From Ben:
Oh, the proposal.....
So...some of you may be saying, engaged??? Or maybe...engaged!!!
Well, no matter what your reaction, here is the story of how I surprised the girl who hates surprises.
You have read our story by now, or you know it because you were there for a part of it. I speak for both Lee and I to tell you that we are so very grateful for everyone's help along the way no matter how big or small.
This all started when we spent the last 2 months, 500 miles apart and missing each other more and more everyday. We had talked about marriage many times in the past. This time was different however. Naturally we both loosely ran the idea by our respective families and soon there after we were suddenly picking dates and shopping details and all WITHOUT a ring or a certain question! (This is where the train left the station without both Lee and I on it! ha!) I had not even talked to her dad yet. I will say that there was never a doubt in my mind about asking her, but I wanted a little more surprise involved...a little romance if you will. The reason this was needed to be discussed now is simple. We could not stand to be apart, did not want to live together before marriage, and because of Lee's school schedule, would have had to endure the separation for another year or more if not now.
Fast forward a few weeks, and a few more plans, and one AGITATED Lee Emanuel. Why you ask? Well I still had not asked the question yet. She was getting to the point that she was almost willing to accept an emailed proposal! She would say, "Whenever we discuss marriage I always say, 'No, no, no, not yet!' and now that I'm all in, you make me WAIT!!!" Little did she know that I had in fact purchased a ring, talked to all parental parties, and even started a little creative story telling involving me not asking her for a while in order to "preserve the romance" and wait until the school semester was over. This is where the fun begins, and it involves more creative stories and alot of help from her family to pull it off.
Here is the fabricated story in short...basically Lee was to be picked up by her Aunt Jan and Uncle Dennis, under the guise of "catering work" for and FCA event, all things she loved, work, catering work, Aunt Jan and Uncle Dennis and FCA. Naturally, the servant that Lee is, was happy to help. Meanwhile, as I am racing to Mobile, AL from Nashville, TN with her sister/photographer in toe in order to make her moment easily remembered I am telling her that I "can't talk" because I have to go into work at another store as a "fill-in", this way she would not call me at work for the rest of the afternoon. You see...she was being lured to her favorite spot on Mobile Bay, a pier in Fairhope, AL overlooking the water and at sunset. This is a spot where Lee and I have shared many moments in the recent past and the only spot to tell her how much I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her. In order to get her there, they told here that the catering 'event' was running behind and they had time to catch the sunset on the pier. Lee was terribly excited about the extra time before lots of work that night, because she had brought her camera to capture Mobile Bay just in case this exact thing happened!
Fast forward again to Jill and I arriving early to scope out the place. This is where my nerves are starting to kick in. I was starting to talk excessively and scrutinize every detail while I waited for my unsuspecting love to arrive. Needless to say, Jill was thoroughly entertained with my now ridiculous behavior.
Soon, I have taken my place with ring in hand and disguise ready to go. Jill is in place with the camera, Lee's grandmother, Mimi, has arrived in her very own disguise, looking much like a mysterious movie star in the airport and finally the transport team has arrived to meet the surveillance team for action!!! The only thing left is to surprise Lee!!! By now my heart is literally pounding, I am blinded by the setting sun and straining to find Lee on the pier. I am desperately trying to find her without blowing my cover.
Suddenly, I hear the whistle from Jill telling me she is coming...I spot her and wait...she passes me by, taking photos of me, while I pray she doesn't notice it's me! Luckily, she wasn't wearing her glasses and she was quite enthralled with the amazing picture that the Lord had painted for us that day! I spring into action...GAMETIME!!! I come from behind her and call her name...she doesnt turn around...I call again and she even kind wants to run away a bit!!! haha! I call one last time(third times a charm ;) and she turns around and sees that its me!
Here is where she gives me the biggest surprised look I have ever seen and is in total shock. We hug and kiss, she calls me a liar, and I tell her that I need to talk to her..I tell her that I love her very much, and just had to surprise her with something since we were doing this planning thing a little backward. I tell her that I had to bring her to the water and sunset to tell her that I wanted to spend the rest of my life making her feel like the luckiest and most beautiful girl in the world. The entire time she is saying OMG! OMG! OMG! I dont think she even heard me words, except "Will you marry me" on bended knee...In fact, she even asked me to say it twice! I was so nervous I said it very quickly. At this point, there is a line of perfect strangers and family screaming in joy, blocking the pier and in turn, giving me a bit of stage fright! She said, "YES!" I stood up, took the ring from the box and placed it on her finger and the family revealed the rouse. She still had not seen Jill! After several posed photos, she realized I brought her a personal photographer and the entire event was caught on camera!
We later exchanged hugs and tears and laughter and parted ways from the family for a little alone time on the pier and soon to dinner to enjoy the moment. On the way to the restaurant we had a fortuitous moment when "Marry Me" by Train came on the radio ;) Truly a perfect moment for both of us and I am very grateful to everyone who helped me surprise the most special person in my life. Lee, I love you very much and can't wait to start our life together!
Love you forever... Your Benjamin
In our typical humorous fashion: here we are sharing a sunset kiss...next to the garbage can....
Just in case you want to see the amazing photos that Jillian (and Lee too) captured that day, check it out here:
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