Proposal (Part VI): Timing

You asked for it. Now you've got it. Our engagement story. In installments. Unedited. Uncensored. Filled with typos not doubt.
Disclaimer: Some audiences might find this "cheesy."

Over the last nine months, I have fallen so in love. So in love with Brad. And so in love with the Lord’s incredible timing. I have always prayed for someone who would ease me when I worry, love me when I don’t love myself, and keep up with my energy. Most of all, I prayed for someone who was centered on Christ. I never wanted to get married unless that man and that marriage promised to teach me more about the Lord than ever before. Honestly, there have been so many times when I just didn’t think that was possible. Would there ever be some I respected so much? Would there ever been someone I trusted like that?
One night, last April I think, Brad and I had a long, weird awkward conversation. Since before even meeting Brad, I had been praying to move to Knoxville. We had been dating a few months and I came into town for the weekend. I was overwhelmed with falling in love and thoughts or moving and all the ideas we had about the future. I felt like I was loosing control. I know that the things I said made no sense to him. They made no sense to me! I have “guarded my heart” for so long that I didn’t know how to enjoy being in love. I have so enjoyed being single, making my own way, and being a leader. All of this was great for that season of life. But, now things were changing. And the idea of being vulnerable and in love and trusting someone else so much…well, it basically freaked me out. That night, it came up in a random cry fest. (I know, you are shocked. Me? Cry?)
As I left Brad’s house that night and headed back to my parents, I heard my text messages go off. I knew it was Brad. But I just didn’t know if I could answer. I wanted to be alone. I wanted to think. I didn’t want him to try to convince me or ask me questions. But then, I looked down at my phone. He didn’t try to do any of those things. He just told me that he loved me. He sent me a couple scripture references about trusting the Lord and not worrying if we don’t have it all figured out.
It was the perfect picture of Christ’s love for me. Even when I let so, so many things in the way, he pursued me. He was patient with me. I didn’t have to have it figured out, I just had to let myself love him.
That is when I knew I would marry Brad.

The Proposal (Part V): The Ring

You asked for it. Now you've got it. Our engagement story. In installments. Unedited. Uncensored. Filled with typos not doubt.

You asked, so I’ll tell you. My ring:
It’s a deep blue sapphire in a 6 prong, white gold, Tiffany setting.
In other words: It’s blue. It’s bold. It let’s lots of light in.
Honestly never thought I would really truly care about my engagement ring. But I love this ring. I love that it is different. I love that Brad found an amazing alternative when I said I didn’t want a diamond. I love that when I am in line at Jason’s Deli, people stop me to ask me about it and tell me how pretty it is.

Next Up: Timing

The Proposal (Part IV): Outtakes

You asked for it. Now you've got it. Our engagement story. In installments. Unedited. Uncensored. Filled with typos not doubt.

Fun little thoughts throughout our engagement weekend that didn’t fit into the story…
· Brad grabbed his smallest Bible. He stuck it in his pocket, and I didn’t see it until he was ready to read to me from Corinthians. Many of us know this as the “Love Chapter.” Well, Brad had grabbed the King James Version. He realized this in the restroom at dinner. It says “charity” instead of “love”. He turned it into a nice little Greek lesson in the mid-proposal.
· During the Christmas parade, Brad and I decided that next year, we want to pass out free hot chocolate at Community South’s downtown branch.
· The Monday before the proposal at the Rockettes (see Day #61), my mom* said something that made me think Brad was talking to my dad* or had already done so. Of course, the fact that I discerned this only increased my confidence that there was no way in the world that Brad would surprise me. Boy, was I ever wrong!
· Brad had made several secret trips to Nashville to see the stone and get the ring. Once he got back to Knoxville, Ashley*, of course, was the first person to see my ring.
· Looking back on dinner...Brad insisted we wait to order our entrees, that we just “enjoy the appetizer.” He also took a couple text messages during dinner. Then, the most uncharacteristic of all behaviors – “Banker Brad” gave the waitress his debit card without even seeing the check. In retrospect, it seems this man was trying to stay on a very particular schedule.
· Friday morning, my brother (also named Brad*) text Brad and said, “Nervous?” They had quite a funny conversation about me.
· Brad told me to be warm, because we where going to be standing outside for the parade. And it was a cold, cold night. So, I wore lots of clothing and long underwear. It was great advice for being on the roof. Later, yep, there I was at Crown & Goose, in my favorite jeans and a cute jacket…with long underwear on underneath. I’ll never forget that!
· Brad said we had a “reservation” and would be going skating in 15 minutes. He said, “Well, they have a lot of groups this time of year.” This was all to cover up a phone call from the taxi driver. It totally worked.
· Here’s to LJ for helping to plan the post-proposal party. She even went all over town to find pink flowers just for me!
· I saw that LJ (my great friend from my first days in Spartanburg who is now at home in Knoxville) was now “friends” with Dori (who I grew up with and have known since she was born at Grace Lutheran) on Facebook. I “liked” this Facebook posting. I typically never notice things like that. But I was so confused by that connection it caught my eye. Now I know why. Thanks to Facebook for all the help connecting people for the post-proposal party.
· My parent’s gift to us? Our first gift as an engaged couple – Christmas stockings!
· On wedding is exactly 7 months for the day I am posting this. July 10, 2010.for the day I am posting this. July 10, 2010.

*Denotes person who knew about the engagement ahead of time. You will notice that it’s a rather large percentage of the population of Knox County. I had no idea.

Next Up: The Ring

Day 66-67: The Proposal (Part III) The Icing on the Cake

You asked for it. Now you've got it. Our engagement story. In installments. Unedited. Uncensored. Filled with typos not doubt.

Saturday morning, I was up and at ‘em. I was ready to call friends when my alarm went off at 8am. Then, I looked outside - It Snowed!!
It was truly the icing on my cake.
I started calling friends and had a ball. I met Brad and we headed over to my grandparents*. My youngest brother, Sam*, had spent the night there since my parents where downtown. We talked. We shared the story. We teased Sam about dancing with me at the wedding. We got marriage and wedding advice from my grandparents.
Then, we took Sam to Christmas program practice and got to see more family – Cindy*, Maddie*, and Rachel*. The day was full of daydreaming, friend calling, and family seeing. Then, that evening, we got to meet Brad’s mom*, who lives in Nashville for dinner in Sevierville. With her help, we started narrowing in on a date. We had talked about next Christmas, but that seemed too far away. Maybe the summer?
I didn’t think the weekend could get any better. Then, it did.
On Sunday morning, as we lit the advent wreath in front of the church together, Ethan announced our engagement. How exciting to share of becoming a family with our new church family (see Day #).
Sunday afternoon, the daydreaming continued. I keep saying, “we’re not going to plan anything, we’re not going to plan anything yet!” But my mom just keeps pulling out these Bridal magazines and Brad keeps calling around for catering menus. So, the date is set…

July 10, 2010.

Next up: The Outtakes.

*Denotes person who knew about the engagement ahead of time. You will notice that it’s a rather large percentage of the population of Knox County. I had no idea

The Proposal (Part II): Up on the rooftop...

You asked for it. Now you've got it. Our engagement story. In installments. Unedited. Uncensored. Filled with typos not doubt.

We went to the Christmas Parade. It was wonderful.
We went to dinner at the newly reopened, historic S&W Grand.
I gushed about the lights of Gay Street and Crouch Park, decked out for the holiday.
We headed over the Market Square for ice skating.
While waiting to skate, Brad told me he had just gotten a key to the building at 4 Market Square. He’s involved with the Knoxville Fellows (a program housed in that building), so again I was didn’t suspected.
As soon as we got on the roof, I saw roses, a bottle of wine, 2 glasses, and all the trimmings. I looked out over Market Square, as Brad opened the bottle. I was so amazed at how pretty everything was. The holiday lights and the shops and the Christmas music from the ice skating. It really was so picturesque that it seemed unreal.
Brad read to me from 1 Corinthians 13. I cried.
Then for a spilt second, he made me think we were about to leave. What? Where we leaving? Was this all to fake me out. Was this prankster going to present several “would be” engagement moments to keep me on my toes. What was happening? I was so, so confused. But only for a second.
“No, let’s stay up here,” he said.
He started to play with my left hand. And then my ring finger. I was looking over the edge of the building when he turned me around and said, “well, I think I am supposed to ask you something.”
As he said this, he got down on one knee. He put a lovely sapphire ring on my finger.
Honestly, I hardly remember what he said or what I said….
I was just so happy.
So surprised.
So in love.
After a few moment of being mesmerized, Brad was leading me downstairs and saying something about another surprise?
We were greeted by a delightful “British” cab driver*, who welcomed us to an old-fashion English taxi cab. I thought we were just driving around to enjoy the moment. I was certainly enjoying the moment. I even asked her if she would drive in our wedding?!
Then, we pulled up to the curb in the Old City. I didn’t even realize what was happening, as we walked into Crown & Goose. The first thing I saw was my mom and some balloons. Such a wonderful crowd was there – my parents*, my brother*, Dori* and Alisa* and Josh*, Casey* and LJ*, David* and Ashley*, Jay* and Rebecca*. Wow! There were flowers. There were gifts.
It was amazing.
Amazing.
Shocking.
Wonderful.
More than I could have ever imagined.
Speachless.
More people stopped by. There was lots of story telling. Fun bonding among our favorite people. I called my YL girls to tell them, “Today I…got engaged.”
Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.
Everywhere I turned, I was learning about someone else who knew Brad was proposing.*
I’ve never really been one to daydream about my engagement. But I did want to be surprised. I didn’t think that was possible. I also thought it would be wonderful and romantic to be alone. But at the same time, there are so many wonderful people I would love to share the moment with. Truly, Friday night I got it all. It was more than I could have ever asked or imagined.

“This day must be the very best day of my life.”

Next up: The icing on the cake.

Day 65B: The Proposal (Part I)

You asked for it. Now you've got it. Our engagement story. In installments. Unedited. Uncensored. Filled with typos not doubt.

To set the scene...
Yes, I knew I wanted to marry Brad. But having just moved to Knoxville, I was thrilled simply to just be dating him in town. I kept saying – I know we’re going to get engaged. I know we’re going to get married. Whenever it happens, I just want to enjoy the season we are in. (Here’s to Emily, for modeling this advice BID.)
But…I’ll admit waiting was starting to get hard….
I had suspected Brad might propose this weekend. Maybe Saturday. I even mentioned it in jest to my roommate, Kristen*. However, as he and our friends LJ*, Casey*, Jay*, Rebecca*, and others all made weekend plans, it became clear in my mind, Brad had no plans for “popping the question.”
So, last Friday afternoon, I went home to change clothes – Brad told me to be warm. We were headed to the Christmas Parade and dinner, then ice skating. All downtown. I wrote in my journal – “Lord, I give you this weekend. I confess that I do wish we were getting engaged. But instead Lord, change my heart. Thanks for the fun things we do have hanging out with friends. Lord, I pray, pray for it to happen before new years. Please Lord, let us get engaged this year.”
Less than 4 hours after writing those words, we were engaged.

Next Up: Up on the rooftop…