Almost exactly 6 months ago, Ethan and I got engaged. This is now basically old news, but we have never written about it and it has completely inhibited me from being able to write another blog until this story is out! We both wanted to write this story from our perspectives and the time never came around to do that so now in order to be able to blog again, we are publishing this
The Chatty Lady- Elaine
On June 11, 2011, I had returned home from being gone for a week and a half at Camp. I was cabin leading and working with no phone access or internet access and no Ethan access, so I had a TON to tell him. Ethan texted me and said that he wanted to go to dinner, I assumed this would happen since I had been gone for a week. Of course I accepted his offer and he said he'd be at my house around 6 and I should wear one of the new dresses I'd recently bought. "Well," I thought, "What a great idea! I've been sweaty and looking nasty for a whole week why not get dressed up for the night? " My parents kept asking me where we were going and I said probably El Nopal, knowing us, but I didn't care because I was just excited to look presentable.
When Ethan picked me up, I hopped up into the front seat and started rambling. I told him, "I'm going to be talking your ear off, so if there's anything you want to say, you just need to jump right in here any time." He kind of laughed and rolled his eyes and said, "Ok, go." So I started with, "Sunday night, me, me, me, camp, my campers, me, it was hot, camp, bible study, me...etc." At about Amazing Glaze, Ethan jumped in and said "OH! I forgot to tell you, I got PhotoShop, it came in while you were gone!" Well this is awfully exciting for a gentleman who has a fancy camera and enjoys taking pictures of his girlfriend who likes to have her pictures taken, so I said, "AWESOME!!" and he said, "So do you mind if we go to The Mount and take pictures before we eat?" I said, "No problem! Sounds great!" (For those of you who do not know, "The Mount" is Mt. St. Francis, a retreat center, church, and nature reserve, lake place that we hike at all the time. Ethan takes pictures there all the time. And we had just taken pictures a few weeks before, so it was no surprise that he wanted to go again)
So we pull in to The Mount, and get out of the car. Guess what? I'm still talking, " me, me, me, camp, me, campers, me, Jesus, communion, me..." He is still nodding when appropriate and commenting when it's required as we walk together holding hands down towards the lake. We get down to the not-sketchy dock (because there is a difference between the sketchy and not sketchy, trust me) We sit down for a few minutes with the sun in our eyes and Ethan tells me that he wants me to stand at the end of the dock facing the sun and the water but not to face him. My exact words, "THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING WE SHOULD DO!!!! GOOD IDEA" So I skip to the end of the dock and stand there....still talking, "there's someone jogging, it's hot, how should I stand," all while he is saying, "ok...hold still...one more second...ok now turn and face me."
So I turn to face him, expecting him to take another picture of me and there he is, on one knee in front of me holding out a ring in a white box. He looked at me, turned his head to the side and said, "Will you marry me?" And that right there shut me up, speechless, breathless, balance-less, alll of it. That's where it goes blurry and I think I said, "is this real?" I might have said, "you're kidding" but I know he had to say, "Is that a yes?" to which I replied, "of course" and kissed him. And then I had to sit down because I was literally shaking... I could go on and on about what happened next with every one we called and how we probably didn't talk again until around 11 o'clock because when we weren't on the phone, I couldn't say much other than how I had no idea and then would get distracted by my left ring finger. I am beyond excited to be marrying my best friend and love of my life and to be soo incredibly blessed to have had all of these years to get to know each other and finally come to an age and time in our life where the next step is forever.
The Person Popping the Question - Ethan
I love how Elaine started writing her perspective on the day we got engaged, my perspective begins two days prior to the engagement when I had to talk to her dad. I've always been told that the respectful thing to do was to talk to the parents but I didn't realize it would be that nerve wracking!!!
It was June 9, 2011 when I recieved the call the the ring was ready for pick-up. I grabbed my phone, keys, and wallet and headed to Endris Jewelers. I remember walking in seeing the ring and then writing the check. I can honestly say it was one the proudest moments of my life. The lady at the counter looked at me and in a really excited voice said, "good luck sweetie". I thanked the lady, walked out of the store and literally ran back to my car because I was scared someone would mug me due to the ring that was in my hand. Once I made it to my car I locked the door and called my mom and my friend Ashley as I drove home. On the drive home it hit me.....in order to give such a beautiful ring to my future wife I had to still talk to her parents...I felt like I could throw up at that point.
Once I arrived at my house I had to call Elaines mom and dad and set up a time to go talk to them in person. I talked to Elaine's mom and she said, "5:45 would be a good time to come over, Alan will be home and it will be right before we go to church". So I took a shower and tried to look decent and watched the clock for an hour, pacing back and forth, laying on the couch, playing piano, and getting on facebook. Finally 5:30 rolled around my phone vibrated with at text message from Mary that said, "Alan is running late so maybe 6 would be a better time to come over". More pacing, watching the clock, facebooking and playing piano took place for another 15 minutes. Finally it was time to head to their house. I really didn't have time to calm my nerves on the drive over due to the fact that we only live 5 minutes away from eachother. I pulled in the driveway, got out of my car and bent down to tie my shoe, it was at that point that I came really really really close to passing out. I stood up got my bearing, walked in, sat down and thats when the magic happened. Everything after they said yes was a blur. I remember walking out of their house feeling like the world had been lifted off of my shoulders.
The initial proposal plan was to pop the question on the beach in Florida two weeks later.. obviously that didn't happen. After talking to my parents I decided that I wanted to propose close to home so she could be close to her family and show everyone her ring...I know how my future wife is.
June 11th was the day I set in my head to pop the question to my preschool, elemetary school, middle school, and high school sweet heart. Elaine had been at camp for a week so I knew that she would have a lot to tell me about her week. I texted her once I got off work as she was headed home from camp and told her that I would pick her up around 5:30 to go to dinner. On our way to Clarksville I told her that I had bought the new version of photoshop and would like to swing by the mount to take some picture before dinner. She agreed and off we went down the trail to the dock. After I squeezed my idea about going to the mount Elaine continued talking about her week at camp.
Once we got to the dock I told Elaine to walk out to the end of the dock and turn away from me, facing the sun. After she turned around I snapped a few pictures, with the ring in my hand the whoe time, and told her to turn back around. She turned around and looked at me as I said "Elaine will you marry me". At that point I thought for sure she was going to fall in the lake. She kept asking me "is this real", "your kidding". Once I got an answer I kissed her and we sat down and talked for a long long time. We spend that night talking to people on the phone and thanking people for the congrats on facebook.
I thank God every day for putting Elaine and her family into my life. It is very rare to marry someone that you've known since preschool. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with Elaine Elliott.
The man who finds a wife finds a treasure and gains favor with the Lord. Proverbs 18:22
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