The Proposal

Well, Aaron was scheduled to land in Seoul around 4:30 p.m. on the 22nd of February. I was going to meet him a little after 6 in town for dinner. I had taken the 23rd and 24th off, so that we could spend some quailty time with one another during his visit. One of my closest friends and assistant principal here in Seoul, April, was going to be subbing for my class while I was out because our elementary sub was already booked. She had met Aaron when he was here in October and made their Texas connection then. :) April asked for me to come to her office to discuss the plans for the 2 days I was going to be out after taking my students to music. So... I dropped the kids off at music and then headed to the office.

When I got there, April had her MacBook opened and said, "Before we talk about the plans, I wanted you to read this message that Aaron sent in response to my invite for a homemade Mexican fiesta. I just thought it was really nice and wanted you to read it." She had me sit at her desk and said she'd be back in a minute. While I read it, I was thinking, "April sure is smiley today. It's kinda making me nervous. Aww, this message is really sweet. Aaron is such a great guy. I'm blessed." However, I always try to downplay things, so I kept my serious, professional, controlled look about me and turned to the person who was standing at the door and blurted out the heartfelt word, "Cool." How lame, huh? What an understatement of the year! I was really proud of the sweet message. I don't know why I'm so boring about things. Anyway, the person standing at the doorway was none other than my sweet man!!!

Again, I responded how every man surprising his woman dreams of..."What are you doing?" At least I had a quirky smile on. He then came over and after hugging me got his iPhone out to show me pics of him flying with my dad and his close buddy, as well as some pics of him with my precious niece Michaela whom "he had never met" to my knowledge. I knew then that he had gone to see my parents the previous weekend when my sis, bro-in-law, and Michaela were in town. He then got down on one knee, and as he was going down, again I responded how every man about to propose dreams of..."AAAron.?.?" As if to ask the obvious, "What are you doing? You better not be kiddding?" As he was looking up smiling at me, I blurted out another savor-the-moment comment through my teeth and nervous smile, "Uhhh, Cheryl (my head principal who I could see peeking through her office window into the office we were in) is looking at us."

Aaron definitely didn't care and popped the question. Of course, I said, "YES!" And after a brief moment of celebrating, we celebrated with the office staff! We then went and got my class from music, and the real and intense celebration began then. Yep, with hootin' and hollerin' and huggin'! :) Bus duty was quite the scene as well with all of my former students running out to congratulate and celebrate. My favorite part of that time was when Aaron was able to meet the boy who had prayed for him last year. The boy who wrote, "Dear Miss Van Dyke, Happy Valentine's Day. I pray that God will give you a man with a Christ-like attitude." God is so faithful, and the funny thing is that I found his card a few weeks after Valentine's Day. Almost exactly one year ago from the day of our engagement! How awesome and unexpected is that?!?!?! At this point last year, I was planning to possibly be in Korea for a few more years. I never dreamed that I would be typing a blog posting that was entitled "The Proposal"!

The unfortunate and fortunate part is that the whole thing was captured on video. Yep, the reading of the message through the initial celebration part. It's kind of funny though. I so wish that I was the screaming with excitement and crying tears of joy type, but I'm not, have never been, and probably never will be! However, the video really does capture "Audie" as I know myself. I think it is fun for me to watch, b/c I know exactly what was going on internally...my thoughts and emotions...none of which was portrayed by my words and actions.

Aaron knows that I love him and that I've been dying for him to ask me to marry him. Even though, we never talked about the M word, ring shopping, possible dates, etc...until after the engagement. Actually, at recess duty that day, I told my friend Julie, "Aaron better be coming with a piece of jewelry and a question, or I'm gonna be one disappointed girl. I don't want to get my hopes up though. I'm sure it will all work in God's timing, but I wouldn't mind if that timing was this visit." :) Little did I know that Aaron had arrived a day early, was already hiding in Seoul, and was about to be at my school hiding in the principal's office, setting up the video camera for that very purpose. It was fun introducing Julie to my fiance just 3 hours later in the parking lot!

I am blessed beyond my wildest imaginings at age 28 with a man who loves the LORD, and because of that love can love me in a way that honors God. In turn, I can finally say that I love Aaron more than I thought would ever be possible for me to love someone and have respect for him that only comes through his willingness to be honest and open and to keep Jesus the center and foundation of our relationship. I am so thankful and am confident that God will be faithful to lead and direct us through the good times as well as the difficult times as we move forward from this special place that we find ourselves in now...ENGAGEMENT!!

I am here able to testify that:

"NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD FROM THOSE WHO WALK UPRIGHTLY."

Psalm 84:11

"FOR AS THE HEAVENS ARE HIGHER THAN THE EARTH, SO ARE [HIS] WAYS HIGHER THAN [MY] WAYS AND [HIS] THOUGHTS THAN [MY] THOUGHTS."

Isaiah 55:9

When you "DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD", HE will "GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART." When you "COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD [and] TRUST ALSO IN HIM", HE will "BRING IT TO PASS."

Psalm 37:4-5