You Probably Believe in Courtship If…

Compiled by the Editor with the help of a few friends and subscribers. (Special thanks to Natalie Nyquist and Kristy Smith.)

<3 Your first kiss is at your wedding.

<3 Your first date is on your honeymoon.

<3 You own nearly 50 books and tapes on relationships and similar topics.

<3 Every time you’re asked for a date you answer, "You’ll have to ask my dad."

<3 You’re the only one at the Valentine banquet who has their brother for an escort.

<3 You cringe every time you see an unmarried couple kissing—whether in a movie or on the street.

<3 You’ve been labeled the "pintship preacher." (Get it? Court/quart and pint? :-) )

<3 You know who Bill Gothard and Josh Harris are.

<3 You know who Josh Harris’ wife is.

<3 You can talk for hours about the right way to approach relationships, without ever getting tired.

<3 You’ve never been "out" with a guy before, don’t have a boyfriend or crush, and never plan to.

<3 When asked if you have a boyfriend you reply, "No, and I never want one! I’d rather just get married."

<3 You don’t spend time alone with a guy—until after the wedding.

<3 Words like "betrothal" and "winning her heart" sound comforting—not terrifying or restricting

<3 When asked by a guy to go to a basketball game, you respond "Sure! My little brothers have been wanting me to take them. It’ll be fun to go together."

<3 Your little sister tells a fellow 3-year-old, "We don’t believe in boyfriends and girlfriends." (this really happened! :-) )

<3 You compare notes with friends on what you learned reading Best Friends for Life and Of Knights and Fair Maidens.

<3 You frequently shock other girls your age by saying, "I’ve never had a boyfriend in my life!"

<3 The closest you get to a deeply romantic conversation is a discussion about an evolution/creation quiz.

<3 When asked about your boyfriends, you start listing the male horses, cows, cats, and dogs your family owns.

<3 Your husband asked your father for permission before you got engaged.

<3 Your idea of a "romance novel" is the book of Ruth.

<3 You’re the only young lady in your youth group who doesn’t consider a single girl older than 18 to be an "old maid."

<3 Your idea of a "date" is having breakfast with your dad.

<3 You love shocking people with the statement that you’re "never going to date, but plan to get married and have lots of children."