Happy Engagement Anniversary!

Today marks 6 years since EG and I got engaged. He'd proposed on the spur-of-the-moment at a church camp (Equipping Weekend), hemming and hawing as I stifled then released uncontrollable fits of laughter, protesting "No! Don't ask me don't ask me!!" while he half-kneeled off the dorm bunkbed for half an hour. Classy.

Sadly though, the place where all this occurred has been largely destroyed. Marysville has been obliterated by last Saturday's bushfires, one of the worst in Australia's history, surpassing Ash Wednesday and Black Friday. Yesterday, some of the survivors returned for the first time to view the wreckage they'd once called home. Where EG'd proposed, El Kanah lodge (which had changed management and been renovated since we'd gotten engaged), no longer exists.

Charred remains of a fuel station in Marysville

Aerial view of the township

Closer look at the carnage, from above

More devastating scenes can be seen here, as well as a video from a survivor's point of view.

I guess we won't be able to bring Aidan to see the place where his parents got engaged :-( Our prayers are with those in need.


If you'd like to give towards the effort, you can do so through the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.