Engagement

  • (some of you requested to see) The Ring

    It really is the most gorgeous ring I have ever seen.  But more than that, it is a symbol of Sam's love and commitment to me, which includes sacrifice.  I know he spent everything he had on it because he wanted to give me the best and most precious.  It's such a tangible and personalized example, to me, of Christ's sacrificial love for us... 

    (these pictures don't give it justice! you'll have to see it in person!)

  • The Proposal

    I was going to spend the rest of the Sunday afternoon vegging on the sofa but Sam seemed to have another idea, "Go change out of church clothes," he said.  "Let's go out."  He had very clear instructions for me, "Jeans and Simple shoes." 

    We got into his car and he drove me toward the ocean.  We ended up at La Jolla Cove.  Once we parked, Sam popped the trunk and took out his guitar.  He said, "Thought we could worship a little."  I nodded happily in agreement.

    We had been there together about three months earlier, and Sam had carved our names into a side of a cliff - "Sam 'n' Mary Ann."  So as we wandered around along the cliffs, I wondered aloud, "I wonder if our names are still there.  Do you think it'll still be there after the rains?"  Sam casually responded, "I don't know.  Let's go see."

    As we approached that cliff, I could see very clearly that our names were still there.  They looked freshly carved and underneath the words "Sam <3 Mary Ann" were the letters "WYMM."  It only took me a few seconds to register that the letters meant, "Will You Marry Me" but I walked up to examine the letters more closely anyway.

    Sam then said, "I feel a song coming on."  I turned around to him and saw him get on his knee, with guitar in hand... and he started playing/singing this cute song to me.  Meanwhile, the setting sun over the waters provided the perfect backdrop for the moment.  When he finished his song, he pulled a little jewelry box out of his pocket.  He said, "I love you" to me for the first time that night and then, "Mary Ann, I want to be with you the rest of my life.  I'm stuck on you; will you be stuck on me, too?  WYMM stands for... Will You Marry Me?"  I whispered, "Yes," and then he slipped the most gorgeous ring on my finger.  I gave him a hug and then we scrambled to the top of the cliff to catch the rest of the sunset. I don't remember much of that sunset though; we were too enraptured by the moment to care about a sun that goes down every single day.

    We had dinner at a restaurant near the coast, then spent some time praying together over the water's edge, called his family and then announced it to my family.  The night was made complete when my dad shook Sam's hand and said, "Welcome to the family."  Crazy!

    I still can't believe that I'm getting married!!

     

    For Sam's side of the story, click here
    For the beginnings of our story, click here.

  • for our sixth month courtship anniversary,
                                       i gave sam my hand...

    and he gave me a ring! 

    We're getting married!!!!!