We Did A Thing

Hello everyone. It’s been a while since I gave you a life update. This is one thing I know is worth mentioning, and it would be insulting if I didn’t write about it . On July 3, I proposed to my girlfriend/ best friend Courtni Devonne Hobbs.

I must have gotten only 3 to 4 of sleep in the AM before dropping to one knee at Starbucks. I had convinced Courtni (so we had a reason to dress a little nice) that I made reservations for us at a surprise restaurant after we stopped by Starbucks. Starbucks was 100 percent true. Little did Courtni know this would the place I would pop the question. This coffee shop has played a role in our relationship. It was there that we first got to speak to each other in person. A couple weeks later, it was the where we had shared our first kiss. Yes I’m a man who keeps track of this stuff.

Back to the story, I was too anxious and nervous to sleep, even though I should have from getting home late from work the previous night. I’m working in Nashville these days, so that commute back home to Clarksville can be a little draining. The following morning as I showered I could feel my heartbeat increasing like a drummer having a solo. What am I gonna wear, I though. I almost went with a yellow dress shirt, but I opted to wear a nice dark blue( her favorite color) dress shirt with my beige pants and black Stacey Adams.

Before exiting my apartment I kneeled down in my living room to talk to Christ. I set the ring box on the carpet before me. I asked God that everything would go well. That if it be His will that Courtni would say yes. That even if things didn’t go exactly as planned that things would go great. I prayed that I would be able to be a good partner to Courtni. A good fiancé. A good husband. A good everything. Let me be able to take care of her, I concluded. Amen

Dear men,

If you’re going to make this decision, I recommend that you do just what I did and pray that you can be the person your partner needs furthermore.

To have the moment captured, I arranged for Courtni’s mom Joanne and younger brother Donte and my parents to be waiting outside of Starbucks for us. After retrieving Courtni we arrived at the coffee shop right on schedule. There sitting at tables in front of the entrance are her Ms. Joanne and Donte. Courtni was surprised to see them and assumed they had just stopped for coffee like we had. But where the Devil were my parents?! I call them up asking their whereabouts. Turns out Mom and Dad had went to the wrong coffee shop, which luckily for me wasn’t but only 2 minutes away. After a good solid 10 minutes of a scouting out and wondering how much longer Courtni’s younger brother Dante can stall Courtni in the coffee shop, my father’s big red truck enters the parking lot. Out walk my parents. My father with a cup of whatever from another coffee shop. Hopefully no Starbucks employees would take offense to it. lol I’d never wanted my parents to show up for something so badly until that day.

I had decided a couple of days pior that I was going to sing. Those days wondering felt similar to when I don’t know what I’m going to sing when it’s my turn to sing in front of my church congregation. Only this time don’t think I’d ever been so nervous to sing. The song I chose was called “Let’s Chill”, sung by the new jack swing trio Guy. I hadn’t meant to but I had completely disregarded the last thing Courtni said when when I rose up from my seat to serenade her.

“From the first time

I saw your face

I knew I had to have you

I wanted to wrap you with

My warm embrace

Visions of your lovely face

All my love is for you

Whatever you want I will do

You’re the the only one I want in my life

For you I’ll make that sacrifice”

I slowly drop to one knee, fishing the hidden ring box from my left pocket. The treasure inside, waiting just for her.

“Let’s chill

Let’s settle down

That’s what I wanna do

Just me and you

Let’s chill

Let’s settle down

That’s what I wanna do

Just me and you

Forever and forever

Ever and ever

Every and ever

Always

Forever and ever

Ever and ever

Ever and ever

Always“

“Will you marry me?” I asked.

“Yes,” said Courtni. “I will marry you.”

Immediately I pry the ring from the box, leaving only the wedding band. I shimmy the engagement ring on her finger, and as she admires the small diamond and the tinnier ones on the band, I’m admiring that joyful smile of hers I’m always happy to behold. I rise to my knees wrapping my new fiancée in my arms, and she wraps me in hers. As I do I think to myself, thank you Lord. I’m so happy right now. Thank you for being with me just like you always are.

A couple of those in line in their cars waiting to be served, were either crying or smiling really big from the little show they’d received right at the entrance. “Congratulations”, “So beautiful””, they said.

Both my Mom and Dad and my future mother-in-law gave us their words of wisdom. Some of which included: there is no happily ever after, make each other your best friend; let no other man or woman from the outside come into your marriage; make time for another, especially when children enter the picture; come to us(your parents) if you need anything; and the biggest one my father explained was to put Jesus at the center of your marriage. “You gotta have Jesus,” he said.

After our families departed, Courtni and I in my car processing what had just happened. I let her be the one to update our relationship status on Facebook. I was prepared to take Courtni to whatever nice restaurant she wanted, but she insisted that we just drive around for a while like we love to occasionally do. I wasn’t in much of a eating mood so I agreed. At on point while driving on Wilma Rudolph I nearly damaged my vocal cords shouting “YESSSSSSSSS“ our the window when my fiancée said she’d take my last name. Probably scared the daylights out of the guy driving next to me. It was just us talking and riding around enjoying one another’s company now more than ever. The only difference- we were no longer boyfriend and girlfriend. Fun fact: the word “fiancée” is much smoother and easier for me to say speech wise than the word “girlfriend.”

Eventually, we went to grab a bite to eat after I learned that my fiancée hadn’t eaten breakfast. Did we go to a fancy five star restaurant- no sir. We went to a drive thru at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburger. No matter how good the food was we did more smiling and talking rather than eating. We also watched both our phones blow up as everyone congratulated via text and via Facebook. Side note: How come you all never blow up my phone this much when I post on my blog?!?! It’s all good though. Everyone likes love.

To those who keep asking when the wedding date is, Courtni and I have not decided on one just yet. We decided together that we wanted to wait for a month to pass until we start the wedding plans. A month to just take in that we’re in the next chapter of our relationship and turning pages to the next. It’s just as well. We’re still in a awe that we’re really getting married. Every time I’m with Courtni now I find myself occasionally staring at the ring. Not because of how nice it looks but because of the person it is on. Of course while we wait we are naturally wondering when, where, a wedding theme, who to invite, capacity, costs and every other detail that comes with the big day. Though planning will be a challenge since we’re both newbies(least we’re in the same boat) I know in my heart it will be fun because the end result will be me marrying my best friend.

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