We're Getting Married

If you ask Michelle, this story will sound different but trust me when I say this is what really happened. I have known Michelle since the 6th grade through our church youth group. We grew up going on retreats, outreach events, and Sunday services together without ever really getting to know one another (and if you bring up a lot of those events, Michelle didn't even know I was there, but trust me, I noticed her). Fast forward to December 4th 2014 she messaged me on Facebook about catching up on my birthday, and while it was just a friendly thing to say on my birthday, I took her words seriously. After managing to squeeze three dates out without a rejection, I had won her over (let me tell you I though we had mutual feelings of attraction until she told me it took to that third date before she would even look at me as a potential boyfriend). The last four plus years have had so many amazing ups and downs that brought us closer together and closer to God, and looking forward, we are both more than excited to take this life long covenant together.

If you know Michelle, you know she’s type A when it comes to control over planning. This means that the idea of her not knowing when I was going to propose was not something easy for her to give up, and in many ways she tried not to give up. So, I had to be creative, and be smart about keeping plans hidden from her prying ears. As she was counting down days until it would happen, I was planning with the help of her best friend Bailey and my best friend Tyler. There were three weekends before I flew out to Colorado to be with my family for Christmas and I needed a day when she wasn’t expecting it. On December 15th at 4:30 am, I made the drive down from Grove City, PA to Maryland where I was able to spend the day with Tyler and Greg and many other friends who would help make this happen. She spent the day with Bailey in downtown Fredrick shopping and getting lunch with no clue how her life was going to change that day. See, December 15th was the one day she knew I couldn’t possibly be in town because it was supposed to be my last final before graduating college, but what she didn’t know was that I got it moved (thanks Dr. Gordon!). When she walked through the door upon arriving home with Bailey, she walked in to 40+ candles and decorations. I then snuck in behind her as she read a letter, and I got to ask my beautiful fiancé to spend the rest of her life growing in Christ with me. Just when she thought the surprised had finished, we arrived at dinner to find all of her family there to celebrate with her…. And she calls me the worst at surprises… HA!