Israel--The Land of Miracles--Update #8

Shalom from the City of the Great King, Jerusalem--

This will be a VERY special update!  I will only be going over the last few days!  Continue reading and enjoy our wonderful news...

Wednesday--Sept. 21

Well, today was one for the Warren history book!  For those of you who have not heard the news that we have been shouting from the mountains of Israel,  BARRETT IS GETTING MARRIED!!!!  There is quite a long story behind this news, but I will just try to hit the high points!  Last April at Family Week Kentucky, Monty approached Gene Schaefer on Barrett's behalf!  Gene was extremely kind and told Monty that he would like to get to know Barrett through emails and phone calls.  This communication continued for the next few months.  When Gene arrived in Israel, he gave Barrett his blessing!  WOOHOO!!  On Wednesday all the group in our house and the group from one of the vineyards went touring in the Old City!  The Schaefers were in the group from the vineyard!  Barrett told Gene of his plan to get Sarah to bring Devin out of one of the shops and bring her to where Monty and Barrett were waiting!  All went according to plan!  Barrett and Devin walked a short distance away and Barrett asked the all important question!  Devin said yes!!!  It was amazingly difficult to keep this sweet secret from the rest of the group!!!  We decided to tell Sherri Waller so that she could help us be able to have time with the Schaefers.  Sherri was so thrilled and immediately began to plan how to help!  What a great friend!!!  Thank you Sherri!!!  The Schaefers came to our house to spend the night!  We were able to visit and make plans on how we were going to tell the Hayovel group!  This secret was not going to be able to be kept very long!  We were about to explode!!  Barrett and Devin were walking around with cute, goofy grins and we (the parents) were not  much better!  SO---we began our plans!  Now if you know Barrett, you will know that this announcement had to be memorable!  Well, Devin is just as creative as Barrett!  This was the announcement  plan: 

Thursday--Sept.22

Today the whole Hayovel group met in the vineyard just north of Jerusalem.  They were told that the Meyers were wanting to make a promo video for Hayovel!  There was a group of musicians playing and 2 groups of girls dancing and the rest of the group were in the vineyard pretending to pick grapes!  Out of the group came Jacob Meyers and he began to shout, " Wow, what a beautiful day in the vineyard!  There are quite a few girls dancing ... maybe one of you guys should go get a wife!!!  Hey Barrett, why don't you go get a wife!!"  Then Barrett began running through the vineyard and ran up to Devin as she was dancing and took her hand and they ran off to a car where Monty was waiting for them.  THEY DROVE AWAY!!!!  Needless to say, everyone was wondering if this was real or just for the "video."  About that time Tommy Waller walked up front and began to read the story of how the Benjamites had kidnapped their wives!  He then called Barrett and Devin up to the front! (they had returned)  Barrett was just beginning to tell their story when out of the crowd, Eddie Hayes shouted out, "True story?"  Barrett replied, "True story!"  This was when he (Barrett)
announced that he and Devin were really getting married!!!  The crowd erupted with clapping and hollering and cheers!  It was terrific! Lots of hugs all around and even a few tears of joy!!!

Friday--Sept. 23

This morning all the Schaefer clan and all the Warren clan went shopping for a ring for Devin!  So much fun!!!  The very first ring she saw was the ONE!!!  Then we were off to find a blouse for Devin!  The first shop and she found a beautiful blouse!  Things were going so smoothly!  Next--the ketubah!  We went to the first ketubah shop and they found what they wanted to have written on the ketubah, but the surrounding was not really to their liking! They decided to keep looking!  We went to a shop where Barrett knew the owner!  He and Barrett have become friends!  Uri was so happy to hear Barretts news!  Then came lunch!  As we were at lunch, Devin found the shoes she needed for the betrothal next to the pizza place!  Things like that had been happening all day!  Amazing!!  After lunch we went to another ketubah shop!  This place was able to write anything that Barrett and Devin wanted, but the surround still wasn't the best!  They again decided to keep looking!  As we were heading back to the car to go home and prepare for Shabbat, Monty said he had to ask one more question at the first ketubah shop!  Long story short---the lady who worked there had found one that she thought they might like!  It was the ONE!!!!  They knew it the moment they saw it!!!  The Father has made everything work just beautifully!!  Praise HIM!!!!

This day has been wonderful!  We are all still flying high!  Everyone has all of these funny smiles of their faces!  We pray that all of you will be blessed!  Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem!!!