Love Story: Engagement

Several weeks before our engagement, unknown to me, Nolan had received permission from both my parents. He had written my father a letter expressing where he sensed the Lord was moving in our relationship, as well as continued in a conversation over phone. He also spoke to my mother in person to receive her blessings.

On September 15, Nolan took me, my sister, and my brother to Flagstaff, where we enjoyed a lunch among the San Fransisco Peaks. It was on the way down from the ski lift that Nolan turned to me and began by playing the "thank you" game with me. When his turn came, he began to speak to me of all the ways that I am dear to him and how much he wants to spend the rest of his life with me. Then, pulling the ring box from out of his backpack, he asked me to take his name in marriage. 

(a view from the ski lift taken minutes before he proposed to me)

Later that afternoon, we visited a lovely little place outside of Flagstaff called Lockett Meadow where my sister, Danielle, took some engagement photos of us. It was a quaint, romantic little area nestled into the mountains and filled with aspen trees. Nolan carved our names into one of the trees nearby to mark this beautiful day in this youthful chapter of our lives together.

Lockett Meadow

Nolan designed my ring with three bands in the foundation to represent the Trinity and two bands across the top, joining at the sides, to represent us becoming one with the diamond in the middle. The ring contains silver-gold from his father's old wedding band, which, to me, spoke volumes about Nolan's vision of passing down a legacy. I pray that it may always serve as a reminder of the Foundation upon which our lives our rooted in the years to come. We rest in the faithfulness and steadfast love of the Lord which has been our anchor every step of this path.   

My sister took our more official engagement pictures at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, which is the largest and oldest arboretum in Arizona.