Every guy wants to “pop the question” in a memorable way. Nobody wants their grandson joking about what went wrong when Grandpa proposed. So, with family pride on the line, I carefully planned something fun and romantic, yet with a big element of surprise. Oh, yeah. I needed the answer to be “yes.”

To start out this knight’s tale, let me tell you what my princess, Jill, already expected. I had mentioned to expect me like a “Thief in the Night” sometime before the end of February 2004. Though I wasn’t sure where I wanted to pop the question, I actually hoped to make an opportunity before Thanksgiving, 2003.

Jill and I planned to spend Thanksgiving at my parents’ house in San Jose, California, and Christmas at her parents’ house in West Memphis, Arkansas. Jill booked a ticket for California the day before Thanksgiving, and due to her school obligations, planned to return home only four days later.

When I received Jill’s itinerary, I got my brother Brian to call Jill directly, and ask her if she wanted to surprise me by arriving in California earlier and staying later. She loved the idea and told Brian he could change her flights. Boy, did he change them! Brian booked new flights to and from California for Jill...and me! Brian then sent Jill a fake itinerary indicating that she was flying out at her original time, but returning three days later. Actually, I would fly to Memphis to surprise Jill “like a thief in the night,” and then take her early to California with me. So, while Jill thought that she was going to surprise me, the surprise was really going to be for her! Thanks, Brian!

With everything now in place, I placed a call to Jill’s father, Mike, and told him my plan for the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I asked for his permission on the engagement, but received his permission and his blessing for this “next step” in our relationship together. I made plans for my jeweler to ship the ring directly to the Lashlee’s, the couple at whose house I stay while visiting Jill.

After a concert event in the Michigan area, I flew into Memphis, instead of San Jose as Jill thought (thanks to another fake itinerary from Brian). I hoped the bluffing would be forgiven in light of its purpose! I drove right past Jill’s school where the kids were still in session, and continued to the Lashlee’s home where the ring had just arrived, and went to sleep. I knew that Jill would call my cell phone as soon as she was through teaching for the day. So, I acted as if I had just arrived home in San Jose. She also called me that evening before bed for our nightly prayer time, never imagining I was only 15 minutes away!

I woke up in the middle of the night, and headed for Jill’s house, arriving at 2:45 a.m. I quietly made my way into her house, finding the front door unlocked, just as Mr. Marconi had left it for me. I crept up the stairs to Jill’s room, her closed door obscured in the total darkness. I felt for the handle and with a swift turn of the knob, I was in, shutting the door quietly behind me.

I touched the ring I had stored for safekeeping on my pinky finger, my heart beating loud enough to wake the neighbors. I rehearsed the simple yet long-awaited question. As I stood in the darkness, I heard Jill shift and turn her body towards the door. The door rubbing against the carpet had wakened her, and now she wondered who had entered. Alas, she saw my slender form standing against her door (and I wasn’t even turning sideways!) I approached her bed and began to gently whisper, “Good morning, Sweetheart!”

As I continued, she started speaking softly, “Oh, my word...oh, my word!” I kept speaking, “I love you, Sweetheart,” and then, “I have a question for you.” Jill was ready. She immediately held out her left hand as I posed the question. “Jill, will you be my wife?” I wasn’t through speaking before she blurted out, “Yes! Oh, yes!” I gently slipped the diamond ring onto her finger, and thought, “What a perfect fit!” Yes, Lord, your will and ways are indeed awesome. Jill is certainly a perfect fit.