Chapter 3: Brave Man Calls My Daddy

The marriage proposal story wasn't anything fancy or extravagant, just simple and sweet. :] Although we had already decided together that we felt that getting married was a step we both felt ready to take in our lives, he still proposed to me. Down on one knee, on the temple grounds on a cool Hawaii evening, and walked me back home holding me down so I wouldn't float away on a cloud. :] This story however came after what I'm about to explain. :]

I don't really know if it's customary in every culture for a man who is courting a girl with intentions to marry her to meet her father, (I think it should be out of respect for the parents and possibly for a sprout of fear to grow within that boy so that he knows what he gets to deal with if he ever hurts Daddy's Princess ;]) or if it is customary to ask the parents for the girl's hand in marriage. However, regardless of any cultural differences or fear he had of my dad, Rodney called my dad.

I have to be honest; Rodney calling my dad was one of the most amazing moments of my life so far. I've never seen him nervous in the entire time I've known him, and although people told me 'Oh he's so quiet!' and 'He's so shy!', I knew a different side. So his restlessness and discomfort as he paced back and forth near the temple waiting for my dad to answer the phone was almost weird to see. I wish I could have recorded the whole thing, and recorded my heart at the same time. It was pounding out of nervousness for his nervousness not that I really expected my dad to say "You stay away from my little girl else I'ma bust out my BB gun!"(...hahaha..Sorry dad, I had to :]) My heart was melting at the same time because of the way he worded his asking my dad for my hand.

I've heard of men asking in the simplistic ways you would expect them to, but my Rodney asked my dad in the best way possible to ask a man who is about to let go of his oldest daughter and put her in the hands of a man who loves her with all of his heart... Rodney said:

"Can I take your daughter to the temple and be sealed to her there for all eternity?"

This is the man I married. The man who puts the Gospel and the love he has for it in every decision he makes. I cannot express how incredibly blessed and grateful I am for his endless strive to better himself, and our family. He is an incredibly hard worker, and rarely ever complains or gets down on himself (Something I am working very hard to incorporate in my own life). He is such an example to me and he comes from an amazing family. He has the gentle but respected way that his own father and my father have. I couldn't ask for a better man to be my husband and one day the daddy to our children that he has always been meant to be. (The picture is of my Dad and I during the wedding reception)

My own father has sacrificed so much in his life so that the my siblings and I could have a home to live in as well as a father who would wrestle and play with us after long day of work. Being the oldest and only child for nearly the first 5 years of my life, my dad and I created a bond that will never be broken. While he was obviously my father, he was also (and still is) one of my best friends. I want my children to have that kind of bond with their father. To recognize the sacrifice and hard work, even at such a young age, but to also have their daddy to play and laugh with them at any given moment.

I can't recall exactly how long it was after he called my dad that he proposed, but I do remember it clearly. We went on frequent walks to the temple grounds and Visitor's Center when we were dating and on one of these walks was the walk. We have a specific place where we would always sit and talk and as we went to sit down I actually felt the box in his pocket where our legs were touching. Accidentally of course! He saw that I had felt the box and wasted no more time. :] The wonderful man I had fallen in love with in every way; his kindness, his patience, his love and his gentle ways asked me to spend the rest of the eternities with him.

I said, "Yes."

That 'yes' was simply the greatest decision I have ever made. I have never even for a second doubted the decision we made to be together. To be engaged. To be married and sealed to each other forever. Although we will always have Satan in this world to try and distort the love we have and the strength we have I have one thing to say. The people who know Brother James Lee (Seminary teacher at my high school) will know the power of this simple phrase.

STRIVING THROUGH ADVERSITY, WE WILL ALWAYS FIND A WAY.