...so will you....?

i don't remember what exactly he said before that, and i can only imagine what followed was the traditional question hundreds have asked for centuries before us.

"...so will you..... marry me?"

simple words that paused this world for a lifetime of moments. simple words that i have been anxious for since this time last year. simple words that will now unite two into one for the glory of God's name.

it started with a date night my family has made tradition for years now. every year around this time we make it a point to go christmas light looking around highland park or other wealthy dallas neighborhoods. last year i was unable to go due to work... see previous post... so i made it a point to attend this year despite the fact we had an event scheduled for the salon and i would be getting off work way late.

God intervened..... with the swine flu as his tool. a key person had to cancel because she came down with the swine flu, therefore the entire event was cancelled - and i was free to meet with the family early.

everyone met up to gather into one car (ben, myself, laurie, cody, kylie, allie, dad, michael, and jennifer) and off we went to highland park for lights, laughter, and christmas card pictures..... ? michael, a photographer and dearest of friends, offered to take pictures of the new family (laurie/ cody/ kylie) so they can send out their first christmas cards. i did not think anything of this.

after driving around for a while in a crowded yet comfortable suv, we found the perfect spot for the new galloway's card. it was a beautifully decorated mansion just off preston and armstrong, where there were giant trees on vast medians, and horse carriage rides on each street. as the family unloaded from the tahoe, my family went to the right while ben saw something "strange" on the lit up tree in the median that he wanted to inspect. "i'll go with you."

we stood underneath the most colorful tree on the block, and ben asked "do you like it?"

"yeah, it's a pretty tree."

"but do you love it?"

"i mean, they did a good job decorating it. i couldn't have done it...."

"well i love it, and i love you. and i want to ask you something........ " (kneeling down on one knee)

- and blank -

i have no idea what romantic speech he quoted to me. i know he declared he wants me to sharpen him and him sharpen me for the rest of our lives. he said something else about him loving me from the beginning, and vows to love me for the rest of our lives....

honestly i was just concerned about getting my left glove off in time for the ring appearance. also there were carriage riders surrounding us, intermittently, and would root us on from their places upon passing us.... so that was fun and distracting!

then came the ring. in a red velvet box, under the most brilliantly lit tree in dallas, he opened the box and requested my hand in marriage. the soft green peridot gem sparkled up at me, inviting me to breathe in this moment. this moment that lasted a lifetime of breaths. it was so dainty. it was so pretty. exactly what i wanted.

he took my left hand, picked the ring up from its safe keeping. and i touched it... and dropped it. we then had to find it. and we did! all was well.

i said "yes!" yes! of course yes! this was a moment i had been waiting for for over a year, and had been expecting for weeks now.

i said yes, and the crowd went wild! pictures that had been snapping in the background came to life vivaciously when he lifted up and took me in his arms. my sisters were cheering, my dad was tearing up. it was wonderful. perfect. exactly what i dreamed of a moment like that to be.

the rest of the night was middling. just a great time with the family, a routine starbucks stop, and back home to rest the night away.

we ended the night with a goodnight's kiss. one of the first kisses to celebrate the beginning of our newest adventure.

i'm engaged! to the most wonderful man i have ever met. i'm in love and excited. i'm engaged! i'm engaged. :) this is going to be fun.