Exceedingly and Abundantly More.

I have a story to tell you all. A story that goes back many years, and at the same time is completely new. I hope that it is one that you will enjoy, as it is now my favorite story to tell.

Once upon a time there was a little girl. A girl who dreamed only of the day when she would be able to marry and have children. While other girls talked of their dreams to become ballerina's, actresses, and models, this little girl when asked what she wanted to do with her life merely replied "I want to be a Mom."

This little girl grew older, and as she did, her dream grew stronger. This was difficult for her, as sometimes it meant she looked for love in the wrong places, so eager was she to see her dream come to fruition. Her big heart was broken more than once, but each time her heavenly Father picked the pieces back up, and wrapped her tightly in his arms, whispering in her ear.

Many miles away from this little girl, there was a young boy. A boy who though quite intelligent and talented had one main passion for his life. He wanted a family; a wife to love and care for, and any children that God might bless them both with. Because of this he began praying for his future wife at a very young age. And though there was more than one girl in his life, he heeded the voice of the heavenly Father, who told him that none of these were his future wife, and constantly placed him back in the waiting room in that area of his life.

Now the girl began to get better and better at listening to those words whispered to her, and was even able to decipher some of their meaning. After many years of trying to guard her heart and stay pure for the man that she daily dreamed of, one of the whispers grew especially strong. So strong it was impossible to ignore, even though the words it spoke were so radical and unusual, that they took the girl aback. But she listened and obeyed. The whisper told her that there was no better person to find her future husband than the earthly father in whom she placed much trust.

So she listened. She went to her father and hesitantly asked him if he would be willing to find her husband for her, thus saving her much of the heartache. She wanted to just wait until her father finally brought a man to her and said "This is the one, and you have my permission to fall in love with him." Then, only a month after surrendering her will, she was to meet a very special man. Although at the time, she had no idea just how special he would be.

Remember that boy many miles away? Well, by this time he was a man who was seeking after God's will for his life as he wrestled through college life. The very same spring that the young girl surrendered her will, he was praying about going on a spring break missions trip. All set to go, he was surprised when God suddenly told him to stay. Confused, he obeyed, finishing up his freshman year of college, and heading home to see his family in Indianapolis.

He hadn't been home even an hour before there was a knock on the door. His parents opened the door and greeted two young ladies who were on their way to Kentucky, and had asked if they could stay over night at his home. As both his mother, and the young ladies' mother knew each other, this plan had worked out well, and now there were two strangers in his house.

Yes, you guessed it, the young girl was one of the two. So she and her older sister stayed up and talked with the young man and his parents. The man was quite tired, and barely even remembered the night when later asked. But the older sister was much more alert, and she immediately saw something click between her younger sister and this man she had just met.

After returning home, the older sister went to her father and said "Dad, you have to meet Kyle." (for that was the young man's name). So upon the word of his oldest daughter, this father contacted Kyle, and struck up a string of email conversations completely unbeknownst to the girl. This went on for a few months, before yet another visit to the young man's home was made. This time the girl's whole family went on their way to a vacation in Florida.

The girl was pleasantly surprised to receive quite a bit of attention from Kyle. He seemed to enjoy serving her, and sitting next to her, and they shared many interests during their conversation. The girl wasn't quite sure what was going on, but was pleased when Kyle gave her a piece of paper and said "Shoot me an email some time." Handing the email to her father in front of Kyle, she tried to make it clear who handled such arrangements. She then said goodbye to Kyle, hugged his mother, and got into the van. She watched in semi confusion as her father warmly shook hands with Kyle, as she thought they barely knew each other.

After conversing with her father, she began emailing with Kyle, and really started enjoying him more and more. She soon found out that her father and Kyle had been emailing, and that both shocked and pleased her. Not sure where God was going, however, she daily prayed that God would keep her heart intact, and that she would be able to get to know Kyle without getting too attached.

And then it happened. The girl was taking a nap shortly before Thanksgiving, not even 7 months after meeting Kyle, when her mother knocked on her door. She flopped lazily to the other side of the bed so that her mother could see her better when she opened the door. "Want to go to Indiana?" Her mother asked. The young lady immediately perked. "Yes!" Her mother smiled. "Well, you are going this weekend." Trying not to be too obvious the girl 'observed' "Kyle will probably be home for Thanksgiving break." The mother smiled again. "Yes. Kyle will be home."

While traveling with friends also on their way to Indiana, the young girl received a phone call from her father. It was not a usual father-daughter conversation. "I have had multiple people ask me if Kyle is going to propose this weekend." He began. "And though I have been in communication with Kyle, and there is a possibility of a future relationship, we are not quite to that point yet." The young girl laughed and thanked her father for warning her, having no idea of the events to come. 

So the girl tried her best to be patient over the next few hours, but was very happy when she was finally back in the home that she was quickly growing to love. Arriving in the evening, she stayed up much too late talking with Kyle and his mother, a little surprised that though Kyle was friendly, he seemed to be keeping his physical distance.

The next morning, Kyle's mother asked the girl if she would like to join Kyle and his parents for a lunch at Olive Garden. She agreed after calling her parents to confirm that was acceptable. Upon sitting in the booth, she noticed that Kyle was shaking across from her in his seat. Not sure why of the reason for his agitation, she looked away and prayed for him. The meal went on as usual, salad, bread-sticks, and other Italian dishes being consumed. Kyle got out of his seat and whispered something in his mother's ear before heading for the restroom.

The young lady thought nothing of this, but continued to chat warmly with Kyle's parents. When Kyle returned to the table, he seemed rather excited and tense all at the same time. After a couple more minutes of conversation he asked the young lady if he could tell her what God had been doing in his life. Always eager to hear such things, and seeing the way he was almost bouncing in his seat, she happily agreed.

What ensued was a story that both enthralled, shocked, and confused the young lady all at once. Kyle told her of circumstance after circumstance that had led him to believe that she was supposed to be his wife. He told of conversations with her father, weeks spent in prayer, and circumstances that could only be explained by divine intervention. Then, in a wonderfully quiet and shaky voice he asked if she would court him with the full intention of marriage.

The poor man had to wait in expense as the young lady stared at him in confusion. She believed him when he said he had her father's backing. But because of the phone conversation from the day before, she was quite confused. She finally answered with a hesitant. "Yes, but I'm confused. I need to call my father."

Kyle's mother laughed, and said they had all been aware that she might need to do that. They left the restaurant, drove over to a bookstore, turned off the vehicle, and left the young lady in the car to call her father. Her father quickly explained things, and she realized that by "propose" her father had meant that Kyle would not do the down-on-one-knee-with-a-ring moment. But for all other intents and purposes other than a ring or date, the couple was engaged.

While the young lady was on the phone, Kyle watched her from a window, and saw her get off the phone with her father, and call someone else. Upon calling the second person, the young lady's face broke into a grin, and her hands became animated. Upon seeing that, Kyle breathed a sigh of relief, and become quite excited.

Over the next day and a half, emotions were very high as the couple tried to sort out what was going on. To both the whole situation felt very surreal, and very exciting at the same time. Tentatively they discussed important details, boundaries, and personal issues. Kyle gave the young lady a card and a necklace that evening, keeping the matching necklace himself. The young lady felt very treasured, and woke early the next morning to pray as she wrote a letter to Kyle.

They held hands, danced, and were hard to separate in the few hours they had together before Kyle headed back to college. Everything they talked about and did was heavily seasoned with prayer, and even after parting they continued to pray for each other constantly, and find many ways to stay in contact. They went through the days ahead elated, and excited about where God was going to take this relationship that had so obviously been orchestrated by Him.

This is the beginning of the story of I, Hannah Rose Zahn, and my Beau, Kyle Lee Brown. We are so incredibly blessed, and are elated to see where God will lead us together in the days ahead as we look forward to our future marriage.