"You've got to be kidding me, this is insane!"

That's what was running through my head when my friend approached me and told me about her new project www.whenitcomestolove.wordpress.com. She and two other friends have vowed to do whatever they can to be married by the end of 2012. That sounds easy enough, right? The catch is that none of them are in relationships right now. No boyfriends, no fiancés, no nothing. Just a whole lotta faith that God is going to make this happen.

When it comes to love, I tend to be a happy realist. Then again, I never was one to plan my wedding, name my future children, or make baby blankets for my offspring. I just figure that when you fall in love, it will take a lot of hard work, but it will be worth it. Relationships are just two flawed people trying to make things work out.

My friend is somewhat the same, except for the fact that she wants a very large family (as in number, not weight), prays for them, and really wants to be married. She's open with people about all of the above.  She says, "People share their desires and plans for everything else, so why don't we do that with our desire to be married?"

It's a good question. I do want to be married one day. But honestly, it would scare the living daylights out of me to admit that to a room of strangers. Why do we try to not talk about that sort of thing? We do around our friends but even then, it's like we're embarrassed to want to be husbands, wives, fathers and mothers, even if that's what we want more than anything. Even if it's something that God created us to be.

Is it because we're afraid of who we are? That we won't be enough in the eyes of the rest of the world? I'm still trying to figure it out myself. The world needs husbands, wives, fathers and mothers but I don't believe those roles have to define you. Yes, they take up most of your time and energy but you're still a person with your own distinct DNA and dreams.

I do have to applaud my friend for getting some serious conversations going on. While I don't know if I would put a time limit on when I had to be married, I like the fact that she's being intentional and honest with suitors. Having an anonymous blog allows her and her coconspirators to have the freedom to express their experience without that stigma that comes with being a single working woman looking for love.

What do you think? Check out the blog and then ask your friends what they think. You might be surprised at the different views that come about.

—Caitlin Muir

Caitlin is a writer from the Pacific Northwest. You can follow her online at www.caitlinmuir.wordpress.com or on Twitter @scribblinghappy.