Oldham County High School (OCHS) Senior Prom was coming up and Andrew needed a date. His mom and he had been racking their brains trying to think of someone, but nothing seemed right. Andrew just wanted someone who would want to go as a friend; he wasn’t looking for anything else. Finally, his mom suggested, “What about Crisann?” After Crestwood Baptist Church (CBC) worship service, Andrew asked Rod and Christine McCloy if he could ask Crisann to prom (unbeknownst to Crisann). That afternoon, Andrew asked Crisann if she wanted to go to lunch with him at the local restaurant, One Nineteen West Main to “catch-up.” She knew her brothers liked Andrew and thought he was neat from working on the CBC tech team together, so she decided to go.

Andrew came and picked up Crisann in his green 1999 Chrysler Concorde. At the restaurant, Andrew asked if Crisann would be willing to go to prom with him. He had coordinated with the restaurant to write “will you go to prom with me?” on their paper tablecloths, and had a bouquet of flowers in the back. Surprised but excited about the invitation, Crisann said yes.

Crisann had said yes, but she realized she didn’t know Andrew very well, and she should probably get to know him a bit better before prom. The texts grew steadily and soon their conversations were consistent. Crisann, notoriously tomboy and chronically blonde in this situation, was totally oblivious to the growing feelings Andrew had for her.

One of Crisann’s friends, Victoria Downs, put on a beautiful prom called “Night of 100 Stars.” Andrew asked Crisann if she would like to go with him, and Crisann readily agreed. The evening was simply enchanting. Andrew and Crisann got pictures beforehand at CBC (photo credit to Christine McCloy), and they had a blast. Those prom pictures are still some of Crisann’s favorites.

Andrew came and picked up Crisann from her house, giving her a bouquet of yellow roses with red tips. Being woefully ignorant of rose color significance, the meaning of those meticulously chosen arrangement went right over Crisann’s 5’2” frame. Poor Andrew. At the prom, Andrew helped Crisann navigate the environment allergy-wise, and was always close by to ensure nothing crazy happened. Crisann, meanwhile, realized through his attentiveness that she could not only trust him with her food allergies, but trust him with her.

Andrew came over and talked to Crisann’s parents about his interest in her. That really impressed Crisann. It also got her attention, as that was one of the things that Crisann had decided as a non-negotiable when she was talking with God about her future husband (“He’s gotta ask my dad first before he asks me.”) . This was Crisann’s “fleece” (Judges 6:36-40). It of course wasn’t the only factor, but it was a large one, and when Andrew did, Crisann remembers thinking, “Woah, God... are You saying he is the one?!”

So maybe you’ve gotten the gist from the hints above, but to spell it out directly, Crisann was painfully oblivious to Andrew’s affection until he asked her parents to get to know her better. Even more than that however, she was clueless to her own budding feelings as well. That is, until she was riding with Andrew to two mutual friends’ graduation party. She distinctly remembers thinking, “I want to do this more often.” Crisann had never had a crush on anyone before so it was a whole new epiphany for her. She remembers being so shocked as she realized she really liked this guy, Andrew.

Although unusual as they were not dating (yet), Crisann and Andrew decided to be deliberate and discussed their expectations for a dating relationship. They talked about non-negotiables, physical boundaries, what dating meant to each of them, and other topics they felt would “make or break” compatibility (kids or no kids, pets or no pets, etc.). While rather awkward at first, it was one of the best conversations, as it set the cadence for their dating relationship; honesty, transparency, communication. The up-front honesty they shared with one another during that discussion has stuck with them and acted as a critical key to their relationship.

Andrew and Christine got to have a healthy touch-point conversation after VBS Family Night, a talk that ultimately served as the bright neon sign Crisann needed to get with the program. After Andrew and Christine’s talk, Christine returned home and sat with Crisann, sharing what they had discussed. What stuck the most with Crisann was her mom saying: “You all are already basically dating, you’re just kind of late to the party” (said in the honest but gentle way only a mother can do). That’s when the lightbulb went on for Crisann. So, FINALLY, after months of cluelessness, Crisann finally joined the party (yay!)! The two of them talked and decided (to absolutely no one’s surprise) to “officially” start dating.

Since they started dating, Crisann has gotten to go with the Dharamseys on their annual Smoky Mountains trip. So when Crisann was invited for the May 2019 trip, she didn’t think it out of the ordinary. Sunday, May 19th, 2019 the plan was to go hiking at Spruce Flats Falls. Crisann and Andrew went on ahead of his parents to the 40ft waterfall. Unbeknownst to Crisann, Andrew had coordinated with her parents to have them come for the special event. The Dharamseys waited for the McCloys to drive up (now that the coast was clear) and all 4 parents hiked up together. Crisann and Andrew arrived at the falls and navigated their way to the middle of the falls on a large rock. Getting down on one knee and producing a Master Ball containing his grandmother’s ring, Andrew proposed, asking Crisann if she would marry him. Crisann, shocked, thrilled, and shaking with excitement, joyfully said “YES!!!” The parents were there to celebrate and Christine took the pictures. Happy tears and smiles abounded!