As winter started to unfold around us in 2007, Ryan and I had both gotten to a point where we decided that maybe God was calling us to be single and that we just needed to start to accept and enjoy it. I had officially given up on blind dating and set-ups, so when my new friend and office mate told me that she “had a friend”, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and sigh and ask, quite honestly, “what’s wrong with him?” From what I hear, Ryan did just about the same thing when told about me!
But, something panged at my heart (maybe it was the thought of being alone for the holidays, which were just around the corner?). I felt that it was worth one more shot to at least meet him though. I cautiously provided my number but never quite expected a phone call. Later that night, I got the call… and missed it. But there was a voicemail from Ryan inviting me to one of his house concerts. I didn’t even know what a house concert was, but it felt like it was worth a try. Especially for a guy that called the day he got my phone number.
With a friend in tow, I did attend that house concert in the middle of what felt like nowhere (Reedley, CA). The house was filled with music and people. I was distracted and searching the room for Ryan, since I had a vague idea of what he looked like. Then, there he was, standing in the hall. We locked eyes and he smiled… and I turned red with embarrassment. He was (and is) so handsome! We made small talk and quickly made our way to his famous fireside room to watch the show. The music (AJ Degrasse and Amy Kuney) amazed me. The friendly environment amazed me. Most of all, listening to people talk about Ryan and his generous and hospitable spirit warmed my heart. I knew that he was someone special. I went home with a grin plastered on my face.
To my surprise, the next day, there was an email from him in my inbox, asking to get together so we could get to know each other. We went out just a few nights later, on a double date, with the good friends that set us up.
We continued to date as much as possible in that first month. Then, on January 1st, just shortly after midnight and our first kiss, we became a couple. The next several months went by like a whirlwind and I felt myself falling more and more in love with Ryan.
During an Easter trip to meet Ryan’s parents we took a wonderful day trip to San Francisco. It was there that Ryan and I realized that we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. A few months later, on a spontaneous detoured road trip to that same city, Ryan got down a bended knee and asked me to be his wife. It was the best moment of our lives.
Though Ryan and I had started to talk about marriage shortly after Easter, I really had no idea of when he would ask me to marry him. So least of all did I expect anything to be going on when we took a weekend trip to his parent’s house with our friends Neil and Melissa (the couple that set us up). We had a lovely weekend with friends and family, celebrating the anniversary of Ryan and his family’s home church; just tons of good food, laughter and good times.
We loaded up the car to head home on Sunday afternoon, said our goodbyes and hit the road. Shortly into the journey, Melissa brought up the idea of going to San Francisco for dinner. I said we should definitely do that someday. The conversation continued but I must have started to drift off because I missed the part about taking the detour that very evening. When Ryan took the San Francisco turn off, I looked at him like he was crazy. It began a round of friendly bickering about how insane it was to take a detour like that when we all had to be at work the next day. After a while, I gave up the fight and decided to just go with it.
A very cold and foggy day had descended upon San Francisco; a far cry from the 102 degree heat we had been experiencing in central California. We decided to roam around trying to find a park near the Golden Gate. We, of course, ended up wandering around for over an hour at the wrong Golden Gate Park. So, we got back in the car and headed back towards the bridge. We arrived at the right Golden Gate Park and walked our way down to a beautiful spot down by the water.
Neil headed back to the car to get a camera and Melissa followed closely, leaving Ryan and I to savor a warm hug as the cold fog blew past us. As we whispered sweet words into each other’s ears, I felt like I could stay like that forever. But at that moment, Ryan pushed me quickly away from him. Again, I looked at him like he was crazy. He paused and then slowly bent down on one knee. I think I exclaimed something like, “Ohmygod! Ohmygod!” and fought back tears. He slowly reached into his pocket, pulled out a black velvet box and opened it… and there… was NOTHING. No ring!
For a split second I thought it was a joke, but as I saw the panic grow in Ryan, I realized that it was not. We both started to scour the ground and saw it… the ring, just a mere foot away from the rocks and ocean. He picked it up, regained his composure and asked me to marry him. I can’t even recall the words and they don’t matter because I exclaimed “YES” or rather, was barely able to whisper it because I was so full of emotion and shaking from the cold.
Neil and Melissa came out from their hidden place and handed Ryan his guitar and grabbed our cameras. Just when I thought it couldn’t get better, Ryan began to play and sing me a song that he had written using lyrics that we had both written. It was absolutely gorgeous.
Since hunger was overtaking us, we had a champagne toast and headed into the city to have dinner. It was there, at the crowded Cheesecake Factory in Union Square, I was given yet another wonderful surprise. There, waiting to celebrate our engagement were my parents and brother, Ryan’s parents and our dearest friends. I about died!
We had a wonderful meal together and I was so blessed looking around the table at all of the people I love and excited at the thought of us all becoming family.
I’m so blessed to have married a man who cares so much for me, loves me and cherishes me as much as Ryan does. I love him beyond what words can express. I hope to be the kind of wife that God has called me to be and look forward to supporting and serving Ryan.
Thank you so much to all of our friends and family that have showered us with so much support and love these past few years.
