Friday, April 20, 2012

The Proposal

I've told the story of how Travis proposed to me so many times, but now I want to officially document it. So, this is the story of how he proposed...
We had been dating for 11 1/2 months when I was left in Edmonton to complete my 3rd year practicum and Travis went home for Christmas. I called his cell phone one evening and there was no answer... normally he is good at picking up his phone. Then I called my home phone to talk to my parents because I was feeling lonely.

This is how the conversation on the phone went...
Dad: Hello?
Me: Hi Dad, how's it going?
Dad: Oh good, good... Travis is over.
Me: ... Oh... Well, that's nice!
*Awkward silence on the other end...
Dad: Yeah, he just came over for dinner to visit us.
Me: Well I wish I was there.

Turns out, Travis was over at my house to ask my parents for my hand in marriage. I knew it right away because Dad gave it away. However, even though Dad wrecked Travis's cover when I was supposed to be surprised was a huge blessing.

After Travis talked with my parents, he called me right away...
Travis: Your Dad... he ruined it!
Me: I DON'T CARE! How did it go?

He told me about the conversation and how my parents were really happy for us. From this report, I started crying... I couldn't believe that the man of my dreams just asked my parents for my hand in marriage. The Lord was providing me with an amazing husband and has blessed me with amazing parents who were going to support and encourage us along our journey as a couple. I was overwhelmed with JOY!

Finally, I finished my practicum and headed home to Beautiful British Columbia for Christmas vacation.

Christmas came and went in a blink of an eye... and so did New Year's. I was anticipating a proposal, but I didn't know when it was going to come (I had thought about January 3rd because a year before on January 3rd, he took me on a long LONG walk and told me that he liked me...).

Finally... on January 3, I went over to his house and his parents disappeared to go to his "grandparents" and his brother disappeared to go to his "girlfriends house". Travis and I had arranged to go to our mentors place (Mike and Kathy) to roast s'mores with them... so I thought, "o.k, definitely NOT happening tonight!"

We then started making our way over to Mike and Kathy's house and it was raining (typical B.C.) Travis was a little antsy and was on his phone a LOT! I asked who he was texting and he said his brother, Luke... and I thought nothing of it.

We then got to Mike and Kathy's home, Travis said that they would meet us in their backyard. So we started walking to the side of their house. As soon as we got to their back gate, there were candles lining the steps down to the path... then I thought... "O.K, this is a fancy s'more roast".

We then entered their backyard... to my surprise, Mike and Kathy were not there. However, the yard was covered in candles and lanterns. I looked at Travis and I could tell that something was wrong.

Me: Trav, where are they?
Travis: I don't know... let's go back to the front.
Me: Why don't we just wait in the backyard?
Travis: Let's just go knock on the front door!

So we went back to the front. Travis had already snuck his phone out and called Mike.

Travis: Hey, we're here, where are you?
Mike: Oh, we'll be down there in a minute!
*Click

Me: Travis, why don't we just go to the back and wait for them?
Travis: No Jenna, it's fine, they're just getting set up!
Me: O.K well, let's go their anyways...
*I start trudging to the back
Travis: Jenna... noooooooooo... O.K...

I start making my way BACK to the backyard and Travis starts holding my shoulders. He gave them a squeeze as I turned the corner...

There was Mike and Kathy... and my Mom, Dad and brother... and Travis's Mom, Dad, brother and brother's girlfriend, Chelsea.

Travis's Mom and Dad: (1 Corinthians 13) 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
My Mom and Dad: 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Mike and Kathy: 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails.

Luke in the mean time handed Travis the RING! After they recited the verse, Travis said a beautiful speech about how much he loves me and how he desires to love me and serve me for the rest of my life.


Then he got down on one knee... 
Travis: Jenna McAlary... will you marry me?


Jenna: YES!!!

The first thing that I did was give him a hug... 

 FINALLY I let him put the ring on...

Then we were surrounded by our friends and family with hugs!
I'm so glad that my Mama was there... that was so special. My man knows me too well. He did a great job planning. 

 Mike and Kathy helped Travis plan the engagement... they provided candles for everyone to hold and then gave them to us as an engagement gift. We will be using them at our wedding as decorations too. It was so special to get engaged in front of our dear friends as well. Kathy is my mentor and we had been praying for this day for a long time. We are now praying for the wedding day. 

A picture with the immediate family from both sides... Kevin (my bro, who will also be the M.C at the wedding), my Mom, my Dad, me, Trav, Shelley (Trav's Mom), Garry (Trav's Dad), and Luke (his younger brother, a groomsmen).

We are SO blessed by these two. The Richardson's are absolutely amazing and mean so much to us. When I first told Kathy that I was dating a Johannesson, she freaked out because they knew the family from a LONG time ago. Mike actually dedicated Travis when he was a baby. He likes to take a lot of credit for Travis's height. He always says, "I blessed you well!"

 
Finally, the last picture of me and my amazing fiance. He had been planning the proposal since August of the previous year. He even messaged my manager at work to make sure that I had January 3rd off. What a guy... I'm definitely blessed. 

After we took photos outside, we proceeded inside and celebrated with Mike's famous special coffee drinks (definitely better then starbucks...) and cake! We then made phone calls to our families and close friends who will be in the wedding party.

Well... this is a long story, but one worth telling. I can't believe how blessed I am and now we are getting ready to live life together. Right now I only have 1 exam left and Trav has 2. Then, we will be heading home on April 29th!

As for now... 3 months and 2 days till we get married! 92 days and we will be MARRIED!!!

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