October 1st.

How do I even begin to put words to a day that still seems like a dream? A day that was so beautiful and so overwhelming and so perfect that it leaves me speechless.

Devin and I had been talking about marriage, so I knew that a proposal was somewhere in the near future. But all I knew about October 1st was that my man was planning on taking me out for a birthday dinner, after finishing my work day at Starbucks. No details. No information. No other hints. Everything was going to be a surprise.

Saturday morning, I woke up, got ready for work, and called Devin for our daily morning prayer time. I joked with him that I needed prayer to stay focused at work, since I was so looking forward to the birthday dinner later that night. He laughed and said, "Well, we can pray about that, but I'm not sure the Lord's going to answer that prayer." I didn't understand what he meant until I went out to my car and found a rose with a little note tied around it in the passenger's seat. Why was there a rose in my car and how did it get there? But when I read the letter, I knew. It was from my sweetheart and he had driven all the way to my house (which is 45 minutes away) early that morning to place a note and a rose in my car. I was pretty distracted by thoughts of my man, when I arrived at work and went to the back to clock in. And what was waiting there on the desk for me? Another rose, with another note tied to it. He had driven to my work too? And what was he up to? I thought he was just planning on treating me to a surprise birthday dinner in the evening...not surprises all day?! Could this be THE day? I nearly lost it, right then and there but managed to hold it together to start work on time and distractedly "float" through the next several hours (I apologize to anyone who ordered a Triple Grande Breve Latte and ended up with a Pumpkin Spice Latte...just saying).

It was around 1pm, when I was trying to catch up on some dishes in the back kitchen, that my supervisor came and told me to go on my lunch break.

"Okay, I'll just finish these dishes and then go on my break."

"Nope, you can go now. Just leave them there." This wasn't typical, so I gave her a puzzled look. She shot a look out at the lobby, so I peaked around the door and saw him. My man. Standing there. Waiting for me. I whipped my apron off and ran out to meet him.

He led me out to his car in the parking lot, where he set up a picnic table, complete with candles, champagne glasses for sparkling juice, my favorite cheeses and chocolate, a dear friend who serenaded us with his guitar, and another dear friend who was secretly photographing the whole thing. ;) It was so, so romantic. I couldn't believe how much time he had put into planning all of this for me!

The last couple hours of work, I was an emotional disaster. I was pretty sure that there was a little more planned than just a birthday dinner and I couldn't believe that today was the day. How was I here, potentially a couple hours away from the moment that I'd dreamed of my whole life? Was this real?

I finished work and managed to get ready before Ariana showed up to drive me to the "birthday dinner". When I walked out to the car, there was another rose with another letter. There was also a box, with some precious gifts that brought me to tears - and kept me in tears on the drive to the secret "dinner" location.

When we reached the location, Ari told me to close my eyes and wait in the car until someone came and took my hand. I sat there, my heart pounding in my chest, my mind flying a million directions. But then I heard the car door open and I felt his hand. And I knew. It was my dad.

He led me out of the car and we stood there on one side of a bridge, the memories of the past 22 years flooding our minds, as the tears ran down our faces. All the memories, all the talks, all the tears, all the laughter. And now we were here. We stood there, hugging and crying and talking. And then he took my hand and said, "Are you ready?" I nodded and as he turned, I saw my man standing there on the other side of the bridge, waiting, beaming, watching.

Oh goodness, he was so handsome. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to make it across that bridge to him. How was this man waiting for me? Why had the Lord chosen to bless me with a man who far surpassed all my prayers and dreams and desires? I walked across that bridge to the arms of my love and was overwhelmed in that moment by the love of my Heavenly Father. His kindness. His goodness. His undeserved gift.

Devin took my arm and led me down a beautifully decorated path lined with over 250 jars of candles (seriously, the decorations were STUNNING!) and onto the beach, where an incredible arbor he had built himself was standing. And with some of our dear friends and family watching from the distance, Devin spoke of his love for me and knelt down on one knee, asking if I would be his wife. And of course, I said yes.

Friends, this man overwhelms me. The care and love he shows me is beyond anything I could ever deserve. He leaves me speechless. He makes me laugh. He challenges and encourages me constantly in the Lord. He obliterates insecurities I didn't even know I had. And through this season, as I've experienced Devin's amazing love, I have felt and understood and seen the unconditional love of my Savior more than I ever have before. If my husband' love is just a shadow and picture of Christ's love, how much more does my great King and Lord love and pursue me, even when I could never, ever deserve that love? What a Savior!

I could go on and on about this man the Lord's gifted me with and how crazy excited I am to be his wife. I love walking through this life with him and am looking forward to all the years ahead: to love and cherish and serve and support him through the good and the bad, the joys and the struggles, the laughter and the tears. I love this man with all my heart and pray that the Lord will use our marriage for His glory!

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