I am the “English” friend of Lovina, Ruth, and since Lovina is occupied with the wedding preparations this week and recovering next week, I fill him for the two following columns.
Last Saturday, the tables and the benches were installed in the hangar for the wedding meals next Friday. Then, the tablecloths, the plates, the silverware, the cups, etc. were placed and are ready for the first meal, serving after the morning wedding. The couple has chosen a theme of the ocean so that the tablecloths are multi -curricular blue that resemble beautiful ocean waters. Daniel’s family, Verena’s family, Sisters Emma and Verena and all the children participated and did a quick job to prepare the tables.
I know Lovina for 20 years and I attended weddings, funeral and church with her over the years, and I am always impressed by the way everyone intervenes and work together. If he complains, I did not hear it. I hear laughter, teasing and even a little shenanigans.
I wanted to know Vena and Daniel Ray better as a couple, and I thought you might also do it, so today, I realized them a little and I asked them a few questions. I appreciate that they take time of their busy week to share their love story with us all.
Daniel Ray is the third child born from Alvin and Elsie Gingerich, and he has seven brothers and two sisters aged 23 to 6 years. He is the first in the family to get married. Verena is the third of the eight children of Joe and Lovina and is the sixth to get married.
Daniel Ray and Verena went to the same school and the same church they grew up. Daniel was friends with Verena’s brothers, mainly Kevin, and often hung up at the Eicher house. He picked up Kevin and the cousin Steven to take cans so that they could take them to the recycling center for money.
Since Kevin and Steven both have muscular dystrophy, they could not enter and get out of the buggy to get the cans so that Daniel gathered them. They would all go to the recycling center together and Daniel would give the two boys all the money, then buy them with his own money. He said he knew they had no way to make money, and that they were his friends, so he liked to help them and spend time with them.
When Sister Lovina and now Mari Daniel were coming out together, they would have game evenings with friends and Verena and Daniel Ray are both there. When Verena moved alone, she would organize game evenings with groups of friends and Daniel Ray would attend. Verena says that once at home, her mobility scooter fell with her and Daniel Ray came to help her and it was the first time that she realized that she had feelings for him.
They made their first meeting in September 2023 and Verena said it was the first meeting she was where a boy had brought her to a restaurant, and she was very impressed. Other boys with whom she had come out in the past had spent time with her with her but had never taken her to eat.
After spending together for a while, they started talking about marriage. Originally, they thought of getting married in the fall of 2026, but after talking with Daniel’s father, they decided to get married earlier. He told them that even if they would have dated a little less than two years when they are getting married, it was enough to know if it was right. And listening to Verena and Daniel to speak and interact with each other, I think he gave good advice. They are both very mature and obviously in love.
To get married, they must both be members of the church. This means taking instructions for nine Sundays, then being baptized. Two weeks later, the Ordung church is when, after the regular service, the bishop reviews the rules of the church and that the members undertake to follow them. Two weeks later at the next service is Church communion. These special services take place twice a year and anyone getting married must participate in the three before their marriage.
When asked what had attracted them, Daniel did not hesitate with his answer. He says Verena is funny, intelligent and beautiful. She says that Daniel is easy to speak, normal trafficking, which means that he does not see her handicap, he sees her for whom she is.
Brother Kevin was there during our stay together and told how his last Christmas mother asked what he was going to get Verena for a gift. He told her that he had already given her his best friend, what else can he give her? He also shared that Verena is a girl version of him and that is why Daniel loves her. We all laughed.
Verena and Daniel Ray – may your union be wrapped in prayer, reinforced by grace and supported by the endless love of God.
May God bless!
Single vinaigretteΒΌ cup of balsamic vinegar with olive oil with a teaspoon of dijon mustard2 spoon of honey1-2 tables with finely chopped tables in exchange and serve on your favorite salad. Good with spinach, blueberries, feta cheese and candied pacan.
Lovina’s Amina’s Amicina’s Amicina Eicher, Amic Order Ord Order, kitchen, cook, wife, wife and mother of eight children. His three cooking books, “The Cheerished Table”, “The Essential Amish Cookbook” and “Amish Family Recipes”, are available where the books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at Amish Kitchen from Lovina, Po Box 234, Sturgis, Mi 49091 (please include a self-added buffer envelope for a response); Or send an e-mail to questions formovina@gmail.com and your message will be sent to him to read. She does not personally respond to emails.