Written by Payton on May 6th, 2025

What a crazy, amazing, perfect day May 4th, 2025 was. A lot of planning had gone into that day. It was a perfect day to propose.

A Sunday, a week from graduation, when we still had a crazy week of our conference tournaments and finals and family and moving out and leaving Wheaton altogether. I knew I needed to find a time to propose before all those emotions came out. It worked because Abie’s family was coming in a few days later to celebrate her as well. I wanted to do it after church because we would still be in our church clothes without it being suspicious. I also didn’t want to wait an entire day to do it, I wouldn’t have been able to handle that.

The first roadblock was that a week earlier, Abie sent me her softball schedule with their team banquet planned for the 4th, time TBD. Abie said she remembered it being in the early afternoon the year last year, so I knew I had to get it cancelled. The next morning on Monday, I raced from our quiet time in the library to go to Coach Anna. She was with Paige cleaning out a storage room, and I asked them when they thought the banquet would be. She said, probably in the early afternoon. I asked them to push it back and told them I was planning on proposing. They almost fell over when I told them this, and said they would move it to 4 PM. I talked throughout the week with Paige about the details. I was worried the softball girls would not be able to keep it a secret, especially after a few weeks earlier, I told Abie about Luke proposing to Katherine, and Abie was not able to keep it a secret because she was so excited. I did not want that to happen here. Paige said she would take care of Abie’s nails getting done and tell the girls when the time was right. The softball girls were also doing their sunrise morning in the city the morning of the 4th, so tired girls spilling the tea also played into me not telling most of the girls beforehand. Lastly, the Friday before, Abie texted me that Coach T and their life and wellness group were going to meet at 1 pm Sunday. I quickly texted Paige, who said she would tell Coach T at practice the next day to cancel that lunch. She did, and I had my scheduled time with Abie blocked off finally.

For a long time, I thought I would want to propose at Adams Park, downtown Wheaton. About a week before, my mom did some scouting of it. I mentioned the gazebo, Abie, and I have spent some time in. We decided that wasn’t the best spot because it was right by the road and didn’t look that good for pictures. We liked the place we chose, with the path winding to the arch and the beautiful park in the background. When I scouted it the week before, there were so many people in the park. It was my prayer that the park would be emptier, and it was! There was a stupid green park rules sign right in the spot I wanted to propose. Gabe Pearson and Mr. Craig came back to the park before my game a few days before and unscrewed the pin, so Mrs. Davis, our photographer, could pull out the sign right before we got there. Micah Johnson and Gabe deserved credit for helping me pull weeds around the arch in the days leading up to May 4. Also, on Wednesday, the tree blossoms were just beginning to turn pink, and it was so beautiful. I also prayed that the leaves would stay pink into Sunday for some amazing pictures, another prayer God answered.

Mom came to my senior day that Friday, and then went home for Colin’s track meet in Oshkosh on Saturday, and then drove back to Wheaton with Marin early Sunday morning to set up our house for the party. We needed to go to a later church service to give her time, and also my friends' time to get back from church. We had been going to Glen Ellyn Bible for the two months before, but I planted the seed the week before that we should go to Mission for our last Sunday, mostly because it was a later service and further away.

After we went to Mission, we dropped Gavin back at his dorm. Abie and I went to Paris Baguette, where I got a raspberry pastry thing and she got a chocolate croissant. On the way, Abie kept scratching her painted nails with what the girls had done the night before for their team banquet. I had also convinced Abie the night before to do her fun, beautiful, wavy hair for our date that day.

Abie had mentioned in line there how she wanted to get a ring this week, talking about a conference championship ring. We had a pretty normal conversation at Paris Baguette. I wanted to leave at noon, but our conversation kept going. By 12:10, I told her it was time to go to our next destination. She showed me her sunrise video in our car, but I was itching to get going, knowing what was to come in a few minutes. As we drove to Adams Park, our conversation was pretty normal, still on the way. I already don’t remember it, but I know I wasn’t completely shut down. We pulled up to the park, and Abie guessed correctly that we were going to the park. We got out of the car, and I put the ring in my back pocket. It was hiding in the door of my car all morning. Abie went to get our Bibles out of the backseat, thinking we were doing our devos there like we did the week before. I told her we weren’t doing that yet, and she was a bit confused but went with it. She tried to feed me a leaf on our walk to the park.

As soon as we got in view of the spot, I saw Mrs. Davis was standing nearby, and that she saw us so I knew we were good to go. I walked her to the boxed-up fountain and began telling her about all the times we had been there, pointing out places we had sat. I started walking us down the path toward the spot. I don’t remember exactly what I said. Something along the lines of “I am done dating you”, “I love you”, “I am in love with you”, and “I am ready to serve the Lord with you for the rest of my life”. We never stopped looking at each other, we walked under the overpass, and I remember thinking and making sure we were on the right side for the picture- we were. I got down on my knee and asked her to marry me. She said something like “Are you serious?” and jumped up and down. Her jumping up and down was the greatest feeling ever. Then I realized the ring was upside down, which I knew I would do because that box was so dumb. But I put the ring on her and hugged her, and it was crazy and amazing and awesome. Mrs. Davis kept taking pictures, and we kind of talked to her for a second, and she told us to enjoy the moment. We walked and talked to the gazebo as I sort of began to reveal all the backstory to her. We didn’t get that much time, as Mrs. Davis came up and took pictures of us all over the park. It was actually really fun, and she took unbelievable pictures.

But we still had a party at my house to go to. We said goodbye to Mrs. Davis. I told Abie we could go make brownies now and debrief, which she was excited about. Abie asked who knew, and I told her her family did because I called them earlier in the week. I told her her softball teammates didn’t know and that we could tell them together. Oh, also, the ring was too big, but that was okay because I was worried at points it would be too small, and too big is better than too small. We drove up to the house, and I commented on how there were a lot of cars on the street, but the driveway next door was open, fully knowing the whole time why there were so many cars. Abie was still convinced we were making brownies and, on the way up, asked if I had gotten brownie mix, which I assured her I had. I knew she had no idea about all the people upstairs, so I walked up and opened the door wide for her and moved to the side so she could be seen right away. She was shocked and surprised. Sydney Jones was my big surprise for the party. Two years ago, she texted me telling me that when I would propose to invite her. I texted her the week before, telling her to fly up, and she did! She got there early Sunday morning and helped my mom and sister, and Mrs. Nelson decorate. Kyle Wu made it, too, despite playing in his conference championship the next day. It was great. I told everyone the story. The pictures from that party were great. It was so fun to be surrounded by the people we love for that moment, and I know it was important for Abie, too.

Now I get to spend the rest of my life with her. That is pretty amazing. I prayed so hard that week that God would work out all the details. And of course, God delivered.

P&A

Wedding Day