The Proposal

After the first official meeting, Jeff knew he no longer wanted to be separated from me. The wheels started turning and plans were calculated. He found a diamond and consulted a custom jeweler to create the perfect ring. I made it very clear that Jeff could not ask for my hand without first asking my father for permission. Jeff agreed to come to Arizona in September to ask...but I assumed it was only to ask my dad for permission. Little did I know that Jeff had already contacted my dad (thanks to Aunt Barb who gave Jeff his phone number) and the question he was determined to ask was to me...not my dad. (As a side note, after asking for my father's blessing, Dad quickly asked if Jeff liked waffles...he is quick to get to the more important priorities...food.) The morning of the day that Jeff was scheduled to fly in, I was busy preparing for his arrival. I knew Jeff would be coming in the afternoon and I wanted to have everything perfect. I had just finished cleaning the bathroom when the doorbell rang. Initially, I just brushed it off and continued with my chores, but curiosity got the best of me. I ran downstairs and looked through the peephole. No one was there. I thought perhaps someone had left something so I opened the door. There, on bended knee, was a man wearing an army green military backpack. I was dumbfounded as I tried to figure out why a homeless veteran would be begging for money door to door. In an instant, Jeff looked up. "Alisha Laynette Shumway, will you marry me?", Jeff inquired as he produced a beautiful diamond ring. Still dumbfounded, I questioned what he was doing there before the shock wore off and I gladly and excitedly told him yes....the best three letter word I've ever uttered.

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