Neither Joe nor I actually remember when it was that we met for the first time. We must have been around ten or eleven years old, and we must have met at some kids event at our church. Though I don't remember our first encounter, I have many memories of playing music with Joe in middle and high school on the youth group praise band. We used to sit with each other with our friends at youth group every week, AIM and text throughout the week, and eventually we became best friends. For Joe, it was pretty easy to say he wanted to be more than friends, but I was a little more reluctant. As we grew closer and did more of life together, I realized there's no one I'd rather date than this best friend of mine. Six and a half years later, and we couldn't be happier together!

After six years of dating, and having some conversations about marriage, I was positive there would be no way Joe could surprise me, but somehow he managed to keep everything hushed. I was at a family party all day, and I thought we were going on a double date that night. As I'm driving home before our date, Joe calls and says, "I just got off work, I'll pick you up soon!" It's pouring down rain and I'm going 12mph on route 28 and might be a little late. Joe's frustrated with me. "Honey, I hate being late. Come on. Try to hurry." We argue a little. If there was any inkling in me saying he might propose tonight, it was gone. He wouldn't be angry with me the day he asks me to marry him. He picks me up and on the way to dinner, he "forgets" the way to the restaurant and I had to remind him (Ha!). We park, and he has five missed calls from our friend Alec. "I'm so sorry, Joe. Steph hit something on the way to dinner. We're waiting for triple A, but they're going to be a few hours." The rain stopped, as if right on schedule. (Thanks, God!) Joe asks me if I want to take a walk, like old times. We walk around Old Town Clifton, like we used to in high school. I see the gazebo and, conveniently for him, I ask if he wants to go sit in there. As we turn the corner, I see it all. Flowers, petals, lights, candles, and pictures from our favorite memories. I might have said out loud "I know what's happening!" We walk into the gazebo and I hear the music, "Lucky I'm in love with my best friend.." That song played on the radio the first time we held hands. (: The rest of the moment is a little blurry in my memory. Joe had a sweet little speech about the past six years, about the future, and about this season. He pulled a beautiful ring out of his pocket, got down on one knee and asks, "Will you marry me?" "Yes." We hugged, we laughed, we reminisced on the photos, we prayed, and we celebrated. It was the most special proposal he ever could have planned.