The Proposal

Joe and his children came over for our family Sunday dinner we have every Sunday. All the my siblings in the area come over for family dinner and Joe and his children had become part of it. This time Joe wanted to bring a cheesecake. He loves cheesecake and so do I. Dinner was wonderful and it was time to lounge around and talk. I had taken Rindee into the other room with me to look at some pictures on the computer from when I had some tried on some wedding dresses.

Braxton wandered into the room where Rindee and I were and he had his big ol' camera hanging from his neck. I asked him why he was wearing it (because nothing exciting was happening) and he said he was taking some pictures of the kids and he even showed me some of the photos he had taken. Oh okay.

Pretty soon Mom comes in and says "Mattie, it's time for dessert." That was odd because I got a special invitation and Rindee was in the same room with me. Why didn't she invite both of us? I knew something was up but I didn't know what for sure.

When I turned the corner into the kitchen I was that everyone had a piece of cheesecake with a strawberry and chocolate. The children were all happily eating. Joe turned around with two plates and I easily guessed that one of them was for me. He is thoughtful like that and would make sure I got a piece. It was then that I noticed Braxton with his camera aimed and Mom an some others standing around watching him give it to me. When I looked down at the cheesecake he handed me there was an engagement ring on it!

He set our plates down and turned to our audience and said with tears in his eyes and voice quivering, "I want you all to know how much I love this woman and I want to spend the rest of my life and eternity with her." I was smiling so big! (I was thinking it was so nice what he was saying but there wasn't really a question for me to answer.)

Then he got the ring out of the cheesecake and rinsed it off. He knelt down on one knee and took my hand. He was crying so much and I don't remember exactly what he said because the realization of this moment hit me. This is really happening! A man, who I love dearly, is on his knee asking me to marry him and he is crying because he wants it so bad. He loves me that much! Oh how long I have waited for this very moment and my dreams are coming true! My chin starts to quiver and my eyes blur with tears and after he finished speaking I said yes and I had to say it again because I was all choked up.

We cried and kissed and smiled and kissed.

Remembering this moment brings tears to my eyes still. And I often have to pinch myself to see if this is really happening to me. To me, the woman who gave up hope that her dreams would ever come true. The Lord is mindful of me, little ol' me.