We're Getting Married!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; 10 for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up! 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. If there is one thing I learned, it is that Gods timing is everything. And comes when you least expect it. For such a time as this. Looking back on both of our stories, it is mind-boggling that we didn't meet sooner. We ran in the same circles. Had the same friends. We later realized, our parents went to the same church, lived in the same neighborhoods, had siblings that went to the same school. On the morning of March 26th, neither of us new we were walking into the rest of our forever. I quite literally walked through the front door. The apartment I would be renting, I would only stay in for a couple months. The job that she had taken at the property management company, she would stay at for only a short time. Until she found a position at Community Hospital, a short few months later. It just so happened that there was an apartment available a block from Four Winds Coffee and Tea. I hadn't planned on moving that year, but was keeping an eye out for a nicer place to call home. My mom had offered to view the apartment in my stead, since I was working that day. But I spontaneously decided to meet her at the viewing over my lunch break. I walked through the front door of 1250 Bookcliff Avenue (Swaggered in if you hear Emily's side of the story). And came face to face with this cute, funny, spunky and passionate woman that would soon be my entire world. Though I didn't know it at the time. The following day when I was signing the lease, we spent most of the appointment chatting about our favorite authors, passions, and pastimes. I left the appointment with a phone number, the invitation to borrow one of her favorite books, and the knowledge that I must get to know this woman. Texting a couple times a day, turned into hours at a time, which turned into phone conversations until 2 in the morning. But that is another story.

It is amazing how quickly someone can become your entire world. Texting off and on throughout the day, about our favorite colors, favorite authors, our absurdly long list of favorite movies, soon became text conversations well past midnight about our shared faith, views on politics, I was then becoming completely smitten. I sent her a text asking her if she would like to join me for coffee sometime. She saw the message, then left me on read for about an hour. I believe I cleaned the house twice over. Mopped the floor several times. It was probably the cleanest that house has ever been. She let me sit on it for about an hour, and then responded back that she would love to join me for coffee. We decided on one of our favorite coffee shops, Four Winds Coffee and Tea. The following week. Hearing back on it from her point of view, My text took her completely by surprise. She didn't want to blow it out of proportion, or assume anything. After all, he probably just wants to get together to borrow that book I had talked about. Its probably nothing, she told herself. She showed her mom the text, and explained to her all about the man she had met only a week and a half previously. They prayed about it. She got ready for the evening, and waited on it for about an hour or so before responding.We met at 5:30, on April 4th. I remember I was nervously putting together an outfit. Couldn't decide whether I should be casual and comfortable, or go with a suit. I threw on some casual clothes, then topped it with a suit coat as I ran out the door. I eventually walked across the street to meet her at the coffee shop. As we talked, Oh reader, I wish I could describe to you the rest of that evening. all the things we talked about, all the ways we bared our souls to each other. We talked even about the darker parts of our past of the last couple years. We laughed together, even shared some tears. By the end of the evening, God had revealed to us that without a question, he had brought the two of us together. We talked until they closed at 9:00, then walked out onto their porch, and ended up conversing until after Midnight. By the end of the evening we decided to pursue a relationship, wherever the Lord would lead it. To search out His will in our meeting, and begin the journey of getting to know each other on a deeper level. After all.... “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the honor of kings to search it out.” Proverbs 25:2

We met at the Cosson House, took some pictures to commemorate the day. From there we drove to the Handlebar Taphouse. I had been there quite often on previous occasions, and wanted to introduce her to the restaurant. In my opinion they have the best build-your-own burgers in town, and a personal favorite from my trip through Canada, good ole gravy smothered Poutine. After indulging in some good food we made our way up to Serpents Trail, on the Colorado National Monument. I wanted to surprise her with my proposal, though of course she knew it was coming, but did not know when. I had a plan to propose at sunset on the Monument, overlooking the city. She loved yellow flowers of any kind, daffodils, tulips, roses. I had given her on several occasions a bouquet of eucalyptus, baby's breath, and yellow roses. I had also, when I could not provide her with flowers, learned to make an origami rose out of whatever paper was on hand. Usually paper napkins. This was a preplanned gesture, the reason of which you will see by the end of this particular story. A week before the proposal I acquired several sheets of flammable flash paper, for another reason that will be revealed by the end of this tale. I hope you are filled with suspense by now dear reader. That day, we climbed around on Serpents Trail for several hours, enjoying the fresh air, the views, and the peace and quiet away from the city. It was an hour or two before sunset, so she suggested we do a bit of driving over the rest of the Monument, and stop at several other lookouts. I had plans to propose at sunset, so I went along with the idea. We drove around for a while, then stopped at Ute Canyon Overlook. After admiring the view for a short time I pulled her close, and told her some things that, to be honest, I have completely forgotten because of how nervous I was in the moment. I then pulled out a paper rose, formed from a napkin. Lamenting to her the fact that I didn't have a real rose to give her on this occasion. I then turned my back, and upon turning back to her the paper rose went up in flames, revealing a beautiful yellow rose underneath. I then got down on one knee, and told her how much she meant to me. How lucky I was that she was willing to join her life to mine. At least, that was my plan for what was to happen. The weather had other plans. It was quite windy that day, and I could not get the lighter to set the flash paper on fire, so I spent about 30 seconds with my back turned, the rose covered by my overcoat, desperately trying to set it ablaze. When it finally caught, and I turned dramatically around, there was another thing that I did not anticipate. Flash paper when wrapped many times around an object, layer upon layer, does not go up in a flash. No dear reader, it sits there in your hand like liberty's torch. burning the hairs on your hand, and some on your arm, for a good minute or so. We were both very thankful that I did not set my whole beard on fire. To top the incident off, I had not realized how beautiful of a spot this overlook was or how perfect of a moment this would have been to produce a particular ring. A ring I had left it in the vehicle at the trailhead. God has ways of keeping us humble. We walked back to the vehicle, and start driving back down the Monument. I was driving quite fast, because now the sun had set. It was getting dark, and I wanted to make it to a viewing area overlooking the city. There is no more beautiful sight than looking down at night at all the lights of the valley twinkling below you. We pulled off at one of the overlooks and gazed arm in arm at the beautiful valley below us. I then walked around to her side of the car, got down on one knee, and asked that she give me the express honor, of pledging her life to mine. I wish I could tell you all I said, I was told it was quite elegant, but I was so nervous I can't remember much of what I said. What matters was the very end of this particular tale, SHE SAID YES!!