a most delightful 24 hours
During dinner with my friend on Friday 26 April 2013, Don excused himself to take an important phone call. He returned with a sorry look on his face and told me that work had called him in the next day for an urgent story - even though he'd already worked six days straight (or so I thought). I was pretty disappointed, since I was hoping to spend some time together.
He made up for my disappointment when he gave me a cute little card that read, among other sweet words: "You are cordially invited to a special evening of fine food and finer conversation. A night to reflect on our relationship past, present, and future. Come to Petersham Park, through the Brighton St gate, at 6pm on Saturday 4th May....Be comfortable, but schmancy."
I fell asleep that night with my little heart bursting with joy at the thought of being engaged in a week's time to a lovely man.
On Saturday 27 April, Don picked my friend and I up for a casual breakfast at Flood St Carousel, and over a Nutella & strawberry croissant he dropped into the conversation that he'd told his colleague we'd be at her house for dinner much earlier than I'd anticipated. I was annoyed, since I had people coming over that afternoon. Nevertheless, I agreed to be at Circular Quay to catch the 4:40pm ferry. I spent the rest of the afternoon shopping for his colleague's housewarming present and some comfortable but schmancy shoes for next weekend...
I met Don at Wharf 4 and we caught the ferry over to Watson's Bay, where his colleague was waiting for us. We hopped into her car and as she was driving, she said, "I have to go pick something up from the shops quickly, so I might drop you off at home first if that's ok? David's at home." Made sense to me. She pulled up outside a laneway and said, "See that sign there reading 43A Fitzwilliam St? It's just down that laneway. We're 43B on the left, just ring the bell and David will let you in." I said bye to her, Don told me to put the housewarming gift I'd bought back in the car (which looking back now made no sense...) and I happily took your hand.
I couldn't find 43B. It wasn't where she said it was. Don said maybe it was straight ahead so we kept walking, but we came to bridge and started crossing it. I looked around and realised we were at Parsley Bay, where Don told me for the first time that he loved me. I still hadn't quite worked it out. "Oh! Claude and David live near Parsley Bay!"
Then, when we were halfway across the bridge, I noticed a lovely little tent set up on the picnic area, with a picnic rug and candles and fairylights. "Oooh, I wonder what that is!"
Don didn't respond. So I looked up at him. Then I twigged.
"Do you want to have a picnic instead?"
He led me down towards the picnic rug. I was super confused and asked a gazillion questions.
"Wait, so we're not having dinner with David and Claude."
"And were you even at work today?"
"Nope. Actually I haven't been at work for a while."
"And what's happening next Saturday 4 May?!"
"I FEEL LIKE I'M ON THE TRUMAN SHOW"
After I'd decided it was best to shut up and stop asking so many questions, I started noticing properly all the things that were around me. The cushions from the couch at the old student apartments I lived at, where we sat when you asked me to be your girlfriend (you'd gone a few days earlier and asked the new residents if you could borrow them for this occasion). Two fairly sad-looking chairs from the Education Building room at Sydney Uni where we first met at a small group bible study (the security guards didn't quite get the sentiment, but I do appreciate their cooperation). A big, big bunch of flowers, a picnic basket, and an open Bible.
We took turns reading from the second chapter of Song of Songs. I read the "she" parts and you read the "he" parts and we put on funny voices to read the "others" parts together. A beautiful story of a woman who's almost confident of her beauty, describing herself as a common wildflower. She expresses her thoughts; her beloved hears, and responds. by telling her that she is the most stunning woman he has ever seen - a lily among thorns.
"Now there's something I have to respond to.
Four years ago today, on the 27th April 2009, you wrote me a letter. You may not have known it then, but it was adressed to me. And my reply is long overdue..."
And Don began responding to each line that I'd written in a letter to my future husband, posted at the time when I chose to believe that a man who loved Jesus would be kind and gentle and compassionate, and that God would be worth trusting with all areas of my life. When Don finished reading me his letter, he said, "So, arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away." (Nice little reference to Song of Songs there, mister.) Don pulled me to my feet, got down on one knee, looked up at me and said:
"My darling, my beloved, will you marry me?"
After lots of nodding without being able to say anything, I said, "yes yes yes yes yes!". Eventually, I had the courage to look at the stunning ring properly (IT'S SO SPARKLY), a wonderfully thoughtful gift that Don had designed.
The rest of the evening just continued on in delightfulness. We prayed together to thank God for His goodness to us and Don prayed for God's blessing over us. Don's colleague emerged from his hiding place to congratulate us and tell me that he'd been taking photos. Don's friends came back from a nearby pub - turns out the lovely guys had spent not only that day setting up, but a previous day that week doing a 'dry-run' to make sure things would go to plan.
I am amazed at what a glorious joy and privilege it is to Donald's soon-to-be wife. Marriage is such a kindness, and God is such a loving God.
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