September 10

My Sweet Silent Sister, I can't decide if I stepped out of a dream or into a dream. One of these places doesn't seem real. Was Switzerland real? I'm sure it was. But here I am at Rancho Corona University, rooming with Katie, seeing Todd every day, and it's like this is the only life I've ever known. So this must be the dream, right?

No, I guess it's all real. I have to say the best part is that everything here feels familiar. I got along fine with my roommates in Switzerland. But sharing a room with Katie is so much easier. She is definitely my Forever Friend.

I spent some time reading my Bible this morning and marked a verse in the first chapter of John: "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of G.o.d."

I have been given the right to become one of G.o.d's children because I've received Him into my heart and life and I've believed in His name. It's like G.o.d has adopted me into His family.

This really gets to me because I keep thinking about all the children at the orphanage and how they were waiting for someone to adopt them. I guess the best thing I can do now that I can't hug them and be with them is to pray for them. I'm going to do that now.

September 12

Ooo, SS, listen to this verse. It really got to me.

"Give freely without begrudging it, and the Lord your G.o.d will bless you in everything you do" (Deuteronomy 15:10).

I needed to read that today. Todd asked me to do some stuff to help him out, and I was gritting my teeth and doing it because I felt like I had to and not because I wanted to. Then I saw this verse in some of the material I'm studying for one of my cla.s.ses. If I don't give willingly and joyfully, regardless of whether I'm giving my time or effort or even my love, then I'm not giving freely. And if I'm not giving freely, then is it even a gift? That last part really got to me. I mean, I want G.o.d to bless me. So why am I not willing to freely bless Todd? Or Katie? Or anyone else here on my floor in the dorm? It's too easy for me to close up and pull back and not want to give freely.

Hold this thought for me, will you? I need to think about it some more.

September 16

Hey there, Silent Sister, Did I tell you Matthew Kingsley is going to school here at Rancho? I don't think I did. It turns out that Katie knew him from their softball connection last semester. She tried to tell me this summer about a guy she called number fourteen, which is the number he had on his jersey.

It's kind of odd how once you have tender feelings for someone you kind of always do, even if you're not romantically interested in them. Does that make sense? Todd and I are together. I mean really, truly together, and everyone here knows it. So it's not like I'm thinking about what it would be like to go out with Matthew, but even so, in some corner of my little-girl, boy-crazy brain, when I see him on campus I take a blip-trip to the land of "if only" and wonder how different my life might have been if I had stayed in Wisconsin and if my family hadn't moved to California.

Okay. Enough with the mind-messing stuff. The reality of my life right now is that I'm very happy. I'm right where I want to be, and I know G.o.d has His hand on me. Hey! That's a little poem, isn't it? I'm right where I want to be and I know G.o.d has His hand on me!

I'm sitting in the chapel here on upper campus as I write, and the sunlight is coming through the stained gla.s.s windows, making the s.p.a.ce glow with the amber light coming through the gla.s.s that makes up the crown in the window. It's so beautiful here. So peaceful. The stained gla.s.s reminds me of places we visited in Europe. I love this little sacred s.p.a.ce here at the top of a campus filled with noise, people, and activity.

I came here to read my Bible and pray, and although I read two more chapters in John and did pray some, I have to admit all I can think about is finding Katie right now. This past year when I was in Basel I often wished I could talk to her, but we had to coordinate schedules for calls, and emails never come out the same as conversations. She's right here on campus now. Somewhere. I'm going to go find her.

September 19

Silent Sister, My aunt is one confused woman. That's all I'm going to say. Father G.o.d, please do something to get her attention and bring her to you. I don't want her to leave Uncle Bob.

Why, oh why did she have to confide in me and make me promise to keep her secrets? What is she thinking?

November 2

Oh, my Silent Sister, I know I haven't written anything here for a long time, but I've been going through the worst, worst, worst time ever. Todd was in a serious car accident and was in the hospital. He's doing all right now. He had a lot of st.i.tches from the gla.s.s they had to remove, especially from his hands. While he's recuperating he's staying at Bob and Marti's, and I was there with him up until yesterday.

I thought I was going to lose him.

I really did. My heart has been in knots. While he was in the hospital, I finally told him I love him. I'd been waiting for the right moment once I knew that I knew for sure that I loved him with the sort of forever love he must have felt in Switzerland when he said he loved me.

We went to the desert before the accident for a weekend trip with the youth group at the church where he's working. On Sat.u.r.day we were out in a dune buggy, and I knew I was ready to tell him. Just as I said the words, he turned on the engine, and it drowned out my declaration. I thought it was funny. Typical, right? I finally make a decision about something, a very important decision, and he can't hear me over the dune buggy roar.

It didn't bother me, but then he was in this horrible accident right after we got back. Gus the Bus was totaled.

I was sitting by his hospital bed, holding his hand, and I told him over and over in a whisper, "Todd, I love you." Again, he couldn't hear me. He was too sedated.

Then finally, yesterday, when he felt well enough to go out on the beach, I cooked breakfast for him at the campfire ring just like I tried to do all those years ago when the seagulls came and stole the eggs and bacon. This time I made sure the seagulls stayed away. More importantly, I was able to tell him face-to-face, "Todd, I love you."

I sort of blurted it, but it didn't matter that the moment wasn't sweet, dainty, and romantic. I said it. I meant it. Todd heard me. He knows. He knew all along.

And oh, the kiss we shared after I told him! The bacon on the griddle over the flame was sending up fireworks. And a whole other set of fireworks were lighting up inside me.

I told him three times that I loved him, and yes, I cried. Of course I cried. You know how the tears just spill out of me. I mean, a few weeks ago I thought he might die. I really did. So to have him beside me and healing up the way he is got to me.

Todd said that when a thing is spoken three times it is established. I don't know exactly what that means to him, but to me it means I was certain. I'm not changing my mind.

It really was the most wonderfully perfect time we've had together in a long time. We laughed, kissed, prayed, ate, and teased each other. It was perfect. So perfect that something inside of me thought it would be the right time for him to propose.

I know. I'm always wanting more, aren't I? Never quite content. It's an old problem. I really wish I wouldn't let those insecure thoughts enter into my mind. They always bring their disruptive pals, doubt and fear. And when the three of them set up their den in my spirit, they create disaster every time.

Go away, insecurity. Be gone, doubt. Shove off, fear. You are NOT welcome here. My heart is a place created for love, joy, and peace. Jesus, guard my heart. Lead me in paths of righteousness for your name's sake. And thank you for saving Todd's life and for healing him. Please continue to do your good work in his life.

November 10

Me again, Silent Sister.

So much has been happening in my heart and life. I talked to Donna, my manager at the campus bookstore where I work. She had some wise things to say, including the importance of writing things down.

Right now I can't imagine going on in my life without being partnered with Todd in whatever comes our way. It seems so natural and like such a perfect fit.

I know he's going to propose soon. I just know it. Maybe before this weekend is over I'll hear those words dancing from his lips. I wonder how he'll ask me. I'm sure it will be creative.

Or maybe not. Todd has a very practical side to him, as well. I wouldn't be surprised if he just turned to me over tacos and said, "So, do you want to get married?"

I don't know how he will ask me or when, but I know I'm ready-more than ready-to say yes.

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I will many you, Todd Spencer, and I will spend the rest of my life loving you with all my heart.

And one more thing. Donna told me to write everything down in detail. So I have one more detail to add. I love being in love. I love the way I wake each morning, and as soon as I do, I think about Todd and how I'm wildly, completely in love with him, and I smile.

I've been smiling all the time lately. Nothing gets me down. Last week Katie said I had that mysterious glow of love in my cheeks. She said it looked as if my eyes were always laughing about some secret and that even my posture was improved. That made me laugh. She said Todd's love for me had made me beautiful and that my love for him was healing him.

All I know is that love has enabled me to soar higher into the heavens and into my relationship with G.o.d than I ever have gone before. Love has given me breath, as I've plunged deeper into the ocean of understanding and patience. Love has focused my eyes to the minutest details, as minor as a ladybug inching across a daisy petal. At the same time, love has enlarged my embrace so I can gather friends and family closer to my heart than ever before.

Love is . . . oh, how I wish I had the words. Love is G.o.d's greatest gift and His most cherished reward. It is the echo of His own heart, sounded back to Him by us, His children, so that a decaying world might see firsthand the power of resurrection and new life. Love is all I know in my world right now.

I feel like laughing at my own giddiness.

I realize that I'm such a virgin in every way. I have never tasted a sensation as intoxicating as being in love. It has me reeling. Ha! I'm emotionally drunk on G.o.d's greatest gift, love. Imagine that!

November 21

h.e.l.lo, Silent Sister.

I got baptized tonight. I've been thinking about it for quite a while, and tonight seemed the right time to respond to the invitation at church. It was an important, sacred moment. When I came up out of the water, the pastor said, "Go in peace, for Christ Jesus, the Lord of your life, will be with you always."

And that's what I feel. His peace.

November 24

Hi, Silent Sis.

This should be interesting. Todd and his dad are coming for Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house. Uncle Bob and Aunt Marti are, too. Ever since Todd's accident, she seems to be re-entering her marriage. She didn't move to Santa Fe like she said she was going to. I don't know what she's been going through, but I've been praying for her.

December 10

Silent Sis, are you ready for this?!

TODD PROPOSED!!!.

Tonight! I still can't believe it! Well, I can believe it. Obviously I've been waiting for this, but the way he did it was pure Todd, all Todd. Oh, I'm so happy. So, so happy!

We all went to this new cafe and Christian bookstore called The Dove's Nest, and Rick was there. He's the manager! Crazy, huh? None of us knew. A whole group went, and the guys set up a joke on Katie as soon as they saw Rick, and he pulled it off flawlessly. But that's not what I want to write about. I mean, it was great fun and everything, but here's how Todd proposed.

Katie bought these candy hearts at Bargain Barn, her favorite place to shop. They were the sort of candy that has a short message on each piece. I don't know how old these were, but they had messages like "page me" and "sweet lips." We were going through them at the table, reading the messages, and Todd put one of the hearts in front of me that said, "Marry me." I didn't think anything of it.

Well, actually, I thought about when Katie urged me to make that Valentine's card for him with the same sort of candy hearts, and I had glued them to the card. Todd told me later that he peeled them off and ate them!

No one was eating the candy hearts at the table tonight. They were pa.s.sing them around; so when Todd put a second candy heart in front of me that said, "Marry me," if you can believe this, I said, "I already have one of those." I was trying to make a sentence out of the phrases. I know, what a goof, right?