{Crazy in Love}


Stephen and I signed up for the annual Guatemala trip led by BobnDotti a quirky and adorable husband and wife team in 2008. For 5 months we spent several hours together in weekly group meetings and fundraising events for the trip and NEVER really spoke to each other. At the meetings we never ended up sitting close to each other and it wasn't really necessary for us to speak to each other I guess. Then in late February/early March we, along with about 40 other students and community members ventured to Guatemala for a service trip to continue construction on a nutrition clinic.

On the second or third day the group spent time at an operational nutrition clinic and the town dump where several families had been forced to move to because of recent injustices to their communities. The nutrition center was home to several severely malnourished children and it was a moving experience for all of us. There was particularly one child-Adiel-a 13 year old boy, who weighed an unbelievable 22 lbs and was unable to move or support his own weight due to his progressing weakness. He touched all of our hearts and at one point was too much for me.

I left the nutrition clinic early and headed outside, alone to collect my thoughts, to the Bomberos Voluntarios (Volunteer Firefighter) bus that was our transportation.

I was sitting on the bus by myself when Stephen boarded right after me. I looked up but just assumed the group was heading out and he was the first to get on the bus. I was wrong-he had seen the impact Adiel had on me and had followed me out specifically just to be with me in that moment. He gave me a bright pink bandana and sat with me on the bus while I cried on his shoulder. We spent several minutes together reflecting on what we had just experienced. It was at that moment, I think for both of us, we knew that we were going to each be a special part in each other's lives. 

For several months, Stephen tormented me about this dream that he had where we got engaged. He said he was going to go by the dream. I tried 20 questions and made every attempt possible to figure out the date-but I never did.

Stephen's Dad's 70th birthday fell on New Year's Eve of 2009/2010 so Stephen's mom, Linda threw a huge party for all the family friends and out-of-town family to attend. We, along with all of the guests, eagerly awaited midnight for the new year. Well, the ball dropped and everyone wished everyone a Happy New Year, except me and Stephen. Right after midnight stephen held my hands and expressed his feelings with a few amazing words and got down on one knee and pulled out a ring box and asked if I would marry him. 

Apparently I never said yes-and can you blame me? Amidst the crying and everyone standing by with their "ooohs" and "awwwes" I kind of was taken aback by the moment. I did, however, have no problem holding out my hand so he could place the beautiful ring with his grandmother's heirloom center diamond on my finger. The setting was perfect-surrounded by family and friends! It was an amazing night and a truly spectacular way to start the new year and our lives together!