The Night of The Meeting


Early in March of 2024, Melissa and Mitchell both attended the wedding of a pair of their close friends.


Seated at adjacent tables during the reception, they noticed one another throughout the evening, catching one another stealing glances at the other. Curious of this fellow, Melissa gave him some attention throughout the night, and found a space beside him on the dance floor when the opportunity of it was presented before her.


Distracted by the reunion with so many of his friends, Mitchell spent much of the evening catching up with those he hadn't seen in years. Melissa, however, would not let such an opportune evening pass her by.


Just before the close of the event, Melissa snuck her way around to where he was in conversation, tapped him on his shoulder, and boldly introduced herself. After moments of small talk, humorous misunderstandings and finally exchanging contact information, the next week would bring their first texts and growing intrigue of one another. Shortly after came their first date, and soon after the next. In short time came the night he asked permission to hold her hand, and the day she told him she loved him, and the night he proposed to her asking that she would be his wife.


Eight Months Of Grace


The entire next week after meeting, they exchanged text messages back and forth trying to get glimpses into who the other was. They shared their love for the Lord, appreciation for pastors like Voddie Baucham, and discussions over interests and pass times. 8 Days later, Mitchell and Melissa had their first date. Meeting for dinner at Cava, they stayed chatting together for close to three hours. As they departed from their first evening together, Mitchell gave Melissa a small gift he had prepared for her (a mug, pair of slippers and bookmark, with references to Psalm 46:10 printed upon them).


After this came many months of many wonderfully blessed days and dates that they shared. Exploring lighthouses, going to comedy shows, swing dancing and taking long expeditions along parks and trails were some of their favorite highlights. As they grew closer and began to know each other more, they found opportunities to introduce one another to their parents and families, and those to one another as well. Mitchell took Melissa on dates out to SeaWorld to share with her some of his favorite places of past memories and experiences that she could enjoy with him.


The months in all were a whirlwind to the couple, and as they walked through each of the days they found themselves to be more fascinated with and loving (as they would finally admit after some time) the other and very excited for what the future may hold.


The Proposal


After months of planning, Mitchell had finally settled and completed prepared himself and everything he needed to finally propose to Melissa. He had thought through the months they shared together, the special moments shared while on dates, and worked to incorporate all of these ideas into the elements that would make up the night of the proposal.


Working with Melissa family, they had convinced her that on November 2nd they would be having an early Thanksgiving all together. Family from southern Florida would drive up, her sister and brother-in-law would drive down from out of state, and all be together with Mitchell's family to celebrate the holiday but just a little earlier than usual. Thankfully, Melissa bought into the charade and remained mostly unaware of the true plans that were to be staged, come nightfall.


Throughout the day, they all shared fun moments and laughs together as the family went about the usual Thanksgiving activities. All the while, looking outside at the constant sprinkling rain that just wouldn't cease. With a proposal planned to happen just outside her home, this rain was the one thing that could possibly taint the evening, However, the setting of the sun brought with it the end of the rain showers, and the beginning of the hours of work to prepare the place where Mitchell would propose to Melissa.


As all the ladies gathered together to play Taboo, Melissa noticed after some time that all of the men had oddly disappeared. She recalled that someone had mentioned needing to work on one of their cars, and someone else that they were going to go for a brief walk. This struck her as odd but let it be. Some time later, the guys began to show back up one after another. Then after some short bit of time, Melissa's mom handed her some jewelry. She told Melissa that it was from Mitchell and that he was asking for her to change her outfit into something nice. It was the moment that Melissa had been praying for.


But as she opened her front door, expecting to see him, Mitchell was not there. Instead, there was a trail of tea lights that left a trail for her to follow. Down her driveway and continuing all of the way as far as she could see down the sidewalk. Quickening her pace, she continued following the series of lights the lit the way ahead of her, her family all chasing to keep up behind her.


Turning the corner as the tea lights led her to the end of the street, Melissa looked up to see Mitchell walking toward her. As she came nearer, the scene and display that had been kept a secret from her was finally revealed. As they clasped hands, they began a walk back through the dates, moments and months of their time together. For before her were even more candles that marked out a path through the grass, all leading to a set of eight arches, all of which were aglow with dancing string lights. Hanging down from each were wooden signs reading, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3... The eight arches were markers representing each of the eight months they had shared together since first meeting, for this night marked the eighth month since they had met. Also hanging from the each arch were photographs which captured some of their favorite moments and memories that they had shared with one another. Slowly, with hands held, they walked through time, reminiscing on all they had been through and had come before this night.


As they walked through and beneath the seventh arch and began to approach the culmination of the night, they stopped together to read a large framed display that stood before them. It was a poem that Mitchell had written and placed here for her. It read,


Eight months ago, who’d have known what this could be
All of the goodness of God there was still to see
What a bold tap on the shoulder and grace could bring
Just how different the fall could be from the spring 
I saw who you were from the very beginning
In between your lovely smile and your dance’s spinning 
Were words and speech of a heart already in love
And soul shaped to be a nest for the Holy Dove
While your eyes and form are well deserving of note
It is not these alone that has my heart smote
For what to me displays your beauty foremost
Is Whom your faith, hope and love trusts in to boast
It is the Lord’s name that is readily on your lips
That brings about my heart’s fervent beating and skips
I pray to my gracious Lord, my loving God
He’d keep transforming this man dreadfully flawed
May God be my strength to love you as you deserve
To protect your heart and your holiness preserve
Honoring you always, not forsaking my role
Nourishing you as my own body and soul
Leading towards our Lord and His righteous path
That by you and I more glory He may hath
I thank God for these days and all that are to come
How all that came before brought tonight as its sum
I love you, My Dear, you’re a blessing in my life
Oh the blessing it would be to call you my wife


After sharing a warm embrace, Mitchell led Melissa to the final arch, where atop a white quilt he moved her beside him and turned to her. Taking her hands within his, Mitchell shared with her his fascination, appreciation and love for her as he had expressed to her many times before. But tonight the words held more meaning for him, they felt different. He had prayed for the Lord's grace in helping him to become closer to the man that he was to be, and had prayed to be so blessed with a woman that brought along with her God's peace. A helper that would spur him on and challenge him to pursue Christ with all his strength. And after all that led to this moment, here that woman stood before him. So none of the words felt like quite enough to express what he wanted to her. But as he completed all he could think of to say, he knelt down on a knee before her, lifted up opened a small wooden box, revealing the engagement ring, and asked her is she would be his wife. Her reply was, With all of my heart, yes!


Looking to the Future with Eyes Fixed on the Above Things


Following their wedding in April of 2025, Mitchell and Melissa are very excited to begin their future and life together. In December of 2024, Mitchell closed on a house that he moved into to prepare as a future home for him and Melissa. They hope to be blessed with children and to begin further growing their family before too long, yet for now they can just dream about what God may have planned. But whatever that may be, their prayer each night is that it may bring further glory to God their Father.