The Full Story

Maddie and I have been dating for nearly two years. We met first at a youth car wash...even though she didn't remember me. It wasn't until several weeks later that I would see her again at a youth missions week at NorthWood. There we really hit it off and we often talk about how much we were "eye-flirting" just looking at each other every time we passed one another.

Our relationship has grown steadily and has been so fantastic. What I have found so amazing is that there aren't many people who were surprised that I proposed to Maddie. They all knew it was coming, many of our friends wanted us to be engaged sooner than we even thought about it!

Maddie and I tried to stay away from talking about it as much as we could, I've seen too many friends of mine rush into talking about such things early in a relationship and it just ends in heartbreak. But when we would talk about it, I had made it clear that there were still several steps that I needed to take before I could propose.

However I had been planning this since January.

I had saved up money before leaving NorthWood specifically for her engagement ring and when I found the one that was perfect for her I bought it...it just so happens that I found that perfect ring while she was with me at the mall...she just didn't know it, being in a different store at the time.

So for 4 months this ring sat waiting for me to masterfully craft a perfect plan.

Maddie is not a completely gullible person...in fact she is really intuitive. She usually knows when something is up. But I decided to plan a surprise anyway. I talked to her two roommates and our friend Susan Kimmel (who has an awesome blog as well) and I crafted a plan that would involve a fake "End of the School Year Party" and Susan driving Maddie out to Denton.

I know Maddie pretty well, as much as she loves the girls in Denton, it is a long drive for a small party. Susan was the icing on the cake, getting Maddie to commit to the party before she could think about not attending.

Everything fell into place. Maddie thought I was hanging out with the guys that night and she was going to a party. I left early with flowers, the ring, and guitar to the Hydrant Coffee House in Denton. A place that both Maddie and I love to go and chill. My best friend/man (catch that?) went with me to help me set up.

I had rented out the top room of the coffee house and upon getting there immediately set up the scene.

Andrew and I tore the petals off a dozen roses for a trail of rose petals leading her to her chair, the chairs we try to sit in every time we are at this place. We got it all set up, I had the ring in my pocket and Kimmel told me good luck as he went down to hide in the bathroom while we waited for Maddie and Susan to show up.

I sat there guitar in hand waiting. This point was the first time I had really been nervous. I was making a big decision, but I knew it was the right one!

Suddenly I heard voices downstairs and I heard Susan say, "I'm going to run to the restroom. You head on up!" Maddie replied, "Okay!" (Susan added this extra little flair to the plan. I didn't know how to get her to go upstairs!)

I could imagine her confusion and excitement as she turned the corner in the stair well and saw rose petals as she ascended the remaining steps. Then, there she was. Holding a plate of cookies that she had baked for the non-existent party. She was stunned and confused and knew what was coming. I asked her to sit down and I played her a song.

The song was New Day by Robbie Seay. If we have "a song" this is it. Its a beautiful picture of what a relationship should look like. I have always told Maddie that I want to play that song for her. This was the first time that I did.

I got off the stool and took a knee and told her everything that was beautiful about her and this moment. I asked the love of my life if she would marry me and she said yes!

The whole thing lasted maybe 10 minutes, but it felt like and hour, a day, and looking back it feels like it went by in 30-seconds, a complete blur.

As the dust has settled from all the excitement we have both realized what an amazing journey we are on now. It is really exciting and we are ready for it.

Thanks for all the prayers and congratulations!