Up until about 5:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, I was having a normal week – a strenuous week of teaching, especially since my school was on lockdown on Friday. I came home expecting to have dinner with my friend Kelly. When she arrived at about 5:40, I was ready for a girls’ night out.
Just as we were preparing to leave, I heard someone knocking on the front door. When I looked out the window and saw Devon’s face, I could only conclude that I was hallucinating. He was supposed to be working in Tulsa until 7:30!
I was so shocked when I saw Devon at the door!
I opened the door, hugged him and kept asking, “How did you do that?” Over his shoulder, I could see a white limo waiting for us on Ol’ Oak Tree Dr. I felt like Cinderella being whisked away to the ball! And Devon looked so handsome, standing there in his grey suit, green striped tie, holding a batch of pink Gerbera daisies (my favorite!).
Once we were inside the limo, Devon popped a CD in – “Friday the 13th Part 1” hosted by Pepe LePeu (Devon doing a fantastic Pepe impersonation – I love French accents!). Pepe told us that the first leg of our journey would be a look back on our past. The CD included songs like “Deeper,” “History Maker,” and “Just Three Words” – songs we had listened to while growing up at Oneighty youth group in Tulsa. I had no clue where we were heading, but I was so amazed the whole time, feeling like a princess.
Before we arrived at the restaurant, Devon explained that it was an old 1920’s restored church, just like where we originally met (at church!). On our table, he had pre-arranged a collage for me – a painting on an easel with a faux newspaper story he wrote about our first time in the Philippines, and also a photo of us from our Cameroon trip.
Dinner was exquisite – seafood bisque for the appetizer, shrimp for my main course, and duck for Prince Devon. As he ordered dessert, Devon requested, “We’ll have the warm chocolate cake with the Morris special.”
“Hmmm…the Morris special?” I was a little suspicious. Was a ring going to be part of the dessert?
Dessert was presented, and all appeared to be normal. But as I tasted the ice cream on top, a familiar taste greeted my tongue. “Hmm…I wonder what kind of ice cream that is,” Devon said mischeviously.
I still didn’t get it.
“It’s ube!” He finally told me. He had driven all over Houston just to find this unique ice cream from the Philippines. Then he drove back to the restaurant to request that the pastry chef include it in our dessert! That’s my man – a man who would go to such great lengths just to put a smile on my face!
After dinner, we stepped back into the limo and Pepe told us we were now entering the ‘present zone.’ The limo pulled up to Path of Tea, a tea room I had been to about a year ago. There, he had pre-arranged for a cute outdoor table with a red tablecloth, an Asian candle set, and a frame with a photo of us in Houston and one of us in Tulsa. He also included a love note encouraging me to seek first God’s kingdom and to not be discouraged even though we are still presently in separate cities.
The final limo ride arrived, and Pepe told us we were entering the Future Zone! How exhilarating! What would happen next – where would the limo take us? I wondered. Just as I was musing as to the wheareabouts of our final destination, the limo driver gave it away – Hermann Park, one of my favorite spots in Houston!
We arrived and started strolling around the park. I noticed a firetruck parked in the park, but didn’t think much of it. As we were walking over a bridge, enjoying the cool, quiet evening, we suddenly heard a crowd cheering. Someone was celebrating their 50th anniversary on the other side of the pond. And serendipitously, directly over our heads, the skies erupted in a brilliant display of fireworks. It was so unexpected and so perfect!
Only God could have selected such an amazing addition to our engagement story! To me, fireworks have always symbolized the future. I could not have asked for a more perfect addition to that moment than the bright rainbow of lights cascading right before our eyes.
After the surprise fireworks show, Devon escorted me to a spot beside the pond and presented me with a leather journal. In it, he had written me a beautiful poem called “Diamond in the Rough.” At this point, I was expecting him to drop to one knee. But he didn’t! He was piquing my curiosity even more! That stinker! Instead, he pulled out his guitar and played me one song he wrote for me, as well as Ryan Adams’ “Desire,” and Jars of Clay “Worlds Apart.”
After he finished serenading me, he grabbed my hand and said, “I want to show you something.” At this point, I was starting to think that perhaps I wasn’t going to get a ring after all! But I was just delighted to be with Devon. He led me to the hill overlooking the Miller Outdoor Theater and much of the Houston Medical Center. On the way to the top, he told me how much he had liked me starting on our missions trip to the Philippines way back in 2000. I never could have guessed that God placed my future husband in my life by the time I was 15!
Once on the hilltop, we lay down and stared up at the vastness of the sky. Devon talked about how Houston was just a pinpoint in the huge world, and how God has destined us to go into all the world and preach His Gospel. Just seven months ago, Devon thought he might end up practicing in one of the medical buildings we were looking at. But because he was obedient to God’s will, God changed the course of his life and brought me back into his world.
Finally, we stood back up, and Devon dropped to one knee and sweetly asked (in French), “Veux-tu me puse?” I had never had anyone ask me that before, so to confirm, I asked, “What are you asking me?”
“Lindsay Goodier, will you marry me?”
“Yes! I don’t even need to see the ring! The answer is yes!”
We threw our arms around each other and we shared the sweetest embrace as he slipped onto my finger the gorgeous princess cut diamond with two trillian diamonds set in 14 carat white gold. We were so overjoyed that we spun around in circles like zealous little children until dizziness made us topple over.
This is only the beginning
Of this race running for His glory
Only one destination in mind
One cause that provokes us
Together, we are stronger.
