How We Met
Payton and I met my sophomore year while attending the University of South Carolina through mutual friends. We saw each other a couple of times before we ever spoke to each other. I still remember the first words he ever said to me and the exact location of where we were standing when we finally spoke. Once we started talking, we couldn’t stop. I guess you could say it was “love at the first word” for me. Unfortunately, it was the last day of school and we were both heading back to our hometowns in the morning. The next day we said goodbye, both knowing that we wouldn’t see each other over summer break. After I packed up and drove away to head home, I called my friend and told her all about Payton and how perfect he was. I told her that I knew how crazy I sounded talking about some guy that I just met and saying that I think I love him, but I knew that saying goodbye to Payton was more of a “see you later.” It never even crossed my mind about the possibility of him not feeling the same way about me or something happening over summer. I was so sure that when school started back that we would pick up right where we left off. I was so confident about Payton when we first met, because I knew he was an answered prayer from God. It had been a really hard year for me because I lost my best friend in a car accident. I spent many nights praying that God would send someone in my life who could heal my heart again. I knew moments after talking to Payton that my prayers had been answered and now I just had to be patient and wait for the right timing. When school started back in August, we picked up where we left off. A few months later, we started dating and three years later he proposed to me.
how they asked
I day dreamed a lot wondering when and how Payton would propose to me and how I would react and feel. Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year and Payton was very much aware of that. Secretly, I had always wanted a Christmas proposal. I woke up Christmas morning to open presents with my family like we always did. A few minutes after I walked in the living room to open gifts with everyone, there was a knock on the door. I was shocked and wondered who would be at the door at 7:30 am on Christmas morning. When I turned around I saw Payton standing at the door with a gift bag in his hand. I was completely shocked and I couldn’t even speak or move. Once I saw him I had the feeling that he was about to propose, but I was just so surprised I still couldn’t move. Payton walked over to where I was sitting and handed me the gift bag and said “I wanted to be here when you opened this.” Inside the bag was an ornament with our names on one side of it. I turned the ornament around and the words Will You Marry Me were written on it.
As I read the ornament Payton got down on one knee and told me how much he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. As he said the words “will you marry me” tears flowed down my face and I managed to say “yes” before I was completely overwhelmed with emotions. I was crying, Payton was crying, my family was crying, and my dog was jumping with excitement. Payton gave me the best Christmas gift ever, a perfect proposal.
