Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Flashback... Flashforward.

On January 14th, 2008, Jeff and I went to a Jazz game. As we went through the metal detectors, Jeff kept beeping. There was a small, girlish voice inside me that wondered, but I quickly brushed it aside. Our tickets had come through last minute and I knew that Jeff wasn't the kind of guy to propose on a whim at a Jazz game.

Recently we had argued about the lack of grand romantic gestures in our relationship. Apparently, Jeff had wooed his previous girlfriends with poetry, flowers, and all kinds of things that I am in favor of. I, having fallen in love with Jeff pretty much at first sight, was never a coquette. I never needed to be wooed... but I still wanted romantic gestures.

During the game, Jeff told me he had thought a lot about our little spat and that he wanted to try to be better at showering me with special things. He told me that he had a small surprise for me after the game. I got excited and he told me not to- it wasn't that great of a surprise.

We walked around downtown Salt Lake, freezing. Suddenly, Jeff stopped us by one of the dozens of horse and carriages that are common to Salt Lake City. "Can we, uh, trouble you for a ride?" He asked casually and it really seemed like a coincidence that we had run into this carriage. I was even giddier than usual- I had told Jeff several times throughout our relationship that one of the things I wanted most was to ride in a horse and buggy. My family never had enough money.

I guess you can predict the rest of the story. The carriage driver was not a random; Jeff had prearranged everything. He drove us to a beautiful and secluded park in the historic section of the city. Lights and snow were everywhere and in the cold and the beauty, Jeff proposed. I felt, for the first time, that my life had a plan. We would get married, we would finish school, we would travel the world. We would dedicate our lives to faith, love and learning. I saw my future.

January 14th, 2010. I was in class until 1:30. Jeff drove to pick me up. I threw a snowball at the car, but he still let me in. We stopped at home for a brief moment and then continued on to the hospital. The ultrasound tech was a big, burly man with a gentle voice. The baby was sleeping and I was afraid that something was wrong. The big man assured me that nothing was, and showed us his heart on the screen. We saw everything. We saw that the baby has a healthy heart, an unblemished brain, and we saw that we were going to have a little boy. Again, I saw my future.

I have to laugh at the Sarah of two years ago. I would have never predicted that we would be having a baby right now. I thought I knew what our life together would look like, and I was sure that children were to be had years down the road. Life changed. Whoever is in charge of the kaleidoscope of my life shook it up and the picture looks completely different.

It's even better.

5 comments:

Jeff said...

This is the most beautiful thing you've written in a long time--maybe ever. I love you and you should never study climate change if this is the alternative.

I never thought it would turn out like this either, but you're right. It is better. Much better.

JaelandSteveThompson.blogspot.com said...

Your so darling! I think Jeff married the BEST! Jael :)

Jenny said...

Thanks for sharing about your proposal. I hadn't heard the story before- it's perfect.

Gillian said...

This is so well written! I teared up. I'm so happy for you!!

Than & Lina said...

I'm glad you two are happy! And I am a firm believer that the Lord knows what He is doing :)