Beautiful Things

It was just one year before we were there supporting my dad. Thankful he decided to run in the heat instead of waiting to run this year, but praying earnestly for those affected by this tragedy. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

4 months till’ our Wedding Day!!! 👰💕💏💍💒🔔❕ @peterman304

@peterman304 had this playing while he was on one knee asking me to marry him! I can’t believe it’s been a month! (And a day) Special memories!

Story of proposal:

The night before the big event, Peter and I watched the move The Vow, and in the movie they discuss “moments of impact”. Today was that kind of day, a moment of impact that I pray I never forget!

The day started off at 8am when I woke up to a pleasant surprise. Somehow I had set my phone to play a song that has been very meaningful to pete and I during our relationship, Wanted by Hunter Hayes. I started to hear the song and decided to just let it play out and after that had it running through my head the rest of the day. Pete woke up around 9:30 and I just asked if we were ever getting married and teased him about asking me right then and there! His response to all this was “soon enough”… I had no idea how soon that would be! Then we decided to go to Caribou Coffee in snowy downtown to spend time together and do our devotions… Which was an amazing start to the most amazing day.

Pete had been acting a little funny all day, but I just thought he was being goofy and didn’t really think too much of it. He had been texting his friend “Patrick” off and on and we had plans for a double date at the cheesecake factory in Westlake and we were to leave around five. I did not think anything of the day, but I just kept wishing that today would be the day and just thought it couldn’t be true. I didn’t think that he had gotten the ring and was not sure if he had met with my dad, and thus, was not expecting it for another week or so.

This last Sunday (December 23) Pete and I went to Westlake and while we were there I pointed out a place that was covered in Christmas lights, but we just casually drove right past it and were only able to admire it for a quick second. Pete had gone back the next day to Westlake to pick up “Christmas Presents” on Monday, but had actually picked up the ring that Christmas Eve day! After the Christmas festivities were over Pete decided to leave for Westlake again and head home, but he managed to ask my dad to meet him at Caribou right then! My mom and dad told me they were “headed to the Gym” yet my dad dropped my mom off there and headed straight to Caribou to meet my soon to be Fiancé! Well you wouldn’t believe it, but my sister was meeting a friend there and spotted them and thus was now expected to keep the secret! After having gotten full permission from my loving daddy, Pete headed back to Westlake to check out this place with all the lights. He then introduced himself to the owner of the house and set up a plan to ask me there the next day!! Meanwhile, he is trying to work out a plan with his sisters Jenna and Jackie in order to have someone be there to take pictures and they were so supportive and found a way to make it work.

Pete picked up on my love of Christmas lights this summer and knew he wanted to do something with lights, but could not figure out how he wanted to do it. Some ideas were: Columbus Zoo, somewhere in town, or somehow creating this in my backyard! So when I randomly (thank you Lord is more like it!) pointed out this house in Westlake, He saw it and knew that was exactly what he wanted and figured out a plan! He met the guy and told him exactly what to do and when to do it, but said he would call and confirm… But when Pete called there was no answer so his nerves began to build.

Around 4:30 I start getting ready to go to cheesecake factory to meet “Patrick and his girlfriend” and decided to bring my big down coat and hunter boots just in case we’re in the snow at all. By 5 we are in the car and ready to go! For most of the hour long drive I am feeling low and just wishing that somehow this whole Patrick Cheesecake factory thing could be a set up and we could somehow get engaged, but just trying to push the thought out of my mind thinking it wouldn’t ever happen. Once we get off at Pete’s exit we stop at a gas station to pick up window washer fluid/STALL in order for the timing to be right. As we start driving down Detroit we pass the house with all the lights and I point it out again in amazement and he practically slams on the breaks and says we should check it out! It was almost 6 at this point, but he reassured me “Patrick” said he was going to be 10 min late and it would be fine. So I put on my down coat and get out of the car, but Pete “forgot his gloves” and reached back in the car to grab THE RING (but I had no idea)! As we’re walking up I’m just wishing he could somehow have the ring and just ask me there, but thinking there was no way… And so I decided to voice this and said “Pete why can’t you plan something like this?! This would have been perfect! There are Christmas lights and its snowing perfectly!” he just laughed and we kept walking as I tried to take pictures of everything. Then all of a sudden I hear the beginning of the tune I woke up to this morning… I say “Why is wanted playing?” (thinking one of our phones were ringing and still having no idea what is going on). Pete then says “Because I met with the guy and asked him to play it. (Starting to cry he makes the grand gesture and gets down on one knee) He told me he loved me for the very first time and opened up the Jewelry box to reveal the most breathtakingly beautiful ring and asked if I would marry him!!!! (I can’t remember exactly what he said because I was in complete shock but I remember those lines!) I then hesitated for a little while trying to process what had just happened and stretched my arms out and said YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We hugged and kissed and cried! He then revealed Jenna’s cover and said she had been photographing the whole time! We took some pictures and talked to the home owners and soon enough were calling relatives and on our way back to celebrate with my family!

We met my family at Rosewood Grill, formally known as Turners Mill. While we were sitting there celebrating a memory came back to me and I realized that 9 years ago in that very same place I had sat with my dad as 13 year old girl and received my very first ring, my promise ring. I made a promise to remain pure for my husband and my dad explained to me what that meant and how special that gift is and my parents and I have prayed for this man for my whole life and today I have committed to marrying this man and feel so honored and blessed! I am so thankful to the Lord for providing such an amazing gift. He is truly all I ever wanted and so much more! It has been a fairytale and God has done unbelievable things in both of our lives and I am so excited to see what else he has in store! Praise be to our Father in Heaven for surely He knows the desires of our hearts, He knows what is best for us, and He knows how to give the greatest gifts. We love because he first loved us.

I love you Peter and I cannot wait to be your Bride.