Nearly 2 1/2 years ago, while working at Saint Louis Christian College, the admissions department overbooked their camp teams for the summer. I was told, while one of the many hats I wore was as an admissions counselor, that I would be representing SLCC at Rock Garden Christian Service Camp in early-July. Reluctant to the idea of hanging out with 100 jr. highers in the sweaty ozarks of southern Missouri, I packed my bags and headed south.

During the first day of camp, I noticed this very attractive lifeguard near the pool. She was tan, sweet, soft-spoken and stern, yet kind to the little children who would run instead of walk next to the pool. Ok, I won’t lie….she was frick’n hot! I didn’t know who this girl was, but I wanted to get to know her. It took me several attempts to get a single word from her. She was….well, how do I say it?…SHY!….eventually, I learned her name, age, that she loved Zoolander, Dr. Pepper & God (not necessarily in that order)…and that she had a boyfriend. What’s that?…A Boyfriend? Damn! I didn’t know who this guy was, but I knew he didn’t deserve her.

While in the guys cabin one evening, one of the staff caught a glimpse of Casey and I talking. He said, “Josh, I see you’ve been talkn’ to Casey. You a little sweet on her?” I replied, “We’ve been talking, but she has a boyfriend already.” That staff member shot a quick reply, “Well don’t let that stop you. You just need to keep in touch with her.”

Thankful for the lovely social media world of Facebook, I did in fact keep in touch with Casey. Over the next year we maintained our friendship that developed during that week of camp in southern Missouri.

A year and a few months after camp, I was given a few tickets to a Cards game from a friend of mine. 20 rows behind home plate. I went out on a limb and asked Casey if she wanted to make the drive up to STL from Springfield, MO for the game that was that next evening. She hesitated to say yes, only because she didn’t want to make the drive back to Springfield after the game by herself. I had a quick solution for that…I had 4 tickets. She could bring a friend and I’ll bring a friend to the game.

Over the next 8 months our friendship had grown. At one point during those next few months I broke her heart by telling her that I only wanted to be friends. What the hell was I thinking? She respected my wishes and we maintained our friendship. Then in the spring of ’09 our relationship progressed…I guess you can say that I finally realized the mistake I made in the past. Finally on May 1st, I asked her to be my girlfriend. Not knowing that it wouldn’t be first time she’d say ‘yes’.

I can’t put a finger on the exact moment that I knew that I was going to propose to Casey, but I had an idea in the back of my mind after the first few months of dating.

A few weeks ago, I took Casey ring shopping to find out what she liked. Sure enough, the first one she tried on, she fell in love with it. (Thank God it wasn’t the most expensive ring in the store…oh, yes, she’s worth more than all of those rings in the store combined, but my bank account would quickly remind me of my budget). She’s a modest women. Another reason why I love her.

What Casey didn’t know is that I went back a week later and purchased that ring. I also went by her parents’ to ask her dad for her hand in marriage. Exact quote from my future father-in-law: “I’d be very proud to have you as a son-in-law”.

I knew that over Thanksgiving we would be traveling back to Casey’s hometown to visit her family. That just so happened to be about 20 minutes away from Rock Garden, where we first met. Perfect timing for me to propose! What other time would I be able to get her at the camp and surprise her like this?…

Her whole family was in on the engagement process…which, just goes to show you that they were welcoming me into the family with open arms.

After church on Sunday, Casey’s family and I planned to go out to eat with her aunt & uncle. The story was made up that Casey’s uncle had a meeting after church and we needed to burn some time before meeting them for lunch. So her dad started to drive us around and we just so happened to be driving towards Rock Garden. Casey’s mom & dad wanted to “see what had changed on the camp grounds” and therefore we needed to drive up there. Her parents wanted to walk around to look at the deans quarters that was just recently built. As everyone else climbed out of the jeep, Casey said, “I don’t think I want to get out”.

I eventually got her to get out of the jeep and said that we should get a picture together. She started to poke a little fun at me…”Oh look, Josh is getting all sentimental on me…got to get a picture together where we first met.” She had no idea what was about to happen.

I hid the ring box in my camera case and gave the camera to Casey’s sister, Lindsey, to snap a few photos of us. We walked over near the pool where we first met and snapped a few photos.

Casey quickly asked me to put the camera case down so it wouldn’t be in the photos. I had to quickly think of how to get that ring box back in my hands soon! Thankfully, the batteries in the camera were about to die and so I had to get my camera case for Lindsey. That’s when I snagged the ring box.

The next few minutes were a blur. I can’t remember the exact words, but I remember saying, “I love you” and “will you marry me?”

She said, “Yes”

I had this big speech all planned out in my head, but honestly don’t know how much of it got out. It all had gone differently in my mind….but with the same outcome. We hugged. We kissed. We cried….okay, so maybe only I cried a little…j/k…

She then shot out a quick, “you’re a jerk!” Yes. I was a jerk for tricking her. HA! It was hilarious. I had no idea, I’d get engaged and then get called a ‘jerk’… She was only mad for a split second at her family for all being in on the it. She’s so cute when she gets surprised.

Click on thumbnails for full size images.

The past 7 months have been such a blessing. God has truly blessed me. Plain & simple. I’ve never laughed as hard as I have when laughing with Casey. I have never loved as much as I have when loving with Casey. We found ourselves traveling down a path of love…full of ups & downs and twists & turns…and there is a long road ahead of us with no end in sight. I’d say we are sort of crazy about each other.

We aren’t quite sure when the “Big Day” will take place…but this coming summer is the plan. The main focus for me is to find a full-time job to financially support us when we get married. I know that we aren’t really focused on the specific day as much as we are focused on the marriage. Our wedding will be a short lived moment in our life, our marriage is going to last forever…You tell me which one of those two is the more important one to prepare for.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their congrats and their support through this small point in Casey & I’s relationship. We look forward to celebrating our marriage together with family and friends!

Tags: engagement, marriage, relationship