its a mad mission

Fast-forward 11 months to July 31, 2008. Bill and I are planning to spend an evening at the park once more, and I am convinced he will be proposing to me. We were supposed to go to Hamlet there the week before, but that didn’t work out, and I figure, this is IT.

Turns out, it was supposed to be. But nothing cooperated for Bill, and for this, his second attempt to arrange a proposal, the ringmaker broke the mold after Bill had made all the other reservations and plans. So he had no ring, and I got no proposal that night. I tried to pretend it was ok, and Bill knew I was struggling and begged that I trust him. But, dash it all, it turns out I am such a girl.

So now I hoped I would see a ring sometime the next week. But Bill was actually able to get it the next day, Friday.

On Saturday, we were riding the train with his friend, Maurice, to 86th St., when Bill said, “We’re getting off here.” “Here” was 59th St., the entrance to Central Park. I grow suspicious. A quick glance at his pocket confirms it. He smiles and knows that I know. So we wander into the park, down to the Lake to take a boat ride. Of course, even though the sky has cleared from earlier thunderstorms, they have shut down the boats for the rest of the day. Bill begins to think he is cursed.

So he runs into the Boathouse Restaurant by the lake and checks what the wait is. He tells me we have 15 minutes, and let’s go back to that wisteria (my favorite flower) arborway we discovered. It is here that he gets on one knee and proposes. I say yes, of course.

And then we float back to the restaurant, which doesn’t actually have a wait. We feast on a delicious brunch, then wander the park. Bill then takes me to the upper East side, keeping me guessing the whole time what we are doing. We arrive in front of a really nice spa, and he tells me he has scheduled a manicure/pedicure for me. Such a good listener! He knows I love this. Now I won’t be ashamed of my nails when showing off my ring!

I will be marrying my love on October 11, 2008 in Simsbury, CT in an outdoor ceremony in the peak foliage week in New England. I’m already praying furiously for sunny skies and warm weather. We are so excited and ask that you pray with us for a great ceremony and strong marriage. If you know Bill, you know how kind, funny, serving, and passionate for God he is. If all you’ve seen are pictures, then I’ll tell you, he’s as nice as he looks! 

My photo program on the blog is not working tonight, so see pics here: