Marriage: Our Engagement Story

Will You Marry Me?

Maybe you've seen the quote on Pinterest that says, “Anyone is a lot more attractive when they’re funny.”

I freely admit e-Dad won my heart by sprinkling our conversations with lots of bad jokes and one-liners. He tells me that in school growing up he was the “class clown” and I believe it. (And oh yes, he was elected as high school junior class president too.)

If there’s one thing we have going for us, we both love a good laugh.

As you can see from the photos (below) we got engaged a.long.time.ago! We’re now enjoying our thirty fourth (34) year of mawwage. In those days, e-Dad was an amateur dark room photographer, and he was determined to get a shot of that amazing moment. I thought his idea was crazy!

e-Dad did get two fantastic photos, which he later developed himself.
So here we are: two young people in our early twenties excited about love, getting married, and starting our new life together. God has blessed us, hasn’t he?




Conversation Transcript

Planning and executing the big event was e-Dad’s job, so I asked him to recount his memories of popping the question. We recorded this conversation on our walk tonight.

1. We enjoyed a long distance romance. What do you remember about our love letters?

Well, I recall very distinctly how enjoyable they were, and how I looked forward to receiving them, and how much fun they were to compose. And also what was pretty amazing was how we'd gotten to the point where we had both made a list of what we were looking for in a spouse. We sent them off to each other and they crossed in the mail. And all of that without prompting from either one of us.

2. At what point in our friendship did you decide that I was “The One?”

We knew each other for three years, and of course I enjoyed all of the times we actually got together and we were able to "play" and do things in person.

But when I got really serious was on a men's retreat where the focus was on fasting and seeking God's direction. And at that point, I actually did get a "word" to pursue you my wife-to-be, whom I was very strongly committed to—that would probably be the confirmation. Of course, I had considered all of the possibilities before that. But that was definitely the confirmation.

3. Where did you take me to ask, “Will you marry me?”

I remember preparing for a ... actually, it was a "mystery tour" although we didn't call it that at the time. But it was a surprise picnic to Lake Wenatchee up in the North Cascades [Mountains in Washington State].

Beautiful setting. It was springtime, and the snow had melted. Still a little nippy out, but it was beautiful out. Clear weather and we went to the lakeside. And I sat you down on the log, put my knee down on the ground, and held your hand, and looked into your eyes, and asked if you would marry me.

And you were trembling! (Much laughter.) And then it was so much fun we did it twice! So we could take a picture the second time.

4. What was my reaction?

Oh your reaction was wonderful! I am glad I memorialized it on a photo! It was sheer shock and amazement ... and "oh my goodness!" And of course the question everybody has is, "What was your answer?"

Yes, of course you said "yes." Much to my happiness.

5. How did you set up the photo shoot?

Well, after I gave you a few minutes to compose yourself (laughter), I took my trusty Pentax SLR camera over to another log and positioned it to face the two of us, as I was kneeling. I put on the timer and asked you again, and your reaction is priceless.

6. What did you do about a ring?

At that particular time we didn't actually have a ring. We later went to the jeweler's and selected some. So the proposal went without a hitch, even though there wasn't actually a ring involved. Just two happy hearts.

7. How did our families react to our engagement?

Well my family was quite positive about the event even though they hadn't met the "young lady" yet. It was more my friends and since I had been in Young Life, most of my friends were through YL and church. And of course they were all thrilled—they had all met the "young lady" at various events from time to time.

As for your family, your mother was mortified (laughter). Your Dad said, "It's your life, do with it as you wish." No, strike that. Um, your mother was quite surprised, and I don't think she expected that event to happen, although she was supportive—after the third kid (laughter). We only have two (laughter).

8. In retrospect, what would you have done differently?

Well, I would have built a house first, and gotten a nice regular steady job—instead of a degree in psychology. And probably—if you're idealistic—maybe you'd never get married, eh?

That's a good question (pause). No, I didn't want to be a priest (laughter).

I wouldn't change anything.


Related Posts: "The Crazy Way We Met" "Our Wedding Day" and
"Our Honeymoon"

Photo: thinklia (Flickr)



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