11/04/2026
God is so good!🙌🏾
He has answered our prayers in a beautiful way!
My precious, beautiful, joyful, effervescent, deserving daughter became engaged!
Joshua Joy walked into Shanell Shields place of employment December 23rd or 24th, 2025 , depending on who tells the story. Lol.
Joshua was captured by Shanell's joy and beauty from the moment he saw her. She was always singing and provided him good customer service when he encountered her.
It only took a few encounters before Joshua passed Shanell a very gentlemanly note and requested an opportunity to take her out and get her number. He didn't know Shanell was praying for a man to approach her in an old school way. She was ready and responded that same night.
A few calls later, he asked her for a date. She accepted with the assurance of Holy Spirit.
January 11, 2026, Joshua took Shanell to The Pump House, a fine dining restaurant situated along the Catawba River in South Carolina. She asked me to track her location. I appreciated that. That date left Joshua so smitten. Eight days later, Joshua told her, he didn't want to be friends and they have been exclusive since.
Shanell was equally smitten as she began sending me pictures of wedding dresses, wedding cakes and talking about getting married!
Shanell told me Joshua was a Christian, he'd been praying for a Godly wife, he worked 2 jobs for the past 5 years or so and has 2 children. They have a lot in common!
Shanell was hesitant to share Joshua's picture with me because she hoped my gift of discernment wouldn't expose anything that would prevent her from fully accepting Joshua's advances. January 25, 2026, with some prompting, she shared a picture of the two of them with me. She was relieved when she got my reaction and my feedback:
I cried with relief and sentiment! I saw in Joshua a Man, man, gentle eyes, a righteous glow and a protector!
They looked happy together! They had fallen in love and it showed.
Wow, this is happening so fast I thought! Oh how I wish Chris was here to help me navigate this situation. Lord is this All good? Is this what we have been praying for?
March 6th 2026, I prepared for the couple to come. After work, I cleaned house and prepared till 4 AM. They were coming so I could meet Joshua in person. So far I had no checks in my spirit but you never know what might happen right?
The three of us spent quality time together. I cooked meals, Shanell did dishes. We went to an Amish business and farm for pet supplies, stopped at a country store, went to Tractor Supply, had Joshua light my fireplace, connect my Fire Stick so we could watch TV ( hadn't used that TV since 2021), introduced him to my dogs and played speed. Oh and yes Joshua asked for permission to marry Shanell!
His request called for an official office meeting lol. I grilled him! I wanted to object. I wanted a reason to keep my daughter to myself but I couldn't find one. Joshua reassured me of his love for and commitment to my Shanell and to the Lord so I granted his request! I sent him away with my favorite Marriage Counseling book and requested he talk with one of Shanell's Uncle at some point to get a second opinion about him. He accepted both assignments!
Later Shanell also expressed her sadness that Chris wasn't here to take part in this very special moment in her/our lives. But, interestingly, Joshua is a lot like Chris. This is a great comfort to both me and Shanell!
During the visit, I also discerned that Joshua Joy, had experienced a lot of trauma in his life just like Shanell had. He, they needed each other's love. This is one reason amongst many the Lord brought them together.
The courtship continued with lots of phone conversations, prayer time, flowers, movies, church, cooking, game nights, outdoor excursions, caring for Shanell's animals, yard work, apartment work, school events, ice cream, life challenges and fun outings with their 3 children.
October 28th, Joshua called me to tell me he planned to propose to Shanell on Sunday, November 1st.
With rose petals on the floor, a stunning bouquet of carnations, and Shanell's favorite song playing in the background, Joshua proposed November 1, 2026. With Joy, Shanell accepted his proposal!
We will begin planning an intimate wedding soon. This is fitting as I/we are truly happy and thankful to the Lord for this engagement and hope you will share in our JOY!
A more lavish celebration will be held in the future for family and friends.
