Although Thursday the 14th
marked the 2 year anniversary of DP’s asking me to court him, the two of us had
to work as usual but planned to spend time together afterward. This made me happy because the last two days
before I hadn’t seen much of him…he was, as he put it, doing “this and that.” (Curious! But I didn’t ask about it. I tried to convince myself it was nothing – “He’s
just playing video games with his brothers or writing his Star Wars story” -
that he wouldn’t (couldn’t) possibly propose on the 14th. Still, I knew I dreamed it would happen.)
Thursday evening after I got home
from work, I was experiencing some discomfort from a small headache and minor
back pain. DP drove over to see me after
some delays at his work and, shortly thereafter, my blood sugar decided to plummet
into the 50s (much like it had done the day before). While I tried to turn my attention toward
raising my blood sugar, DP began distracting me by talking about the different
animal pictures in my room. Then he
looked at my computer screen and noted the date: “It’s the 14th…oh, I’m sorry, I
forgot to bring you flowers.”
I smiled weakly. I’d reminded him the day before…but I knew
forgetting was nothing new for him.
“It’s ok,” I said.
“What would you like to do tonight?”
“I don’t know,” I answered. Get my
number back up and feel better so I can actually enjoy whatever we end up doing.
Then, almost out of the blue, he
asked me to show him the website for the place we wanted to get married. I pulled up the site and scrolled through a
few of the pictures. He wanted to see
the stone bridge. Then he suggested we get
dinner and go up there to check it out.
I was a little surprised and still shaky, but didn’t want to object. (This was spontaneous…and sounded
adventurous!) I printed out directions
and we hopped in the car, grabbing food at Wendy’s on the way.
He drove and I navigated as I
scarfed down my food, finally starting to feel better. The whole way up, I tried to focus on the
roads we were supposed to take while he played the “Yellow Car” game (he won
because I wasn’t paying attention to cars!).
Shortly before 8:30pm, we pulled up the gravel driveway and took a short
stroll around the place. The air was so
crisp and clean; the woods were so green and alive. A creek bubbled in the distance. It was beautiful in the twilight sun. We walked down to a map that showed us where
the stone bridge was. We followed the
trail (at his suggestion) to the spot and found this lovely sight:
We
walked across to the other side, but the trail ended there, so we turned
around. He brought up the poetic text
conversation we had had the night before and, suggesting we sit in the middle
of the bridge wall, told me he’d been working on the love poem I’d requested of
him a few months ago. He asked if I
wanted to hear it and, of course, I said, “Sure.” He stood in front of me and proceeded to read
the most beautiful poem I’ve ever heard (pausing for the few places that made
me giggle):
A Lady and Her Knight
This
is the tale of a lady, her knight,
And
the events that drew them together
As
testimony to their faith and fight
Towards
such joy to which they endeavor.
They
met amidst the Remnant four years prior.
The
lady, always shy, spoke in whispers;
She
feared she’d never love, though she desired
A
God-honoring knight to cherish her.
The
knight proved himself the quirkiest sort:
A
lover of scarves and sweet candy canes
Who
oft’ brandished blades and witty retorts,
Adding
humor from the day he first came.
Knight
and lady shared a gift with the pen
Making
their time spent together no chore;
They
bonded by sharing tales they’d written,
Which
the lady had never done before.
Outraged
he became at the craven cur
Manipulating
her heart so soft;
The
knight sought God’s strength and defended her—
With
flashing blade, he chased the villain off!
Relief
and gratitude swelled in her heart.
They,
now sharing bonds of the closest sort,
Embarked
on ‘ventures grand, which proved the start
Of
romance between them. He asked her to court;
Replied
she with a most emphatic “YES!”
Though
she’d made him for twenty minutes wait
To
hear her reply, they both felt so blessed;
So
began their best written tale to date.
Through
joys and sorrows God carried these two:
Though
they loathed the wait caused by needing gold,
In
each low valley, God showed Himself true,
Shaping
them according to His Son’s mold.
The
knight once thought, like she, he’d never love,
That
women thought him an unworthy man.
Yet
he was proven wrong by God above;
Doubt
holds no power compared to God’s plan.
He
knew now she was his true love at last—
Sweeter than candies, more lus’trous than pearls!
God in his power healed their painful pasts.
The knight gladly swore off all other girls.
The
lady’s smile caused her knight’s heart to sing;
The
love in her eyes he could clearly see.
The
knight then knelt, produced a dazzling ring,
And asked, “Milady, will you marry me?”
Following the lines of the last stanza, he did just as it said. His voice was sweet and calm, lacking any
hint of nervous quavering. He knelt,
opened a white cushioned box with a brilliant diamond ring, and awaited my
answer.
My breath caught and I smiled. He was really proposing!
“Yes, milord,” I answered quickly
and quietly, not wanting to take 20 minutes this time. There truly wasn’t any doubt! He pulled me up into a hug and let out a happy
sigh of relief. It was then I could feel
his heart pounding in his chest, though whether it was from nerves or delight I
couldn’t tell. “Yes,” I said again in
his ear. He then removed the ring from
the box and slipped it on my finger. “Thank
you,” he said. Then I heard the words he’d
been saving for just that moment (and they sounded all the sweeter): “I love
you.”
And
that, my friends, is how the knight poetically proposed to the lady.
