As promised, the engagement story!
On a lovely Sunday evening, the love of my life asked me to spend the rest of my life with him, as his wife. Hehe.
Leading up to that point was definitely not poetic and I am so proud of Josh that he stayed the course no matter how many times I butted up against him and the wonderfulness that was about to take place.
Two weeks before our wonderful day, that will mark history for us, Josh reminded me of the plans we had of going to the beach the first Sunday in June. Now, I'm sure a few weeks before, after I had told him I would be working that morning, he asked if we could go to the beach. Without much thought I probably answered "sure" - going to the beach is quite normal for me, it is an event but it's a weekly experience. Based on that, Josh began to skillfully plan his proposal. He had already asked my Dad about 2 months before, I had no clue. The night he asked, our church was having a joint small group and Josh ended up being 2 hours late. I was rather frusterated with him when he told me he had been "sleeping"...which is not unusual for Josh, so I believed him. Little did I know.
About a week before the big day, Josh & I were discussing our weekend plans as usual and I mentioned to him I was going to a "bride's maid's barbeque" that two of the women of our church were throwing that night, the night he had been planning to go to the beach. Josh reminded me of our beach plans that I had definitely forgotten about and didn't realize how much he had put into planning for that day. I argued a little bit, telling him we could do it another day, but he told me that we had to go to the beach that day. I reluctantly agreed, I let the hosts of the party know I wasn't going to make it.
While I was processing this, I realized Josh doesn't usually plan anything, so why this day? A couple days later he suggested I wear something cute to the beach. More thoughts.
Mind you, almost exactly the week before I basically swore off looking at anything related to weddings, I loved reading stuff and finding bargains online, but I always felt like I was being until I had a ring pushy. So now with him saying these curious things, my brain went into high speed mode. I tried my hardest to put it out of my head, to let it go. I knew it was still there the day before though.
The day before, Josh and I were at one of my friends graduation party and he told me that his roommate, Evan and his girlfriend, Lauren had asked what we were doing the next day, he told them and invited them to come with us. Being that we see them often, I was immiediately crushed. The special day that I was anticipating, even if there wasn't a proposal involved, wasn't going to happen. (Don't take this the wrong way, I love Evan & Lauren, but Josh made it seem like we were just going to hang out with them and it will be like just a normal fun day with the 4 of us.)
I didn't intially verbalize my disapointment, but I knew that it was building all day. I had gone to a bridal shower earlier, where a good amount of the people were engaged and I was just so frusterated because I had decided to try not to think about being engaged or weddings, but all I wanted was to be in on the wedding planning like the rest of those engaged people (lol).
Later that evening, I got very upset with myself for feeling sad. I shared with Josh that I thought he was going to propose and that we would at least have a special day and now we weren't. After I told him that I felt so ungrateful and I apologized perfusely for being so controlling and pushy. I cried and cried.
And Josh, oh my sweet Josh, he took it like a pro. He told me later that it took everything in him to not die of laughter, however he never faultered. He held me, prayed that God would give me peace and he assured me that he loved me, and, that he was cooler than proposing on the beach. (lol)
All that being said, I was able to put all of it out of my mind, trusting that God had such great plans for us, and I felt free from any pressure about getting married. I knew a proposal was coming, and it didn't matter when, because I knew it was coming.
I worked 8 hours of day shift the next day, never thought to much about going to the beach later. After work, Josh came and got me, we had an incredible day with Evan and Lauren, making hot dogs, taking pictures, going in the lake. It was lovely.
Right as the sun was starting to set, Lauren & I left the guys on the beach to use the bathroom and get ice cream. We were gone for probably 20 minutes. Meanwhile, this was all part of the plan. Josh & Evan were searching for the perfect spot on the beach. Lauren's job was to get my camera away from me once we got back down the beach. We took pictures of the sunset, she took a picture of me in the sunset and wala! she got it. On approaching the beach, I noticed Josh talking to a group of teenage girls, odd. He's very friendly, but not usually so direct with people he doesn't know, and he was pointing and waving them away. Needless to say I was confused, I asked him if he knew them and he said no. (lol) He actually was telling them not to step in his writing, and he also told them he was proposing. And that's all it takes to set off a bunch of girls. Hence the waving them away.
Those same girls were still hovering around once we had gotten back to our spot with our blankets and such. One of the girls in the group, much younger than the others, looked at me full in the face. I will never forget how her eyes danced. It startled me because I have never seen someone look that excited, and she was looking at me. I was so confused. Confusion passed quickly when Lauren directed my attention at the heart Josh had drew in the sand with our intials in it. I thought it was a very precious gesture, what a cutie I have, I thought. We took a few pictures, had that "awwh" moment. Seconds later, Josh took me over to what he had written. The only part that I fully read was the MARRY. In my mind, believing him that he wasn't proposing anytime soon, I let it go. I assumed he was simply make a pre-curser type thing to our engagement, saying that he wanted to marry me. However, he then turned infront of me and began to start kneeling. Still, I thought he was teasing me. I couldn't believe that he would tease me that much, especially since I had been crying my little eyes out less than 24 hours before. I shouted some "no's" out of pure embarrasement.
Then, he went for his pocket.
And the real shock set in.
He pulled out the little black box and I drew a very strong breath.
This was real.
He said my name and had me look at him full in the face.
Then without hesitation, but a little bit of nervousness he told me he loved me.
He wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.
He opened the box, and asked me to marry him.
My hands flew over my face, almost as if I were in complete disbelief.
About 30 seconds past, Josh reminded me I had to say something in order for me to get it on my finger.
I replied that I knew and to hold on.
I finally said yes. :]
The beach erupted with cheers and clapping.
Strangers took our pictures and came up to see the ring.
So precious.
And that friends, is the tale of my engagement :]
...it's real!!!!!
We are so excited!!
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