She Said Yes
Some days life happens so quickly, you don’t even have time to get your bearings. Just getting kids to school is a victory, and there are mornings we don’t even know what day it is. Today was just one of those days. This morning was a flurry of kids trying to get out the door for school, and a cranky mom and dad with too much to do on this day.
This day!
And then I remembered. Fourteen years ago on this day, I was living a life I don’t even recognize now.
I was a single mom with two little boys, and I was working three part-time jobs so I could be home with my kids. It felt like I was managing motherhood okay-ish. A few months prior, I had met a really handsome soldier who swept me off my feet.
On this day back then, I had no idea the mountaintops and valleys low that we would face together. I just knew my lumberjack of a fellow was something special. He loved me and he loved my two little boys, one of whom was still in diapers.
Here was this big, strong Army guy who could be gentle as a lamb, protective of each of us, accepting of us as a family unit.
This day fourteen years ago, I put on my favorite jeans and a cute top, painted my nails and did my makeup with extra care. I was going to watch my honey sing the National Anthem at the Professional Bullriders Rodeo (or PBR as it’s known around these parts).
It was quite the show!
Some Army National Guard guys rappelled in from the roof of the giant arena we were in, somehow the floor was lit on fire in the shape of the letters PBR, and there was an excited buzz in the air.
This day, the soldier I fell in love with, got down on one knee in front of God and everyone, and asked me to marry him—and it was all caught on the Jumbotron. With the help of a rodeo clown.
(Yes, I’m still a little scared of clowns. But he kept his distance and seemed friendly enough.)
I said YES!
Yes to whatever may come. Yes to long days and sleepless nights. Yes to two more babies and multiple moves. Yes to walking through addiction into recovery. Yes to still holding hands. Yes to job changes, multiple health crises, deaths of loved ones, birthday celebrations, glorious sunsets, family memories, a miscarriage, worshipping God together, college, a son who deployed, a PTSD/TBI diagnosis, Saturday morning brunches, praying over our family, dreaming together, publishing books, and the day-to-day life we would experience over these years.
The days are long but the years are short, they say. I tend to agree.
It feels like mere moments have passed but when I look at all the life we’ve stuffed into the last fourteen years, I can see that it’s been a minute. This is confirmed by looking in the mirror as well.
I am grateful for a brave man asking me to be his bride fourteen years ago. I’m grateful for what the Lord has done for our family. And I’m still so grateful I get to be Mrs. Shafer.
One of the best decisions I ever made when I said YES!