Saturday, October 13, 2012 was a GREAT day!!
Lou and I had planned to go hiking at Montgomery Bell State Park and cookout at the Wildcat Shelter for a couple of months. Little did I know how much planning he put into this!!
Lou said he would pick me up at 8 am.
I knew that he would be there before 7:30.
He arrived at 7:17.
I was ready by 8 and we hopped in the car and headed to the park. We had to make a stop at the Sonic for a Diet Coke because I would not be functional without my caffeine.
Lou kept getting calls from work about an event that was going on and I honestly didn't think anything was odd about an event going on so early. We made a stop to get me some breakfast since I had not eaten anything that morning and needed something to get me through the 1.5 mile hike to the shelter. I ate a ham and cheese sammich from Dunkin Donuts. It was good, but the Swiss cheese was a little strong. Lou kept looking at things in the gas station and I didn't know why until later.
We headed into the park and Lou asked if I wanted to go see the church before we got on the trail.
Of course I said yes because it is where we talked about having our ceremony.
The church in the park is the Birthplace Shrine of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, so it is very significant to me, but Lou has always said if he were to get married again, he wanted to get married in that church. I think it was meant to be :)
We walked in and looked around and then headed to the McAdow Cabin next to the chapel.
We then walked back to the side of the church and took this picture.
We then headed to the park office to sign in. We got back to the car, put on our backpacks, and started the walk to the trailhead.
The beginning of the hike was not as fun as I had hoped, it was a major incline and I quickly discovered that Chacos are not the shoes to wear on a hike. We made pretty good time and managed to get across the creeks without falling or getting wet. All of the sudden Lou told me to look up and there was the shelter. It was up on a hill and there was nothing else around.
As we were crossing the last part of the creek, two runners came by and were going up to the shelter to see if the fire had been put out. We were headed there so we said we would take care of it. Once we got up there Lou was shocked to see that someone had left a lot of dry firewood to use in the campfire. One of my fears was that we were not going to be able to find any dry wood since it had rained the day before. Well we didn't have to worry about that. Lou said that whoever had been there before us had not done a good job putting out the fire, but that whoever had cut the wood knew what they were doing. I didn't think a thing about it, but was happy not to have to go and cut any ourselves. I was just hanging out while Lou got the fire really started and while he kept on about how they must have had an axe to cut the wood and they knew exactly what kind to leave. Again, I was oblivious. Here are the pics when we got to the shelter.
Lou was getting stuff ready and asked me to come and sit with him at the fire so we could cook the hotdogs. He went over to his bag and was getting the food out and all of the sudden he said "Do you know what would make this day even better?" And I looked up, and there he was coming towards me with a red box! I jumped up and ran towards him as he got down on one knee. I jumped at him and nearly knocked him in the fire as he was trying to get up but wouldn't let go! I looked at him and said "you have to ask me" and he said "Will you marry me?" and I said "YES!" He then took the ring out of the box and put it on my finger!!
He then took this picture...
I was giggling and jumping up and down and Lou was just laughing :)
It was a great moment!!
I then called my family, texted a few people, and then put it on Facebook.
I was so overwhelmed by the responses!
We finally ate our AMAZING hot dogs and then hung out for a while. While we were eating, Lou filled me in on all that had gone down. He had told his best friend, Matt, what he had planned for the proposal. Without Lou even asking, Matt got his dad to go camping with him at the Wildcat Shelter the night before so the fire ring would be ready and there would be plenty of already cut firewood. And it was Matt who was calling him on the phone and not work. He had to stall so Matt and his dad could get off the trail and into the car so I wouldn't see them. That's why we stopped by the church and he took his time at the park office. Also, the lady at the park office knew what was going on. Lou had called to reserve the shelter and told her why we had to have that one. Matt and his dad had left the campfire without fire, but with the kindling smoking for us. That's why the runners had gone up to see about the fire, and I was just thinking it wasn't the safest thing to leave a fire smoldering, but it was all in Lou's plan. It was perfect!!! No one was around, it was the two of us and nature, and the smell of campfire.
We hadn't planned on staying too long because we had dinner plans with Lou's cousin and her husband. Lou put out the fire for real and we headed out. I put on my tennis shoes and felt like I was walking on air compared to what they had felt like earlier. We made it across the first part of the creek without a problem, and then to the second where I slipped on the wet leaves and fell in the water. But I got right up and we kept going. It was steep on the way back but then leveled off and was much easier. We made it off the trail and I got to put my ring back on. I took it off to hike back so I wouldn't mess it up. We made it back to the car and then hit the road to go home, get ready and go eat some great food!
I still play the moment I saw him with that box over and over and I just smile :)
I could not have asked for a more perfect day to go hiking, a more amazing man to spend the rest of my life with, and a proposal that was truly Lou and I!
I have prayed and prayed for the man that God had for me and I couldn't be more thankful!!
