Ten years ago this September, I met a little boy in Yellowstone National Park. Our families became friends. We became friends.
Six years ago, he started writing me letters. Last year, he asked my daddy for permission to court me.
And on Valentine’s Day, he gave me a ring.
That little boy is my man, my best friend, my Valentine, Merritt Vaun Acheson.
And Lord willing, we will be married on May 27, 2006.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
CONGRATULATIONS! May God bless you with a beautiful long life, serving Him together!
Yes, Lauren, he is, always has been, and always will be, my man.
Thus, he is the one I have referred to on here for so long as simply “my man”. 
Congratulations, Gretchen!!!!!
May God richly bless you and your husband.
~ Lauren
P.S. Lol, is this the mystery man we have heard so much about?
Congratulations, you dear, darling girl.
Congratulations! God is so good. :O)
Congratulations! I am so happy for you! Happy V-Day. My best friend is getting married the weekend befor you! Danielle : )
CONGRATULATIONS!!! So happy for you two.
~~bethanyrb~~
Gretchen I am truly bursting for you!! Isn’t it so wonderful when the Lord brings you together with your best friend? I’m a little covetous of your quick engagement *smile* I’m sure it will come faster then you think! Please keep us updated!!
Love your sister in Christ,
Vanessa Sugar
Gretchen!
So for my own love story, for yours, and for the many others He writes, my God’s holy name be praised!
my dear sister, I feel like I might explode with happiness for you! How faithful is our Lord God, and how wonderful the plans He has for us. I’m so glad for the example of courageous men and gentle women in this mixed up world, so thank you a thousand times for letting your light shine.
On a personal note, this ministry inspired me over many years to seek the higher things that God has, especially in relationships. I married MY man last November, and am enjoying all the blessings of a wonderful, strong, servant-hearted husband
HURRAH!!! I’m sooo happy for you and Merritt, Gret. ::hugs:: May God give both of you wisdom and joy as you plan your special day…. — Jana <><
CONGRATULATIONS Gretchen !!!!!!!!!!!
I am so thrilled for you both !! May the LORD richly bless you !!!!!!!!!!!!
Love in Christ,
Jodi
Praise the Lord, indeed! What wondrous things he has done both in you and for you.
Thank you for sharing your joy!
By grace,
Gretchen R.
Congratulations Gretchen
I’m very happy for you. May God bless you and your man in more ways then you could ever imagine.
-Janel
Congratulations, Gretchen!!!!!!!!!!
I’m so happy for you!!
On a side note, I discovered your website several years ago, and it has been a big blessing in my life. Thank you for keeping it up.
Many blessings on your engagement!
~Katherine
Congratulations Gretchen.
I wish you and your man many blessings in the years to come. May God Bless you both.
Missy
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Gretchen Acheson has a nice ring to it don’t you think?
I’d also like to congratulate you very much, Gretchen!!! May God bless you! May He protect you and help you to stay pure till your big day! All the best, Debbie
Congratulations!
I’ve visited YLCF off and on in the past few years–and have been encouraged by both you and Natalie’s sharing.
God bless you both!
~Anna
I am so so so thrilled that the news is finally out. I have been BURSTING at the seams!
the very very happy maid of honor
Congratulations, Gretchen!! I am so thrilled for you! Thank you for sharing with us and allowing us to share your joy. God bless you and guide you as you prepare for marriage… I’m so happy for you! Praise God!
Mrs. Nyquist said………wow Gretchen, I have watched you for several years and your trust in God and in your parents as you awaited this special time in your life with “your man”. It has been a blessing and encouragement to me. I pray many girls follow your godly example. love ya, Mrs. N.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! That’s so awesome!! I know you must be thrilled and I pray you both will be abundantly and amazingly blessed!!!
At the risk of sounding redundant…CONGRATULATIONS!!! =)
Thank you for the ministry of your maidenhood and how you’ve blessed me over the years though you had no idea I existed! =) May God bless your new realm of life and ministry as well!
-Katie D.
Just had to chime in with my “Congratulations” too!!!!!! Now all you need to do is start posting pictures, and I think there needs to be an update to “Courtship Stories” too!!
Morgan
Congratulations, Gretchen! How excited I am for you. May God richly bless you and Merrit on your journey ahead.
Blessings!
Miss Julia Marie
Dear Gretchen,
I just discovered your website two weeks ago! And I’m so glad I discovered it in time to hear your great news! I don’t know you but I am so happy for you! Thanks so much for sharing!
God Bless You!
Congratulations, Gretchen!! I am so happy for you! It is so wonderful to see an example of a truly God-centered courtship!
Hoping that you are not tired of the word yet…
CONGRATULATIONS! I’m happy for you!
~Helen (a regular reader)
Gretchen,
I am so happy for you. Our God is an amazing God Who knows our hearts more then we do. I have really appreciated reading bits of your story as you lived it. Inspiring and encouraging!
-Breanne
Gretchen,
YAY! God bless you! I can only imagine how big of a smile you have on your face. Congratulations!
Congratulations! I visit YLCF at least once a week and I was so excited to see the announcement today. Will we get the full story soon? Please?
That is the most exciting bit of news I’ve heard in a while! I can’t tell you how absolutely thrilled I am for you both!
)
I’ll chime in with the rest: CONGRATULATIONS!
Natalie, great job keeping the big secret. Those are always the hardest!
P.S. Will we get to hear how he popped the question??
)
Congratulations!!!! How exciting! God is SO good. I came across YLCF about 9 months ago, and have “visited” the site a number of times since. You don’t know me, but you do know Jana Baldridge…I have known the B. family for many years. Congratulations, once again!!!
Oh…forgot to say my name. It’s Julane Foster.
How wonderful, Gretchen!! Do you have web page on the two of you? God’s timing is perfect!!
I’m so happy for you! May God bless you greatly both now and in the years to come.
-W. Burch:)
Congratulations, again, Gretchen dear.
*hugs*
Gretchen,
I’ve been coming to YLCF since 1999 when I discovered your link on Josh Harris’s website. I’ve had so much fun visiting YLCF and reading over the years.
Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming marriage. I can’t wait for you to add your “Wedding Story” and pictures to the Courtship Stories section!
God bless!
Yay!!!! What fantabulous news!!!!!
) ~Mia
Please do tell us the wonderful story soon! We can’t wait in suspense very long!!!
Congratulations, Gretchen!
Ever since you started posting little tidbits about you and your “man,” I’ve been waiting to hear this. 
Congratulations; we are so excited for you!
May 27th is my birthday.
You know how happy I am for you, honey…the Lord is so good!!!!
love,
Lanier
Gretchen, though I have never personally met you, I was so excited to read your news!!! Indeed, the Lord is so wonderful:-)
Gretchen,
I am so happy for you and want to leave you my congratulations! It is my prayer that you will have a blessed life as the wife of Merritt. I’d like to also thank you for working so hard on the behalf of all of us that enjoy the YLCF website. The tidbits of information, articles, courtship stories and fun websites have been a blessing to me! I have been able to refer more than one girl to the courtship stories to encourage them when it “seems that it just can’t possibly work”.
Thanks again!
P.S. We’re anxious to see pictures and read YOUR story! Praise the Lord!!
Gretchen, I am so absolutely thrilled for you! I have to admit, I have been waiting for a long time to read this announcement on your blog! I hope you will share your engagement story soon! Your ring is very pretty. Ain’t romance great?
May God bless you and Merritt as you plan your wedding.
I am so happy for you, Gretchen!! God bless!!
Stephanie
Congratulations Grethen! Thanks for sharing your wonderful news.
Bernadine
Fair Lady Gretchen and her prince,
May God be with you and bless you,
May you see your children’s children,
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
I am very excited for you!
A
Finally! First I thought it would come at Christmas, then New Year’s, then Valentine’s Day! Blessings on you both as you prepare for your wedding day!
I, too, look forward to reading your love story!
-Betsy
Here’s to using the well over-used word. Congratulations! lol I’m so delighted for you. I hope this is a truly joyous time for you as you prepare for your wedding. I can’t wait for photos.
To join the other half hundred people….CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’m so happy for you, Gretchen! May the Lord bless you and Merritt beyond anything you can imagine (1 Cor. 2:9).
P.S. I THOUGHT that looked VERY much like that could be your arm in the wedding dress at David’s Bridal photos on Natalie’s photo blog…was I right?!
Well, like any good writer, I can’t bring myself to say it in the same way as everyone else. So here is a poem for you:
Having once read the news on the blog of your brother,
I came over here to see if there’s another
Announcement of such an incredible thing.
There is! So congrats for your beautiful ring!
Gretchen,
Your news made my day. I know it will make all of your days. Congratulations!
To God be all glory,
Lisa
I know you’ve heard it so many times before, but here it is again: Congratulations! =)
I came upon YLCF (again) at the beginning of this year, and have been wondering who the ‘mystery man’ was! I’m so happy for you both.
God bless!
Sarah Ü
I have been a faithful reader of YLCF for a couple years now, and have read and shared many of your heartfelt entries about singleness and wanting to be married. I so excited for you Gretchen! I remain waiting in God’s time for a man, but in the meantime I’ll be happy to keep up the morale in the Order of Protestant Nuns!
Congrats!
Blessings,
Jenna
Congratulations!!
What else can one say?
May is a beautiful month for a marriage. I trust it will be the beginning of a very beautiful life for you and ‘your man’.
~Olivia
gretchen -from one of your younger readers- I am a hopeless romantic and have been taking encouragement from your front on being a genuine Christian lady. I too have been wondering about ‘your man.’ So when do we get the scoop?
God bless,
I am praying for you.
Rachelle
WAS that your arm in that darling wedding dress at David’s Bridal?
I have followed your site since I was 14 years old. You were such and inspiration and your writing was indeed a great part of my growing up. The Lord will bless you for being such a light and witness and I must say that I am so happy to hear that such a bueatiful rose was finally noticed by someone. Congratulations my dear, may the happiest days await you…..
I now finally get why your Half.como user name is MerrittsGretchen. LOL
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!
May the Lord richly bless you and
reward y’all with a rich full life as you serve Him together for many years to come!
Congrats!!!
I’m soooo happy for you!! God Bless your marriage!!! 
Take Care! Cindy Cha
So glad to hear of your happiness!
Discovered your site a couple years ago, lost it, and then rediscovered it again this summer. It’s led me on amazing online journey to Josh Harris and his books, the LAF site which has impacted me greatly, Eric & Leslie, blogs of women desiring to be all God wants of them, and many, many more treasures that have totally changed my mind on some topics and strengthened me in others.
Thank-you so much!
~Lois
PICTURES!!!
STORY!!!
PICTURES!!!
STORY!!!
PICTURES!!!
STORY!!!
PICTURES!!!
STORY!!!
PICTURES!!!
STORY!!!
PICTURES!!!
STORY!!!
Congrats!!! I have been reading your post for the last couple months, and I’m so happy for you! And as the previous commentator asked, please post some pics, and the story!!!
so, when will your courtship story air?
Oh my! I’ve always wondered who exactly tht man was!
Many congratulations, and I pray that God will bless you in your lives together. 
Congratulations! Looking forward seeing the wedding pictures soon! You both are lovely couple! I have been wondering when you would ever meet your man someday since I started visit YLCF in 2002.
I still am happy to remain single because I have no real boyfriend in my life. I know God has a husband for me, but we have not met yet; we will, someday!
In Christ’s love,
Monique
Hi there. I’m Catherine from Midrand-Johannesburg in South Africa. I just read your story now and realised it is 15 days aways from your wedding. The nerves must be kicking in very much now.
I pray to God that He may bless your union and as the 2 become 1, may you remain available for use by only Him.
All glory be the God of heaven.