Beans Are Spilled

I am at a loss for words these days. How can I adequately express the joy that I have felt these past couple of weeks? I suppose since there's a select number of people who read this (that I'm aware of...) I'll spill the beans.

As I mentioned before, back in January I met this guy. He is wonderful. I actually am in awe of how incredible he is, to be honest. I never thought I would meet a guy like him. He has such a soft heart for the Lord and for people in general, especially those in developing countries. I think it goes without stating that I have a heart for the same things. The more I get to know him, the more I discover I love about him.

What baffles me is the fact that he cares so deeply for me. Nearly two weeks ago now he spilled the beans about how he cares for me. That very same day, before he told me that, I felt prompted by the Lord to email him about flying to visit him in Australia. This was a HUGE leap of faith for me, as he hadn't even overtly told me how he felt about me. Yet, I sensed strongly that this is what God was calling me to do. So, I emailed him and I told him in as tactful a way as possible that I wanted to come visit him in Melbourne to see if there is anything to these sparks between us, and would wait for his reply. Well, after he had stepped out and told me how he felt about me, I asked if he had read my email. His answer was, "What email?" What perfect timing, I thought. I don't even have to convince him that the feelings are mutual... he figured that out for himself by reading my email and hearing about my desire to come visit him. Needless to say, he was ecstatic at the idea of me coming for a visit. He had even prayed, "Lord, can you please bring Steph to me?"

Since that day, it's like the floodgates have burst open. I've never been in a relationship like this before. There have been a few guys in the past, but none that shared my vision like him or cared about me like him... and none that I cared about so deeply.

For several years I have wondered, "Is it possible for me to open my heart up again?" I was really beginning to wonder if it would happen... if I would let myself love again. Over the past several years God has really brought me along on a journey of learning to trust Him more deeply and follow Him with all of my heart and mind and soul. In the past year I felt a strong sense that my time for meeting someone special was drawing near, but I had a hard time believing that since there wasn't one guy in my life who shared my heart and vision.

Coming to Home of the Open Heart here in Chiang Rai was a clear choice--I knew this is where God wanted me to be for this time in my life. However, I didn't think I would meet someone so special during this time. I see God's hand and His blessing clearly in this situation, and I will continue to move forward in faith and trust that He holds both our hearts in His hands. The craziest thing about all of this is the peace that both of us as well as those around us feel about this whole thing. I really believe God brought us together, and I trust that He will hold us together as we embark on this incredible journey. It is becoming increasingly difficult to be away from him and I so look forward to the day in less than two months when I get to see him face to face. So, there you go, a juicy tidbit for your reading pleasure. :)