Keeping Up With The Dunkels - Chapter 10: A Really Neat Season of Life

Life in the Dunkel household continued much as usual, even in the (tragic) absence of Abigail. Visitors from church seemed somewhat perplexed by the school of the dining room floor, but Cathy knew her homeschooling methods were a wonderful testimony (she figured, anyway - the older girls did all the homeschooling, of course, she hadn't run the SOTDRF in years.)

Aimee Joy coached Adalyn on her violin screeching.

And soon enough, twins Avalee and Adalyn reached courtin' age. Adalyn was still Special Friends with Hobart Miceli, Mehrissa's younger brother. But Hobart was away at Five Points University, a prestigious fundie college, to study medicine! Wow! Adalyn was so excited that she was totally-not-yet-courting-but-definitely-going-to-marry a future DOCTOR! Avalee was practicing contentment.

The Dunkels reached a very exciting milestone: finally all the leaks were patched up, the asbestos was removed, the black widow nest was cleared out, the mold was painted over, and it was time for Limited Atonement Church's very first Sunday service! Pastor Andrew gave the message, and his sweet wife Cara played the piano. What a blessing!

After the sermon, Cara and Aimee Joy led the congregation in singing hymns of praise. No modern worship music in THIS church! *Side-eyeing Abigail*

They also held a Wednesday night 'Get Out of Debt' class at the church, which Andrew used to craftily charitably proselytize to the heathens.

Meanwhile.... Abigail returned from her summer tour with the Christian rock band and settled into life in the Big Scary City! 

Some of the people she met through the music scene were decidedly NOT fundie-approved.

"You have HOW many brothers and sisters?"

"Yeah! You would not believe the number of people I had to cook for!"

One day one of her band mates introduced her to some of his friends from Grace Rock Church, the cool hipster church that met in the basement of a downtown nightclub on Thursday nights. As soon as she saw the man in the blue shirt and khakis she was smitten!

Reminding herself that she was an independent woman now, Abigail struck up a conversation with him. They got off to kind of a rocky start. "Wow, I usually hate red hair on girls,  but it actually looks okay on you," said Gilbert. "You would be a great brunette, though."

"Oh, you're into music?" Gilbert continued. "I don't really care about music. I'm more into acting. You should come see me at Grace Rock on Thursday, I'm starring in a play based on Judges 19. It's pretty much like the most hardcore part of the Bible. Very Game of Thrones."

Abigail was a little put off, but Gilbert was so handsome, AND he talked about how much he loved to cook! Obviously she had to give him a chance!

Back at the Dunkel household, Hobart came to visit on one of his breaks from college, and he and Adalyn finally began their official courtship! Addyson seems a little young to be a chaperone, but who am I to judge?

Precious little adopted child Alexander was growing up! You don't need camo to disappear in this house, Alex. It just happens naturally.

And Aimee Joy was finally Getting To Know someone herself! Okay, so he was older, and kind of awkward, but being single was SUCH a trial, ya'll. This season of life was so, so, SO difficult. Especially watching YOUNGER siblings start courtships! She cried out to the Lord - how long was she going to have to wait? How OLD would she be before she was blessed with a godly husband? 25?!?!

Back in the Scary Big City: Abigail had to admit that she was quite excited to be suddenly getting so much attention from men... but none of them held a candle to Gilbert! 

He called her one day and asked what she was doing. "I'm playing a gig at the cafe around the corner," she told him. "Do you want to come?"

Gilbert showed up for the gig, but he didn't seem all that interested. Plenty of other dudes did, though.

Abigail was disappointed when she couldn't find Gilbert anywhere after her set, and half-heartedly chatted with some new fans who said they loved her style.

But Gilbert reappeared, just as Abigail was talking about her future brother-in-law the doctor! "That's nothing!" said Gilbert. "My dad was a doctor, and so was HIS dad!" Abigail forgot to ask Gilbert what he did for a living.

Abigail and Gilbert sat down for a late dinner. Abigail was tired, but Gilbert said he was really hungry, and she didn't want to blow her chance to get to know him better! "Who were those guys you were talking to, anyway?" Gilbert demanded. Abigail was so flattered that he seemed jealous!

Abigail SO impressed by Gilbert's hotness character. She wondered if her family would come to the wedding. Gilbert was a Christian, after all, even if he was the 'wrong' kind of Christian.

NEXT TIME ON KEEPING UP WITH THE DUNKELS: Mehrissa and Cara both have babbies! Adalyn and Hobart progress in their courtship! Will wedding bells be ringing? Will Aimee Joy give her balding suitor a chance? Will singsingsing remember his name? Will Abigail realize that Gilbert is a tool? Will Cathy manage to keep all her children alive? Find out VERY SOON because I'm only ending this chapter now because I realized it was getting way too long and I'm splitting what was going to be one update into two!!!