When it happened

Friday, December 20, 2013

How we got engaged

Hi there, Bride, speaking = )

This Christmas, due to several miracles, and the generosity of Jeffrey's parents, I flew to Costa Rica to meet his family and to spend the holidays with them. (His sister and brother-in-law recently had a baby, and are studying language there). Jeffrey flew over from Russia; I flew from Azerbaijan, and his parents came down from Arkansas. By lunch time on our third day together, I was glowing (even more than usual when I'm around him) and sporting a new piece of jewelry.

The morning of the proposal couldn't have been more perfect. I woke up, still severely jet-lagged. (We had arrived in CR early in the morning, were back on the road by 11am and had traveled most of the day to a guest house outside of the city at Mt. Arenal volcano). I slept in, took my time getting ready, and made my way upstairs to the main part of the house - in search of food and a BIG cup of coffee. After I ate, Jeffrey asked if I'd like to go on a hike. "Of course!" I said, "But I haven't had my coffee yet." So, I made the poor boy wait (having no idea what he was actually waiting for).

He packed his orange hiking pack with a blanket, our Bibles and journals, and we grabbed his sister's camera so that I could "practice" taking photos with it. When we got to the top of the hill He lead us in a devo from Isaiah and had us journal prayers (all classically normal and wonderful and I didn't think a thing of them). I was enthralled by the beauty around us and very intent on finishing my journal entry (as you see in this picture, taken moments before the actual proposal), and Jeffrey began wandering around the field "practicing" with the different camera settings. Thank goodness I'm so dense, because the surprise of what came next was so sweet! He left the camera nestled in the grass not far from our blanket and made his way over to me.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too!" I responded, eagerly, closing my journal and gazing up at him.

"Good," he said, as he drew me to my feet, "because. . ."

. . . And there it was, THE moment. He dropped to one knee, and I don't think the sun has ever shone brighter in all my days. Surrounded by the glory of God's creation, he asked, and I said "Yes!"