From Tim-- Part 3

Here it is, the one for real this time.

Part 1 | Part 2

            Fast forward to October 31^st and Rylee was flying in to the South Bend airport. That Friday, Nov. 1^st, there was a lot going on and I wanted to make sure Rylee got the full experience for a game weekend. We made sure we saw everything and the entire time I was on the verge of hysterics because I was so excited for that night but also really worried I/one of my friends might blow the surprise. But they were solid as rocks (as Tirza later put it, “all I was thinking was ‘YOU’RE GETTING ENGAGED AND YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IT YET!!!!’ so I just had to get out of there before I told her myself!”) while I somehow managed to hide my nerves until she wasn’t around. At 5 we went to the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center for Glee Club ‘Open Rehearsal,’ something we do every Football Friday. But this week it was in DPAC because we had our Fall Concert that night. Everything was normal until at the very end our director Dan said, ‘Tim why don’t you conduct the Alma Mater tonight.’ Normally clubbers do this when we sing tour concerts in their home towns, but being from South Bend, Dan decided to let me take the reins, which was perfect because Rylee, my Mom, and a boat load of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins would be there. (We kept it a secret from my Mom. As Rylee predicted, she died.)

            I basically made Rylee leave after rehearsal, giving the excuse that she had to go home and change (she fought me for 2 solid weeks prior to the night protesting that she did not need to wear nice clothes. I tried to convince her that she would really care about what she was wearing that night without giving away that it was because there would be pictures she would have for the rest of her life taken later that evening). In reality, I was just too nervous and couldn’t be around her anymore. Thanks to Sam and Alex for bearing with me during dinner to make sure I actually ate food instead of just shaking at the table. The concert went off without a hitch and after talking to everyone who came out to see me, I went back to grab my things and the ring and realized this was it. Rylee and I walked out to my car and I put my things away. She thought we were going to a Halloween party at my house so I told her we needed to walk to CoMo to grab part of my costume from my friend Chris. Underneath a borrowed umbrella in a light drizzle, we crossed campus while I nervously tried to make small talk and was freaking out that she could totally feel the box in my jacket pocket and how could I have been so foolish to have put it in my left pocket and not my right pocket!?!?!?!

            Finally we reached CoMo and walked past the Folk Choir reception taking place inside where I saw my fellow conspirators waiting for the signal. We went into the chapel and, just as I had planned, my friends had set up my laptop and two chairs in the center of the room. I sent a quick text saying we were inside and that my friends should head outside, then set up the laptop to watch a video I had made of pictures of Rylee and I from across the 5 years we had been together. To keep suspicion at a minimum, I told her it was for her birthday which had been earlier that week. After the video we prayed in the chapel for a minute and then I told her I had something else to give her. We walked outside and started heading toward my favorite bench on campus. As soon as we walked outside, we could see a group of people to our left with candles and when she asked what was going I on I shrugged it off as a prayer service. However, as we got closer, we started to hear that they were singing something. A few more steps revealed they were singing the Servant Song, my favorite liturgical song and one of the most beautiful descriptions of self-giving love. At this point, Rylee realized what was about to happen and kept trying to stop walking and asked repeatedly what was going on. However, determined not to saying anything, I just kept walking and pulled her along with me. When we reached the bench, my friends, with Grotto candles in hand, finished their verse and I turned to Rylee. I told her how incredible the past 5 years had been, that I loved her and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, and that I could not wait to start a family of our own. With that, I got down on one knee, took out the ring, and asked the love of my life if she would marry me.

            And she said yes! Amid the cheers of friends gathered round my mind went blank and I suddenly could not remember which finger the ring was supposed to go on so I sort of just held it out and let her pick. I had prepared a special candle for us, with “Rylee and Tim November 1, 2013” written on the side. After thanking everyone for coming and getting some of the best hugs of my life, Rylee and I went to the grotto and lit the candle and left it there. After a few minutes there and a few more deciding who to call first, we decided to walk to my car to get out of the rain. We tried FaceTiming Torey but given the time change between South Bend and Dublin she was obviously asleep. Then we called Mrs. Magee, my Dad and Katie, Michael and Mallory, Alex and Rosemary, stopped in to wake up her family (none of whom actually woke up) and accidentally woke up my Grandma Lois while telling my Mom and Rose. The rest of the weekend was a blur of phone calls, quick visits, and retelling the story over and over until we had finally told everyone that we wanted to hear directly from us. After that, it went Facebook official and, 444 Likes later, the rest is history.