Joshua and I met this past fall at Ecola Bible College, in Cannon Beach, during an open gym volleyball game. We ended up on the same team and introduced ourselves. I immediately thought he had the best smile ever. A week or so later, during intermurals, we found ourselves on the same volleyball team again. To say the least, I was excited. Besides the time spent playing volleyball together, we spent hours after class playing games in the rec room. The long afternoons getting to know each other were so fun. Three weeks into school, on October 29th, Joshua took me out to get ice cream and walk on the beach. We were sitting there talking, watching the waves and he asked me to be his girlfriend.

I said, "yes".

We would go on beach walks every morning before class. and at the end of the day we would sit on the rock wall and eat dinner and watch the sunset.

Ecola held a banquet each term, with a formal dinner and dancing. Joshua and I attended all of them together. We would get dressed up and take pictures with friends. I always looked most forward to the dancing. I loved getting to dance with him.

After graduation, we would often take trips to each others house. This was a fun time getting to know each others family and learn about each other's life at home. We did something special for each month we were together, whether it be a dinner date, a movie night or making dinner together.

For our eight month anniversary, Joshua made a dinner reservation for us. We arrived at the restaurant and ordered our food and it came super fast! We prayed for the meal and the whole time Joshua was shaking like crazy. He got up from the table and then down on one knee. He said "Elizabeth Neely, I love you so much, will you marry me?" I was so happy!

I said, "YES!"

The whole restaurant started cheering. The waitress brought out a huge piece of cake that said congratulations and a card signed by all the staff. I was so full of excitement and nerves that I didn't want to eat any of my dinner. When we drove back home I was grinning ear to ear and screaming the whole way. As soon as we walked in the door we told my family, but of course they all already knew.

~Elizabeth