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THE STORY |
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Lauren’s Story: Brad and I met at a Children’s Christmas Program at his church in Monticello. The pastor of this church happens to be a special part of our family. Bro. Al’s wife, Karen, is my cousin and we have always been very close. They moved from Tennessee to pastor this church in September of 2003. Karen had been trying to persuade me to come and meet their youth pastor. She kept telling me that she wanted me to just meet him. He was really cute and that I would really like him. The weekend that I was there in September, he was not there. At the time, I was a Freshman at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. I loved Conway and was enjoying college life. Karen kept trying to get me to come over there and meet Brad, but I really just did not have the time. As Christmas break approached, my mom and I took our annual holiday trip to Memphis to shop and see the spectacular Bellevue Baptist Church Christmas program. On our way home, Karen called and asked us to please come to see her children in their Christmas program. We were tired and ready to get home. She told us she was going to tell her children that I did not want to see them. I think she was really joking. However, we decided to detour through Monticello and watch the program and meet Brad. I told her that I was not interested in getting a boyfriend. I was extremely busy and I had too much to do to get into a long distance relationship. She said she did not want me to marry him, just meet him, become friends, and maybe we could occasionally go to dinner. Nothing more than that! I agreed to it, but I kept telling my mom that I was not interested in dating and I was simply going to meet him, go to dinner, and then leave. She said, “All I want you to do is to be nice! Meet the boy, eat pizza with everyone, and be nice!” I don’t know why she thought I would not be nice. Anyway, we went to church and as soon as I walked into the foyer, and begin to survey the scene to see the so called “Handsome Youth Pastor”. The program began and I still had not met him. Brad says that when he saw me walk through the door that his palms got sweaty and that his throat closed up and he had to leave the room to compose his thoughts. He said he had seen my picture, but that he never thought that I would be so beautiful in person. (What a sweet thing to say!) Anyway, we sat through the program and the children did an outstanding job. I was really proud of them. Brad approached me after the service and introduced himself to me. He was very pleasant and easy to talk to. Eventually the pastor, the children, Karen, mom, Brad and I all went to eat pizza. It was pleasant and the conversation was good, but the pastor monopolized the entire night. He was talking with Brad about church business and things that they needed to get done. We really did not have a chance to discover anything about each other. I can’t totally blame the pastor. The children were really excited to see us too. We had not seen them in several weeks. After dinner, we drove Brad home. The pastor took the children and mom, Karen and I drove Brad. As he got out of the vehicle, he patted me on the knee and said, “It was nice to meet you, and I hope to see you again sometime. With that he closed the door and went into his house. I was stunned. I thought he was incredible and fun and I really wanted to get to know him better and he had just walked away! Karen and my mom could not believe that I did not give him my number. As we drove back to the parsonage, I was really disappointed. I know I had made a big deal about not wanting a boyfriend and not wanting to get into a long distance relationship, but Brad just seemed special and I thought I wanted to change my mind! I was captivated by his kindness and presence. Even though we did not get to really talk during dinner, I was captivated by his ability to look at me across the table as though he could read my very thoughts. I was terribly disappointed with how this ended. I wanted to know this guy and I wanted to see him again…and soon. Remember, he did not even ask for my number. Karen and mom were giving the pastor a hard time about monopolizing the conversation and not letting Brad and I talk when the phone rang. The pastor went to answer it, and returned with the phone and handed it to me. He said, “It’s for you.” There he was…on the other end of the telephone. I guess when you know people you don’t need a number. We talked and talked until finally my mom said that we had to leave to go home. He asked for my number this time. I gave him my home number, my cell, and my mom’s number. I wanted to make sure that he could reach me if he wanted to call again. He did…we talked all the way to Camden. Then we talked when I got home until 3:00 in the morning. I felt as if I had known him my whole life. He was wonderful. Brad had to make a trip the next day to deliver a truck load of furniture. His family owns a home furnishings store. He would have to stay the night with family. We talked the next day as much as possible. I was on cloud nine. I even asked my friend if it was possible to fall in love on the first date. (Which really was not even a date) We talked practically non stop. He invited me to the staff Christmas party that was to be held on Friday. Naturally, I said yes. He surprised me on Tuesday night and came to see me. I was very excited. He said he just wanted to see me again before our official first date. He also said that he ha a surprise for me but I could not get it until Friday. I did not think that Friday would come soon enough. We talked on the phone as much as possible. As Friday approached, I was more and more excited. I wanted to drive to Monticello and stay because I had to work the following day and we could see each other longer if I stayed with Karen and the Pastor and drive in the next morning. We had a great time at the party. We had our first picture taken and we also had time to talk. Brad presented me with my surprise before the party. He said he could not wait anylonger. I am a HUGE Razorback fan. Brad had written me a poem and presented me with 2 tickets to the Liberty Bowl in Shreveport. I was excited beyond words. I called all my friends to tell them my surprise. A day or two later, he asked me if I had decided who I was taking with me to the Hog game. I was devastated. I said, “Your not taking me?” He was so sweet. He looked at me and said, “I gave you a gift. You are not obligated to take me.” I thought to myself. He must be crazy! I wanted him to take me. It would not be the incredible gift it was without him there to enjoy it with me. It was then that I realized what an incredible man he was. A kind hearted, giving, selfless man and he wanted me. Our relationship skyrocketed and has been in fast-forward since then. I finished out the Spring semester of 2004 in Conway. I drove to Monticello on Wednesday afternoons to be with Brad and to hear him preach. I would spend the night with the pastor’s family and drive back to Conway on Thursdays to class. I would then drive back to Monticello on Friday night to spend the weekend. I literally became part of the pastor’s family. I could not see Brad enough. Time spent with him was always too busy and too short. I decided to move and finish school at the University of Arkansas in Monticello. I began searching for an apartment, trying to transfer classes, and enroll in school. It was an exhausting summer. We dated, we worked, and we fell deeper and deeper in love. We wanted to get married and talked about it at length, but felt that we needed to finish school first. Financially, we knew it would be really difficult. Time has flown by. Brad graduated from UAM with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting May 2005. He is still the Youth Pastor for the First Assembly of God Church in Monticello as well as a salesman for Prestige Home Furnishings, a family business. I am completing my Junior year at UAM and will begin my senior internship in Education, in the Fall.
Brad's Story:
Before I met Lauren, Karen had shown me a picture of her. I knew when I saw the picture that she was as beautiful young woman as I had ever seen (we all know pictures can lie…this one didn’t tell the whole truth). Karen came up to me on Sunday morning after church and said, “You’d better look good tonight because Lauren is coming.” I knew I needed to dress nice but couldn’t think of a thing to wear. Kaci and Angela had gotten me a jacket for Christmas (that I had picked out) and I asked Kaci if she would mind letting me wear it that night and then we could re-wrap it. She didn’t mind.
As the day wore on, I began to let that night’s meeting get to me. I kept telling myself it was no big deal because I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend, just someone new to meet. Something down inside me kept telling me differently. As church time grew near, I finished getting ready and went to the church. I was early, for once. As I stood in the foyer waiting on service to start (and someone to meet), I was talking to Matthew Hodges. I looked out the north door and saw the most beautiful woman in the world walking up. I said to myself, “There’s no way I could say anything to her. She’s too hot.” So I exited down the nearest hallway; speechless, for the first time in my life.
Before service started, I walked up to Karen to try to be near her when Lauren and Brenda came into the service. But I had just walked off when they sat down by Karen. The entire kids program, I stared at Lauren (trying not to be too obvious) wishing I had been able to meet her before the service. As soon as the program was over, I practically sprinted over to meet Lauren. I don’t remember exactly what was said, but my eyes never left hers; my heart either. I didn’t know what to do or how to act. All of a sudden, none of my regular responses were good enough. I felt like I had to be somebody, and then I realized that I HAD to be myself. No one else was good enough…except the real me.
The rest of that night went by so fast it was a blur. We went out after service to Pizza Hut. We didn’t get to talk much because Pastor Al kept asking me questions. I found out her name and where she was from and that was about all. After eating, Brenda, Karen, and Lauren gave me a ride home. I had never asked a girl her phone number with her mother and (practically aunt) cousin that close. So all I did was pat her on the leg and say, “Nice meeting you.” And I climbed out of their Expedition.
As I walked into the house, I was bombarded with 1,000 questions. Mom, Kaci, and Dad all were asking me how it went. I told them it went ok, but that I didn’t get to talk to her as much as I wanted. Kaci, in her wisdom, asked, “Did you get her number so you can call her?” “No, because it would have been weird in front of her mom,” came my response. So, I gave them about five minutes to get to Karen’s and I called. As Lauren got on the phone, I asked her for her number and not much else. We talked for the next few minutes while she was still at Pastor and Karen’s but when she left I told her I would call her on her cell phone. The next four and a half hours we talked. The whole way to Camden and half that night, we were on the phone. When we finally finished talking, I felt like I had known her for ten years instead of five hours.
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Lauren’s Story: This past November, Brad’s mom and sister were getting ready to take their annual shopping trip to Dallas. They invited me and my mom to accompany them this year. It was going to be a “girl’s weekend out”. I had so much to do in school, but I really did want to go. As the weekend approached, I began to get excited. Brad and his dad were to stay and work and we were off for a good time. My dad works in Dallas quite often and he was even going to be there part of the time. Little did I know that it was just a big set up! Brad had somehow managed to purchase an engagement ring and had everyone involved in the surprise of a lifetime. We had shopped for two days. Brad and I had been planning our wedding (even without a ring) for several months, but I really could not get excited about it. It’s hard to say, “I’m getting married”, and someone else says, “Oh, let me see your ring”…and you don’t have one. Brad is a youth pastor and doesn’t make an excessive amount of money, and that has nothing to do with his inability to save! Anyway, we looked for dresses and other things for a wedding. I was a little upset with Brad because he had really been evasive with me and had not called me during the trip. On Monday, our last official day in Dallas, he had not called me at all. Late in the afternoon, he called to talk and I asked him where he had been all day and he said that he was at the deer camp. When in reality, he was just a few blocks away preparing an incredible proposal. My dad was working with him. Late that evening, we were going to dinner to celebrate Kaci’s birthday. We got dressed up and as we were leaving the hotel, Kaci asked if she could show me something about the West End in Dallas. I said sure, why not. We decided to walk. As we left the hotel, mom got a phone call. This place Kaci wanted to show us was supposed to be really close to our hotel. We began to walk and walk and walk. I was exhausted. My high heels were not made for walking! The phone call was a stall tactic. Brad had planned to propose in front of the dancing waterfalls at the West End and the fountains were not working. Kaci was supposed to stall until my dad could find someone to turn on the fountains. The fountains were turned off because of repairs that were to take place that evening. Brad had resigned himself to the fact that they were off and that it would be ok. My dad was not satisfied! He found the city manager and explained the situation and so they had all the workers to exit the tunnel and re-flood the fountains so that Brad could propose! As we finally approached the fountains, I saw a beautiful horse and carriage. I announced to everyone that I was so tired of walking that I was riding back to the hotel in that carriage, regardless of the cost. What I did not know was that I really was. Brad had also arranged for a beautiful, romantic carriage ride around downtown Dallas and the Historic West End. As we approached the fountains, I saw that there were beautiful pink candles and rose petals all around the fountain edge and in all the big flowerpots. The wind was blowing incredibly hard and some of the candles had blown out. This was the most romantic place I had ever been. I was sort of lost in my own thoughts and really missing Brad. In all of the beauty and romance, I guess I forgot that I was upset with him. Kaci, mom and Brad’s mom kept walking. It was really a beautiful and romantic place. Brad’s mom was videoing everything just like a tourist. Everyone was great. I honestly never suspected anything. I kept wishing that Brad was there. We had talked so much about getting married and spending our lives together that I missed him terribly when we were apart. Brad had proposed to me on several occasions when we were together, and I told him one time that I would never know when he was serious and it was the real deal if he didn’t stop doing it. He said to me, “You will know it’s real because I will have one long stem pink rose and a diamond for your hand. Even though I was still a little upset with him for ignoring me through the day, I was still missing him and wishing he were there. As I walked to catch up with everyone else, I approached a park bench that had a guy sitting on it. I thought to myself that he really looked like my baby. The closer I got, the more I missed Brad. Just as I got to the bench, the guy stood up and turned around. IT WAS BRAD! He hugged me and told me that he missed me so much that he had to come and see me. He said that he had written me a poem and wanted to read it to me. He began reading me the poem and then went down on one knee and brought out a beautiful diamond ring and asked me to be his wife. All I could think about was that he had lied to me all day! I was in such shock I could not think of anything else to say. He handed me a beautiful pink rose with a beautiful diamond ring. Everything became real again. I practically screamed my “yes”. My mom, dad, Kaci, and Shelly were all taking pictures and videoing. I was oblivious to everyone around, even the forty men who had evacuated the tunnel so that Brad could propose. How romantic is that! Brad said that we were really running late and that we had to go. We began walking back through the fountains and he said that he wanted to take me on a carriage ride. I was so excited. We had a wonderful ride and talk and I was probably the most excited girl in Texas as well as the happiest. Our ride was about 45 minutes, so we had time to enjoy the scenery, the night, and most of all each other. I had never been happier in my life. I was about to officially become Mrs. Brad Alan Launius and I couldn’t have been happier. We got back to the hotel and met up with everyone else. Brad had made dinner reservations at the Texas de Brazil. We had a phenomenal dinner out on the balcony and the server even brought this incredible cheesecake with a candle in it to wish us congratulations. What an incredible night. As I sit here and think back, it is almost a dream. It is every girl’s fantasy. I felt just like a princess. My mom and dad and Brad’s mom and sister helped Brad set up the most romantic night of my life. I am so happy they were there to share in our joy. Thanks to them, I now have a video and pictures of this great night to enjoy for a lifetime. God has given me an awesome man to share my life with. I can’t thank him enough. I prayed my whole life for a godly man to spend my life with. God answers prayer! Time has not stood still. I am still in school. I will finish my spring semester in May. Brad is still the Youth Pastor for First Assembly in Monticello and also a salesman at their family business. The wedding will take place June 10, 2006 at 6:00 in Camden and I can’t wait to become Mrs. Brad Alan Launius and begin a life with the most incredible man that will be my husband.
I am attaching a copy of the poem for you to read.
Twenty-Two months And three weeks ago, yesterday I met someone by whom My life was swept away. She gave me her heart And took mine, too. Life without her… I don’t know what I’d do. Right before we met I told everyone else To leave me alone I am dating myself. It took me by surprise When you come into my life Now, with tears in my eyes I will ask, “Will you be my wife?” Brad's Story: Last August, as everyone knows, Hurricane Katrina literally wiped out New Orleans. During the evacuation of this massive city, our church opened its doors to hundreds of people to feed them. Through this opening of doors came some new friends in our lives; the Cucurullo’s, Ohrabka’s, and Cormier’s. Cherie Ohrabka was at our furniture store one day in October and was asking when I was going to ask Lauren to marry me. I told her that I already had a few times, but I didn’t know when I would for real. Lauren and I had been talking about getting married for about 2 years but I just couldn’t seem to save enough money to buy her the ring I wanted her to have. So…it was just talk. During this time (October), Mom and Kaci, my little sister, were planning their yearly trip to Dallas for Kaci’s birthday. They go down there to shop, and eat…and SHOP & EAT!!!! While talking about their plan, it occurred to me that Dallas would provide more romantic opportunities to propose than would Monticello. While coming out of this fog, Cherie screamed, “YOU NEED TO PROPOSE IN DALLAS!!!” It was just a confirmation of what I had been thinking. I was excited to begin the process by which to surprise Lauren. She knew I had been saving money because we opened a savings account together and dubbed it the ring fund. She knew I didn’t have very much money in there, so I decided to keep it that way so she wouldn’t suspect anything. So every dime I saved went into a checking account I had at another bank. I never used this account so I knew I couldn’t spend it. When I had enough money saved, I called her uncle and explained to him what I wanted to do and asked him to send me the ring. This was crucial because I had always told Lauren that I would NEVER buy a ring I had not seen. She would have known something was coming had I made a special trip to Memphis to see Sonny and Glenda, Lauren’s aunt and uncle. So I took the back way out, I looked at digital pictures of the ring with no stone in it. I then told Sonny to pick out the diamond he thought looked the best with that setting. While all this was going on, Lauren was begging her mom to go to Dallas with Mom and Kaci so they could shop for wedding ‘stuff’; they were in on the plan. Brenda, Mom #2, was acting like she couldn’t/didn’t want to go. So for about 2 weeks, I was stressed because Lauren was not going without Mom #2. I had almost decided to just ask her somewhere here when Mom #2 let me know she was for sure going. They all left for the trip and I was alone in Monticello to prepare for the biggest surprise I had ever pulled off. I wanted it to be a night she would never forget. I called Mr. Dennis, Lauren’s dad, on Sunday, November 6 to see if all was a go for the water show, the location I had picked for the proposal. He checked and the fountains were working and all was well. My trip to Dallas began after church on November 6. I drove halfway and stayed the night at Bro. Kenny and Sis. Regina’s, (MY youth pastors) in Nashville, AR. The whole time, I have been telling Lauren that I had to work with Dad at the deer camp to get ready for the upcoming season. So on my way to Dallas on Monday, I couldn’t call her because I was afraid she’d hear the cars rolling by. I called her early that morning, when I got ‘to the camp.’ I was actually leaving Bro. Kenny’s house. And that’s all I talked to her for the most part that day. We had it arranged where the girls would get dressed up to ‘take Kaci out’ for her birthday. They were supposed to have reservations @ 8…I think. So of course, they don’t leave the stores until after 7. Mr. Dennis had helped me set up a horse and carriage ride for Lauren and me for after the proposal. We had them be in front of this hotel at like 7:30 so we could leave. Kaci decided to ‘show Lauren this water show’ in downtown Dallas. Lauren was like, ‘OK’. So Dennis and I walked to this water show/fountain and they were OFF!!! I was petrified. Dennis went inside to talk to the concierge about getting them turned on. We tried to have the girls stall until we could get something arranged and we even had to delay our dinner reservations so we could all still celebrate. The workman told Dennis that people were working on the fountains underground and that’s why they were off. Dennis proceeds to tell the man that his one and only daughter is getting engaged tonight and we needed those fountains on. I don’t know the exact wording that was used because I was outside, praying! We set up candles and lit them and scattered rose petals around. We got everything prepared…then the fountains came on. Thank the Lord for prayers, and money (I’m sure). As earlier stated, I had proposed to Lauren before on several occasions, so I told her that at the REAL proposal I would have a single pink rose. (Her signature color) I had also written her a poem and was scared to death that I would lose my voice just as I had the first night I saw her. That whole day I’d been calling Kaci to see where they were and what time they’d be there. So finally, about 7:45 they were getting close. Lauren was mad because I hadn’t talked to her all day but I had time to call Mom, Mom #2, and Kaci. While ending the last conversation with Kaci, I heard Lauren ask Kaci if she was talking to me. She then tells Kaci to inform her brother that her name is Lauren and she is his girlfriend and she would love to talk to him today. My heart leapt inside because I knew she would be totally surprised. As they approached, I could hear them walking up the walkway behind me and then I saw them in the glass walls. Kaci walked passed me first, then Mom and Mom #2. I could see Lauren, saying, “Wait up. Kaci’s just going to see why the other fountains aren’t on.” As she got right to the end of the bench I was sitting on, I stood up in front of her. She was in shock. “What are you doing here? I thought you were at the deer camp. YOU LIED TO ME!!!!” She screamed all this as I handed her the pink rose and began telling her that I missed her too bad and just HAD to come see her. Still, the only response I received was, “YOU LIED TO ME!!!!” I began by telling her how much I loved her and how happy I was to see her. Then, I read her the poem that I wrote for her. (last page of her story) When reading the last line, I got down on one knee and asked her to ‘be my wife.’ She started screaming and we embraced. (I loved having our family there to take pictures and video so we can watch this special moment for years to come.) (Who knows, if you come to the wedding you might see the actual proposal!) We then began walking back through the fountains to begin the carriage ride, oblivious to anyone else in Texas, and this is how our happily ever after began.
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