On Sunday, Clayton and I had spent the whole day together. It was the perfect day. We went to church, had brunch at Billy Gails, then went to Books a Million for a bookstore date I'd been wanting to do (look it up on Pinterest, it was so fun). That evening we went out to the lake and had a picnic by the water. As the sun was setting Clayton asked if I wanted to read the bible together. He got out his bible and as he was opening it he pulled out a letter and said, "wait before we read, I want to read something I wrote you." I listened and and tried my best to focus as he started reading. At this point I knew what has happening! I couldn't stop smiling and giggling as Clayton shared his heart with me and promised to love me forever. I was probably supposed to cry, but I couldn't! I was just too excited! At the end he pulled out a beautiful box and asked me to marry him. But....I got distracted by the box and didn't hear him! I said "That's a pretty box, where'd you get it?!" He quickly answered, "Felicia. But babe you didn't answer me, did you hear what I asked you??" To which I whispered, "But you aren't on one knee". We were both sitting on a blanket and in all the excited he forgot to have me stand up. He said, "you're right!! Stand up!" I stood up, he got on one knee, asked me again, and I said YES!
We decided that night to only tell our families and a few others. I wanted to go to school on Monday and tell people in person, like the good old fashioned days. I'm so glad I did. It was a blast telling my friends and co-workers and having them share in our excitement. Telling my class was the best! They were so funny. Most of the girls were really excited and squealed or giggled. The boys on the other hand thought it was gross!! I got several "Eeeeeewwwwww why?" responses from them. After answering several questions, we celebrated together. We looked at my ring under the document camera, then I let the girls try it on, and explained to the resistant boys that they could appreicate my ring by thinking of it as a REALLY expensive rock.
Here are a couple of my favorite kid quotes from the morning:
Tom- "What's his name?"
Me- "Clayton Schneider"
Tom- nodding his head seriously "hmm..that's a nice name."
Ashley- "Can we all come to your wedding!!"
Me- "Maybe if I have it somewhere big enough."
Ashley- "How about you have it at school?"
Table full of girls at lunch - "Can we be your flower girls!"
Me- "Well if I didn't already have 2 nieces then maybe."
Joe- "He looks like Tony Stark!"
Me- "Is that a wrestler?"
I can't even begin to describe how God's hand has brought Clayton and I together in this journey. It still doesn't seem quite real to me. As I began writing this blog, I looked my last blog post. It was last Novemeber. It's about a former student of mine asking me why I wasn't married yet. Re-reading it just now made me tear up. I trusted God even when it was hard (and some days it was terribly hard) but, like always, He showed up in a BIG way. He brought me a man who loves me more than I knew possible. A man who loves the Lord and seeks him daily. A man who selflessly puts my needs before his. A man who is willing to LipSync to Frozen with me in front of a bunch of Sr High students at church. A man who can call me out when I'm being a brat (not that I ever act bratty, but I'm sure he could if I did). God brought me someone beyond my wildest dreams and at the EXACT right time.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations. -Psalm 119:90
