Well, we went to visit Zach's family in Maryland for a week. So about the 2nd day in Zach said that we were going to have an Adventure Day. (Which is just something we do from time to time in order to satisfy Zach's spontaneity and both of our adventurous sides.)
On the 6th we drove out into the countryside of Maryland (lots to rolling hills, old barns, quaint towns with houses hundreds of years old. I eat that stuff up!!) Zach said we had 2 stops and so upon arriving at the first one, I was met with the cutest little red covered bridge. ( I have this obsession with them and have only seen 1 in my life, but never have driven over one or anything.) Naturally I was super excited and wanted to get out and explore, but Zach gave me just enough time to snap a picture and we were off. I was a little bummed as we were driving away, hoping we could have stayed a little longer, but Zach had more in store.
Our next stop cured that attitude because standing in front of us was another big red covered bridge! You can imagine my smile! This one was right next to a little park where we settled in and Zach revealed the purpose of our trip: A PICNIC! Complete with a picnic basket, blanket and all we made our way to the edge of this river and set up right in front of the bridge under a tree. We spent the rest of the afternoon there just enjoying the PERFECT 60 degree weather (insane for MD this time of yr.) and the sound of birds chirping and the river rushing.
At about sunset we packed up and headed back towards home. The sun was setting over the rolling hills and it was so BEAUTIFUL! We passed where we would have turned to go to Zach's house and I asked him where we were going. He said he wanted to show me his old house. As we kept driving, we came up a hill and to the left was this huge farm where they filmed the movie "For RIcher or Poorer." The house was really nice so I pointed it out. Zach said, "well let's check it out!" (Little did I know, he was actually planning to turn in there anyways. Funny how that worked so well.) We drove down the long driveway and I was telling Zach that we needed to get out of there, that we couldn't be there etc. etc. He insisted it was ok. In the middle of trying to convince him to leave I looked to my right and saw this tiny private red covered bridge. I said, "Look at that, another covered bridge!!" In my head I'm thinking, how cool is the Lord, to accidently let us come down here so that I could see just one more bridge today! Little did I know I was about to see really how cool the Lord was!
At this time it was just at dark. Zach told me to get out of the car and we started walking towards the bridge. I noticed these white bags with candles in them lighting a path to the bridge and I'm obliviously thinking, "Why do these people have a lighted path to their bridge?" But as Zach grabbed my hand and we got closer what was happening began to hit me. I looked at him and said, Zachhhh..." Once we got to the front of the bridge I looked inside and there were lit candles lining the edges and rose petals scattered on the floor and along the shelves. There were also bouquets of wildflowers lining the ground as well (Those are my favorite!) He said he knew I would put all this together so he was just going to get to the point, but he said that he knew he would be so nervous and forget everything he was going to say so he wrote it down. He began to read me this beautiful letter. I'm probably going in and out of consciousness by now so the rest is pretty hazy. Before I knew it he was on one knee asking me to marry him. I started crying and covered my face with my hands. After a few seconds Zach asked, "Is that a yes?" I said YES! He stood up and gave me a hug and I just started laughing, so filled with joy, a longing fulfilled.
Next, he went to take the ring out of the box, (I still hadn't seen it because it was pretty dark by now) but Zach was so nervous that he dropped the ring!! It fell right next to a huge crack in the covered bridge. The ring is wooden so it would have floated right away! We both started laughing and it was such a good addition to the story (surely one to tell the grandkids). After he got the ring on my finger we prayed together and just thanked the Lord for orchestrating such a beautiful and perfect thing. Then we danced for a bit and talked for a while about how the Lord put everything together, from showing Zach the ring, to how he told Zach when and where to do it.
It was truly such a beautiful day and we are both just so thankful that we have a God that loves us so much that he put this whole thing together!
TO HIM BE ALL THE GLORY! AMEN!
