It was a Saturday evening, May 14, 2011. Steve had worked that day, just like he did most Saturdays. He started his Saturdays fairly early with clients, and then I would go in to the club and we’d workout together.

After working out we went to his townhome to relax and spend the day together.

The plan was to go to church at 6:00 and then meet our friends Ben and Alyson at Stella’s Fish Café in Uptown.

We had one of those lazy Saturdays; lounging around, watching TV, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.

 

“Babe today we have to get to church early at 5:00 to meet up with Pastor Alan to pray before church,” Steve informed.

“Okay,” I said, glancing at the clock.  “I need to get ready then.”

 

I wasn’t quite sure as to why we had this special meeting with Pastor Alan, but I’m all for prayer so I didn’t question it. I went upstairs to his bathroom to change, freshen up and fluff my hair.

Steve eventually came upstairs to get ready. He put on Christian music from Pandora as we got ready.

I finished one last touch, walked out of the bathroom, “okay, I’m ready.”

He looked so good. Steve always looked so handsome. He had on a red polo shirt, his hair was done just how I liked it and as always, he smelled so good!

Steve had a cologne collection, and I’m not talking about four bottles of cologne. I’m talking more like twenty. I had asked him about it, and where the cologne collecting came from. He told me growing up his parents were smokers and he hated the smell. In order to try to cover it up, he would cover himself in cologne.

Gone were the days of living with his parents, but this cologne thing still carried through. Not going to lie, I wasn’t mad about it. There’s something about the way a man smells that makes me melt. If there were a love language for smelling good, I’d add that to my list!

 

Steve turned down the music. “Babe, we need to pray before we go.”

 

Pray before we go? I thought that was strange. That wasn’t ever part of our routine before, but I wasn’t going to question what he was requesting. I thought, if my man wants to pray, we’re going to pray.

I fell more in love with him in that moment. I had always wanted to be dating a guy who was a spiritual leader. I have a tendency to want to lead, but I know that in marriage, the wife is not supposed to. That doesn’t make her any less important, that just makes us different. We were designed to have different roles for a reason. If one tries to take on the role of the other, the divine purpose of each spouse within marriage is diminished and your relationship has/will probably suffer as a result.

 

I know there will be people reading this that might get all “huffy and puffy” hearing me say that. The Bible says: Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (Colossians 3:18) and it goes on to say Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”

 

I’m a natural leader, but truthfully, in a relationship, I wanted to be led. I don’t want to the leader in my relationship. I want to be cared for, adored, loved and cherished.

 

 

There we stood, hand in hand in his bedroom with our eyes closed.

 

“Dear God, I want to thank you for today, and Lord I want to thank you for Ashley. Thank you for bringing her into my life…”

 

As I stood there I thought, I like this. Steve is really growing in his faith, he’s praying over our relationship…I melted…

 

“And Lord I ask that you bless our engagement…”

 

My eyes popped open! He just said ENGAGEMENT….oh my goodness!

 

I don’t even remember any of the words after engagement because I was so shocked that came out of his mouth.

 

He reached into his pocket, took out the ring and he got down on one knee and said, “Will you marry me?”

 

 

My heart raced, I looked into his eyes with slight panic, palms sweaty…

 

“Yes!”

 

As he was on his knees my hands embraced the back of his head as I pulled him in for a kiss. He got teary-eyed and attempted to put the ring on my finger. He couldn’t quite get it on, so I put it on.

 

I paused for a moment, “Holy smokes we’re engaged!” We kissed again.

 

“Are we really meeting Pastor Alan?”

 

“We are supposed to, but it’s okay if we’re not there at 5:00.”

 

It was after 5:00, I grabbed my purse and we headed out the door. We called our parents on the way and told them briefly that we were engaged! We didn’t have time for long drawn out conversations about all of it because we had to get to church.

 

As we pulled in, Ben and Aly were driving out of the church parking lot. They were in on the plan and I waved at them and Steve stuck his arm out the window shaking his fist in victory and followed it up with a thumbs up.

 

We didn’t have time to pray with Pastor Alan before church. By the time we got in praise and worship had already started.

 

I have to admit I was distracted the whole time. I kept looking down at my new rock and I kept replaying the highlight reel of the whole thing in my mind. I glanced at Steve, we exchanged excited smiles, as he held my hand.

 

There we were, singing praise to Jesus, embarking on a new adventure as an newly engaged couple.

 

I glanced over at Steve as he poured out his heart in worship.

 

 

Thank you God. Thank you God.   THANK. YOU. GOD!

 

 

 

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