Our Engagement

August 2005

"Finally, We're Engaged!!!!"

August 17, 2005

Dear Friends and Family,

I just wanted to let everyone know that last night the 16th of August I asked Amber Davis to marry me! With little if not any hesitation she said yes!! We've known each other for almost four years now and started courting last October, however, from the day I met Amber I knew something was special about her.

I had planned for an awesome Hot Air Balloon ride for Wednesday, but due to bad weather I had to cancel. Freaked out at the last minute, I decided I would do it Tuesday evening instead. I arranged to get off of work (fortunately someone was willing to pick up my shift) and went to get some flowers (Amber's favorite kind), some pink grapefruit soda (Amber's favorite), and some tasty Turkey pannini's (she likes turkey sandwiches). I bought 100 tea light candles and went to the pet store and picked up the sweetest grey and white Persian kitten I could find (we're still trying to think of a name for it). So, I got all the items together went home to finish up a DVD I was making of all our past pictures. After everything was coming together, I asked for my father's blessing. I told my mom and sister what I was about to do, and they were very supportive of me and the decision I was making. Amber was working until 7:00 pm so I planned with her parents to have their house all to ourselves. (Amber's parents were so excited they had to leave before Amber got there so they wouldn't give it away.) We put the kitten (with the ring on it's collar) on the swing outside and I left to go set up the picnic. Amber got home clueless to what was going to happen. I called her and told her I didn't have to work, so we could go out to a nice dinner. She got ready while I set up at the park we plan to get married at next summer. It's a beautiful place with tall evergreens, and a serene lake with ducks and geese. I laid everything out all nice, the blanket, flowers, and food, then I started to light the candles. I had about fifty of the darn things lit, then a gust of wind came and blew them all out. I tried lighting them again, but a second gust came, and I got fed up with the whole thing. I was stressed out enough as it was. Fortunately the caretaker of the park saw my situation and gave me some candles that wouldn't blow out.

After everything was set up I went to pick up Amber. When I got there she was finished getting ready and looked absolutely gorgeous. I walked her out to my car, and as we drove away I told her we were going to a nasty Italian restaurant called Dragoos. She was not thrilled at my decision, but she went along with it. On our way to "Dragoos", we stopped at the park. She got out, and wondered why we were there. I took her by the hand and led her down to the water where everything was set out, and the sun was just setting. She was so happy to see the picnic I had set up for her. We ate and talked, and admired the flowers I had bought her. It was starting to get a little too dark, so we picked up out things and drove back to Amber's house. We got to her house, walked in, and I dimmed the lights for the slide show I had made for her. We sat down and watched all the pictures of our past go by to a song called "You and I" by Stevie Wonder. I started to cry for some reason. At the end of the video I wrote for Amber to come outside with me because I had a surprise for her. We went outside and on the back porch swing the baby kitten was crying in a basket. Amber began to get really emotional, because she wanted a kitten so bad. She picked up the kitten out of the basket and admired its cute little features. She didn't notice the ring on the collar for quite a while, so I said to her "look at the kittens collar isn't it cute". When she looked and saw the ring I just lost it, I took the kitten, undid the collar, and got on one knee with the ring and asked her "will you marry me". She said yes, we hugged for a long time crying, and practically crushing the kitten.

I can tell everyone, by far this was the most surreal experience I have had so far. You think about this day for such a long tome throughout your life, and when it finally comes it just doesn't seem real. It's awesome, and I am so excited that I am going to spend the rest of my life with Amber. She is such a blessing to me and I am waiting to see what God has in store for us!

Thank You everyone for all of your prayers and support!!

I'm a blessed man
Love,

Paul