I wanted to be married from the time I was little; I was in love with being in love. By the time I was 18, I wrote a "list" like so many wistful young girls do. My list was all about me. My unknown love would take care of me, love me, be romantic, have a certain color hair and be at least a certain height. Yes, he would be a Christian like me, but oh, the attributes of that list. I laugh now at the silliness of it all. But throughout even those immature days, where God was slowly growing and changing me, His daughter, He was also shaping my destiny, my future husband. In the background, far from my eyes, God was building up and preserving Paul, my future lover and partner for life. God knew we would unite and serve Him, bringing Him glory and praise forever. Our great God had our six children all planned out from the start. He knew the trials and errors we would face, the foolish arguments and silly upsets, the good times and the sad. He had a purpose for us to fulfill as a family serving Him in a national homeschooling ministry He would give us 11 years into our marriage. He had couples for us to minister to, families He would bring us to speak to of Christ. Oh what a blessed life He had planned! If only I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have worried so much. I wouldn't have cried so many tears and sunk into despair as a basket-case 18 year old, wondering if I would ever find my Mr. Right; wondering if the day would ever come when I would end my "old-maid-syndrome." Had I been able to peel back the curtain and see what was to come, how rich my life was to be, I could have just relaxed and spent that energy simply waiting and praying for the soon-to-come man God had selected for me. And I did pray for him! I loved him even before I met him. I petitioned the Lord to care for him, to protect him, and then I'd start my worry-cycle all over again.

I love the book, Praying for Your Future Husband, by Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer. Because we speak with and recognize the needs of so many homeschooling parents, I can see the benefit of such a book for moms everywhere who are dealing with their own young homeschooled girls so interested (obsessed?) in finding their Mr. Right. This book is a reminder of purity, faithfulness, loyalty and true love. The writers have opened up their own histories to the reader and have offered transparency and honesty; they know that of which they speak. Their mission in this book is a call to prayer for future husbands, but even more importantly, the understanding first of the urgent need to get one's own heart right with the Lord. I read example after example of girls who called on the Lord on behalf of their husbands long before they were even introduced to them; some starting to pray for them even as young girls. Though they could not see the faces, they prayed mightily for their husbands' hearts--hearts that would be in love with their Savior first, and secondly, hearts that would be drawn one day to themselves. That is marital loyalty and faithfulness right there.

Homeschool moms would do well to read this book, and perhaps share it with their mature daughters. Moms, read Praying for Your Future Husband and make a game plan now to start praying for that future husband for your daughter. And even for that child in your womb, start praying that the Lord would bless and protect that future spouse of the wee one within you. As your child grows, urge them to pray for the person God will bring them, too.

Bravo, Robin and Tricia! You've made me smile and remember my own "deep and desperate" prayers as a young girl. You've reminded me how blessed I am to have Paul 22 years later too. Yes, by the age of 19, God brought me that man for my heart. I had no reason to lament and languish until that time. How I wish I would have spent those days of fretting more wisely. Having this book to guide me along that path would have been a real plus. May many others find Praying for Your Future Husband helpful in their own journeys the Lord has set before them. Five stars.