If you know both Hunter and I, you know that we depend deeply on Jesus and desire to use our lives for Him. Therefore, before we begin, we must accredit the story of us to God and His grace that goes beyond things we need to things that bring our heart deep delight. There is no us without this grace.
Hunter and I both remember our first date like it was yesterday. We met up at Blue Door coffee in January and it was a bone-chilling 20 degrees. He walked in on my telling the baristas how terrible my parallel parking was in front of the coffee shop. The most important detail from our first date is that secretly neither of us wanted it to end. We talked about everything under the moon and the best part was when he asked for our next date at the end. Our next dates were just as lovely as the first and he did an amazing job of planning and pursuing, they were (at the time) my most excited and easiest yes. Before we knew it, we had been given free tickets to see Brad Paisley at the Houston rodeo. Man, was that a treat… Our first concert and holding hands to “Then” by Brad Paisley. Our first full day together and a memory we still cherish today. The most beautiful part about our year of dating is that we both prayed after each date. Prayers that sought God’s will over our own and submitted our pursuit of marriage to the One who knows best. God’s yes had to come far before each of ours and we are so thankful and confident that it did. But we must get to the engagement. Saturday, January 25th started like any normal and lovely day. Hunter came over to hang while I worked on grad school. We (he) made grilled cheeses for lunch. I watched Virgin River while he played video games… true bliss. His sister was coming into town to “visit her wonderful friend from medical school” and we were scheduled to have dinner with her. We got ready early to walk just the two of us before dinner. As we walked the beautiful trails of City Place Hunter requested a quest to find turtles. I wasn’t sure if turtles even came out in winter, but I gave it my very all. Down on a dock looking for turtles Hunter pulls out a green journal. Once again, if you know Jasmine you know I love words and journaling to Jesus about this beautiful life is one of my favorite things. He said it was a belated one-year anniversary present. Inside he had written the first entry… the tears in my eyes made it very difficult to read. But I got enough to read how much he loves me and prayers about me God has answered. Then on the back of the first entry it read, “WILL YOU MARRY ME?”. Maybe it wasn’t in caps lock… but that is how I read it. Then on his sweet knee, and with the most gorgeous ring that I delight in each day, he asked to spend the rest of his life with me. We cannot wait to celebrate the privilege of the covenant of marriage with you all. The wedding day will be phenomenal, but the rest of our lives is the best part!!!!!