Thirty Years of Wedded Bliss

Posted in Family on 21. Jun, 2010

At 5:00 pm tonight Texas time thirty years ago, I married my best friend. I married the man of my dreams. I married a man who would love me through thick and thin…lean times and abundant times…pretty times and ugly times.  I married a man who would be the father of my five children and the grandfather of my seven precious grandbabies.  (I can’t ever talk about my grandchildren without using the word “precious”!)  I married a man who loves Yeshua with all of his being and is not satisfied with anything less than giving his life to search out the mysteries of God.  I married a man who would show me what it means to love God’s people unconditionally, even through offenses.  I married a man who would show me what it means to be fiercely loyal no matter what storms might come.  I married a man who would show me what humility looks like. I married a man who believes the best in everyone and does what it takes to make them successful.  I married a man who would give his life for his family and love them with a fierce love. I married a man who would do anything and go anywhere to be in the will of God. Our life in Israel and Belgium is proof of that.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. I am beyond blessed to be his best friend and wife.  Thank you, honey, for thirty wonderful years. I’m eternally grateful.

29th anniversary on the patio of our apt in Israel last year

Gary standing inside the Eastern Gate on the Temple Mount

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Diamonds and Druze for Austin & Hannah!

Posted in Family on 14. Jan, 2010

This has been a wonderful week in the life of the Benjamin and Baker families.  A week ago our son, Austin, and his girlfriend, Hannah Baker, arrived here in Israel.  They are staying for two and a half weeks, and we couldn’t be happier!

I am so happy to announce that last Monday night Austin asked Hannah to be his wife!  And she said, “Yes!”  They went out to dinner while Gary, Preston and I led the Monday night corporate gathering at Succat Hallel. After they finished eating at a nice restaurant overlooking the Old City, they walked back to our apartment stopping off at the lookout next door.  It’s a beautiful place overlooking the city.  It is a sentimental place for Austin.  When he lived here a few years ago, he spent a lot of time there before God in some sweet quiet times.  He read a letter to her and asked her to be his wife. She cried. He cried. Then when they got back up to the apartment, we all cried!

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