Kristina

Something was in the air. I just knew it. There was no way around it. All the pieces were falling into place. Here it was, 2:30 Monday afternoon (5:30 Daniel's time) and Daniel hadn't appeared online as usual! Sure, he'd told me he was going to be busy in the morning, but he'd never said all day. Then too, Dad was coming home from Spokane after spending an extra night there on his way home from Seattle. Mother was coming home early from work (something she rarely does) to fix a special pizza dinner to welcome him home. And to top it all off, she sent Elisabeth off to Grandma's house to peel garlic, leaving me home by myself right when it was time to fix lunch! But no, it was impossible. It just couldn't happen. Kristina, forget it. You're just being silly. Close your eyes and relax until Mother gets home. Everything is just fine. You're just reading into things a bit too much. I sighed and rolled over for the hundredth time while trying in vain to take a nap.

"Ding dong!" I sat straight up in bed. Who could be ringing the doorbell? Mother and Dad never do, Grandma is busy with Elisabeth at her house, the neighbors usually just open the door and holler. My heart pounded as I walked slowly towards the door, as if in a dream. Who could it be? What if it was Daniel? I reached the door, grasped the door knob, and stopped. Breathe deeply Kristina, I coached as each breath came in little gasps. Breathe. Slowly, I opened the door—and there was Daniel!

Kristina

Dad, Mother, and Elisabeth walked in the door, faces wreathed in smiles. "What a surprise you brought home!" I exclaimed, running into Dad's arms and giving Mother another hug. I was so happy, yet everything felt like a dream. It was hard to believe it was actually real! After all our talking and laughing, we finally sat down to eat. I'd been too excited to eat much breakfast, so it wasn't hard to eat now. All through the meal I kept looking over at Daniel, again and again, still trying to convince myself that he was really sitting there!

After the meal, I waited for what seemed like an eternity, while Daniel brought in his things and got settled. Finally he came upstairs and told me he was ready to take a walk. He wanted me to show him all my favorite places on our property. My heart did a little leap, as I was sure what he had in mind, but I tried to contain at least a little of my excitement as we stepped out the door. We walked to each place, starting at the furthest and ending at the closest. I had planned it that way on purpose, so the last one would be my very favorite spot.

Kristina

Finally we arrived at the fort, which my brother and I had built together when I was eleven years old. Up on a western slope, facing a beautiful view of the valley below, it was now directly in line with the setting sun. As a teenager, I had dreamed of someday sharing this view with the one with whom I would spend the rest of my life, and had always wished that he would propose there. As we sat down on the grass, I wondered if maybe that dream was becoming a reality.

"Kristina, I have a poem to share with you." Daniel's voice broke the busyness of my thoughts. His hands shook as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small folded paper. "I have it memorized, but want to make sure I don't forget any lines."

As I listened with wonder, he shared the most meaningful poem he'd ever written, and the most beautiful poem I had ever heard! It told of the longing in his heart, his dream of working together in ministry, and how much I meant to him. Then, looking me straight in the eye, he quoted the last line of the poem: "Kristina, will you marry me?"

I was shocked—too surprised for words! Tears filled my eyes and I began to weep. Finally collecting my thoughts, I realized that Daniel was still waiting patiently for an answer! Then I remembered his poem. It was so beautiful, I couldn't just answer with a dry, boring, "Yes". How could I say something that might reflect even a little of the love and joy overflowing in my heart? As I looked out over the setting sun, the words came. I turned, and once again looking into Daniel's eyes, said slowly, "Yes, My Love, your words are true; I promise I will marry you."

We sat together for a few moments, letting the words sink in. Slowly, Daniel pulled from his pocket a beautiful silver and gold watch, with little golden hearts interlocked in the band. "I'm giving you a two-toned watch," he explained with a smile, "because the gold represents you, and the silver represents me." My smile spread from ear to ear as he carefully snapped the watch around my wrist.

"I have a little something for you, too." I said quietly, reaching into my pocket.

Kristina

"We're engaged!" we almost shouted in unison. Smiling and laughing, we hugged Mother and Dad as we told them how everything had happened on our walk.