It was the very last moment on the last day of the C4C retreat in 2024 at the Immaculate Conception Retreat Center in Putnam. Mary was standing against a brick wall by the entrance and Tim was sitting in a chair right next to her. They both looked at each other and said hello. One thing led to another, and they were making small talk. Mary knew she liked Tim, and Tim knew he liked Mary from that first interaction. Talking together showed no signs of stopping, and along with that, Tim brought Mary's suitcase to her car; what a true gentleman! It was time to leave, but both of them agreed to keep the retreat fellowship going by heading to a nearby ice cream shop with some friends once all the cars were packed and ready to go. This was their unofficial first date. Unofficial because Tim bought Mary's ice cream for her, they sat next to each other, and Mary kept glancing in Tim's direction. At the end, the final goodbye was truly difficult. BUT Tim decided to start coming to Mary's C4C Chapter on Tuesday nights, so they started seeing each other more often. Mary began to make sure her hair was perfectly set, and her outfits were carefully planned. One Tuesday night, Mary and Tim were placed in the same small group for discussion time. After the discussion was over, Mary heard Tim call her name. He began to ask her if she would like to go out sometime and Mary said a most exuberant yes before Tim even finished asking. From that moment on, it was always Mary & Tim as they never wished to be a part. The rest is history as they say. They knew quickly they would be together, forever and ever, amen.

Mary was inspired after her first date with Timothy to write down all the details of what they did on their date. This is what she wrote... "My First Date with Tim - My very first date with Tim Halmose was on Saturday, June 22, 2024. We went to Athenian Diner II in Middletown. We both ordered breakfast for dinner and had great conversations throughout our meal. At the end, he asked if I wanted to get ice cream at Rich's Farm Ice Cream stand down the road. I said YES, and when we arrived, he surprised me with a bouquet of yellow flowers and a card for my birthday. It was the sweetest moment, truly touched my heart because Tim is the first man to give me flowers besides my dad. We both ordered peanut butter cup ice cream and talked a while longer. It was an amazing first date. Tim was a perfect gentleman in every way, and I loved every minute of it." One the second date, she wrote another entry, and another, and another. She wrote all these in what she affectionately called The Date Journal. She has written about every date from the first one all the way to the proposal. This is well over 200 entries. Included with most date journal entries are photos or little mementos of their adventures together. What a truly blessed and amazing adventure it has been!

It is July 11, 2025. Mary woke up and had a feeling that today would be the day! She only had to work a half day, so she was able to FaceTime Tim on all his breaks, and every time she did, he was smiling WAY too much!! Dad was at home getting the house in order like we had company coming, but Mary kept going about her business and keeping her eye out for more clues as the day went along. It was finally the end of the day, and Tim was coming to Mary's house any minute. The butterflies in her stomach were BURSTING!! Tim pulled in the driveway and immediately went inside to get ready. Mary asked him what he was planning to wear (clever tactic!), and he said a button-down shirt and a vest. Hmmmm, that sounds a little fancy, right?? Mary knows Tim very well and had a hunch he would be wearing something blue because that is their favorite color. She went into her closet and put on a nice, navy-blue dress (She had to look her best for the impending proposal!!). Mary and Tim perfectly matched in attire, headed out to Waterbury to St. Patrick's Oratory for a very reverent holy hour. During the entire car ride there, Mary kept glancing in Tim's direction. He very quickly caught on, and do you know what he said?? "Don't get your hopes up." WHAT??? Even still, Mary had hope that today would be the day! After the holy hour, they went back to Glastonbury to pray in their spot, the gazebo in front of St. Paul Church. "Okay, this HAS to be the moment," Mary thought! They began to pray their Stations of the Cross Rosary as they do every Friday. Almost immediately after starting, Tim said, "would you like to go for a walk?" Again, WHAT??? I hesitantly agreed, and do you know what Tim said next? "What, did you think I was going to propose or something?" Mary, shyly said, "no, of course not!" (LIES!!). The walk was lovely, and they concluded in the Church. Now, when they walked out of the Church, rather than heading to the car to go home, Tim lead Mary back to the gazebo!!! When they walked in, there were hearts strung on the roof, and their song was playing (Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis). Tim got down on one knee and proposed. When he asked Mary out for the first time, she barely let him finish asking before saying yes. This time, she took in every one of his beautiful words and said a truly profound YES!!! The ring is gorgeous; it was his grandmother's ring which is so special to Mary. The original stone was a very dark sapphire, so Tim put a new royal blue one in, so stunning!! The joy and love that existed in that moment couldn't possibly be contained in the gazebo! Especially when Mary saw the mysterious photographer and decorator of the gazebo. It was Mary's dear friend Lauren. She took the most beautiful photos (check them out at the top of this page!!). It was such a gift for Mary and Tim to have her there. Tim orchestrated everything so perfectly, and Mary couldn't stop smiling and sharing her joy with everyone; she's still smiling and always will be. Praise God for all the beautiful blessings on this day!! Let the wedding planning begin!!!