Well, what a  fun week it was last week! Our topic was Preparing for Marriage. Let's just say I was excited to talk about this, hahaha. Being 20-years-old, I am looking more at what I want in a husband. My sister-in-law was 20 when she got married, so it makes me more aware of how real it can be to get married at my age.
We talked about the difference between hanging out and hooking up, what's important in a date, how our dating habits leads to the kind of marriage we want or end up with, and so on. For Wednesday's reading, we had to read the chapter in our textbook titles Falling In Love. With discussions involving this topic and dating, I kept reflecting on a relationship I was sort-of involved in. We weren't officially boyfriend and girlfriend, but he's been the closest thing so far, since I've never had a boyfriend. In the end I was heartbroken because he still had feelings for his last ex, and realized he wasn't ready to move on. I think back and look at his qualities, and he didn't really have anything that would work for me; he's not a return missionary either, and he's not quite ready yet to go (this he told me). I knew the signs and was warned to watch out, but I didn't pay attention and ignored them.
I came out of it knowing that I made a mistake (and putting him out of my life), but used it as a learning process. Even though I haven't been on any dates since (not by choice), and coming up to school, I am careful about the guys around me, watching for those qualities that I do and don't want; I don't want to end up in a bad relationship again. I know guys from back home that have good qualities that have gotten my attention, and I see guys with their girlfriends/wives, and when I see courteous behavior, I think how lucky they are.
I feel that I am more prepared for the next step, and felt that I could handle it the longer I've been here, having to live on my own, take care of myself, take on many responsibilities, and so forth. When the right guy comes into my life, I know the Lord will let me know that he will be the one for me, and that He will be with me as I move on to the next phase in my life.