In February of 2008 I (Sarah) began a marketing internship at Kings Island. When I first started, I was pretty lonely most of the time (the majority of the interns were hired in March and April). I'll never forget the very first time I saw Chas - I had walked back to one of the "full timer's" office to ask a question and saw him sitting in his cubby hole - lounged back in the rolly chair with his long legs stretched out and his messy long hair. I knew he was an intern by the grotesque khaki pant and green polo he was wearing. But of course, my shyness took over and I simply walked away without saying a word. There were two other interns at that time, both girls, and both much more outgoing than myself. I was thankful for them because they made me feel more comfortable and they are the ones that introduced me to Chas (not that I wouldn't have had to meet him at some point - but they made it easier).
So for a few months we all had fun together - by far one of the best groups to work with. I remember the next very clearly. It was July 5th, I know this because I was the only intern that had to work that day - the day after July 4th when we had to hold supporting ropes for a tight rope walker 200 feet in the air. Anyway, I had just gotten home from another exhausting summer afternoon out in the park - when my phone rang at quarter til seven. I wondered to myself for a second why Chas would be calling me on his off day - so I answered and to my surprise he asked me if I wanted to go to the Reds game with him that night - the one that started in ... 25 minutes. Being an avid Reds fan I of course said yes (and was quite thrilled that he too seemed to enjoy baseball - and possibly all major sports? I would later find out the truth). So I hurried up the stairs - threw on my Reds jersey and hat and ran out the door. Driving faster than I should have I made it downtown to meet him just a few minutes late to the game.
While we were there our friend Gina (an intern) called and asked what I was doing - I told her and she said, “Oh my gosh are you two dating?” Of course I said no - because we weren’t. But, we had played a practical joke on her a couple weeks prior and therefore she felt the need to tell everyone that Chas and I were dating. It was funny of course - and it was even funnier when he asked me to play sand volleyball (still holding out hope for an avid sports fan) with he and his friends - and still funnier when on July 18th he asked me to go to a party with him. I did - and it was on July 18, 2008 that we “officially” started dating.
Fast forward two years to our engagement story:
We had been planning a trip to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort with his family in October. Knowing how much his family adores Disney - it really wasn’t a huge shock to me when they announced that we’d be making a pretty major “pit stop” at Magic Kingdom - since we were going to be so close.
When we got to the park - all activities seemed quite normal for a family vacation - a ridiculous amount of picture taking and no one really making any decisions on which direction to go first. After watching the live show at Cinderella’s Castle Emily said that she wanted her picture taken while making a wish at the wishing well (at Cinderella’s Castle). As we were walking there - Emily filled me in on how this was her tradition that every time they go to Disney she has to have her picture taken at the wishing well. So I followed along - watched as she pretended to make her wish and the cameras snapped away. Then it was my turn. Enter my shyness, again. I tend to try and avoid making a fool out of myself - and this was one of those situations. I did not want my picture taken while pretending to throw a penny in the wishing well. So after SEVERAL minutes of coaxing and pleading - I finally complied and closed my eyes to make a wish. I didn’t really wish for anything but if I had - it would have been for what happened next. I opened my eyes and to my amazement and complete surprise - there was the love of my life down on one knee, holding out a box with a pretty shiny ring inside. He was saying something but I didn’t catch any of it. I was in complete shock - I had no clue this was coming (so soon). I finally snapped back to reality and of course said YES!
We didn’t want a long engagement - so here we are - just a short way from the big day. We are very excited and extremely blessed to have you all a part of our lives and we can’t wait to share this with you!
Please keep us in your prayers as we begin our new life together! God has truly blessed us!
We are very excited to have our ceremony at our church:
Northern Hills Christian Church
9470 Winton Road
Cincinnati, OH 45231
