Aaron's Version: The proposal was amazing. I wanted the proposal to be a complete surprise, so I got together a few people and we started brainstorming a plan. We came up with the plan that we were going to have a "Pastors Wives Dinner" for the Pastors wives not only for our church, but all the churches in the surrounding areas. It was going to be hosted on Thursday, February 8th 6pm at Pastor Jakes house. I really wanted to make sure that Karinna bought into this plan so I made sure that we put this event on our church calendar, talked about it in staff meetings, and had Karinna involved in the planning process. HA! Karinna bought into the plan, and it gave me time to set everything up.

Pastor Jake had a field in his property that was perfect. Except It had very high, tall, brush through the whole field. So we had someone come out there, mow a path down the field where Karinna was going to walk up to me, standing in front of a cross waiting to propose. The plan worked, we mowed the field, and put up the cross. The next thing we had to do was transfer a golf cart from the church for Karinna to be driven up to the field, we called my best man Nick who has a trailer and he dropped off a golf cart at Jakes.

Now I wanted this to be very special for Karinna. I wanted there to be a surprise party with family and friends, but also give us time and privacy during the proposal to take the moment in. So we decided to have a surprise party inside the house, set up a long dinner table and chairs with flowers, runners, and candles that could hold the 50 people coming to the surprise party.

The day was here, Karinna was getting driven to the proposal, even though she thought that she was still going to a Pastors wives dinner. As Karinna was getting driven to the house, we were throwing down flower pedals along the path and the area that we mowed out. When she showed up to the house, immediately Jake picked her up on the golf cart and said "Let me show you what some of the Pastors wives did in the field." Karinna was excited, got in the golf cart and Jake drove her to the proposal sight. Karinna could see the cross in the distance and she said "Wow that is so cool what the Pastors wives did!" When Jake parked the golf cart, he looked at Karinna and said, "This is where your journey begins." As soon as Jake said that, Karinna knew that she was about to get proposed to.

After I proposed and Karinna said YES, we took pictures, and we surprised her with all of our family on the fishing dock. Once we had 15 minutes with family, all of our friends came storming out of the house to congratulate us for another surprise. We then ate dinner together at the table on the porch. It was the best day of my life!

Karinna's Version: It was February 8th 2024, I woke up late and had a slower morning knowing that I left my schedule open for a very important event that night. The Pastor’s Wive’s Dinner. My mentor Courtney Latter had come up with the idea a few months prior and I had been thinking about it every day since. I felt honored to be a part of such a special evening whose sole purpose was to honor and acknowledge the women who have given so much of themselves to love their community and the Church, often without much recognition. I drove to South Tampa to buy flowers from Trader Joe’s to make arrangements for the table center pieces giddy and excited for the approaching night. I arrived to Courtney’s and we put the centerpieces together and headed over to Pastor Jake’s for the event.

We arrived and I started to walk over towards the backyard to arrange the flowers when Jake said, “No quick, come with me you have to see what these ladies did. They came early to set something up over here- its super special!” Confused knowing they shouldn’t have arrived for another hour or so I joined him and Courtney on a golf cart. We rode around to the front where the sun was setting on the golden grass. I saw a tall wooden cross in the ground that hadn’t been there before. Next I saw that there had been a windy path mowed through the grass and colorful flower petals all along it. I saw my roommate Courtney (and now Maid of Honor) and sweet friend Anna with their cameras. It still didn’t hit me. “What are y’all doing here!!?” I asked.

Then Jake turned around and looked me in the eyes and said “This is where your journey begins”. This is when I looked down and at the cross saw Aaron standing there smiling at me. I felt like I couldn’t help but smile, laugh, cry, scream and blackout all at the very same time. I walked down to Aaron shaking with cheeks that hurt from smiling. I ran up to him as he hugged me and picked me up and whispered in my ear "There is no one else I would want to spend Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter with or to be the mother of my kids, Karinna Lunter I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” I screamed YES YES YES!!!

We took pictures for a little, giddy and smily talking and soaking in the moment before Aaron asked if we could take pictures by the water on the dock. We walked over hand-in-hand newly engaged (AHHH!!), I saw my family as well as his, standing there with balloons and flowers smiling back at us, I couldn’t help but cry more tears. My new family was before me, both sides coming to form one. My dad ran over, and picked me up, carrying me with my mother, brother, and grandparents by my side. We all took pictures until the sun set.

As we were walking back to the house to have dinner I heard someone yell "three, two, one!!", and about 50 of our friends ran from both sides of the house out to bear hug us. Another surprise?!?!! We took pictures, danced, laughed and spent the rest of the night celebrating. Even writing this now, I can’t help but tear up knowing all the time and intention Aaron poured into putting together such a special day. I cannot wait until November 3rd, even more I can't wait to marry the love of my life!!!

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