Carrine, Jordan and I were introduced in March 2010 by a mutual friend. Our first encounter was not exactly love at first sight, more like barely speaking at first sight.
Over the following weeks, we periodically text and spoke on the phone. Shortly thereafter, Carrine, Jordan and I began hanging out more and more. Little did we know our relationship was growing and we were coming closer, literally, Carrine and Jordan moved into my residence as room-mates in May 2010.
Unknown to either of us, our relationship began to blossom. Carrine fell in love with me May 2010, ok not exactly, but we did begin dating in late May. Slowly but surely Carrine, Jordan and I were becoming a family.
In November 2010, Jordan had a routine dentist Appointment in Tulsa. Afterwards, I surprised Carrine by taking her and Jordan ring shopping. Carrine found the ring “she had to have,” at the fourth or fifth store we visited and I found my blood pressure rising. We left without the ring that day, but the wheels in my head started to spin and a plan of action was in the near future.
I contacted Moody’s Jewelry two days later and purchased the ring. Paul (Carrine’s dad) and I had quietly planned a “man’s” trip to Tulsa for the ring and Lynsey (Carrine’s sister) and I began planning an engagement party disguised as a "Christmas Party." Carrine was informed about the “Christmas” party about two weeks before because my brother Todd slipped and almost gave away our secret! To put it lightly, Carrine was not happy when she found out she was not allowed to participate in planning the party. To be honest, she didn’t speak to me to much those next two weeks. Carrine's frustration came to a head the Friday before the party. Carrine took Lynsey to Moody's to show her the ring she had picked out and fell in love with. When she arrived, the manager told her her the ring had been sold. Boy was she ever mad at me that I "let someone else buy the ring she wanted" and now it would have to be ordered.
December 12, 2010 the day of the engagement party arrived. Friends and family were gathered, the music was set, the food was hot and cooling, and the unsuspecting guest of honor was purposely over was 25 minutes late.
After dinner everyone was iinstructed to gather in the bar area to listen to Jody Schmidt play some music. Carrine was still upset and sitting at the bar. She was making it very obvious she was not happy with me for leaving her out of the party planning and preparation. I was sitting across the room, visiting with guests when Jody started singing a song by Dierkes Bentley called “My last name." We practiced the song serveral times together to make sure the song was perfect. Jody was singing and Carrine had her back to Jody. Carrine began to look around and a look of panic came over Carrine’s face as she began noticing everyone was looking at her. Later we found out that she saw Paul tearing up and she knew what was going on a split second before I stood to my feet and sang the last verse of “My last name." “Darlin, if you’re wondering why I got you here tonight, I want to be your husband, I want you to be my wife. I ain’t got much to give you, but what I got means everything, it’s my last name.”
I got down on one knee and asked Carrine to marry me. After a couple of long awkward pauses, I whispered that I wasn't giving her the ring until she answered. Still speachless, Carrine squeaked out a yes and the rest is history. |