Seth and I just hit the 1-year mark on our engagement!
I started reminiscing about the day Seth proposed. I remember an awful lot of tiny details... It was a Wednesday, which were the LONGEST days of the week. I ate lunch at 10 am... Which Wich with Greg. I was just looking forward to dinner with Seth the whole day. A few things happened that day that I didn't think of till later: one friend saw my class ring on my right hand and asked me about it... another friend danced with me in the hallway after seminar and told me it was our last dance. I had no clue.
Finally, after band was over, I scooted to the bathroom to change for our dinner date. Seth had bought me a dress that he wanted me to wear that night, so I had it on. I got in the car, and Seth had orange tulips for me. He ran into the School of Music quickly, so I waited in the car. We hit the road, on our way to Catch 22.
Seth asked me if I liked his sunglasses, which I had already told him I did but I told him again. I saw him check the directions, which made perfect sense to me. I mean, I had no clue where Catch 22 was located. He took an exit, made a few turns, and I began to recognize the roads... we were headed along the same route that takes us to the Milne's lake house. I asked him if he remembered, which he said he didn't. I couldn't believe it, so I started basically harassing him about his inability to remember directions. Ugh... I feel so bad about it now!
I couldn't believe it when we pulled onto the Milne's street. I asked Seth if we were eating with them. He said no, they were at choir practice; we were just there to watch the sunset. So when we got out of the car and walked to the dock, I sat down to watch the sunset! The FIRST time I caught the hint was when he asked me to stand with him.
And then he proposed :)
Yes, on one knee, with the ring out of his pocket and in his hand. With the question of "Will you marry me?".
:)
Then, instead of taking me to a restaurant, he had another surprise for me. The Milne's and Bronwyn, my roommate, were inside the house. Bronwyn had taken pictures of our engagement, and the Milne's hosted a dinner for us. It was absolutely perfect. Dr. Rick had even burned an Engagement Mix CD for us.
And after dinner, when we got back to my apartment, my friends had a surprise party for us. It was perfect. Really.
I have to admit, the rest of this year hasn't been so perfect. Wedding plans are stressful, and school is even more so. But in my life are three constants: God, my parents, and Seth. They are the only reason I've made it this far this year. And I just needed to thank them publicly for the strength they have given me when I had none of my own. For those of you who read this blog, thank you for your friendship. Because even if you have no knowledge of what's gone on in my life this year, your hugs and smiles and friendship have changed my days. I thank God for you, too.
So, with only 83 days left, I ask you for one favor: to pray for me and Seth - for patience with each other, for faith with jobs, for perseverance with school, for grace in our ministry, and for our love to continue to grow that we might better serve our Lord, His kingdom, and each other.
Oh, just in case you were wondering... to complete our engagement story, I took Seth out to Catch 22 on Thursday, March 24, 2011.
And if you're thankful for a new blog post, you can thank Gerald Ligon ;).
Edit: TOTALLY forgot to tell you what some of the little details meant (or the background story). The dress Seth bought me, he bought it with the help of my best friend, Katrina. I had mentioned previously how I wished she could be involved in our engagement somehow - and she was! When Seth asked me about his sunglasses, it was a ploy to take my eyes off the road so I would miss the HUGE billboard that says where Catch 22 is located - NOT the directions we were taking. Seth had owned the ring since the previous May... unbelievable for a boy who can't keep secrets. He LIED to me about CIU school meetings in order to meet my dad and ask his permission - in January. Seth had planned this date with me over a month before - it was 2 days after my junior recital, and we knew leading up to it we'd barely get to see each other... so it all made sense to me. I wasn't expecting it; I tell people God made me oblivious, because usually I pick up on things quickly. I'm so thankful He did that, too. Those are the details I remember, but Seth may add his side of the story later :)
