Well, I know lots of people have been asking, so here's the story (yes, with ALL the details) for those who want to know:
Okay, so many of you all know that I've been pretty sick for about a week and a half. Yeah, I'm still sick (but hoping to go to the doctor this week). Needless to say, I've been out of it! Nevertheless, I started a new job on Monday, Jan. 21, so I've been sick and getting acclimated to my new job...and so I've been quite preocupied this past week. Never would have suspected that anything else might have been brewing in the works.
Last Sunday, January 20, Tom and I celebrated (over the phone) our 5-monthiversary...
Apparently, one night early this past week when I was feeling particularly sick, Tom tucked me in and left my house. Little did I know that before he left my house, he talked with my dad downstairs and asked for my dad's blessing because he wanted to propose to me. "I think he got a little teary-eyed," Tom told me later. My father happily replied "Yes, of course, Tom!" Dad told mom either that night or the next day...so they knew about it for a few days before the actual proposal! Hmm...they were awfully good at hiding it...or maybe I was just completely out of it because of being sick.
In the middle of the week, Tom told me he wanted to spend the entire day with my on Saturday and I told him that sounded wonderful (I had hoped I would feel better by Saturday). As the weekend drew nearer, I began to think of the things we could do on Saturday and wondered if Tom had any ideas (go figure), but I was too sick and tired to concentrate on it for long.
After the completion of my first week at my new job, Tom came over after work and he started feeling sick too. (I guess we share everything.) We had dinner with my parents on Friday evening at Western Sizzlin' (now called the "Great 611 Steak Company") and none of them acted funny, so I still had no clue. Tom left shortly after dinner so that we could both get to sleep to get up and see each other in the morning.
Still sick, I didn't sleep well again that night, so I was rather groggy when he called and told me in a very peppy voice that it was 9:10 and he was leaving his house to come over. So I got up and got ready and re-did all the home remedies I could think of so that I could feel a little bit better for the day ahead even though I had no clue that what I would really need for the day ahead was a huge energy pill! He looked all handsome and stuff when he got to my house and I just looked dressed-down like I was gonna knock around the house.
He asked me what I thought of going road-exploring since we had been wanting to do that together for a long time. I thought that sounded like a great idea and I didn't think I would need to change out of my VERY casual clothes since it didn't sound like we'd be going out anywhere particularly special. My mom was volunteering at the Wildlife Rescue when we left the house, and my dad had recently woken up and waved us off as he put seed in the bird feeders. Once in the car, Tom said excitedly, "Let's go to the Star first! It's been awhile since we've been there!" I thought to myself well that's not really exploring a road we've never been on, but okay. So I said "sounds good!"
Because we thought the Parkway was closed, I took Tom a different route and so he did actually get to see some roads he'd never driven before. Once we got up there, we found the place empty. Absolutely no other cars! I was rather excited because I knew that meant we wouldn't have to deal with other people's cigarette smoke. Tom was enthusiastic...well, for other reasons that I didn't know about yet. Both of us feeling sick, we go out to the balcony and look over the city and talk for a few minutes.
Then Tom says he wants to take a picture. I still have no clue because he and I ALWAYS take pictures everywhere we go...so this was not out of the norm. He puts his camera on his little tripod on the brick wall that stands directly below the Mill Mountain Star and I move as he directs me on where to stand to take the picture. Finally, he pushes the button and comes over to stand next to me for what I think is going to be a picture. I'm still smiling and facing the camera. But then he turns me to face him. (I'm thinking: umm, okay, I guess we're going to take a picture of us facing each other) Then he starts talking.
He says "Honey, I love you very much..."
I giggle and say "I love you too, honey". (I might have had an inkling of an idea at this point)
Then he says something like "and I want to spend my life with you and I have a question to ask you..." then he goes down on his knees and then it hit me (obviously)
I kinda whispered in a shaky voice "wha-at?"
and he says, "Will you marry me?"
I did a little squeal-scream and stepped forward to hug him (he was still on his knees) and then I stepped back and asked him (several times, I think) "are you serious?!?"
"yes! yes, I'm serious! look..." he says as he takes out the ring to show me...
I squeal-scream again, covering my mouth and stepping a few feet backward...still in disbelief and shock...
then he says something to ask again for my answer (silly me) and I say "Yes! yes, of course!" and I pulled him up so I could hug him properly...
I find out in the midst of all this that he was recording it, not taking a picture of us! Soon after he turns the camera off and we're still hugging, another couple arrives at the star and kinda ignore us, but we're bubbling with joy and Tom shouts at them "I just asked her to marry me!!!!" to which they kinda laughed and said "congratulations"
Well the rest of the day was spent galavanting around town to tell my sisters and their families and making phone calls to other friends and family on my side...but Tom decided not to tell anyone in his family until this morning in church. We had dinner at the Olive Garden with my parents and his last night and celebrated. But his parents were the only people on his side that knew...and they had kept the secret for 2 weeks!! This morning, we went to his church, Chatmoss Baptist Church in Martinsville, VA, and announced to his church and other family members that we are engaged. It was a very happy (and sickly) occasion for Thomas and me...we're hoping to get better soon so that we can start planning.
My next blog will contain the videos taken and some pictures so that you can see the reaction for yourself. We need to get the ring resized this week, if possible, but it's beautiful!
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers! Much love to all!
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