I'm Engaged!!! Part One

I know, surprise, right?! Well, then you don't know the history. Those who do know it are not in the least bit surprised. So, here goes:

Dave and I met in college 11 years ago. We were both RAs and had training together. He finagled it so we ended up doing some of the training together. We quickly became best friends. We went canoeing, walked, ran, talked, watched movies together, ran in the rain and jumped into puddles together. We spent hours together almost every day while we were in college. After just a few months of knowing each other people were already calling me Mrs. although I thought I loved him only as a friend - as the brother I always wanted but never had.

He graduated and I continued into Grad school. He would visit me and I would go to his place to visit. I went to where he was the camp director for a Boy Scout camp for the whole summer. We went shooting (yes, with real guns), swimming in a sinkhole (they are all over Florida), talking on a picnic table bench with a massive Florida thunderstorm going on all around us. We had a lot of fun!
I went on a mission for my church. He wrote me throughout. We started talking marriage and future before I got off the mission. I was in the state of Florida 4 days when he proposed to me. I SO was not there. I think I freaked out. The bottom line is that it didn't feel right to say yes at that time. I was concerned that as long as we talked I would be leading him on and I really did not want to do that. So, I told him I thought we should no longer talk. That was one of the hardest things I had to do in life. He was my best friend.

Well, over the years I have googled his name and wondered what he is up to. I found out he works as a police officer in another part of Florida. Last November I felt strongly that I needed to write him and tell him what a really great person he is. I have never met a better person. So I did write the letter. I mailed it and . . . it was returned to me unread by the post office. Sigh. . .

So, I tried to forget about it but it became a daily nagging thought in my mind. I finally broke down and wrote him again, this time to his work address. He received the letter and called me immediately after he finished reading it!

Since then, we have talked for 1.5-3 hours every night. It has been wonderful talking to my best friend again. Life is beautiful with him at my side. I see in color again when the last five years I was seeing only in black and white. I have missed him so much. He and I are a perfect match for each other. He is so patient and thoughtful. I did not see it then, but I was in love with him in college. I was confused. I had the last few years to find my way but gratefully I did find my way back!!

I knew in college we would be a great fit - perfect for each other. I knew in college he was as good a person as they come. I knew he was "a catch." I saw his intelligence, energy, optimism, enthusiasm for life, integrity, thoughtfulness, and so many other things. I was just not there yet. Gratefully he still wants to marry me. Gratefully he did not marry in the meantime. Gratefully now I see how much I loved and love him! Gratefully, he proposed! To learn more, see the next blog!