How do I tell the entire story of a young couple who have fallen in love and promised themselves to each other for life? I know I can't explain it all in this blog, but I want to briefly share the incredible story of Brandon Wilkie and Lacey Hitch.
It all started with an unintentional meeting in 2005. Lacey and I (Avery) were with a friend, Mardel, when she visited Brandon in his apartment in Lincoln. We were there a short time and never heard anything more from Brandon. When Lacey turned 22 in 2006, she started praying that she would meet her husband before she turned 23. Hope for that seemed to be dwindling as the year 2007 came and her birthday at the end of March was approaching. Then on March 7th it happened. Set up by Mardel, Brandon and Lacey met for supper at a friend's house. They hit it off and decided to start texting and talking. It was 23 days before Lacey turned 23.
Brandon was then living in Broken Bow, Nebraska, finishing his training as a State Trooper. He had Tuesdays and Wednesdays off and would almost always come to Lincoln to visit on those days. Brandon fit into the family immediately. He showed up to Lacey's surprise 23rd birthday party and officially met the relatives, and everyone approved.
Sterling and Lacey went to Welfleet, Nebraska, in the early spring to help Brandon and Marshall (more details about Marshall later) work at a Christian camp.
Lacey learned how to use the huge nail gun!
The bus became Brandon's second home as he stayed for two days almost every week. Brandon finished his training as a State Trooper and Lacey helped him move to Seneca, Nebraska, the first weekend in June.
When Brandon came to our house, he and Lacey spent every moment together. In June, Lacey and I took a trip out west to see friends and Brandon, who was supposed to be working, showed up at our house and had "the talk" with Dad. Dad gave his approval. I had a very hard time keeping the secret from Lacey because she would often tell me how nervous Brandon was to talk to Dad. She didn't know he had already done it!
And then the day came when I got a mysterious text from Brandon. I was with Lacey when I opened my phone and it said, "Could you call me sometime when you get a minute?" Wondering why on earth Brandon would want me to call him, I slipped away immediately and I could tell he was nervous when he answered the phone. The question didn't surprise me but I couldn't hide my excitement. He wanted to know what kind of ring Lacey wanted. When I told him the diamonds she liked best, he took notes. He was surprised when I knew exactly what size of ring she wore. That was toward the end of June. Brandon said it would be a couple of weeks before he proposed. I didn't tell anyone in our family about the phone call for fear of the secret slipping out.
July 4th was a Wednesday, so Brandon was expected at our house. What we didn't know is that he brought a diamond ring with him in his luggage. He was abnormally nervous all day. We had planned a horseback ride the next day, and Brandon told Sterling and me his plan of proposing to Lacey after the ride. What Brandon didn't know is that only Sterling and I knew he had the ring and he was planning to propose. That day Brandon casually and with "code" talked to Havilah about it. She went along with the conversation but had no idea what he was talking about!
Because of time, we decided to ride that day instead of the next. We didn't have enough horses for everyone to get their own mount so Lacey rode behind Brandon. Sterling and I devised a plan. We would ride into the field, and then tell Brandon and Lacey that they could ride for a while by themselves and we would run back home. Brandon had asked Sterling to get the barn set up for the proposal.
The plan worked perfectly. Brandon knew what we were doing but Lacey was completely oblivious. After leaving them to themselves we hurried home and put the horses away in record time. Sterling brought a basin of water and a chair to the barn.
When Lacey and Brandon got back, Sterling, Havilah, Bristol and I were "casually" sitting on the front porch, trying to act normal. As soon as they were in the barn Sterling snuck behind a tree and sat there, waiting to catch their expression with a camera as soon as they came out.
The rest of the proposal story I can only tell according what was relayed to me. Brandon and Lacey unsaddled the horse and Lacey walked by the chair and basin in the barn several times without noticing it. When the tack was put away Brandon took Lacey to the chair and she sat in it. He took off her boots and began to wash her feet. Lacey was still clueless that he was proposing. He told her that he wanted to wash her feet as a sign that he wanted to serve her for the rest of her life. He took the ring out of his pocket and opened it and set it on her leg. Then he asked her to marry him. Lacey told him, "a thousand times yes!"
Now, with a beautiful diamond ring, Lacey and Brandon are continuing to grow in their relationship and the wedding plans are in full swing. The date hasn't been decided on yet but it will probably be early in 2008. We are so excited for Lacey and Brandon!
"Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." I Thes 5:24
"For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised." I Chron 16:25
