My family and Chris did an excellent job of completely throwing me off about when we would get engaged. We both graduate in 2013 (Chris with his master's and me with my bachelor's), so I originally anticipated getting engaged late in the spring semester. I thought I had it figured out.
Shout out to Pam Breedlove here. Not only did she convince me she wouldn't know when Chris asked dad, but she got me to paint my nails pretty before I left to visit him the weekend before Christmas. She didn't know he was proposing at the time--she did it as a precaution. Write this down--nothing gets past Pam Breedlove. Nothing. She rocks.
I left for Atlanta on December 15th. I got there around 6--Chris informed me that he would be in a final until 6:30. I parked my car at his apartment and walked around Atlantic Station, trying to find a Starbucks to go to while I waited for him. Being in typical Mary Chase fashion, I couldn't find it. I wandered around--frustrated at myself, frustrated from traffic, and just wanting to see Christopher. After about 10 minutes, he called me.
When I answered, he said that he could see me. I assumed he was riding his bike back from the Georgia Tech campus. I looked around trying to find him and told him that I couldn't see him. He told me to meet him "under the arch". [Side story: The first time I drove to his apartment in Atlantic Station, he told me to take a right at the big stone arch. There's a huge stone arch right beside his apartment. Somehow, I missed it the first time.] I knew where that was (now).
He hung up on me. I assumed that I was close. When I walked under the arch, I didn't see him at first. I turned the corner and saw him dressed in a tux, down on one knee, and playing the guitar. In the moment, I didn't think he was proposing--I thought he was just being romantic and sweet. I love it when he wears a tux (he's a good looking man, y'all), and I also had no idea the he even had a guitar--much less that he knew how to play it. I watched him play and he started to sing. At first, I thought he was singing "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. After a few words, I realized the song he was playing.
"Marry Me" by Train. Here are the song lyrics for those of you who aren't familiar:
Forever can never be long enough for me
To feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do
Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally shown her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies
And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Marry me
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| Thank you for this memory, Michael Ellis :) |
Next, pulled out the most beautiful ring I've ever seen in my life. He asked me to marry him, and without hesitation, I said yes. Then the tears came. His best friend was hiding and taking pictures / videos of the whole thing. I can't think of a time in my life (until now) that I have cried that much from pure joy. I was, and am, so happy. I'm still in awe of God's goodness to me--that He would put someone like Chris in my life, and allow us to fall in love with each other. Christopher Larry Mize is a gift straight from God. A lifetime with him is more than I could have ever wanted in life, and I mean that. In Chris, I have my best friend. I have a man who loves me unconditionally and treats me like a princess. I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams. Christopher, I love you and I thank God for you every single day. I can't wait to be your wife!
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| My precious future in-laws |
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| newly engaged :) |
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| This ring means so much to me, for so many reasons. |
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| Atlantic Station at night, where Christopher proposed |
Life is so good. To God be the glory.
Love,
The Future Mrs. Mize
this is so wonderful. :) I love you both!
ReplyDeleteSingle men of the world, beware. Chris has set the standard against which all future marriage proposals must be judged. And I agree, he looks pretty good in a tux!
ReplyDelete