The Proposal

(In Hannah's words) 

Growing up, I was always the kid who knew everything. I usually figured out what I was getting for Christmas without even snooping, and to this day It’s usually quite easy for me to discern people’s schemes/secrets. Basically I’m like a ninja version of Sherlock Holmes. Knowing this about me, it was quite the feat for Andrew to COMPLETELY catch me off guard and surprise  me with a beautiful proposal! First there were the fake-outs... 

In the months leading up to the proposal, Andrew kept intentionally planning adventures and outings that would make me think that he was about to propose. Now, the adventures and outings were not abnormal, since Andrew has always planned fun and romantic excursions since day one of our dating relationship- it was just the little details of these events that made me wonder and played with my mind a bit. Certain scavenger hunt clues, gifts, things that he would say... He also kept talking about and making a big deal over our “one year anniversary” on January 27th, so eventually I got it into my head that he was planning to propose on that day. 

The day of the actual proposal was January 14th, a Monday, the night Andrew and I usually attended bible study together. Andrew asked If I could meet at his house to carpool together as he “wanted his dad to look at his car”. I totally bought the lie, even excitedly making plans to eat dinner with Andrew’s parents before heading out. 

I pulled up to Andrew’s house, suspecting absolutely nothing. It was a normal weekday-bible-study-night and he had not been acting weird nor had he given me any hints whatsoever. The backyard has a tall wooden fence around it, so at first I didn’t see anything abnormal. Then, all of a sudden, the back yard lit up. I thought that this was strange, since I didn’t remember there being any Christmas decorations or lights in the backyard... and the fact that all of these lights turned on JUST as my car pulled up was also little suspicious. I brushed it off, however, thinking “oh, there are probably Christmas lights out there that I just don’t remember seeing... and they are probably on a timer or something so that they’ll turn on when it gets dark”... 

I got out of my car and walked up to the gate leading into the backyard. I saw Andrew coming toward me through the cracks in the wood, and I wondered for a moment why he was coming to let me in- I usually let myself in when I came over. Then the gate swung open, and there he was- in his suit, with an armful of yellow roses, and with the twinkling lights he had strung up everywhere creating a soft glow all around us. ( I found out later that Andrew had been sitting outside in the freezing cold without a coat on for the previous 20 minutes, watching for me to pull in so that he could turn all the lights on at once and meet me at the gate) 

I instantly knew what was going on- and I’ve never felt the kind of joy I felt before! It was just pure and sweet and peaceful and good, welling up inside of me. There was no fear, no butterflies in my belly, just an overwhelming heart-cry of “YES!” and “this is right”. Andrew pulled a gorgeous antique (1920’s) diamond ring out and asked me to marry him. I said yes. 

After lots of hugs and a few tears, we went inside and drank champagne with strawberries in front of the fireplace. Andrew had written me a song that spoke to the commitment he was making to God regarding me and asking me to be with him forever to “make great memories, enjoy the little things, and bring God glory- together”. 

We then feasted on an amazing gourmet meal that Andrew had prepared featuring bacon-wrapped steak. (This boy speaks my love language!) He had taken the entire day off of work to prepare everything. The house was full of candles, lights, and more roses and he had even painstakingly baked an amazing apple tart with thin slices of apples arranged to look like a rose. 

There was alot of smiling, alot of happiness, and a fair amount of joyful dancing in the kitchen to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. I couldn’t imagine a more amazing night or a more beautiful display of love and commitment.  It was simple, sweet, and romantic and just perfect for Andrew and me!