Amanda and Michael met when they were 15 years old at a summer choir camp. Michael says he thought Amanda was the prettiest girl in the room and was determined to "date" her (as much as you can during a 2 week summer camp...). Amanda thought Michael already had a girlfriend back home and tried to avoid him the first three days. After some good old "he said-she said" communication, they ended up sitting together on the bus for the next 4 summers. College came and they lived their separate lives, but always wondered if they'd ever get a second chance...and clearly we all know how this turned out. :)

Since Amanda and I got back together after all these years, I knew from the get-go how I was going to propose (never a doubt in my mind we wouldn’t get here). I was going to ask her on the same summer camp we met at 14 years ago, Spirit Wind. She had gone back and become a counselor for them a few years before, and I tossed the idea out there that it would be so much fun if both of us went back as counselors… She loved the idea and all the memories we could relive together. Little did she know that this camp would create another memory we would never forget. I had told all the counselors and director what my plan was and asked for their help in setting it up. I was going to propose on a charter bus. Yes, it’s super romantic I know. You see this was a traveling choir camp, and we used to take long bus rides to various towns in north west Texas. Well it was on these long bus rides that Amanda and I sat next to each other and first held hands and shared our first kiss. The bus rides were what I LIVED for during camp. So the stage was set. Our first bus trip a few days into the camp I was going to propose. While the kids were rehearsing and us counselors were doing busy work I went to the bus and setup the PA system with music at the ready and the ring and a note in my hand. I texted one of the counselors to send Amanda to the bus. I previously told them to make something up to get her out there. Maybe that she needed to get something for one of them. Anything. I didn’t care what it was just get her out to the bus, and in the unlikely event that she put up a fight just be like, “AMANDA GET ON THE BUS!” I assumed she was expecting me to propose anyway and would get the hint. Little did I know… she did put up a fight.

So after waiting what seemed like an eternity and jumping at every person that walked by the bus thinking it was her, there she came. The love of my life. I ran over to the PA system and started the song I had just for this moment, “Greatest Love Story” by LANCO. When she got on the bus she barely even looked at me. She was heads down looking for something which I assumed she would be. I just stood there with my outstretched arm with the note. I gave her a few seconds then said, “Babe! Stop! Stop looking for whatever.” She finally looked up confused, started to say something, then realized what was going on. She then said what I’ll never forget, “OH NO!” Not exactly what I was expecting to hear! I just laughed nervously. She followed up with, “I was such a jerk!” Then tried to explain what happened inside the church moments before coming outside. Then she stopped herself, put her hands over her mouth and said, “I’m sorry continue. Continue with what you were doing.” I then explained that on the previous Valentine’s Day I had written her 20 love letters. Those letters were for her to open and read whenever she felt lonely (happens in a long-distance relationship). They were letters in which I had written about experiences we shared together from throughout our lives. Times we both cherished and loved. Well I had only given her 19. I was holding the 20th. In that note it read: Remember when we went back to Spirit Wind as camp counselors? You went back to the bus to get something, and I was there. I remember being so nervous just like I used to be almost 14 years ago when sitting next to you wanting to kiss you. Except this time, I was nervous because… I was about to propose. Love, Your future husband I got down on one knee while she read it, and she said yes!

She then explained to me why she shouted, “OH NO!” when she realized what was going on. Apparently she gave the counselors a hard time when they tried to get her out to the bus. She was interrupted from doing a very methodical task that she was quite enjoying, to go get a very generic camera bag from the bus. Annoyed at this as it seemed like there were plenty of other counselors who were not doing anything important, she asked if any one else could do it. No one had a good excuse apparently, and she got up and left shouting, “I guess I’m the only one with legs that work around here!” I just about died. That was an amazing story, and after hearing it I was laughing as well. So after all this we went back inside the church, newly engaged. We opened the doors to see the eagerly awaiting counselors who shouted, “Guess you’re the only one with legs that work around here!” We all had a good laugh.

I had a suspicion that the proposal might happen on the Spirit Wind trip, until we were told that it wasn’t starting at Camp Butman anymore. Once I learned we wouldn't be where we'd shared all of our SW memories, I assumed it wasn't happening. Some earlier pertinent pieces of information: Michael made a playlist for me back in November 2017 that was kind of our “story” told through songs. He also wrote me 20 love letters for our dating anniversary in April and gave them to me to read while we were apart (long distance is rough, y’all...but if anyone is worth it, he is). So we went on Spirit Wind. Michael was adorably excited and in my moment of frustration wondering, “Why are we using our precious PTO for this and not a week on the beach?!?” he reminded me that this would be fun reliving old memories together. He was right, by the second day I’d fallen in love with the kids already and loved watching them enjoy SW as much as we had. Day 3 we started out on the road and packed up the charter bus for our first stop: Olton, TX. As kids were rehearsing in the sanctuary, I was stuffing programs in the back, and the other counselors were working on various tasks. I went to the bus looking for something, and saw Michael working on the bus. I asked what he was up to and the bus driver, Mr. Jim told me they were fixing the DVD player for the kids. I didn't think twice and went about my business. Little did I know at that point he was already setting up for the proposal.

Back in the church, I heard the kids get quiet at one point, but thought nothing of it. Apparently, this was when the director was telling the kids what was about to happen and all the other counselors thought, “SHE’S GETTING SUSPICIOUS! WE NEED TO MOVE HER!” So they interrupted me and moved me to another task in another room. Soon after that, Michael was ready and texted the counselors telling them to send me to the bus. Kaitlyn, a fellow counselor, came in with the fake task they came up with to get me on the bus and said, “Hey Amanda, can you go get Jay’s camera bag off the bus?” I was annoyed to be interrupted randomly for the second time, but said, “Okay... what does it look like?” K: It’s a small, black camera bag. A: I need more details, I feel like you’re sending me on a wild goose chase. Colleen jumps in: It’s small, long, black, it has a camera in it, you’ll see it. I promise. A: Can Aaron not go get it? K: No, he’s helping with instruments. A: ...okay, sure. Like I said, I was a little annoyed that I was getting interrupted again, but Kaitlyn hurt her foot and was wearing a boot, so I understood why she couldn’t walk all the way out there. I stepped out of the room to head over there...but then I saw Aaron standing over in the sanctuary, seemingly doing nothing. I walk up to him and ask why he can’t go get the camera bag, he hesitates and sputters out an answer that evidently just didn’t cut it for me. I ask Jay why he can’t go get his camera bag, he also falters and gives me what I deem at the time to be yet another unsatisfactory answer. My frustration had steadily increased after being interrupted twice and getting asked to get this bag that just didn’t make any sense, but no one was letting up on it. So I storm off and say, “I guess I’m the only one whose legs work around here!!!” At this point everyone else knows what’s going on and is just trying not to laugh at me while I lose it over this dumb camera bag.

I get to the bus and see Michael there, but just assume he’s still working that DVD player from earlier. I ask him if he’s seen this camera bag as I start rifling through the front seats, but can’t find it anywhere. He tries to get my attention, but I tell him I really have to find this bag first. I'm on a mission! Then I finally pause and hear a song playing, it’s from that playlist he shared with me back in December. I look up at him and he’s holding out a note. I don’t realize yet that this it “THE moment” but I realize that something is going on and that dumb camera bag was a ruse. My first response is to say, “Ohhhhhh noooo I was SO mean to everyone!! I have to go apologize!!” He’s understandably confused, I start to explain, then say, “No no no, I’m sorry, you go ahead.” He says, “Earlier this year, I wrote you 20 love letters, but I only gave you 19...here’s the last love letter.” Then hands me the letter. In that moment I finally realize what’s going on. I have to read the letter at least 3 times because I can’t focus and my eyes keep skipping around, going to the last line that says, “love, your future husband.” I start crying, he officially proposes, and I choke out “of course!” between sobs. We kiss a lot, I tell him the whole stupid camera bag story and lament about needing to apologize, we kiss some more, etc. It’s all on video, cause he’s sneaky and adorable like that. :) Eventually we went back inside and I got to apologize to everyone for being so mean.