She said yes! Philip & Ashley's Engagement

See the two lovely people above? Well, one's my middle brother Philip and the other is our soon-to-be sister-in-law Ashley. Yup, that's right - as of Monday, one of my baby brothers is officially ENGAGED!

The Wolf Pack, circa 2013
(Thanks Facebook!)

So, let me set the scene for you of how all this went down. Ashley and Philip have known each for a LONG time. Like since school still had recess long time. The two grew up going to church together at Bear Creek Baptist and were part of a great group of friends. But alas, they never got together, despite the loads of friends and friends' parents who thought they were perfect for each other. Flash forward a couple of years to when that same gang of friends was finishing up college and the "Wolf Pack" starts making it a priority to hang out together, and these two ended up back in each other's orbit. And since Ashley and Philip ended up being involved in the same Houston Rodeo committee, that helped in getting them to spend time together too. Was it Fate? Destiny? I'm pretty sure it was God intervening, since according to unnamed family sources, these two can be stubborn, especially about things staring them right in the face. Eventually, all of this led to Philip and Ashley starting to date in 2014.

And sometimes, you just know when you've found the one.

Now Philip had in mind that he wanted to make their engagement a moment to share with family and friends, so he employed all of us in a scheme to get Ashley to her parents' house under the guise of a family dinner. We all safely tucked our cars away at the local elementary school and were shuttled to the Greens' house by 6 pm to get situated and briefed before Ashley was supposed to get there at 7 pm. Philip had chosen the date, February 9, for a reason too; it would've been the 64th wedding anniversary of our grandparents' marriage. Ashley's mom, Karen, had decked out the house beautifully, and it set the romantic tone for the evening.

The pictures above the mantel are wedding pictures
from both the Green and the Walther families



Waiting for Ashley

The rose line

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


As Ashley's little brother Aaron was on lookout duty, the rest of the guests were arranged into place. Philip had everyone lined up, starting with the Wolf Pack, to hand Ashley a single rose until she made it to Philip where he was waiting in the living room with the final rose (and the ring, of course!). It was such a surprise to Ashley when she opened the door and was greeted by candlelight and her friend Ryann holding a rose for her instead of the family dinner that she thought she was walking in to. The look on Ashley's face was priceless as she started to comprehend exactly what was going on. Everyone's faces were alight with smiles as she walked closer and closer to where Philip was anxiously waiting by the fireplace. I think I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story...

 

So obviously, she said YES! And we spent the night getting to celebrate with this wonderful couple and share in the excitement as they embark on this journey towards marriage together.

The Bride’s Dream - Song of Solomon 3:1-5

 

                                                               ¹ On my bed by night
                                                  I sought him whom my soul loves;
                                              I sought him, but found him not.

                                                               ² I will rise now and go about the city,
                                                  in the streets and in the squares;
                                             I will seek him whom my soul loves.
                                                  I sought him, but found him not.

                                           ³ The watchmen found me
                                                  as they went about in the city.
                                             “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”

                                                              ⁴ Scarcely had I passed them
                                                  when I found him whom my soul loves.
                                              I held him, and would not let him go
                                                  until I had brought him into my mother’s house,
                                                  and into the chamber of her who conceived me.

                                                              ⁵ I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
                                                  by the gazelles or the does of the field,
                                             that you not stir up or awaken love
                                                  until it pleases.

 

 

 

Click here for more pictures from Philip and Ashley's engagement