A Perfect Ten

So much happened in 10 days.

10.10.10
     Early morning I rolled out of bed and trekked to down town Wichita to cheer on Doug as he raced in the Prairie Fire 5K.
     After showering we went to Hutchinson, KS to meet up with Doug's siblings for a surprise early birthday celebration for his mom. What a special gift to give, the whole family came from all around Kansas! Off to the Dillon Nature Center for a family photo. Thankfully the rain held off so we could get this shot.

Introducing my soon to be family!

 

     Doug was exhausted by this point. He had worked from 10pm-6am, ran a race at 7am, breakfast celebration in Hutchinson (which is an hour away), family photos... so he wants to get going. I agree, its getting colder and rain is in the very near future. Once in the car he reminds me that he was going to show me around Kansas Bible Camp where he attended and worked at during the summers growing up. So after a quick stop at Hastings (like a small town Barnes&Noble) for some hot cocoa we drove over to the camp.
     As we drive up we see all these cars parked, but being adventurous we head out in the rain. Well my adventurous side had to be persuaded! Sometime in the last 2 years while Doug has been in Africa, the camp built this really neat...how do I describe it? Like a tri level gazebo tree house minus the tree. Anyways we head to the top level to get out of the rain and snuggle up with our hot chocolate. Doug was about thirty seconds away from pulling out the box and starting the proposal (I find this out later of course) when we hear footsteps bounding up the stairs! Invasion of the retreaters, all those cars actually had people in them roaming around the camp!
     Mood is ruined he says, so we return to Wichita where we watch a few episodes of Psych, our favorite TV show as of late. He surprises me by not going and taking a nap afterward, remember he worked all night and had to go to work again later, but he asks me to go for walk at our nature center. I don't really want to, its still rainy and cold outside. But he insists and I wasn't really that against it, so I borrow his over sized, red Chiefs jacket because it has a hood.
     We head over to our beloved Nature Center, where it was only drizzly and the clouds were thinning out casting a really neat light effect over the changing foliage (yes, foliage, it's a fun word.). I was in a silly mood, Doug was on the quiet side today as we strolled along taking short pointless videos and pictures. We come to a bridge that has some built in benches where I frequently would do my quite times when I lived in Wichita, or whenever I had to stay in town. So Doug says he wants to take one more video, sets the camera on the ledge and we sit down on the bench. I suspected nothing.
    He tells me a beautiful story about this beautiful green box from Kenya he bought about 8 years ago when he was there.Starting to wonder where this was going. After the story, which made me cry, he tells me that this box is for me but it comes with a question. By this point I was definitely understanding what was happening! Doug gets on one knee, opens the box and inside wrapped in tissue paper is the most beautiful ring. Of course you know the question he asked and by now you know my answer! I nodded and said of course, he slipped that beautiful ring on my finger and I gave him a smooch ;)
    Walking back to our cars I noticed a little green Volkswagen, my sister was there to take pictures! Such a wonderful surprise. All three of us trek over to Coldstone Creamery for some delicious ice cream where I gushed all the details to my sister. Doug also made this amazing video of pictures, short video clips, verses and songs that we watched. Sigh, he sure knows how to make me feel loved.

     After all the amazing events of the day we return to the nature center to pick up Doug's car, we drove together for ice cream, and there in the sky was a brilliant double rainbow. I like to think it was placed there just for us, God's way of letting us know he is with us always.
     Thank you for making it through my little engagement story, I am hoping to keep everyone updated on how the wedding plans are going and other random thoughts that pop into my head. So keep stopping by!