MarriageRomance.com - CONTEST ENTRY - True Engagement story

Two weeks earlier, I made the decision to break up with a guy that I had been dating for 3 years. It was hard because he had children and it was a few days before Christmas that we broke up. I had sworn men off! It seems that when I was involved with a guy I always found myself down roads I knew I didn't want to go.

I lived in an apartment with three of God's greatest treasures, my dear friends and roommates. We were all Christian women trying to hold each other accountable and uplift each other. The roommate I had been friends with the longest had just started talking to this guy around the time of my break up. For identity purposes we will call my friend Jane. Jane had never had never dated a guy seriously, but she felt this was her one. To keep things at a steady pace she thought it best to group date, which meant that one of us other girls got dragged along with her, if not all of us.

On Jane's birthday, January 2nd of 2004, at the last minute some of her other friends planned a dinner at a nice restaurant in the nearest city, 35 miles away. Jane began stressing because she quickly realized that her new boyfriend was going to be the only male at her party and she did not want him to feel out of place. Jane called and requested that he bring some friends.

I entered into the scene after all of this occurred in the apartment from a day of student teaching. I protested and lost against all the girls that were showing up at our place ready to go eat. I refused to change my clothes, but did freshen up my makeup; however, I wasn't expecting to see any one special. In fact, I wasn't even looking for anyone special. In my heart I thought God would with hold from me my "one" for as long as I needed to learn my lesson about men.

All the girls where there, and I was in the kitchen when there came a knock at the door. Jane dashed to open it and to no one's surprise it was her boyfriend. Behind him came his two friends. The instant that I saw his face, I felt myself glowing. Here was this man tall, red-haired and extremely shy politely shaking hands with all the girls in the apartment. I had not moved from my spot. I stuck my hand out to greet him and we froze. I knew then he was to be my husband. It was a physical thing it was like our souls clicked. The girls saw it too and somehow made it so that this guy, Clay was riding in my car to dinner. I talked the whole way to the restaurant. That night at dinner he hid behind his camera taking pictures of the festivities.

We began to see each other almost every night, either for coffee or movie or game night, any excuse I could find to invite him over. One night he brought the pictures over from Jane's birthday dinner. To my surprise, I was in every shot! He had managed to get me in the picture even if I was on the sides. He was so sneaky! We still have a good laugh about it.

We group dated for 4 weeks, when I was asked to help serve cake at his sister's wedding which was to take place on Valentine's day. I agreed, but because we would be busy on Valentine's Day, we had to celebrate our Valentine's Day earlier on Friday the 13th. Clay picked me up and dropped me off at the spa. All the women there were asking me when are we gonna get married. I had to explain we weren't even engaged yet, to which they claimed it was going to be soon. That night at dinner he pulled out a box, I held my breath and thought "no, it's too soon... isn't it?" Clay stopped and said, "Oh, it's not what you think. It's too soon for that." I was relieved for the moment, only to be disappointed the next.

During the next week we spent much time working with Campus ministries and I found out so much about his faith and his relationship with the Lord. We were equally yoked! I prayed often for the Lord to keep me patient and keep my brain and flesh from chasing away the guy who seems molded just for me.

I decided it was time for a weekend retreat from school about a week later and so I arranged to go home to visit my mom and invited some girls and of course Clay to go along. He insisted on invited Jane's boyfriend since as it turns out that his best friend, to which I agreed. My mom lives in the country and there's not a whole lot to do except enjoy the scenery and ride four wheelers. We all got there around lunchtime and I gave them a quick riding lesson and we were off! For hours in the mud, fishing in the pond, playing with the animals, and as dirty as you could imagine! My mom thought it best to feed outside on the back porch since we were so dirty.

As we all washed up and at least changed our shirts we decided it might be a little too cool as the sun was setting to sit on the back porch. Clay helped us move chairs to relocate us in the living room area. We were all chatting with my mom in the kitchen and to my mom's brother who was there visiting, when Jane asked "which roommate do you think will get married first?" We all replied "Of course, you!" I had a bag of chips in my hand which Clay had been trying to get away from me, so I angled myself to guard the chips and talk to my mom and was not paying attention to Clay.

The next thing I heard was "Speaking of marriage..." I turned to look at him, and there on bended knee, ring box opening was Clay. "Candace Williams, will you marry me?" The girls screamed! My mom ran across the room to hug him, while I was sitting on the couch in shock. Instead of answering right away I look at my friends, and his friend especially, and asked, "Did you know about this?" As it turns out no one knew except his mom and he had been keeping the engagement ring since after the third week we dated. While all the excitement is going on Clay is still on his knee and looks puzzled at me. "Is that a yes cause I would like to get up now and I don't know what to do until I get an answer?"

Finally I was able to move to hug him and give him the yes I had known since the first time I laid eyes on him. After a brief hug he started calling all his family and mom started taking pictures and the girls were all shocked. God sent a peace that passed all other emotions that day and reassured me that this Clay was molded for me.