That's right, folks. On September 18, 2009, one Melissa Nicole Reeves answered "yes" when I nervously fumbled my way through a proposal! At that single second, I was as happy as I could possibly imagine being. Yes, it has probably been a long time coming, but that took none of the shine away from that single word. Call me a sap...but I'm pumped, people!!Short (edited: but not really that short) version of the proposal story: We had a date night planned (Trendy Date Night is what we call it...you know, somewhere cool and trendy and downtown...this was actually my idea to be able to pull off the engagement (I started it in August)). I kept the restaurant a surprise (we were headed to Five Sixty at Reunion Tower), but had told her I was wearing a suit (mainly because I had bought some new suits and wanted to wear one). Well, she also knew that the following night we had plans to meet my parents, brother, sister-in-law, niece, her parents, and her brother for dinner (this had nothing to do with the engagement, as it was more of a surprise birthday party). Well, I kept wondering if she was on to what I was planning. So, I show up, in a suit, with some roses and a backpack...she answers the door, says "Hi" and smiles real big...and I have no doubt that she knows. I give her the roses, she smells them, sets them down, says "thanks," and then looks at me. I am like, "Are you ready to go?" She replies, "Yeah, I'm ready." QUICK SIDE NOTE: I WAS COUNTING ON HER TO BE RUNNING LATE...YOU KNOW, SO I COULD GET THERE AND COLLECT MYSELF...FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ME TOO WELL, I GET NERVOUS...BUT INSTEAD, SHE IS READY ON TIME (EARLY EVEN), FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME...SO THAT THREW ME COMPLETELY OFF MY GAME!! Anyways, she says she is ready, so I kind of just stand there, and then clumsily say "Well, I have some surprises for you!" So I give her a framed piece of paper with the verse in the picture above (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) on it, as well as a Jack Ingram song lyric that is a little inside thing with us. We read the verse, I am messing the words up. I say a few things, and then I get down on a knee to ask her, and the last thought I have before I ask is as follows: "The ring box is going to open towards me." (Reminder: I was thrown off my game by punctuality, so I did not have time to ensure the box was oriented in my hand appropriately.) Well, I proceed...and lucky me, it opens towards her. She says "yes" and tries to hug me...I make her say it again...rinse and repeat...she says it three times before I will hug her. SECOND QUICK SIDE NOTE: THAT IS A LOT OF BUILDUP TO A QUESTION/ANSWER THAT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS, SO I WAS TRYING TO STRETCH IT A BIT...IT HAD BEEN FOUR AND A HALF YEARS! We head on to dinner and have a few people over to my house afterward. The next night, we get to the planned party, and everybody yells "surprise!" Well, only a few of them know we had gotten engaged. I quickly grab her left wrist, hold up her left hand, and yell "surprise!" back at them...a collective gasp occurs...and then the chaos of birthday wishes and congratulations ensues! Quite a memorable weekend...one I certainly won't be forgetting soon!
Melissa and I have been dating since January 14, 2005. In four and a half years, nobody has helped my grow more into who I am today, be it my personality, my attitudes, and most of all, my faith, than her. I am incredibly blessed to have found a woman who possesses such a strong sense of herself and her faith and beliefs. I know that I am expected to fill this role...but she is truly the rock in my life. She keeps me grounded...she keeps me humbled...she keeps me motivated...and she keeps me going. I have referred to our relationship as "crazy, silly love" and I honestly think that describes it best! We have a blast together...we laugh a lot (mostly at each other!)...whether it be training for a triathlon, or going to a musical, or sitting at home and plowing through reruns of Friends, it's always fun, and it always feels new. She's truly my best friend, and there is nobody I would rather embark on life's journey with!
I am looking forward to the next few months as we embark on the journey that planning a wedding will certainly turn out to be. I am looking further with even greater anticipation to beginning our lives as a married couple. God has done amazing things in my life the past few years, and I look to the future with little doubt that He has even more in store...not just for me, but for Melissa and me both!
A few pictures....
The Hardware
Surprising the party!
A merging family