Wednesday, June 6, 2012

January 25th, 2012

I wrote our engagement story on the wedding website for those who will be attending the event. But I'm sharing it here with you, because you are our guest any time you visit our blog. I'm sure you'll enjoy finding out the details of how Ian was finally able to give me the ring. Feel free to post any memories or questions or wittiness about our story.

http://CariBowman.ourwedding.com


Rewind. Pre-engagement flashback. The first day Ian met me in person (after two months of talking on the phone for hours and hours every week), he told me that he loved me. I, of course, responded in turn. But I wasn't really sure in my heart that I loved him; I was suspicious that I just wanted to 'wing it' in the relationship and have a fun fling for a while. But Ian was intent on winning my heart for he had truly fallen in love with me.

A month after we started dating, he asked if he could buy me a diamond. I was a little bewildered as to how to respond. I thought I loved him, but I still wasn't sure if I understood the definition of love in that kind of relationship and if I was ready to make a commitment. Ian told me that he just wanted to show me how much he loved me and how intentional he meant to be in our relationship. So, I consented to looking at rings and to considering engagement in the future. But I made it clear that if he asked me to marry him at that time that I would say NO. 

Fast forward. A year later, we were both fully in love and looking ahead to marriage at some point. We spent Christmas with the Antons family and warmed them up to who we were as a couple and our future aspirations. Ian's family seemed very much in favor of our relationship, which gave Ian the confidence to continue with his plan of presenting the ring to me and asking for my hand in marriage.

The day he proposed, he met me at the door of my house when I'd come home from work. We were to get ready quickly for the family orientation meeting at his fire department in VA that was to be held for the new recruits that evening. I thought I should go get dressed, but he told me I needed to come to the basement to see something. That let me know something was up. When I turned the corner from the steps I saw two basins on the floor and a towel. I couldn't help but laugh. It just seemed quirky to have basins and water prepared for me. I knew what he wanted to do - he wanted to wash my feet, which made me laugh even more because I'm ticklish and my feet were stinky that day!

Despite my giggles, Ian was poised and confident as usual while he washed my feet and quoted scripture about the purpose of washing a fellow Christian's feet. Jesus had done this for his disciples in order to show them that He was their servant, that He was humbly giving of Himself to them and willing to cleanse them (spiritually). Note: I did get it together and take him seriously. Ian explained to me that he wanted to serve me with his life and that he wanted to lead me as Christ leads the church. He gave me the ring and said that he wanted to spend his life with me. 

It was a very sweet moment. I hope we never forget that important step in our journey.

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