A Love Story {Part 4}

If you didn’t get a chance to read the other parts to the story, you can go back and do that now. {Part 1; Part 2; Part 3}

It was one day before he was supposed to return from Christmas break.  We were planning to fit in one last phone chat that evening.

I was wearing my usual winter around-the-house garb which consisted of baggy sweats and unbrushed hair.

As it grew later in the evening, my mom kept telling me how awful I looked and that she wished I would go make myself look decent.  I did not understand why it was such a big deal – I mean, it was winter and I just wanted to be warm and comfy.

I went and changed into a sweater and skirt, but I wore the biggest, baggiest, frumpiest sweater I had because, like I said, I just wanted to be warm and comfy.

A few minutes later the telephone rang.  Time for my evening chat.  I was sitting at the kitchen island with my back to the door.  While we were talking I heard the door open.  I turned around, and guess who was standing in my house?!!!  He came back a day early just to surprise me!

But did he receive an excited greeting from me?  Absolutely not; not even a “What are you doing here?”  All he got was a scream as I fled to the bathroom to make myself look presentable.  In my mind's eye I could see my mom shaking her head and saying, “I tried to help you.”

When the girls at school found out about what he'd done, they were all talking about how that was “sooo romantic”.  I didn't think it was romantic at all because although he was the handsome prince, he had caught me looking nothing like Cinderella.

Nevertheless, it must have been true love, because he still wanted to date me even though he knew what he'd be looking at many a cold winter night if he were to marry me.

We started spending more and more time together, and the next year and a half is such a blur.  With classes, homework, working, and dating, there was a lot that we fit into such a small amount of time.

Valentine's Banquet 2005

I was so thankful for the fact that we both had Godly parents who were there to guide us through such a crucial time in our lives.  Deciding who you are going to marry is not a decision to be made lightly!  They allowed us plenty of space and did not force their opinions on us, which in turn made it very easy for us to respect their wishes for our relationship.  We wanted to do what they wanted because they didn't try to make us.

As our junior year drew to a close, we both were sure that God meant for us to be together in marriage, and we talked about it openly.  It wasn't going to be a surprise when he popped the question (in fact, I started making plans and shopping for a dress before he ever did!)

The question in my mind was not “if” but simply “when” and “how”.

I'll tell you all about it in the next post!