If you missed Part 1, you can read it here.
Soon there after, we began a serious-friendship-with-the-purpose-of-marriage stage.
The frequent visits I made out there, along with e-mails and phone calls, showed how similar Elissa and I were in our beliefs, convictions, and mannerisms.
Yes, during that time, we began to fall in love.
We stood in awe of how the Lord answered every prayer for unity, knitted hearts, and direction in our relationship! We began officially courting in April. On May 22nd, I made a surprise visit and asked Elissa to marry me, and she said “yes!”
We had a delightful summer planning our wedding, enjoying visits, and counting down the days to our wedding. September 6th, we became united in marriage.
We are so grateful for the Lord’s provision and blessing in our lives! We praise Him for the deep friendship, unity, commitment, love, and the bonds of marriage that we now share. Both of us are also grateful to our parents for how they raised us in the ways of the Lord and how they supported us through our relationship.
Elissa and I look back and see how the Lord used our single years to strengthen our relationships with Jesus and also to prepare us for marriage if that was His will for us. I really enjoyed traveling with my family, helping in the Titus2 ministry, and working on my home. Elissa loved helping her family as a daughter and a sister at home, teaching music lessons, and learning new skills each year to prepare her for whatever the Lord had for her later in life.
Now, I’m excited to introduce you to my wife, Elissa Maxwell.
And for those who wondered why we didn’t share before, I felt it best for her family’s privacy not to make it public until our wedding day.
Elissa and I are anxious to discover what the Lord has for us as a team for His glory!
Serving Jesus,
Joseph & Elissa
“Who can find a virtuous woman?
for her price is far above rubies.”
Proverbs 31:10
Wonderful story Joseph and Elissa. Very excited and happy for both of you!
Beautiful story!
May your marriage bring great joy to you and great glory to God. I have enjoyed the pictures!
What a blessing to hear the Lord at work in your lives!!!
Thank you for such a godly testimony!!
Beautiful! I love how every story is so unique! I was wondering, did you guys have a no touch courtship and engagement? Thanks 🙂
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Yes, it was a no-touch courtship/engagement.
Beautiful photos!
Awww…sweet story. My husband proposed to me on May 22 too but that was 22 plus years ago. We are happily married with seven beautiful children. So happy for you both.
Shell
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s such a lovely testament of how the Lord knows the plans He has for each of us. Sometimes it is hard to be content, but it’s always a blessing to wait on His best for us. Your story certainly shows that!
It’s understandable that you would desire a time of privacy, but I’m thankful for what you have chosen to share.
May your marriage be richly blessed!
What a delightful story 🙂 Many blessings for the upcoming years.
So happy for you both. God bless you both. Did she see her new home before you were married or did you “surprise” her after the wedding with her first official tour? What a wonderful gift to your beautiful, godly wife. May you have many, many years of love and blessings. One of the greatest joys of marriage is building a life with the one you are knitted to lifelong. Enjoy.
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Yes, she did see the house before.
I am SO happy for the both of you! Yes, I totally agree & understand why you kept your relationship a secret. I think it was wonderful to open the blog and see that you both were married…how exciting!
Our family has been to your conventions, watched you all grow up while mine were growing right along side you all. The Lord has blessed your family wonderfully & May God continue to bestow His Blessings (Which He will) on your incredible adventure as husband & wife.
Beautiful Story! God’s plans are so perfect. So happy for you and your new life together as a couple. I was an ITonRamp student during April-May of this year, so exciting to think this was happening during that time!
Congratulations!
what a lovely story. congratulations!
God bless.
Thanks for sharing your story! So thrilled for you and love seeing what the Lord has done! 🙂
Question: did u get your house done? I remember seeing some remodeling pics but wondered what the completed project looks like. 🙂
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Upstairs if finished, more to do in the basement.
what a beautiful testimony! May God continue to bless you and your families
We are so happy for you! Just curious – what is that craft that you and she are doing? At least, I think it’s a craft – you are using wooden frames.
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Assembling bee box frames for Elissa’s brother.
Oh that’s neat! My husband and I were married in April of this year and also had a no touch courtship/engagement. It was hard but it made that first touch so memorable! Many blessings to you both 🙂
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That’s awesome!
Neat story!
Loved hearing your story and how God was working within you both!
Thank you for being willing to share your story, and testify to God’s faithfulness as you seek to walk in a manner pleasing to Him in all you do. You will never know the great blessing that is to families like ours, who desire to raise children for the glory of God. The Lord uses your lives to encourage us, and give us a vision for how life can be practically lived out in accordance with His Word. God Bless you! Rejoicing with you and Elissa as you begin your new life as one in Christ.
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You’re welcome! Thank you for the encouragement.
Thank you for sharing Joseph! May the Lord bless you all!
Congratulations!!! “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and receives blessing from The Lord.”
Will we see your finished house?
What an awesome story! Thanks for sharing – loved having the pictures with the story! 🙂 Wishing God’s blessings and best for Joseph & Elissa!!!