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Robby & Ashley
9.28.14
Kettering, OH
Our Engagement Story
Ashley
God knew everything I would need when he brought Robby into my life. Those two years of courting were such happy years of my life. There were so many lessons, happy memories, and joys shared together. I found that the joys of life are multiplied a hundred times over when shared with the one I love! Robby is the perfect man for me, and I am completely awe-struck over how fully God is preparing us for a life of eternal togetherness.
Robby
As much as I, too, valued every moment of our long-awaited courtship, I kept finding myself thinking of the next level of commitment to be had in our relationship. My daily drive to school was long – long enough to provide plenty of time to think about where, when, and how I wanted to propose to Ashley. I knew beyond question that my life would either include Ashley or include none besides myself, but I long agonized over what setup could possibly be “engaging” enough for Ashley – the woman who excelled all others in every possible way.
Ashley
As the year 2013 came to a close, I knew that our special moment was around the corner. Robby had just graduated, so I knew it couldn’t be far away. I had several guesses as to when it might be: perhaps Christmas, perhaps Valentines day… but each of those events passed without any life changing occurrences. Months went by, and as the month of February opened, a few things happened where I was tempted to ask questions, but I didn't, just in case Robby was planning something…
Robby
Actually, I knew that Ashley had an idea that I would be asking “the” question for a long time, and I felt bad to keep her waiting. But I had been preparing for just as long (in all candor, I had decided on my first engagement prop back in 2011), and was determined to wait until all things were in perfect order. After counseling with my parents and asking the blessing of hers, I decided upon the date which would mark the zenith of my life: February 25, 2014. My family and I had been in California most of the month of February, so I secretly flew home by myself on the 21st to complete last-minute preparations. Three days later, my family flew home and joined me in Tennessee. The morning of the 25th, ushering an electric storm of excitement into my heart, found our family pulling into Ashley’s house, carefully timed to arrive shortly after Ashley left for work.
Ashley
I left for work the morning of the 25th feeling excited: it was my last day of work before spring break. My day at work passed predictably and finally came to a close. Feeling very tired, I got into the driver’s seat of my car and began the trip home. The drive was uneventful, until... I pulled into our driveway.
Robby
I am so thankful for both of our families! From the very start, our parents and siblings worked incessantly to help me set everything up. Here was my vision: Ashley would arrive home after work, which would coincide with nightfall. Bypassing the side door (where she usually enters), she would enter the front door of the house. The window shades would be pulled and the glass in the doors would be darkened, while a plausible sign would keep her from thinking anything of it. Opening the front door, she would come face-to-face with her expansive dining room -- emptied of its normal furnishings --the light oak floor being covered with 300 candles. Through the sea of candles would be a winding path, strewn with rose petals. Passing by several “stations,” the path would end in the sunroom, where she would sit in the love seat (under wedding lights and sheer curtain) and watch a video I made her. After the video, I would ask her the question of my life.
Ashley
As I pulled into our driveway, I noticed that the side door of our house was covered in a blue tarp, and there was a note on the door. At first I thought, "Aw! Someone left a note on the door!" But as I got closer, I saw that the sign read, "Wet Paint. Please use front door." Then in smaller letters it said, "This means you Ashley." The handwriting was Daddy's, and the 'This means you Ashley', is his signature for signs such as this. I laughed a little, then walked around to the front door, thinking that the wet paint was a part of getting our home ready to sell.
Robby
Setup went beautifully! Everyone was so helpful and supportive. The difficult part was timing the lighting of the candles. Light them too early, and they burn out. Light them too late, and... well, it takes a long time to light 300 candles. Actually, we ran out of time and we were only able to get 250 candles placed and lit. With moments remaining before Ashley was to pull into the driveway, the dining room was still full of people running wildly hither and yon to complete assigned tasks. I looked about, fingered my watch, and realized that we could spare no time – Ashley could literally open that door any second. In an assertiveness born of panic I barked orders like a military drill sergeant, and was finally able to empty the room. My heart racing, I retreated towards the sunroom (where I planned to meet Ashley). I took one last, profoundly meaningful look at that scintillating dining room. By now it was dark outside. The light oak floor, the pastel walls, the crimson roses and ivory streamer – everything seemed to glow and flicker in candlelight. I couldn’t believe our dream was coming true. It was a moving sight. I swallowed hard, took a couple deep breaths, squeezed my eyes tight shut for just a moment – and ducked around the wall.
Ashley
As I reached the front door, I was perplexed to find it covered in black paper. There was another sign that read, "Open door slowly – Dangerous," again in Daddy’s handwriting. By this time I was wondering what in the world was going on, but the reality of what was behind that door did not enter my mind. With my hands full of apple boxes, I opened that front door, and almost fainted. My breath was entirely swept away in the beauty of the fairytale sight before my eyes.
Ashley
There in what was my dining room appeared an entrancing sight of fairytale romance. The entire floor was covered in a sea of nearly 300 tealight candles in glass holders. The ceiling was covered in 23 balloons (representing the 23 months we had been courting). From the balloons hung 23 mini cards telling 23 little stories of 23 things Robby loved about me. Throughout this sea of candles and balloons was a pathway of love. Roses lined the pathway, and along the path were 6 stations which outlined 6 aspects of our relationship. The entire beautiful scene was flickering in romantic candlelight. My eyes soaked in the beautiful and romantic scene. My breath came in short little gasps, I stood there for minutes, in total shock. I wasn't expecting this!
Robby
I had only a few moments to wait in the sunroom before I heard the soft hum of a car engine, but those few moments felt like years. “This is it! The culmination of a lifetime of hope, dreams, plans, preparation...” I knelt down on the floor and, stretching my hands to heaven, prayed for God’s blessing. I knew that this was a day of rejoicing, not only for me and our family, but for all of heaven. After all, think of the joy that fills God’s heart as we let Him craft our love stories. All of a sudden, I heard the door handle turn. My heart froze. A million thoughts raced through my mind. “This is it! Will she like it? Does it meet her expectations? What is she thinking right now? How does she feel?” For what seemed like hours I heard nothing – perfect silence – not the slightest creak, not the softest murmur. I didn’t know what that meant. “At least, maybe I succeeded at surprising her!” And then I heard the voice of my beloved – or perhaps I should say, the breath of my beloved. And I smiled. Ashley was breathing so hard! It sounded like she was hyperventilating. I heard the door open wider, close, and then I heard something crumple on the floor. I smiled again – I knew Ashley, and was sure she had to sit down on the floor from the sheer surprise of it all.
Ashley
I had to sit down for a minute, for I was afraid I was about to faint! I finally was able to recover enough to start at the first station. The first had a bouquet of 23 roses (again representing the 23 months of our courtship), and a note that explained the entire journey. I continued along down each station. Each station had a letter rolled up and tied with a ribbon, and each letter talked about the different phases of our relationship. Each station also had something hands on to illustrate the aspect of our relationship. On this station for Our Friendship, Robby had a coupon book of "You Owe Me's" for me to redeem whenever I like. There was also a poem he had written for me years ago, yet had never given me till this time.
The second station was "Our Special Events" and had special memos from different dates we had gone on. Sushi had always been our specialty, and he had even made some sushi for me to eat to remind me of our very first date together. Another station was about our thoughtfulness, and the different gifts we had given each other. It had a special little basket of beauty supplies for me to take into the bathroom where I also found a fresh outfit, all ironed and ready. My beloved thought of everything!
As I continued on, there were other special things for me to explore at every turn. There was a station on Our Communication, and a beautiful personalized wooden box with a special empty journal from Korea for Robby and I to record highlights from our first year of marriage. I tenderly handled every token of my boyfriend's love, and it took me over an hour to go through the entire romantic scene. I didn't want it to end!
Yet I finally arrived at the last station titled, "Our Spirituality" which highlighted the joy of God's leading in our relationship. There on that station was a personalized Bible. It was so special, where the Bible had Robby and my name inside each verse. His letter told me to turn to a verse, and when I did, I caught my breath. It read, "Robby found a virtuous woman in Ashley. For her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10. Tears filled my eyes and trickled down my cheeks as I I realized the depth of God's gift to me in Robby. With trembling hands I turned to the next verse in Ephesians 5:31. "For this cause shall Robby leave his father and mother, and shall be joined onto Ashley, ad they two shall be one flesh." I had never read any words so precious, and the words from scripture were sealed on my heart forever. I had to sit there for a few minutes to soak it all in. It was all too beautiful… All this time, I was wondering where my dearest could possibly be. Up to this point I hadn't heard a single sound. But then as I got to the last station, I heard a deep and shaky breath come from the sunroom right next-door.
Robby
I guess Ashley wasn’t the only one breathing hard! I was trying to be silent, but I was getting too excited, a tad nervous, and – a little impatient! Ashley was taking oh so long, and I was trembling with eagerness to see her! By now I could hear her whisper as she read my letters, giggle and coo as she opened my props (the personalized Bible was the item I had found in 2011, mentioned above), and every now and then, stop to catch her breath. I listened in rapt attention; I wasn’t thinking about anything, just trying to imagine exactly where she was in my path. Suddenly, I sensed that she was at the entrance to the sunroom. My blood pressure instantly shot through the roof. I was about to come face-to-face with my beautiful, soon-to-be fiancé!
Ashley
Beside the last station was the sunroom. The entrance was covered in ivory streamer and looked like the doorway to dreams come true. With a deep breath myself, I took one last look at the beautiful candlelit room, knowing that the moment I walked through that entryway, my life would change forever. My heart was and had been racing the entire time, my eyes constantly swimming in tears. I slowly pulled the streamers back, and walked into the sunroom, which had been entirely transformed. There were lighted flowers all around the room, and the love seat was enveloped in a waterfall of light fabric and romantic lights. And at the end of that pathway of roses stood the man of my dreams... so handsome in his suit and tie. I was entirely speechless as he gently led me to that beautiful couch covered in roses.
Ashley
Robby turned on a video, and as we watched my eyes filled with tears. It was a video of clips that he had recorded for his sweetheart one day. Then there were videos of us together when we were young, and him telling me how he had saved himself all just for me. It was the sweetest thing I had ever seen, and tears filled my eyes and ran down my cheeks.
Robby
Ashley wasn’t the only one wet with tears. I knew that this was it! In just moments I would be asking Ashley to marry me, and the joy, expectation, and sense of complete euphoria was overwhelming. Ashley and I sat close, our hearts and tears mixing for the eleven long minutes of my video. “Oh, I knew that eleven minutes would be too long for a video!” I couldn’t wait for it to finish – I wanted to ask Ashley the question that had played over in my mind for decades!
Ashley
11 minutes later the video ended, and my heart seemed to stop. This was the moment that culminated all of my hopes and dreams from so many years. Robby took my hands and, as I stood there in front of him, got down on one knee and said some of the most precious words to me – the details of which I can not remember (somehow those highly emotional moments take away the details)! Then, for the very first time in all the 12 years we had known each other, he told me that he loved me. Then with tears in his eyes and love in his voice he spoke those four words that I had so often dreamed of. "Ashley, will you marry me?" I could hardly speak for a moment, but I squeezed his hands and joyfully answered, "Yes! I would love to marry you!"
Robby
Oh the preciousness of those heavenly moments. I poured my whole soul out to Ashley, telling her just how matchlessly special she was, telling her how deeply I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, and telling her what an infinite honor it would be to become her husband. Then, before I knew it, the words tumbled out, “Ashley, will you marry me?” Her response was the most beautiful and elegant any woman has ever given her man. We were both elated! We hugged, we sat back down on the love seat, swimming in thrill and happiness. We walked back through the candlelit dining room, each expressing the joy we were feeling. It was a day that will never fade in my memory. One of the happiest, most perfectly idyllic days a mortal could know.
Ashley
The next few moments were filled with hugs and tears. Not only was this the most beautiful moment yet of my life, but it was one of the most special because it was the first time we told each other that we loved each other. From the beginning of our courtship, we had decided to save that special phrase until we got engaged, and we had not used that word even once the entire time. Our signature courtship phrase was, "I Like You!" but now, we not only liked each other, we loved each other more than life itself.
Robby
I thought that Ashley alone was to be surprised that wonderful evening, but unbeknownst to me, Ashley had her own surprise. In the middle of our happy fellowship, Ashley’s eyes flickered with a contagious twinkle. I squeezed her hands tighter and asked what it was this time! Twirling around, she promised to quickly return and, before I could remonstrate, disappeared into her room. She reappeared with a beautiful package and, gently laying it in my hands, softly explained that the object inside this package was the thoughtful and painstaking result of months and years of loving time and labor. I couldn’t imagine what it might be; I couldn’t wait to see what kind of treasure lay within. Carefully opening the package, I found a beautiful, hardcover book, entitled, “Sunrise of Dreams.” The cover was printed was a picture of Ashley and me standing in the brilliant glow of the rising sun, light rays engulfing our entire frame. It was the most lovely cover I had ever seen, but what I found inside was even more special. For the past two years, Ashley had been carefully recording the story of our friendship and courtship, and feeling that engagement might be near, had compiled all her stories and thoughts into this beautiful book. I was overcome with all the time and attention Ashley had invested in the book, and still more excited to read and reread the stories and happy memories contained therein. What a gift to cherish for a lifetime!
Ashley
I had wanted to give Robby a token of our journey together, and over the previous months I had worked on writing and publishing a hard cover book of our love story. It was titled, "Sunrise of Dreams." The 140 pages contained therein told the story of our love, and how we had sought God's will from our early childhood. And now I felt that we were standing on the brink of our dreams reality. God had truly given us our hearts desire.
Robby
That night, time seemed to stand still. All the hopes, dreams, and plans of the past had somehow blossomed into the joy and reality of the present. It took many years to go from those early days of awkward friendship to the deep love of engagement, but the linear expanse of the journey had fast faded into complete insignificance in the brilliance of the sunrise of our dreams. Truly, God is giving us, the desires of our hearts.
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