they came. We had a bar-be-que that first night to celebrate the beginning or the end of summer. I don't remember which. During the course of the evening, Valerie had to jump in our pond to save a small child from drowning! So much for first impressions.

Maybe it was the great food, or the sense that if they didn't come each week children might die, but for some reason, they stayed.

What a blessing! I have never had the privilege to know two girls so committed to Christ at such a young age as Valerie and Karla. Their faith was unbelievable. Karla would tell us stories each week of people she had prayed for on the campus of Long Beach State. She once felt led to pray for a girl that had broken her leg. And a report came back that it was healed!

Then I found out that Karla was homeschooled all the way through 12th grade! Her mom became my hero, and Karla became my poster child. I saw Karla and prayed my girls would end up with even half her faith and devotion to Christ. She continually amazed me week after week with her maturity and insight and wisdom. She put grown ups to shame with her trust in God.

She moved home to Los Angeles after graduating and decided to go to Africa for a 6 month mission project (see what I mean about unbelievable faith.) So obviously she couldn't attend our group anymore. That was a big blow.

But when she came back from Africa, she announced she was dating someone and it was serious. I knew he had to be someone amazing to even earn a few minutes of her time. She's quite committed to the work of the Lord and has no time for silly, inconsequential stuff.

We attended their wedding on Saturday. It was an amazing, Christ-centered affair. With Karla, there would not have been a choice. It was the first contact we had had with Daniel, as he lives in South Dakota, but I have to say I was enormously impressed. He's a male Karla! Their love for the Lord was so obvious and beautiful. It made their love for each other that much more sweet.

I pray that God would shower them with blessings. Make them successful in whatever they do. Lead them and guide them. My heart is bursting with happiness for them and I continue to pray my own girls will have a similar story.

Congratulations Daniel and Karla.