A good friend of mine , while I was dating Susan, pointed out to me the best thing to do would be to date for six months before you got engaged. November 18, 2007 was exactly 6 months from our first date, and that would be the date I would propose. You know when she said yes to my second date would have been enough to convince - but I did show some restraint. This led to my planning to buy a ring and the proposal.
November 18th was on a Sunday, so that worked out. I could propose to her at the church where we met, the kids could have handed her roses, and the rest of the congregation along with us would break out into a Grease-like song and dance number. The choreography worked out in my head. I now had an awesome plan.
I bought the ring at the mall nearest to Susan's condo (but out of my way). Susan was out of town with friends for a bachelorette party, so I knew she wouldn't run into me there. I found the right ring while with my nephew. I did threaten him under penalty of much pain and suffering if he opened his mouth to Susan about this purchase. As we walked out of the jewelry store, I got a text from Susan asking "What are you doing?" I immediately started scoping out the mall convinced that she was in the building. I texted back "nothing", she bought it, and so the plan moved onward.
For 3 weeks, I was highly tempted to give in and propose - but I was going to hold out until it was officially 6 months. On November 17th (a week after my birthday), I bought Susan a dozen roses and left them in the fridge to keep cool. Susan came over hiding something and started to make a beeline to the fridge. She never ever did that before so I had to move and stop her. So, with a lack of subtlety I took the package from her, lest she discover the roses. It was a custard pie she bought me for my birthday. She tells me a couple of friends want to meet us at a local restaurant to watch the Ohio State-Michigan game. We go and I am surprised to see a couple of my friends there for a surprise party. Susan had decided to surprise me for my birthday.
As excited as I was at this surprise, I was worried that proposing the next day would be perceived as an effort to top Susan. After talking to my friends, Jeff and Scott, I concluded to go through with my original plan. After we celebrated, Jeff and his fiancée came over to stay until Sunday morning.
That evening, Susan told me that since she didn't have to lead Sunday School she was planning on staying home and resting. That was going to be a major disruption to the plan. I told her that it might be a good idea for her to join the rest of us in worship and the teaching as she rarely got to with her children's ministry duties. I added that it would honor God for her to show up. No ulterior motive on my part, no sir. But, now there was no guarantee Susan would show up for her own marriage proposal.
The next morning, I get ready to go to church. Jeff and his fiancée wanted to see the ring so I showed it to them. His fiancée tries it on and it gets stuck!!! I looked around thinking that I was surely on the set of a poorly written sitcom. My first instinct was to take Jeff's fiancée with him, show Susan the ring, tell her it was hers as soon as we could pry it off. Luckily, we were able to get the ring off.
I make it to the church parking lot with the roses and wait for Susan. She did pull in and immediately saw the roses in my car. She assumed they were for our 6 month anniversary. As she looked at the flowers, I got down on my knee in the parking lot and asked her to be my wife. To my relief, she said yes. We went inside the church then to begin our day as an engaged couple.
Now, as we were worshiping - I was standing in front of Susan so not too many people could see her. Yet, every woman in the congregation must have sensed it as everyone seemed to know before we told them. By the end of service, Susan went up to the front for prayer. When our pastor asked for what she showed him the ring. His instinct was to tell me to come up as well for prayer. But, I said "Why? My prayer got answered." I still went up for prayer.
There were decisions to be made about our future. Wedding planning and life decisions were coming. But, I was going to do all that with my best friend.
P.S. When the announcement was made, the congregation did break out into a musical number that rivaled anything on Broadway. OK, maybe not - but that's how I'm going to remember it.
November 18th was on a Sunday, so that worked out. I could propose to her at the church where we met, the kids could have handed her roses, and the rest of the congregation along with us would break out into a Grease-like song and dance number. The choreography worked out in my head. I now had an awesome plan.
I bought the ring at the mall nearest to Susan's condo (but out of my way). Susan was out of town with friends for a bachelorette party, so I knew she wouldn't run into me there. I found the right ring while with my nephew. I did threaten him under penalty of much pain and suffering if he opened his mouth to Susan about this purchase. As we walked out of the jewelry store, I got a text from Susan asking "What are you doing?" I immediately started scoping out the mall convinced that she was in the building. I texted back "nothing", she bought it, and so the plan moved onward.
For 3 weeks, I was highly tempted to give in and propose - but I was going to hold out until it was officially 6 months. On November 17th (a week after my birthday), I bought Susan a dozen roses and left them in the fridge to keep cool. Susan came over hiding something and started to make a beeline to the fridge. She never ever did that before so I had to move and stop her. So, with a lack of subtlety I took the package from her, lest she discover the roses. It was a custard pie she bought me for my birthday. She tells me a couple of friends want to meet us at a local restaurant to watch the Ohio State-Michigan game. We go and I am surprised to see a couple of my friends there for a surprise party. Susan had decided to surprise me for my birthday.
As excited as I was at this surprise, I was worried that proposing the next day would be perceived as an effort to top Susan. After talking to my friends, Jeff and Scott, I concluded to go through with my original plan. After we celebrated, Jeff and his fiancée came over to stay until Sunday morning.
That evening, Susan told me that since she didn't have to lead Sunday School she was planning on staying home and resting. That was going to be a major disruption to the plan. I told her that it might be a good idea for her to join the rest of us in worship and the teaching as she rarely got to with her children's ministry duties. I added that it would honor God for her to show up. No ulterior motive on my part, no sir. But, now there was no guarantee Susan would show up for her own marriage proposal.
The next morning, I get ready to go to church. Jeff and his fiancée wanted to see the ring so I showed it to them. His fiancée tries it on and it gets stuck!!! I looked around thinking that I was surely on the set of a poorly written sitcom. My first instinct was to take Jeff's fiancée with him, show Susan the ring, tell her it was hers as soon as we could pry it off. Luckily, we were able to get the ring off.
I make it to the church parking lot with the roses and wait for Susan. She did pull in and immediately saw the roses in my car. She assumed they were for our 6 month anniversary. As she looked at the flowers, I got down on my knee in the parking lot and asked her to be my wife. To my relief, she said yes. We went inside the church then to begin our day as an engaged couple.
Now, as we were worshiping - I was standing in front of Susan so not too many people could see her. Yet, every woman in the congregation must have sensed it as everyone seemed to know before we told them. By the end of service, Susan went up to the front for prayer. When our pastor asked for what she showed him the ring. His instinct was to tell me to come up as well for prayer. But, I said "Why? My prayer got answered." I still went up for prayer.
There were decisions to be made about our future. Wedding planning and life decisions were coming. But, I was going to do all that with my best friend.
P.S. When the announcement was made, the congregation did break out into a musical number that rivaled anything on Broadway. OK, maybe not - but that's how I'm going to remember it.
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