the proposal(!)

Whenever I am with someone who asks me to tell our proposal story, I feel disappointed if David is not there with me. He shares it so humbly and sincerely. I almost refuse to tell it myself because of how much I love hearing it from him. So, here it is from his view.

If you want to read our dating story first, click here.

(The ring is tipped off center. It’s not meant to be asymmetrical & all artsy like that).

The whole time we were dating, I thought I would marry Rachel. But, I knew I wanted to start making plans for a proposal after we got back from spending Thanksgiving with my family. I had been stressing out to find the ring I wanted to give her. I was picky, because the ring had to be just the right one for Rachel.

As soon as I finally found the ring, I wanted to give it to her. Whenever we spent time together at my house, I would think about how the ring was only 10 feet away. I called her mom and dad a week before I proposed to ask for permission. After I told them the story of our relationship and why I wanted to marry their daughter, her dad asked me two questions. First, he asked if we were friends. And second, he asked if I believed it was the will of God. I answered yes to both questions and they gave their blessing for me to propose.

The day had arrived for me to ask Rachel. I went to her house that morning and brought her cinnamon rolls. I left for class and when I returned she told me she was having “the worst day of my life” because the cini-minis had made her bloated. I got scared and wondered if I should still propose. I did not want it to be on the “worst day of her life.” I promised her that day would get better. She quickly responded, “you don’t know that.”

Rachel believed we were then going to drive to her friend Elysia’s house, but really, I was taking her to Mill Race Historical Village. Walking together, we approached a gazebo by a waterfall where I had planned to ask her to be my wife. To my horror, there were men with chainsaws loudly cutting down trees. Quickly improvising, we started moving along the creek and I found a bench. Once we were on the bench, things got serious.

I looked Rachel in the eyes. I told her how much I cared for her. I told her in the Bible we are called to give up our bodies as living sacrifices to God. I knew we both wanted this for our lives and I wanted to do it alongside her. Like Christ sacrificed himself for us in an act of love, I wanted to give up myself for her. She was the only person I ever felt that for most truly.

Rachel has helped me to understand God’s love for me. First, from how greatly I loved her, but also how she treated me and cared for me gives me a glimpse of God’s perfect love.  I had been waiting for her before I even knew her. On that bench, I told her I loved her for the first time. I did not want to say it until I could make a promise to love her forever. Rachel is the only girl I have ever told I loved her or called “beautiful.”

I got on my knee and showed her the ring. I asked her if she would marry me. I put the ring on her finger and we were engaged. We then boarded a plane and flew to Nashville, TN to visit with her family and share our joy with them.

For the next chapter of the story, click here for our honest experience planning the wedding.