So guys and gals, this post will most likely lean to the longer side, but I hope it is as exciting for you to read as it will be for me to write! This is the story of my engagement! Yes, I will soon become Jessica Hardy. Wow! Doesn’t that just sound right?!? It’s pretty neat to see in writing, too. I’ve actually stared at what will be my new name for a good minute or so. It’ll do. This is my soon to be husband.
MAN, that is so weird to say!
Well, he lives in Fort Worth, Texas as he is finishing up with seminary. That has been extremely hard being away from each other. We have a story unlike many other couples, but what we have been through together and apart has grown us both in the Lord in ways I can’t put into words. Our background is a whole other story for a different time. Anyways, I knew he was planning on coming to Mississippi for the weekend to be a small group leader for a Disciple Now for the church that I was youth intern with in Cleveland, Mississippi. He told me that he would start driving early in the morning to make sure that he made it in time to eat lunch with me and the class I have while I am student teaching. I told him that I would still love him if he did not make it to lunch, because that meant leaving Texas and being on the road by 2:30 a.m. to make it in time. He made me think that he was on the road that early in the morning headed my way, but he was really just arriving to Hernando with one of his sisters, Lydia at that time. Lydia also lives in Texas.
That is where the deception began. Ha The teacher I am under for my internship is absolutely amazing! He had called her the week of and told her of his plans. She jumped for joy as she sneakily helped him with the details. Lydia and Zach came to eat lunch with me and the students. Zach told me that they had just gotten in and went straight to the school and that his youngest sister, Michaela took a skip day to come meet them. He asked me if it would be okay that all of them were there, and I said that I would love it. I was still not suspicious. Then, my teacher came to the table where we were and began saying that the star student of the week usually has their parent come eat lunch with them on Friday and that the parent comes to the class after lunch to read a story to the students. Our star student did not do that that day. I’ve actually never seen it happen, but apparently that part isn’t just made up. Anyways, she went through this big thing of trying to talk one of the three into reading a book to the class. The sisters put it off on Zach. I was still not suspicious. I wish you guys could have seen the acting there. They were excellent now that I look back at it and know that it was all preplanned. Sneaky sneaky!
I kept apologizing to Zach, because I felt like he was put on the spot. I said, “She’s just very straightforward, and I think she was completely serious about you reading a book.” Ha He just looked so nervous. He had a child plant his book in one of my teacher’s book tubs. He acted as if he went in and randomly picked up a book. He had gotten the book You. It is a children’s book that talks about all of the different things in the world. At the end of each description it says, “But the best thing in my world is…you”.
She set up two chairs at the front of the room. She told me to come sit by him. I tried to convince her to let our star student sit by him. She said, “No, he is your company. You must sit by him.” Ha So, I went up there and sat by him. As I looked at the book, I noticed that it was a lower level book and I almost told him that we could grab another higher level book. Ha ha ha I was still not suspicious. She called all the students to the floor to sit and listen to the book. As he read through it, I was thinking, “Awww this is such a sweet little book.” I was still not suspicious.
He read it in a very animated fashion, because he’s Zach Hardy. He doesn’t know any other way. I will say I was very impressed that he could be so animated and expressive on the first read through of a completely new book. I was still not suspicious. When he got to the last few pages of the book said: “ The world is an exciting place with up, downs, around and arounds, and far, far aways. But the most exciting place in my world is with…YOU.” The last page of the book only had the word “YOU” on it along with a picture of me. One of the students said, “Hey! That’s Miss Calvery!” I was REALLY confused at that point.
At that moment, I think my brain completely shut down. He began to read the poem, and I don’t know what was happening in my head. I was too scared to react, because I was thinking maybe he was just being super sweet and this wasn’t the proposal. I looked over and Lydia was crying. Then, the line ended with the word “life” and well, you know what rhymes with life! He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.
I had to ask him later if he got down on one knee, because I honestly couldn’t remember. I was sitting next to him, but I don’t know where I was. After he asked me one of the students asked, “Is this real?”. Then, another said, “Miss Calvery just got married!” Ha He had a letter at the beginning of the book, and adjectives written all around my picture, and he had all of the students sign their name in the book.The poem goes as follows:
“You’ve been my friend for several years. We’ve joked, we’ve laughed, and yes, we’ve shed tears. You burn with a passion to live for God’s glory. It’s amazing to see how He’s writing your story. Tenderness and faithfulness are qualities you share, along with many other things that make you so rare. You’ve challenged me in areas you have yet to know and have continually inspired me to steadily grow. You’ve been my supporter and cheerleader in life. So, I’d like to ask the question, ‘Will you be my wife?’”
They then buzzed the office and had his father (who was waiting in the office) come in. I hugged him and said, “You are going to be my father-in-law!” He said, “You can just drop that in-law part.” That touched my heart like I can’t explain. His family is amazing, and I can’t explain how BLESSED I am to be becoming a part of them!
I bet all of you want to see the ring, don’t you?!? Well, I don’t have a good picture of it at the moment. Although, on my Pinterest wedding board I had a ring that I had titled “This is kinda my dream ring”. Well, he did some collaborating with the besties and without seeing the picture he basically gave me an identical ring. I’ll post it. Know that they are pretty much identical.
The shininess is still slightly distracting to me!
I went to bed that night with the most ridiculous smile ever on my face, and I woke up with that exact same ridiculous smile. Ha I don’t think it has completely sunk in that I will be marrying him. I will go ahead and apologize in advance to those who are around when it finally does sink in. Ha I just can’t believe it. He is the man I have been praying for for all of these years. He is the man that I have been writing letters to. This is the man I am going to be spending the rest of my life with, and I just can’t believe it’s now. There is no better man on the planet. I refused to settle for someone that I felt could not lead me and a future family in the way the Word instructs. I completely trust him with that role! He is going to be my partner for the Gospel, and it’s so encouraging to think that this is only the beginning of what God has in store for us!
P.s. Mark your calendar for July 7, 2012, so you can come see me marry my best friend!
Shaped by Grace,
Jessica (soon to be Hardy)!
