The Story // Chapter Three

Our first official date was perfect.  We spent the afternoon at the mall, had coffee at our favorite Starbucks (it's an old cobblestone house that has been restored. So very cozy.), and ate dinner at Bonefish Grill.  I ordered chicken.  Even though I knew him fairly well, I felt like there was so much to learn.

Our first date

The next three months were filled with dates at new coffee shops and cafes, dinners with my family, hiking adventures.  I was falling more and more in love with this man with every passing day.  On one of our dates we went to Ithaca, a quaint town east of us.  We sat at the edge of Cayuga Lake, talking, skipping stones, and laughing.  If he asked me right now, my answer would be yes, I thought.  He didn't ask.

Our last date before engagement

 Mother's Day was fast approaching.  In fact it was only two days after our date in Ithaca.  We had decided to cook a meal at his house, my family would join us once it was ready.  I was in no rush to get over to his place.  I still needed to stop for a few groceries to complete the menu.  We had all morning.  I finally arrived at his place and took the groceries inside, I was ready to get started.  Let's go on a walk first, he said, grabbing my hand.  As we walked on the pathway through the field toward the creek in the woods, I kept stopping to look at flowers, commenting on this or that.  He was practically dragging me along.  What was his rush?  We had all morning.  When we entered the woods, I understood why he was dragging me along.  This wasn't about Mother's Day at all.  He had set up a doorway, with a path leading up to it.  Would you be willing to walk through the door and continue on this journey with me?  I nodded.  He was down on one knee and reaching into his pocket.  The ring was beautiful, it sparkled as the filtered sunlight caught it.  Sarah, will you marry me?  I tried to speak, but no words would come.  After what seemed like eternity to him, I found my voice.  Yes!  Yes, I will marry you!

September 21st couldn't come soon enough.  Four months isn't a long time to plan a wedding, or so I was told.  But it was perfect.  After three months I felt like the major details were in place.  My dress had arrived, the guests were invited, and the venue was booked.

The twenty-first dawned bright and clear.  It was an answer to prayer.  The venue of choice was the farm I grew up at; a vineyard.  There are always risks involved in an outdoor wedding, we realized that.  But it was our dream, we were willing to trust on this one.  We chose not to see each other before the ceremony.  However, as I was getting ready inside, I noticed him outside greeting guests as they arrived.  He was so handsome.  My heart beat faster.  Finally it was time!  He was standing there, waiting.  Waiting for me.  My dad was preparing to give me away.  It was beginning to rain, oh but I didn't care.  Let it rain, I was marrying the man I loved!  Nothing would quench that joy.  As my dad and I made our way down the aisle, the sun broke through, the rain stopped.  It was glorious, a moment of heaven on earth.  We read our vows to each other, we were pronounced man and wife.  We kissed.  We celebrated.  We laughed.  We danced.  This was our forever.

 

And it is only beginning.