Our Love Story

Once upon a time...

There was a small-town Alabama girl who made a list of the qualities she wanted in a man of God. She put the list in her Bible, and she prayed over it. Little did she know, there was a guy on the opposite end of the state, who had also made a list of the qualities he wanted in a Godly woman. He, too, had put the list in his Bible and prayed over it. Years later, God enabled the two to find each other, and both realized that they had found their better half! ♥

We began dating on January 6, 2010.

Below is the slideshow that was shown at our wedding. It takes us from babies to dating to engagement.

 

 

 

We became an engaged couple on June 18, 2011!

 

 

Here is the story:

• The day started off with me being irritated because Paul seemed like he did not want anything to do with me all day. So, I just tried to focus my attention on the fact that dad was taking the family out for dinner at McGuire’s. He said that he had wanted it for awhile, so we were going to go to celebrate a belated Mothers’ Day for my mom, Fathers’ Day, and the fact that my sister and I finished another year of school. (This is not uncommon considering that my family goes out to eat a lot.) However, little did I know that Paul was actually on his way to McGuire’s getting ready to propose to me later that night (a plan that he and my dad had worked out all week.)

• Bear in mind that that I was not supposed to see Paul for another week and had even told my mom that I was saving all of my cute outfits for the weekends that I would see Paul, in hopes that he would propose soon. So, I was not in the outfit that I thought I would be when this time came, but none of it mattered when it actually happened.

• Well, we arrived at McGuire’s, were seated, and ordered what we wanted to eat. My mom, sister, and I all ordered the same thing (which is important for later). Then, my dad excused himself to go to the restroom, but the real purpose was to talk to the waitress to make sure that she knew what was going on. He told the waitress that whatever he ordered make it 2 because someone else was coming, but he would be proposing. So, the waitress played along as if nothing had changed.

• After we received our salads, I suddenly had to use the restroom myself. My mom said “Are you sure you can’t wait?” I thought, “Am I five years old? Yes, I’m sure.” After my dad tried to distract me, I still said that I had to go to the girl’s room. So, my dad politely directs my sister to go with me (at this point I thought it was just so I would not get lost by myself in this restaurant haha). Caitlyn goes ahead of me, and that is when I decide it would just be easier to ask the hostess where the restrooms were. Little did I know that Paul was standing right there, but I NEVER saw him. My sister did, though, and sort of freaked out while Paul went lightning-speed out the front door of the restaurant so I wouldn’t see him.

• I make it back to my seat at the table, and my parents have rearranged me and put me on the END of the table. Anyone who knows me knows that I HATE sitting on the end, so I wasn’t exactly pleased. Dad just said, “Well, in case you have to get out again, we won’t all have to get up.” As I politely pouted for being put on the end, the waiter came to bring our food. I quickly start telling my parents that they are going to mess up our order since we changed seats, but they were more concerned with counting how many plates the waiter had. (My parents were so scared that they were going to put down too many plates, and I would know that Paul was there.) As the waiter starts passing out the plates that my mom, my sister, and I all ordered just alike, my mom and sister were quick to grab theirs. At first I thought it was rude that they were so quick to claim their plates when we all got the same thing, but later on I realized why I couldn’t take one of the plates at that moment. The waitress kindly told me that my food was coming right out. Not two minutes later, the waiter brings my plate and puts it in front of me. He said, “I believe you had the steak dinner.” I politely said “Thank you,” and focused my attention on the food while beginning to tell my mother that the waiter looked A LOT like…… (then it hit me)….Holy Crap, that was Paul!

• Well, he kneels down and pulls out a piece of paper to read to me. He read me scripture verses from the Bible about the husband and wife and how the husband is supposed to be the head of the household and serve his wife. He said that he promised me that he will always serve me and love me the way that Christ loves the church, and with that he said, “Because of this, I wanted to begin by serving you your dinner.” (At this moment, I completely lost it and cried like crazy.) Then, he proceeded to stand up and make a joke. He always told me that if I wasn’t patient that he was going to get me a cheap ring. He said, “Well, I held to my promise.” Then, he pulled out an engagement ring charm to go on the charm bracelet that he gave me for our one year anniversary!

• Then, the moment I had been waiting for my whole life happened – HE GOT DOWN ON ONE KNEE, PROFESSED HIS LOVE TO ME, OPENED THE RING BOX AND SAID, “Courtney Bruley, my butterfly, will you marry me?” (For those who don’t know, he has called me his butterfly since day one.) Of course, I said yes! Then, he put the ring on my finger (a PERFECT fit, I might add.) Also, the ring has a unique diamond accent on the side that actually makes a butterfly (HE DID GOOD!!!). After hugs and kisses, he then joined my family for dinner, and our waitress appeared with his food and a congratulations to us both. Then, she brought us a brownie sundae to celebrate! Afterwards, Paul surprised me with tickets for me, him, and my whole family to go to the movies to see Mr. Popper’s Penguins (a movie I have wanted to see for awhile due to my love for penguins). The NIGHT was perfect, and I will never forget it; I am so happy that my family was able to experience the night with me.

 

Our "happily ever after"  was set to follow

on June 2, 2012!