Nick and I are engaged to be married!!
Here's the story... from my perspective. I hope to have a very special guest writer who can share his unique perspective too...
Nick and I have been pretty open with each other about how we want to spend our lives together, especially in terms of when we'll move in that direction. So about two weeks ago, as I sometimes do, looked over Nick's work schedule for the next few weeks. I happen to notice how on Saturday, September 13th it was marked "time off" instead of the usual "available"- meaning he had asked for it off. With the most innocent of intentions (honestly!) I wondered why he had it off. Had I forgotten something we were doing that day that he needed it off? Was I suppose to be somewhere that day? Feeling forgetful, I checked our shared Google calendar. I discovered that he had entered in that we might go hiking that day. At that point it dawned on me that I may have discovered something that I shouldn't have. :( I contemplated if I should tell him that I found out, I prayed that I wouldn't be a ruin-er of surprises. The next day his schedule was laying out again and without thinking I blurted out and pointed a finger "Why does next Saturday say 'Time off' on your schedule!?". The next thing I knew Nick's face revealed the truth- I had figured out his first plan to propose. I was gitty to learn that it was coming, but so sad that I had figured it out! Nick was bummed and had to scrap his plans. I vowed to try to turn off my awareness of all details around me.
Fast forward to one week ago today- the original proposal date- September 13th. I had planned to go help our friend Drew load up his grill so that I could borrow it for a party I was having the following day. I woke up to pouring rain, which I loved, but I felt a little down knowing that today was suppose to be the day I would be engaged to Nick, but I had ruined it. I lounged around for a while that morning, then put on a raincoat over my PJs and headed over to Drew's house to help load the grill in the midst of a stormy day. I arrived and was greeted by Drew who was finishing cleaning his house- it looked and smelled wonderful! His wife and three kids where no where to be found. He invited me to have a seat on the sofa for a bit. So I sat. But then he told me to sit on the other sofa. I thought that was weird, but did so anyways, not suspecting a thing at this point. Drew sat on the other sofa for 2 seconds, then stood up, pressed play on the nearby CD player and asked me to listen. I knew for sure that this point what was happening! I was tricked! Drew left the room, snuck out the back door and the next thing I knew he was driving away down the street! The CD began to play and for several minutes Nick poured out his love for me in what I now call the "Love Speech". As his speech ended, I was trying to piece together what was happening, wondering things in my head like "Where's Nick's car? Where are the kids? Where is he hiding? Is he looking at me right now? Oh my gosh, I'm in my PJs and have not showered yet! . I found it difficult to remain in my seat as I was instructed, but I did. Finally, on the CD Nick asked me to close my eyes, acknowledging how hard this would be for me (twice). I shouted out with excitement and joyful impatience, "No!". I sort of put my hand over my eyes, but looked for where Nick would appear from through my fingers. He then descended into the living room from upstairs (waiting all along in the "chair of contemplation" at the top of the stairs, out of sight). He sat down next to me and hugged me- note: he was completely trembling with nervous excitement! Then he gave another mini "Love speech", hugged me many times, then picked up a thermos he had been carrying. Inside was a little box. He told me the thermos had been sitting on his dresser for a long time, the perfect hiding place that would go unnoticed by a girl who notices most things (great work Nick!). He now entered into the proposal position, down on one knee! He opened the box, took out a beautiful ring and asked me if I would spend the rest of my life with him and marry him. I said yes! In quiet excitement, still processing the last 5 minutes we hugged and kissed and were just in awe of it all.
You may be wondering, "Did you cry?". No, and yes. Through the proposal I didn't, but through out the mini "love speech" and the popping of the question, all of my favorite songs were playing in the background. It was so perfect- I felt like it was the perfect sound track for the perfect moment. After I said yes, I began to tear up as this song by a folksy group called Eastmountainsouth sang this song in the background (listen to it here on YouTube- please ignore the cheezy slideshow- not my creation!):
as the music at the banquet
as the wine before the meal
as the firelight in the night
so are you to me
as the ruby in the setting
as the fruit upon the tree
as the wind blows over the plains
so are you to me
as the wind blows over the plains
so are you to me
so are you to me
We spend the next 15 minutes or so alone together, before we called Drew and his family back- they were all camped out at Barnes and Noble! They returned honking with excitement all the way down the street. They also had flowers, champagne, and cake for us to celebrate. It was such a wonderful morning. Thank you so much to the Hunter family for helping Nick and making it so special for both of us! We're so happy that they could be part of it all!
Oh, I forgot to mention...Nick had spent the early morning with my parents. Over homemade waffles my mom made, he asked in the good old fashion way, for their permission to ask me to marry him (they said yes too).
Check out photos from the day here.
I so blessed and grateful to have my Nick. I prayed that God would bless me with a husband years before I even met Nick. Great is Thy faithfulness!
