Keith proposed to me exactly one year and one week from the date of our second date, October 9, 1999.
Our second date was to Ridgecrest Convention Center in Black Mountain, NC. Keith grew up going to the camp there and even worked there as a counselor. He knew the mountain trails well. We spent our second date there walking around and talking. I think we actually started considering this our first real date since the first one was just breakfast on his way to Kentucky.
Ridgecrest became a very special place in our relationship. In fact, we hiked up the trail where he would eventually propose to me on our first Valentine’s Day together.
There is a reason why it was one year and an extra week from our second date that he proposed. It is called the mail system. He ordered my engagement ring and it didn’t come in on time. But I think that just adds a special touch to our story.
We had plans for a big date to Ridgecrest on October 2 to celebrate our one year dating anniversary. We had been discussing the possibility of being engaged and marriage before then and I was secretly holding out hope that he would propose on this date. He was supposed to pick me up early that morning and we were going to spend the day hiking and walking the trails at Ridgecrest.
Well, all morning on that Saturday, he kept calling with excuse after excuse as to why he was running late. He had “chores” to do and he was waiting on something to come in the mail for his dad’s Christmas were his two biggest excuses.
I am a pretty understanding person, but I was getting a bit impatient.
He finally showed up and was still distracted and visibly upset about something. I wasn’t sure what. He said that his mom had ordered a gift for his Dad’s Christmas and he was trying to wait on it so his dad wouldn’t find out, but it never came. We decided to just go ahead and go leave for our trip, even though half the day was over.
Poor Keith even stopped a Fed Ex truck on the way out of town. I thought it must be some really nice Christmas gift coming for his dad!!!
We had a nice day together, despite the rough start. And at the end of the day, Keith asked me if I would come back with him the next week after I got out of school (I was teaching).
I agreed.
Well, on Thursday of the next week, something was wrong with my telephone service. That night I told Keith about it and told him that I needed to get it fixed before he could go on our date. I was planning to go by the phone company after school, resolve the issue, and then we could leave.
He was having none of that at all.
And we had our first major disagreement.
I did not understand what the problem was and what the big deal was with him not wanting me to make a quick trip to the phone company before we left.
He just saw us getting delayed and his engagement plans being pushed back again.
When his parents came home from choir practice that night, he asked them their opinion.
They had a rather simple solution. I agreed to call about the telephone during my break at school and get things resolved and then we could still leave right after school got out.
Keith felt so bad about our argument the night before he was planning to propose, he sent flowers to me at school. I was completely surprised and my students were beside themselves that I received flowers at school.
On my way out the door that afternoon, the school secretary saw the flowers as I was signing out and said, “You’re getting a diamond this weekend.”
I replied with “NO WAY!!! I seriously don’t think so.”
When I told Keith, he completely blew it off so I didn’t give that another thought.
We arrived at Ridgecrest and talked as we hiked up Royal Gorge mountain. There was a deck/lookout spot at the top of the mountain and we stopped there.
Keith began talking to me about how much he loved me and giving this really sweet speech. Then he went over to where he laid his jacket down and started taking something out of the pocked.
With all the eloquence I could muster, I said, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?”
And he replied with, “What I’m trying to say is, will you marry me?”
And then all the little details from the past week finally made sense….
the reason why he didn’t propose on our special anniversary…
the package he was waiting on the week before wasn’t for his dad, it was for me….
the reason why he stopped a Fed Ex truck on our way out of town the week before…
the reason why he was so upset about the change of plans the week before….
the reason why he was so adamant about me not checking on my phone service….
everything clicked and finally made sense.
And before I said “yes” or even kissed him, I began laughing.
I laughed…
and laughed…
and laughed…
with hysterical laughter…..
I’m so romantic!
I eventually stopped laughing and told him that, yes, I would marry him and we kissed.
I think I floated down the mountain that evening.
We called my parents and his when we made it back to his car and went out to eat at a small little Chinese restaurant in Black Mountain.
I went to sleep that night thinking about how incredibly blessed I was and dreaming about the future.
Suzanne says
What a fun story! So glad you shared 🙂
Suzanne’s last blog post..Above & Beyond
Happy Mama says
Wow that is so cool…Did you read mine…LOL!
Stephanie says
Great story! It amazes me to hear other people’s stories about their engagements and the work that the guys put into planning the event. Mike did soemthing similar for me, and I made it hard on him. I didn’t have any idea either. As a matter of fact, I had given up on him. Our house was a month away from completion and he hadn’t said a word to me about marriage. Oh, we’d had those general type of marriage talks, but nothing to lead me to think the diamond was coming. We got up on a Saturday, and he REALLY wanted to go hiking. I wasn’t so keen, and kept saying that I didn’t want to go here or there. He finally got frustrated and just picked a mountain. I had blisters by the time we got to the top (new boots) and wasn’t in a good mood. I actually had my feet in the river when he proposed. And I also floated down the mountain. Didn’t feel those blisters a bit. 🙂
Pat says
This was so romantic! I’m glad things finally worked out for him or he would have had anervous breakdown!
Pat’s last blog post..An Outrageous David and Goliath story!
Byron Hill says
Monica,
Enjoyed reading about the special place Ridgecrest has in your life. I would love to treat you guys to a complimentary stay on your next anniversary
Byron Hill says
Sorry about the incomplete comment! As I was saying, I’d like to give you a guys a complimentary stay at Ridgecrest on your next anniversay. Please email me prior to the date and I’ll be happy to make the arrangements.
Blessings,
Byron Hill
Executive Director, LifeWay Conference Centers and Camps
Uma says
How cute is this story! And now you have the next anniversary trip at Ridgecrest to look forward to. Have the best time on R&R! I’m so excited for all of you!
Uma’s last blog post..Poor Baby
LifeAtTheCircus says
What a sweet story! Poor guy having the ring not come in time. I guess now you have two special dates in Oct to celebrate. 🙂 I love that your initial response was laughter, was Keith laughing too or still sweating it out?
It will be so sweet for you to take the kids there on a hike in the future and show them your special spot.
Thanks for sharing your story! I loved it!!
LifeAtTheCircus’s last blog post..These Are The Moments