Katie Helland Creative

What I thought was a simple trip to Ohio to visit my family turned into the most amazing weekend of my life! Brandon sent a letter to my parents' house ahead of time that I opened when we arrived. In the letter, he asked if we could go on a date and had included "tickets" for places that we had gone on our first date. We went to the Allen Art Museum in Oberlin, Fairchild Chapel, and had lunch at Tooo Chinoise (where he had a rose sitting on the same table where we had sat on our first date).

We ended up at the beach at Lakeview Park and played on the playgroud, just like we did on our first date. We went exploring and found a secluded part of the beach. Brandon told me to close my eyes because he had a surprise. When I opened them, there was a bowl that I had made in college sitting at my feet. (It had been sitting on my counter at home when we left... or so I thought.) He said that he wanted wanted to wash my feet like Jesus washed the disciples feet in John 13. Jesus did that as a symbolic act to serve the disciples and show His commitment to them, while also being the example for them to follow. Brandon also gave me a shawl that he had received when he was in India last July with a missions team. A church there honored the team by giving them scarves during a church service as a thank you for coming to serve with them. Brandon put water in the bowl and washed my feet (which by this point were disgusting from walking in the water and sand!) and dried them with the shawl. We laughed because Brandon said he thought it would be just a symbolic gesture, but it turned out he actually DID have to wash my feet! After that, Brandon said he had another surprise and pulled out a Ring Pop! He did that to fake me out and thought I would be disappointed that it wasn't a real engagement ring, but I was super excited! I love ring pops! He asked if I wanted to take a picture of them, and I turned around to get my camera. When I turned back around, he was on one knee holding a real ring. He told me he loved me and asked me to marry him. I told him I loved him too and started crying, so he had to ask a second time if I would marry him! Hahaha. I said YES!!!! I am so blessed to marry such an amazing man of God, and I can't wait to begin our life together!

PHOTO CREDIT: BRANDON HAGAR