The Proposal

I'm writing this post a few (okay - way more than a few) months late. Even now looking back at this day, it still feels so surreal. It's like I still have to pinch myself to make sure it all really happened. I wanted to put all the details down in a blog post so i'd remember every detail. 

Drew, my (boyfriend) at the time, was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He had been there since November of 2018, and we didn't have real plans to see each other until much later in 2019. Sending him off was hard for me - I knew the Lord had him there for a purpose, and that he was made to be in the Air Force, but not knowing when I was going to see him again wasn't easy. Luckily for me, I still lived with a best friend from college, and within two hours to all of my closest friends and family. I had the best support system anyone could ever ask for. 

Communication with Drew was hard, because Japan and America have a 15 hour time difference. We were constantly missing each other - I was waking up when he had already gone to sleep, and he was up early for PT and heading straight into work, before I had even left the office. It was hard, but luckily our schedules lined up more on the weekends, and we were able to talk more. In January, Drew told me they were expediting a passport for him - he was thinking they were going to send him on a trip to another country for work in a few weeks, but said he didn't have many details yet.

Fast forward, the trip comes up again - he finds out he was selected to go, and that he'd have limited communication there (which, at this point, is pretty standard for us) 

I was really excited to him to explore somewhere new, and he said he'd let me know whenever he made it. I got an email from him:

 and that's the last time I heard from him that weekend. 

Side Story-

For Valentine's Day, it's pretty normal for Marissa (my roommate at the time) and I to get each other really exciting, out of the box gifts. We knew this would be our last time living together (she was moving to Greenville in the coming months) and we celebrated a lot of lasts! As her gift to me, she told me she had gotten us a roomie photoshoot in the Downtown area of where we lived! Pretty normal considering we both loved our Downtown, and had spent almost 7 years at this point in this city - and worked right near each other Downtown. The photographer was a mutual friend that actually had a contest recently for a free shoot that Marissa and I had both entered to try and win - so again, makes sense this would be her gift!

Fast forward to photoshoot morning. I had just showed Marissa the email from Drew, telling her how happy I was that he had made it safely to his work trip and that I wished he was here for the photoshoot, etc. Serious props to Marissa who kept it together allll weekend. Luckily for her, I truly didn't think I'd see Drew again for at least 3-4 months so I really expected absolutely nothing. 

It was a rainy, yucky day - but Marissa pressed on with the photoshoot, explaining that she had some back up locations in mind so the weather didn't really matter. We arrived to our first location, which to my excitement, was actually a hotel and was one of the first places I had worked in Anderson. Our photographer (the amazing Anna Grace) met us there, and we walked to their garden area to get started!

We took a few photos of the two of us, and then Marissa suggested doing some individual photos. I was resistant, but gave in and got ready to take some solo shots..... when DREW walks around the corner. I wish I could tell you I remember every single detail of him walking up to me, and getting down on one knee, but the truth is that I was in SO much shock that a lot of is blurry. The entire time I'm trying to figure out how he could possibly even be in America and standing in front of me. 

After a million tears, I obviously say yes! Drew and I start taking a few photos of the two of us in an alleyway.. and then a door opens, and both of our entire families walk out! Again - total shock - because our families live hours away from where we were. I was SO overwhelmed, happy, and just in a total dream. We move inside to take a few more group photos.. and then a gate door opens and ALL of my friends come out! 

It was one surprise after another, and it was truly one of the best, most memorable days of my life. The Lord gives the BEST gifts and i'm so crazy blessed.

Pictures included are by the AMAZING Anna Grace Campbell.