The Romantic.com

My fiance, Todd, was a senior in college in Tennessee while I had already graduated and was living and working in Maryland. He was due to arrive home from college on December 19 and I couldn’t wait to see him.

We had talked about marriage, and I had a feeling that he would propose over the Christmas break while he was at home. On the evening of December 18, I went to bed about 10:30 pm, with my cell phone on the pillow next to me.

Todd played basketball for his college team, and  had a game that night down in Birmingham, Alabama. He typically called me after his games to let me know if they won and to say good night and that he loved me. At 11:00 pm my phone rang, but our connection was lost. I figured that he was in an area with little reception on his way back to Tennessee from his away game. By the time the phone rang the fourth time and I was finally able to understand what he was saying, I was very tired and annoyed and not in the mood to talk. We talked for a minute and then he told me to look out my window.

I complained and said that I was tired and didn’t want to play his games. After all, I had already been in bed asleep for a half hour! He again asked me to look out the window, and when I did, he was standing on the lawn below holding a long-stemmed red rose. I briefly noticed that there were multi-colored Christmas lights in the grass, but was in such a hurry to get down to see him that I didn’t take the time to read what they said.

I flew down the stairs and out the door in my pajamas with no socks or slippers on and gave him a huge hug. I was so excited to see him! It had been months since I’d seen him last and he wasn’t supposed to arrive home until the next evening.

He calmed me down enough to ask me if I had read the Christmas lights in the grass. I turned to look at the lights that spelled out “I Love U” and when I turned back to him he was on his knee, holding out a beautiful platinum and diamond engagement ring. I flew into his arms and for a few moments forgot to tell him “YES”!