Christmas Eve Surprise

Christmas is a season of surprises and beautiful gifts. This year our youngest daughter received the surprise of her life and the sweetest gift a girl could dream of - a Christmas Eve question that will change the course of her life - the "will-you-marry-me" kind of surprise, complete with a gorgeous sparkly engagement ring and an adorable young man she's dreamed of since she was just fourteen. God is so good to us, more than we deserve. His gifts come wrapped in the most unexpected surprises and we are beyond grateful for His lavish care and love for us. Here's Heather and Jason's Christmas Eve engagement story!

HEATHER & JASON

Her surprise began in the most simple of ways - the Christmas Eve service at our church. It was a time for us to remember what this season is really all about and what's most important. Afterwards Jason invited her to begin a new Christmas Eve tradition with him. They went to a park near our home, enjoyed a special dessert, and exchanged handwritten letters and a Christmas ornament. Heather made one for Jason to commemorate last Christmas when he told her he loved her for the first time. 

They went for a walk under moonlit skies filled with stars and Jason planned for them to end at a chosen spot. His accomplices, big sister Amber and her new hubby Austin, who married in May, waited in the bushes to capture everything on film and video. There was a lovely gift wrapped in silver paper with a big bow sitting in the middle of a semi-circle of candlelight. 

As soon as Heather noticed the scene she pulled Jason aside and probably said something like, "Oh, my gosh! Someone is getting engaged here tonight. We should go before they get here!" Jason most likely smiled and said, "Hey, let's go over and take a look!" To which Heather probably replied, "Are you crazy! We're going to ruin everything!" It's a good thing Heather's so tiny and Jason's so muscular because he practically pulled her through the bushes and suggested they open the box! He knelt down, opened the lid and removed a blue velvet box. It was only when he ended up on one knee before her that she realized she was the one being proposed to this Christmas Eve! 

Of course, she cried, he slipped the ring on her finger, she finally said, "Yes!" after many happy tears and they embraced. In fact, that's the same embrace Amber and Austin left them in as they drove away some time later. We greeted Heather and Jason back at the house along with the Johnson family to wish them well and pray for the new adventure that awaits them. 

And so, another chapter begins in the life of the Sutters. The new year is just around the corner and we face more happy changes and an ever-growing family. I can't think of a better way to ring in 2013!

THE GORGEOUS SPARKLY RING

SHE SAID, "YES!"