My Story Part 9: The Proposal

So for all of you that have waited for this story, here it goes....

I have to put the parenthesis that usually I would counsel girls to not move as quickly as Dave and I did. I would normally say there is no hurry. But God (I love those two words put together) showed up. He gave us a mutual faith and desire to seek God above all else. He gave us numerous connections. He gave us deep conversations and grace exemplified. He gave us confirmation from friends galore that this was good and right. In fact, no one cautioned us. And He Himself gave us a peace we couldn't not describe.

So Valentine's Day is not my favorite day. Not in a bitter-single girl way, but in a I hate that it is too commercial way. But this is the first time that I have a man on Valentine's Day. So we were going to do something. The day before though Dave said he had to work late that night and would not be able to make it. He asked me if I minded celebrating Valentine's Day on Wednesday or Thursday that week. I was actually excited at this prospect, as it brought out the bit of rebel in me.

The day came. I did think that maybe he had just tried to throw me off his scent. But when five, six, seven, eight came with no Dave, I assumed it was for real and he was not coming. Meanwhile I talked to him on the phone. Where you at? At the store? Gettin' groceries? No (long silence). So what you getting? Nothing. Suspicion rising in me. But after eight no Dave, so suspicion dying.

Around 9:15pm. I'm dogsitting, in my pajamas, hair pulled back, no makeup, crocheting and watching Downton Abbey. Suddenly Dave calls. "So I lied," he says. "I wasn't on my way home. I'm actually outside." So I go to the door and there he is with a bunch of sunflowers.

His speech:
Do you remember what you said when you saw the sunflower fields in Romania?

Interject story:
While on a missions trip in Romania this summer, I saw these fields of amazing sunflowers. Their heads are huge and they extend for acres and acres. When I first saw them I wanted to get a picture of them. To my great disappointment, the whole week went by with no opportunity for a picture of these fields. On the last day, my little team took an unexpected trip to a neighboring village. On this trip we went a different way than usual, which took us right through sunflower fields on both sides of our car. My friend took beautiful pictures. I told the car: "This is God's gift to me. You get to enjoy this, but it was made for me."

Return to his speech:
You are my sunflower field. Others get to enjoy your presence, but you were made for me.

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring as he dropped to one knee asking me to be his wife. The box the ring was in had a light. I think the first thing I said was, "Oh how neat! a light!" Eventually I also said I would be his wife. We called our families and told them. We then walked around Colonial Williamsburg hand in hand, completely rejoicing.

The next day, Dave came back to Williamsburg and took me to the Trellis, a really nice restaurant. Turns out the plan had been to propose that night after dinner. However, since the ring came in on Tuesday, he just couldn't wait till the next day.

So now, I'm set to marry the man of my dreams.