"Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:14

Ever since a freezing hike at Turkey Run Park near New Years of 2022, Caleb knew he wanted to marry Stephanie. It wasn't until 2024 that Caleb started planning his proposal as his hunt for a qualified jeweler was finally completed. Beginning in January 2024, Caleb brought Stephanie along to his meeting with the jeweler Mr. Piland to ensure that he got the correct ring size and a good ring design. Perhaps that was the first clue to the attempt at a surprise proposal? Several months later, Caleb craftily ensured (aka bluntly requested) Stephanie had the day off on his planned proposal day and even had a cover story of wanting to watch a meteor shower together with her. Of course, the fact that the date coincided with the end of his degree and aligned with the timing of when Caleb said that he would propose may have been the second hint Stephanie used to crack the code of what was going on. Then betrayal occurred the day Caleb approached Mr. and Mrs. Green to ask for their permission and blessing to marry their daughter. Someone (Stephanie won't say) ratted him out by alerting her to Caleb's sneaky visit to her parents. This incident was likely the final clue that Stephanie needed to know when the "Surprise" proposal would occur. The day of the proposal was carefully planned out with a cover story: meteor shower. Three different locations were selected just in case of cloud cover. All to no avail, unfortunately. Even an emergency change of location was not enough as the cloud cover extended far into Pennsylvania. The meteor shower was a no go, but the date was still a go. So on the edge of a dam in the Pennsylvania mountains at dusk, Caleb sneakily crept back out of Stephanie's line of sight, pulled out the ring, and went down on one knee. Trying to wait patiently with his knee slowly freezing, Caleb finally exclaimed, "My knee is freezing! Would you turn around?" Stephanie finally turned around ready to hear his proposal. Unfortunately, the carefully planned proposal in French faded away into a blank hole as Caleb forgot how to ask for her hand in marriage despite hours of practice. After many giggles and false starts (as well as required explanation after the utterance of "I think I love you..."), Stephanie finally said yes. Maybe Caleb shouldn't have told her he was going to propose as soon as classes were over or given her all the hints? Nevertheless, despite the mishaps of the not-a-surprise proposal, the moment will forever be a cherished memory and the prelude to the next chapter of their lives together.