Posts
12/20/2010
"How We Got Engaged" by Jamie & Jeff (reposted with permission)
Jamie: He wasn't even nervous! We had spent the entire evening with friends, eating dinner and playing games. When we got to the house, Jeff had me get out my computer to show me some funny BBC animal videos.
Jeff: I knew I wanted to propose before Jamie returned to California, which gave me a three day window. I didn't know if I would even see her the last two days in town. So, by order of elimination, Sunday seemed like the best time. After we returned from playing games at our friend Sarah's place, I was very happy Sarah called to talk to Jamie. The phone call lasted about 15 minutes, which was just enough time to get everything ready.
Jamie: After laughing together at the videos, Jeff asked me to look for something online.
Jeff: Nervous? Oh, I was nervous. I just tried to not show it. As Jamie made her way downstairs, I carefully made sure the ring box was hidden under the couch and conveniently within reach of the glass of water she poured for me...a perfect reason to reach down later on, I thought. We did actually watch some funny videos, but my mind wasn't really there. I was thinking about what would come next. A week prior, I had asked Jamie whether or not she had a King James version of the Bible. I had to find something that she didn't have but would perhaps want or need. We've been reading the Bible together and I told her i thought it would be nice to have a King James Bible for a change. So, I asked her where she thought we could buy one.
Jamie: When Jeff asked for help finding a Bible, naturally one would go to Amazon. I found great options but for some reason, Jeff had an idea to look for one on Craig's List. :) (His plan was set in motion.) I entered "King James Bible" in the search field and naturally one single post came up. Imagine that. :)
Jeff: She would go to Amazon first. She's smart. I hadn't even thought of that. Ok, quick, think. Maybe I'll just ask her where else I can buy the King James Bible. "Lifeway Christian Store" she says...good answer. Hmmmm. In trying not to be too obvious, I casually asked her, "How about Craig's List?" "Oh, I hadn't thought of that," she said. When she started typing in the URL for Craig's List, I breathed a big silent sigh of relief because I knew once she searched for the Bible there, she would find the post I had prepared for her.
Jamie: As I read the post, I realized what a perfect Bible we had found. The seller "happened" to go to my church and suggested the Bible would be good for small group leaders (of which I am one). "Jeff, this is a perfect match!" I said. (Now I know why he smiled so big after I said that.) I got ready to hit the back button when Jeff reached across my computer screen like I had forgotten something.
Jeff: She found my post with no problems. I really wrote the post thinking she would realize that it was me who wrote it. I made references to the church we attend, that it would be perfect for a small group leader (which she is), and that I wanted the new owner to use it and not let it accumulate dust (which is a play off of another letter I wrote her months earlier). She read the post and seemed interested in buying it, but she didn't realize that I had a whole separate block of text further down in the post. I panicked a little when she began to click the back button and managed to smoothly scroll down the ad to where she could see my additional text.
Jamie: "Jamie Adele Thompson..." were the first words I read after Jeff scrolled down the page for me. My stomach turned over and my heart flipped as I instantly knew what was getting ready to take place. I remember starting to shake as I began to read the text out loud, finishing each line with a line of my own..."Oh my gosh." :) Line by line, I read the words Jeff had carefully crafted for me. After finishing his amazingly thoughtful and loving words, I realized that the woman he had described in this part of his post was me. Jamie Thompson. God had given him the eyes to see me and love me. Here was a man who loved me enough to want to spend the rest of his life with me. Is there any greater honor?! I remember the only line I could muster was "Oh my gosh" repeatedly.
Jeff: Ok good. She's found the part of the ad I really wanted her to see. As she made her way through the list that I had written for her, I began to clumsily grab for the ring box to a chorus of "Oh my gosh" and a shortening of breath. I prepared to get on one knee. My plan was to be on one knee with the ring box open towards Jamie when she finished reading my post. When she finished, I asked her, "Jamie, will you marry me?" What I did not expect was for her to leap off the couch and join me on the floor.
Jamie: Wait a minute...I must interject here. All I could think was, "I just want to be close to him." I didn't realize that brought me down on both knees next to Jeff. Ok, you can continue...
Jeff: After embracing and continuing to hear her chorus of "Oh my gosh," I thought it would be prudent to confirm that she did indeed intend to say yes to my proposal.
Jamie: "Yes!" "Yes, yes, yes!" I proclaimed. In all my excitement, I had forgotten the most important word. :)
* Note from Jen - their story gives me so much joy to share as they have truly sought to honor the Lord with each step of their journey, they've been an example of purity and have waited on God's perfect timing. All the years of waiting and praying for Jamie's man make this season of celebrating love unbelievably sweet. God is SO faithful!
