Come Hell or Highwater

On Saturday May 1, Nashville found itself in the beginning stages of what would turn into a flood of the city.  Like MANY homes in the area Josh's basement began to fill with water.  I was on my way back from Mississippi and felt so helpless from far away.  By Sunday morning, May 2, I had returned home and the water had risen to about 3 feet (please know, Josh's story is far from the worst and we know that...I'm just filling in you in on what has now become "our story").  I needed to be there with him so I braved the flooded streets and pending storms to make it to his house.  When I got there it had risen more, we had 6 more steps to go before it reached floor level.  We turned the power off in the basement, turned off the AC unit since it's in the basement, picked up things from the floor and prepared for his house to flood.  We were ready to leave it all should the moment come.

If you know Josh than you know he isn't the best at keeping secrets.  Not that he just flat out tells you, but he is the world's worst liar so if you ask him a question...he's going to tell you.  If you know me at all, you know that I'm not the best at not being in control...however I LOVE to be surprised.  So here I am...we've talked about getting married, we've looked at rings...I really want to know when he's going to do it, but at the same time I really want to be totally surprised.  My solution was to simply get my nails done, just in case, and try and be on guard as best I could.

Back to Sunday...In the midst of tears, worry, stress, and simply not knowing what would come next, Josh knew this was the perfect time to ask me an important question. "I want to do it now!" he said. "But you have plans," I responded. "But they are underwater!" he replied.  This was the first of a few attempts to propose.  I wouldn't let him.  I knew he had worked hard to plan something I would love.  This wasn't how he wanted it to happen.  After stalling him for about an hour he finally said, "You don't get to argue with me about this." 

He began to tell me wonderful things, commit himself to the Lord and to love me, and he knew that come hell or highwater he loved me and wanted to marry me.  I said, "YES!"

I can't believe I get to marry my best friend.  This wonderful man who has put a smile on my face since the moment I met him.  The past nine months have been an absolute roller coaster in my life and Josh Drake has remained unbelievably steady, constant, and strong for me throughout all of it (except for the night he had a stroke, but that's forgiveable!). We've been through a whole heck of a lot together and all of it seemed amazingly normal with Josh by my side.  I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!