Engaged!

Now that I've completed seminary midterm stuff, as in two papers and two tests within two days, I'm able to come up for a breath of fresh air... and declare the rumors (you may have heard) true: Yes, I am in fact engaged to a lovely Ms. Emily Ruth Presley. My version of events, with confirming photos:

It all started when the landing gear got stuck. I was leaving Oakland on my way to meet Emily in the Atlanta airport, where we would continue on to New Orleans, when the plane turned around because the pilot couldn't get the landing gear up. Thankfully it was stuck in the 'down' position. After a second try the next day at noon on the same plane, and the same problem occurred, they put me on a different plane and I arrived almost 12 hours later than expected. Meanwhile, Emily had arrived in New Orleans and spent the entire day getting to know my uncle, Lee, who was celebrating his birthday.

Together At Last

Lee, his partner Doug, Emily and I proceeded to have a wonderful few days in New Orleans, complete with a (day) tour of Bourbon St., various delicious ethnic foods, and even a wading through the streets of NO during a particularly heavy downpour. On Wednesday, October 24th, we flew back to Atlanta, where we would each part our separate ways...

...or so SHE thought! I had secretly made arrangements to fly back with her to Detroit. We had a tearful goodbye at the gate before she boarded the plane, before I then through on a friend's hooded sweatshirt and beanie, and acted like I was on the cellphone to cover up more of my face. I ended up just a few persons behind her in line on the plane, but had put her in the back of the plane and myself in the front. When we deboarded in Detroit, she was quite shocked to see me standing there!

"Oh No He Didn't!"

Her mom picked us up from the airport, and we had a good laugh at how I surprise her... little did anyone know this was just the precursor to the main event. A few hours later I took her to dinner at a nice Italian place in her hometown of Northville, MI. We then went for a walk in the historic park in her town, and came upon a large white gazebo decorated with rose petals and candles, and nicely arranged with a wooden bench, some crates with a large single candle on top and a dozen roses (I had enlisted her uncle Ed, an interior designer, to assist me). By now she new this was probably it... I bumbled through some nice words, saying what I could remember from what I had planned to say, and then got down on one knee and the rest is history.

Engaged in the Gazebo by Candlelight

So, thanks to all who have played an integral role in our relationship - Emily and I both tremendously value your impact on our lives, and we look forward to continuing on this life journey together.

No, really, WE'RE ENGAGED!

May this story bless your day today. It was a lot of fun in the making.