how'd he ask, anyway?

We'll let the bride tell the story:

Levi went above and beyond. Guys, if you don't want your girlfriends to see this...turn away now.

Levi and I have a thing for parks. We went to a park after our first date, our first kiss was in a park, and it's only appropriate that our engagement would take place in one as well. I was in the middle of "Beginning of School Experience" for student teaching. I had only one weekend before volleyball entered the picture. On this particular Friday morning I had a note on my door. The note read, Wear your new dress and meet me at the park at 6:15. Don't be late!" I knew what was coming...or I thought I did. I did not want to get my hopes up, but at this point in our relationship I knew it was not far away.

Levi wouldn't talk to me the whole day. I received random text messages that read, "Bring something to keep you warm." "Wear comfortable shoes, you'll be in them for a while." "Eat a snack. You'll need it. We aren't eating for a while." "Try and take a nap." And the last one threw me for a loop, "Bring your license!"
Needless to say, I was freaking out the entire day.

6:15 could not get there soon enough. I got ready and tried to stay calm. I drove to the park and found Levi. He was sitting on our blanket where we always sit. I walked to him(and threw my shoe at him for making me wait all day). He stayed sitting down for a second, but then stood up with me. We hugged for a while, and I asked if I could sit down too. He said, "Just a second. I have made you wait long enough today. I won't make you wait any more." He bent down and asked me to marry him.
...Obviously, I said yes. or nodded. or something.
We sat for a second before Levi told me our friends Will and Liz were at Las Paletas waiting to take pictures. We went and got them, and walked back to the park to take a few pictures...they're great.

Levi had something else up his sleeve, and the other two knew it. We parked my car and we were off, but I had no idea where to. We started driving and I realized we were heading to the airport! Levi handed me my boarding pass, but I was not allowed to look at it. Once we got to the gate I found out we were headed to Chicago!!! Once we got to Chicago we took a taxi to the John Hancock Building. We had reservations on the 95th floor. It was incredible. From the floor to the ceiling was windows. We had dinner, walked around downtown, found twenty-four hour places, and left for Nashville at 7 in the morning. It was incredible. I would have never guessed all of this.
He went above and beyond.


We were tired, but it was well worth it.