So, we had been dating about a little over a year and was now working together. We had discussed our future together but nothing too serious.

That summer we planned a day with some good friends to go to the Jockey Lot for the day. The Jockey Lot is this huge indoor and outdoor flea market in Anderson, SC. We stopped by a Chinese Restaurant for lunch. After eating, I opened my fortune cookie. It read: . I paused and said, “maybe this means we are getting married?” He answered jokingly, “when Hell freezes over!” We all laughed.

Little did I know that he had plans!

He did however perk my attention when he wanted to know my favorite cut of diamonds and what size did I wear. I had always loved the Marquiss cut; not really sure why but I always thought it looked so classy and beautiful. But I soon forgot all about him asking.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas spending time with each other and getting to know our families more. Each day I would learn more about this man (his crazy sense of humor and his funny quirks) and loved him even more.

New Years Eve was fast approaching. We decided to go out with friends to a fancy little restaurant called, “The Terrace” then we would go and watch the fireworks. Alex had made reservations for a little later trying to time everything just right so that when we finished dinner we could go straight to the fireworks show.

However, the restaurant had different plans. They had overbooked that evening which led us to waiting over an hour on our table. Then once seated, it seemed like everything we wanted to order they had already ran out of! What??? I couldn’t even eat my favorite She Crab Soup?

Later I would find out that the Terrace would have been the place Alex was planning on asking me to marry him but with all the crazy confusion he decided not to do it there. I could tell he was very frustrated almost to the point of being angry.

So we went back to the hotel where are friends were staying for the evening and was preparing to go see the fireworks. We was waiting patiently for Alex; he was in the restroom for what seemed like forever. I looked at the time. What was he doing in there? Don’t think we’ll make it to the fireworks tonight; this evening is turning out to be a flop (I said to myself).

As soon as he came out of the restroom, he looked over at our friends, nodded, then proceeded to hand me a tiny slip of white paper. I unfolded it and it was my fortune I got earlier that summer! You know the one he remarked about (“when Hell freezes over!) I was in pure shock that he had grabbed that fortune much less saved it all this time. I had been looking at that paper and had not even noticed what Alex was doing. I looked up to see this sweet man kneeling on one knee with a box in his hand. What!!!! This little box was open and revealed the prettiest, marquiss cut diamond ring I’d ever seen.

With a big, nervous smile on his face he said, “I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

With tears rolling down my face and with no hesitation I said, “Yes!!” Even though the evening didn’t go as planned, it ended as the best ever! I was on cloud nine and couldn’t wait to marry the man that God had placed into my life.

Couldn’t wait to be his wife!! And the rest is history!!