The Engagement

Photography: Chantel Marie Photography

Carson and I came home from college to visit our families for the weekend. It was Sunday evening, and I was waiting for him to come pick me up to caravan back to P-Town. My family all ran out for a minute.  So I started to read while I waited for Carson. While I was reading, a beautiful and quite random set of feelings and emotions ran through my mind and my heart.  I started to say a prayer and I got emotional thinking about how grateful I was for Carson in my life.  I felt if he were to ask me tonight to marry him, which I wanted to more than anything at this point, I would not be able to contain my emotion and excitement! It was another quiet confirmation for me to press forward. However, I brushed it off due to ceasing any expectation because there was no way Carson would be proposing tonight.

He called me to ask me to go on a hike with him up “Our Mountain” to see the beautiful fall leaves.  Okay, the mountain is not ours but it feels like it. Since the day we met, we have spent hours and hours running, hiking, and talking in the mountains above my house. Of, course I wanted to go. 

 I waited and waited.

It started to get dark.  I asked him if he wanted me to bring a headlamp, half jokingly and half serious.  He finally came to pick me up and we went on the Vida Course-a trail that we have loved since we were young.

We started trekking through the woods.  I could not help but start whispering. Carson took my hand and made a sharp left onto a pity form of a trail.  It looked like maybe five people had ventured on it before.  We walked past an open field, where a man (which I later found out was Punkin setting up some last minute touches) was crouched over a fire pit.  He acknowledged us with a deeply stated; “Hey” but kept his head down, minding his own business. It was quite startling and very random. 

I fired off question after question. 

All of a sudden we turned the corner to a nook filled with candles and a hidden, wireless boom box (which was connected to Carson’s I-phone) started playing music that we love. We danced under the stars and in the candlelight. We danced and danced and danced.  As we danced, he began to describe the symbolism of the place we were at and a few other beautiful thoughts. My sweet Carson started to get emotional. I was in awe watching this young man that I had come to love so deeply. As soon as he knelt down on one knee, I was gone. Anyone who knows our story, this moment was HUGE for us—it has been a long road. I was so excited I didn’t even think to put the ring on—I jumped, screamed, kissed, and kissed some more (after which, I put the ring on the wrong hand.) I kept having to remind myself that it was real. Looking back, the entire evening was a surreal experience; it was something I had been waiting for my whole life. I am finally marrying my best friend!

We went home to tell our families…we were up until nearly one, excitedly chattering about our experience and the wedding.

the power stance.