Engagement Stories - Sept 2011

I jumped from the vehicle and ran to Blake. I was so excited, and he hugged me and gave me a cup of sweet tea, which just speaks right to my heart. My roommates drove away, smiling of course, because they knew what was happening all along.

Blake took my hand, and we walked down a path while we made small talk. Suddenly, we passed through a gate and into a beautiful open field. A giant oak tree stood in the middle of the field with a cute porch swing hanging from one of the sturdy branches. A blanket was draped across the back of the swing. Of course, my mind was racing as we walked toward the swing and sat down. Blake nervously stated that he had so much to say, but he would prefer to read it instead, and I love when Blake reads to me. He began to read different excerpts from his prayer journal, starting in June when we first started dating. It was amazing to hear. His last journal entry was thanking the Lord for giving him the chance to talk with my parents and to share in their excitement.

After reading, he knelt beside the swing and asked me to marry him! I said, “yes!” Blake put the most beautiful ring on my finger, and we stood together and kissed. He then moved the blanket that was draped over the back of the swing to reveal an engraved name, The Farrar’s. That’s going to be us! It was our swing, with our name on it! I was blown away.

We sat back down on the swing, laughing and smiling. We were on cloud nine! Then, I heard a helicopter off in the distance. I thought nothing of it until it circled around us. I looked at Blake and asked in complete amazement, “Is that for us?” Sure enough, the helicopter landed 100 yards from us, and we walked toward it and got in. Inside, Blake’s best friend, Joey, was armed with a video camera and a giant smile. I was so excited, and I don’t think my voice has ever reached that high of a register with shrills of joy!

As we lifted off, I saw two of Blake’s friends, Michael Wilson and Jesse Bellington, in full camouflage and gilly suits come out from behind a tree and a brush pile with cameras. They were capturing the entire proposal, and they did an amazing job!

We flew all around Tyler in the helicopter. We soared over downtown and all over the city. Then, we flew over Pine Cove Christian Camps, and I could see The Bluffs and all of the camps from above. We began to descend, and I had no idea where we were going to land. As we came over the tops of the trees, I saw The Woods field with tons of friends waiting there to greet us. They were cheering and waving, and some even had signs. I felt like a celebrity, and I couldn’t stop smiling.

We land, and my friends, Jenn, Jenny, Hannah, and Adrianne, ran towards the helicopter. We all walked over to the big crowd of people, and I began to hug them all. This was an incredible proof of love, and I couldn’t believe it was me they were waiting for! Friends drove from all over to be there for the occasion, and other friends decorated the Woods Pavilion for the occasion using pictures of Blake and I together. Blake had ordered my favorite sandwich, The Brother-In-Law, from Stanley’s BBQ for everyone. It was a party that Blake planned for me and 70 of our closest friends. I was so touched.

I cried tears of joy when I called my Mom to tell her I was engaged. My best friend, Megan, sent me a video and called to congratulate me. I’m looking forward to her coming to help me plan the wedding that will take place on October 16, 2011.

I’m very blessed, and I want to thank everyone involved in my engagement day, Blake, and the Lord who has used Blake to make my dreams come true!

Josh Currie & Tiffany Brooks

My boyfriend, Josh, let me know that next time he was in Dallas, he wanted to take me out for a romantic date night and that we’d be going to the Melting Pot, my favorite restaurant. On June 12, 2010, he kept his promise, and we had a wonderful dinner with lots of great fondue. On that same night, my friend, Crystal, was having a game night at her house, so Josh and I had plans to stop by her house after dinner. Little did I know that this was all part of the plan. But, Josh also told me that he had two surprise stops before we got to Crystal’s house. First, he drove us to the town of Frisco, and I was racking my brain trying to figure out where we could possibly be going. Josh wouldn’t give me any hints. About 20 minutes later, we arrived at Frisco Commons Park. The park was beautiful, but we’d never been there before, and I was wondering why we were there now. As we strolled through the park, I saw a lot of people with telescopes, and Josh said we were going to look at the stars too. I was super excited... how cool! Josh led me far into the park. He seemed to be in a big hurry which confused me. He explained that we needed to hurry to our destination in the park before sunset. We came to an open plaza area that overlooked a large pond. Set up in the plaza, were 12 candles in the shape of a heart. Next to each candle, were a rose and a scroll. In the very center of the heart, were stargazer lilies, my favorite flower, and a small gift. Josh sat me down on a stool in the middle of the heart and turned on jazz music. At this point, my heart was totally melted, and he hadn’t said a word. He picked up the first scroll and opened it. All the scrolls were sealed with wax. One by one, he read the words on each scroll to me and handed me the roses. The scrolls had 12 different virtues on them that Josh has observed in me over the last year and a half. It was all so sweet, and yes, I cried! When he was finished reading, he stood me up and picked up the gift in the center of the heart. It was a ring! He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I couldn’t even verbally respond, but I nodded my head multiple times. Then, out of nowhere our friend, Shamara, appeared with a camera. She had been hiding and taking pictures the whole time! At this point, Josh told me he wanted to return to the location of our first date, Macaroni Grill. I was a bit confused because I was still stuffed from our dinner at the Melting Pot, but I was too happy to object. When we arrived at Macaroni Grill, we were greeted by our friends, my parents, and my sister! I was so surprised to see everyone, especially my family. It’s nearly impossible to get my dad to Dallas, and it was 10 o’clock at night! Josh did such a great job! The night was absolutely perfect! Oh yea... the ring is gorgeous. It took me several weeks to stop staring at it!

Scot Williamson & Staci Noyes

I met my girlfriend, Staci, through a mutual friend, and we had our first date on October 2, 2009. Late September 2010, I planned a cross-country trip to celebrate Staci’s December birthday a little early. Our first stop was Stillwater, Oklahoma. I am a graduate of Texas A&M, and Staci received her first degree from Oklahoma State University. We attended the TAMU versus OSU football game where OSU won the game. From Stillwater, we flew to Atlanta, Georgia, to see a couple of Atlanta Braves baseball games. Staci grew up a huge Braves fan, and I wanted to take her to a Braves game in their home ballpark, Turner Field, before Bobby Cox retired. The Braves were playing the Phillies in their final home games of the season. I surprised Staci with a private tour of Turner Field. Our tour guide, Erin, took us out on the baseball diamond prior to the game. Our tour ended at home plate, where I surprised Staci by getting down on one knee and asking her to marry me. She said, “Yes!” I hit a “homerun” at Turner Field a year to the day since our first date!

Julio Guigni & Lindsey Stobaugh

My engagement story began when I drove three hours to visit my boyfriend, Julio, on Valentine’s weekend. When I arrived, I was surprised to notice a dozen red roses sitting on the table, and I turned to put my things down so that I could give him a big hug. As I turned around, I also noticed that now there was a box of candy and a card on the table too. I read the first card, and Julio told me to open the candy. Inside the candy was another card. Julio then asked me to remove the first layer of the candy which revealed another card. As I read the second card, he placed a box on the table. After reading the second card, he asked me to open the box. Inside the box was a beautiful heart necklace. I was so surprised and delighted with my Valentine’s gift. He then asked me to go into the bedroom, where another card and a great big teddy bear, holding a heart that read, “I Love You,” sat in the middle of the bed. We celebrated Valentine’s Day with dinner and a movie. That night before bed, I was reading all of my cards again when I turned and almost tripped over Julio because he was bent down on one knee. In his hand was a small box, and as he opened it to reveal a beautiful ring, he asked, “Will you marry me?” And, of course, I said, “yes!”