engaged.

{ dedicated to the man who stole my heart, Lee Deneen...}

The shock of it all has taken a while to settle. As I look back on that day, I see it only in small yet glorious moments. Snapshots of a day that would change my entire future in the best way possible.

I remember standing in the kitchen with his mom early that morning, when he walked in and put his arms around me. A sigh of contentment and a smile of relief came, one that only comes when we are in such close proximity to one another.

I remember sharing my heart with him in the car, how hurt and sad I was that our weekend plans had changed so drastically. He accepted and validated my feelings, comforting me with his kind words while guarding his secret of what was about to unfold.

I remember rolling my eyes when he told me about a new "coffee and tea shop" he wanted to try for breakfast, a mere 20 minutes before the church service we were supposedly heading to attend. Wanting to support his adventurous spirit, I kept my mouth closed about the time and followed him down to the river.

I remember sitting on that brick wall, as he opened his journal and began to read. It took a second a for my mind to focus when he opened with: "How do you tell the woman that you love that you want to be with her forever?".

I remember looking down at this man before me, on one knee with ring and heart exposed, asking possibly one of the most vulnerable questions he'll ever ask in his life.

I remember how easy it was to say yes.

I remember walking around afterwards in a daze, moving forward only because of the gentle strength of his hand in mine - leading me, guiding me, protecting me, loving me.

I remember my unrelenting smile while sitting at brunch, unsure of how I got here, looking back and forth between my left hand and the love of my life. How many kisses we stole on that back porch restaurant overlooking the river I'll never be sure.

I remember driving up to his parents home, only to be greeted by family and friends and love and joy and so many happy tears.

I remember later that night, when all the celebration had calmed and all the people had said good-bye. We were left alone, possibly for the first time since it happened. As I sat in that coffee shop, waiting for him to return with our order, it was all I could do to not stare at this new addition to my ring finger. Oh, it's physical beauty is breath-takingly indescribable. But the beauty I found there that night was so much deeper. It was the beauty of a promise, a future covenant, a holy union. The beauty of God's perfect timing, His goodness, His grace. There is much I have to learn about what this ring, this question, this "yes" will really mean. But as I glanced up and saw my now future husband approaching me with that dreamy smile, that goofy saunter, that quiet strength and those handsome eyes that always seem to shine bright with hope, I fell in love all over again.

And I pray that for the rest of our days together, we'll always remember the moments like these that have bound us together, mingled our souls, deepened our love and strengthened our hearts.