A Proposal for a lifetime....

It was just 5 days ago....my family had our family Christmas. For scheduling's sake for several years now, we've celebrated Christmas together early...usually the week before.
This was Darren's first Christmas with us! We've had significant others for our family Christmas time before....so, I was excited for Darren to be apart of this day too! This year, MY boyfriend gets to be a part of my family's time and I'm soooo excited to share it with him! So....I wanted to be pretty...and took good care that I felt beautiful...as past Christmas morning pictures of me didn't leave me feeling pretty. :) Early morning grunge pony tail, no makeup and pjs...and all...:) There's only so much a smile can do...so, I made sure to be pretty for Darren, myself and future picture viewers...:)

We had a happy time, as expected. Coffee with cream and sugar, a pretty lighted tree and stacks of gifts...all waiting to be handed out. So, while breakfast is cooking, Ansley starts passing out gifts. We each get to hold a present and then open them one at a time, for appropriate oo-ing and ahhh-ing and thank yous...unless a sister has given the same gift to all three...then we open them together! Fun!

Darren took me aside and said "I have your present in the car..." after all the gifts were opened and we were just sitting around talking before Breakfast was to be served, Darren asks me to come help him bring my gift in....
a thought darts in my mind...now? Is he gonna ask me? So, with some butterflies in my tummy, I go to the truck with him, ...hoping my hair was pretty....(what a girl I am!)
It was also the MOST GORGEOUS day of the whole year!!! Spring in December...beautiful!
So we get to the truck and he hands me a gift. Not a ring box, too big for that. My tummy falls just a bit. But...he plays it by ear now, I remember that, and he waits until it feels right too...I tell myself that too. I certainly want him to be ready when he asks me...so, I just accept that this is a special gift, probably some jewlery but not a ring.
We walk over the the picnic table near where we have bonfires and (also the place where Darren and I have talked a lot, looked at the stars, and had sweet times together...)...and he asks me to open my present.

It's beautiful necklace!! It's a long, small chained cross with a diamond in the middle...and I loved it! So, I asked him to put it on me...and he's glad to. He fumbles a bit with the tiny clasp, but his hands are big and he's not put on a necklace too many times before...so, I just appreciate the sweetness of the moment. He tells me okay and I reach up to feel the cross and center it.....and I feel something a lot lumpier....

The chain is just long enough for me to pick it up and see what's on it...a RING!! He had added a ring to the cross!!! and I just start crying. So, as it turn around to face him...he gets on his knee and tells me sweet things...that I bring him joy and how he loves me...and will I marry him?.....YES!!! amidst the tears and smiles I say yes and we just laugh and cry together... he puts the ring on my finger and we walk back to the house...

Everyone knew already! They were all in on it! After the announcement and tears and hugs and yays and ..."this time next year, I'll have a husband and a dog..." I find out that everyone had piled into the kitchen and crowded into the door that goes out to the deck...they were trying their best to hear my squeal ....and then they had to get back to the living room.....
SWEET!!!!!! I'm gonna marry Darren Drake! He's incredible! Loving, kind, consistent, has a great laugh and smile, handsome, tall...:), strong hands, deep heart, trustworthy and respectful!! and I fit perfectly in his hug! He is seeking God and has a teachable spirit...(for the Holy Spirit to teach...not me.) He is fast becoming my best friend. Thank you Jesus!!

and...he had asked my dad 3 weeks before....so, I have my Dad's blessing, which was so important to me. I feel safe.

He is a wonderful man and I am richly blessed!