I would say I am a fairly patient person. I don't normally get too uptight about much. Of course, I have my moments, but I am fairly easy-going.
On this fair occasion, I mean, huge event, I seemed to have turned into an impatient, crazy person.
It all started because we knew that we were going to get married before his Deployment. Neither of us wanted to leave the other without that solid commitment intact. It's such an intense reality, deployment, I mean. It could either be a quiet, and by quiet I mean no real threat or sure danger, or it could be diffusing land mines in Afghanistan (this might be the most real danger I could imagine. Marcus might have a different opinion, but I haven't been part of the military long enough). I was imagining the worst. He could die! He could come back missing a limb, more than one, paralyzed, his mind gone, who knows! What was more important was that he knew that without a doubt I would be there waiting for him, whatever his condition, to take him into my arms. To love him, care for him, and support him, come what may.
He had made his decision on marrying me long before I came to my own conclusion, so he was ready and willing to move forward quickly to solidify our commitment before he shipped out.
So, back to impatience...
Marcus and I had been able to journey across the country once a month to see each other. We traded off. I would take one month, he the next, and one time we met down in Louisiana for a wedding. He surprised me on May 1st with a one day visit. It was so fun to see him and as we were growing closer, I hated when either of us had to say goodbye.
Although I was sad to see him come and go so quickly, I thought I would be seeing him again in just a few weeks for memorial day. As soon as he returned he starting talking about how he wouldn't be able to see me again for another month and a half. I was starting to panic, I mean, I was in love with this man, I wanted to spend as much time with him as I could before he left on deployment. And now, he wanted me to wait a month and a half! ;) Not to mention, when on earth were we going to get engaged so I could start planning this wedding that would be in the next few months? All the while, Marcus had a master plan set in motion to surprise me on my birthday (only a few weeks away) and propose in front of my good friends.
So, of course, why wouldn't I be the girl to rush things. I have an incredibly romantic boyfriend who is perfectly capable of having a plan and I go and mess with it.
He let it slip, a week or so before my birthday, that he would be getting memorial day weekend off and I nearly threw the phone in excitement. I immediately started searching for plane tickets out to see him. He was giving me all kinds of excuses on why he still couldn't see me. Oblivious is my middle name, so I would go see him. I spent half an hour convincing him on why it would be best for me to come see him. He finally gave in.
So, I journeyed to North Carolina to be picked up from the airport on a motorcycle, ride 3 hours to his family's home and meet the family that I would soon call mine. We spent 2 days hanging out, hiking, horseback riding, enjoying nature and getting to know his family. We would hang out, each night, on the back porch couch. It was a perfect spot for a view of his mom's garden and late night talks. This particular night, May 30th-May 31st (my birthday), I had gazed at the stars until I fell asleep on his shoulder. I remember him saying "happy birthday," so it had to have been past midnight. I woke up startled because something had been put on my finger. I felt at it. It was so dark...midnight and all.
I had told Marcus awhile back that I thought it would be amazing if he used his incredible artistic talents and designed a ring instead of just buying one out of a store. Not that that is a bad idea, I just like uniqueness and it would be a little piece of him i would get to keep with me at all times.
It was a ring. Oh my gosh! "Marcus?....Marcus?" He looked me in the eyes and told me all about the love he had for me, how he wanted to prove it to me through this commitment, and then asked me for my hand in marriage.
I, of course, said yes, absolutely, I would!
I had ruined his plan and he still managed to surprise me. To sweep me off my feet and set out to be a man that, not only, loved the Lord, but also wanted to love me with the meaning that Christ represented to us continuously throughout the Bibe.
I am a very lucky woman!
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