After many posts and new photos, I decided it was time to cough up the story of the proposal. But first some background:
I agreed to help a friend, Allison Campbell, do a photo shoot of a friend of hers since she wanted help learning to shoot in manual mode as opposed to full auto on her camera...or so I thought. Unknown to me, several months before the shoot occurred, the friend we were to photograph, Janet Custer, had been visiting Allison when the topic of marriage came up and what Janet was looking for in a future spouse. As I've since been told, as she began to list what she was looking for, Allison's sister kept whispering the initials JR to Allison, then finally had to give up my name since Allison wasn't getting it. Consequently, Allison began to play matchmaker as she realized that we might work together. She arranged for the photo shoot to take place on MLK Jr Day 2012 as a way to introduce Janet and I, and then planned to take us all to Starbucks so we'd have time to talk. We met mid afternoon that day, did the shoot, then went to Starbucks where Janet and I fell into easy conversation and stayed after the others left to continue talking some.
Later that week, I edited the photos I had taken and emailed them to Allison, but had forgotten to send them to Janet. Allison asked me a couple days later if I had sent the photos, so I finally did. A couple hours later, I get a text from Allison saying, "If you ever want to talk to Janet, here's her number." Right then I knew the whole thing was a set up. I didn't keep her number, but as Janet and I emailed about the photos, we fell back into easy conversation. We became friends quickly. Emailing lead to online chatting and texting and phone calls. The friendship grew rapidly. We shared many interests, thought alike, laughed together, and greatly enjoyed each other's company.
Our friendship had grown to best friends, talking about everything. Working a 12 hour shift, then talking on the phone until the wee hours of the morning became a regularity for me. Rough days at work for one person, led the other to selflessly stay up and encourage the first. We both began to see qualities in the other that we desired in our future spouses. After much prayer, we began dating/courting on July 14, 2012. The friendship only continued in a more intimate way. Even when I moved to AZ, the relationship never wavered and only grew stronger.
Praying for guidance, I realized that this was the woman with whom I want to spend the rest of my life. So plans began to form about proposing. I told my parents I was going to propose over my Christmas vacation. They were excited, as Janet and my mom have become good friends, often spending time with each other.
Having learned some carpentry recently, I thought of the perfect plan for how to propose. Though Janet was expecting the proposal, I knew she'd never expect my plan. I was going to construct a wooden box and give it to her for Christmas. Inside the box was going to be a love letter, of which a post script would explain how to open a secret drawer. I was going to place her ring inside the secret drawer and drop to one knee and propose as soon as she saw the ring. However, the wood for said box and I had a great fight. I lost. Plan B was now needed, and fast. This was Sunday, I was to travel over Tuesday and Wednesday to see her with Monday spent packing and cleaning to leave AZ. We had planned that the Friday I got home to spend the day together and start looking for possible wedding venues. I asked her dad that morning about proposing, and with his blessing, Plan B was in effect.
That Friday afternoon, we started with Table Rock Lodge. After exploring there, we drove up to Pretty Place in northern Greenville County, SC. After driving for forever, and finally finding it, we got out to look. I had the ring in my camera bag so that at the right place I could pull it out and ask. I had forgotten to take it at Table Rock, so I was hoping that it wouldn't give anything away when I took it into Pretty Place. I snapped a few pictures, and deciding this was the place to ask, I commented on the view. As she turned to look at it, I quickly retrieved the ring box from my bag. As it was clearing the pocket, she turned around. My heart sank. I was sure she had seen the box and my surprise was ruined. I quickly closed the box in my hand and slid it beside me out of her view. I walked over to her to enjoy the view with her, or so she thought. Standing beside her, I waited for her to turn to face me. As soon as she did, I dropped to one knee and asked. I was so excited, I actually missed her answer, although her eyes and smile said enough for me. She was completely surprised. Somehow, she had never seen the ring box. We spent the rest of the day looking at a couple other options, enjoying our first meal together as an engaged couple, then headed home to tell our families.
I must say that I had resigned myself to a life of celibacy and had no interest in trying to find a spouse. Even when I knew I had been set up, I wasn't looking or wanting to start a relationship. About a month after we met, Janet and I decided to meet Allison and her friend for a Clemson baseball game. However, they "conveniently" had a birthday party to attend and left us hanging much to Allison's delight. Janet and I managed to each bring a respective brother to help limit the awkwardness. Even after that, I wasn't expecting anything. But with time, God worked on my stubborn heart and changed my desires. I will be eternally grateful to him and to the scheming of friends who introduced me to the most wonderful, amazing, beautiful, smart woman that I am excited to spend the rest of my life with.
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