The Story:
Will and I had talked about getting married for quite a while before Christmas break started. In fact, I knew that he had ordered a ring and was just waiting to have it shipped. Hopefully it would arrive in Provo before he flew to the East Coast for Christmas. I was home in Philadelphia when he told me over the phone that the ring hadn't come in time, and he was leaving for his home in Virginia tomorrow.
He came up to Pennsylvania the day after Christmas to meet my family and to see downtown Philadelphia. Driving to Independence Hall, Mom and I were discussing what activities we would have time for that day and Will asked if we would be going to Valley Forge. Mom and I decided there wasn't enough time in the day. So, Will suggested that he and I spend a little time at Valley Forge the next morning before we drove to Virginia for me to meet his family. He informed me that the park opened at 7am, so we might as well go then to get an early start to Virginia. My thought process was "Of course he wants to see Valley Forge. It's historical and awesome." And I'm a morning person so arriving at 7 didn't seem out of the ordinary either.
While we were in Philadelphia, Will kept bringing up Valley Forge and I told him about how the winter of 1777-1778 was difficult for the Continental Army. After several defeats at the end of 1777, Washington had his army camp at Valley Forge for the winter and to train with Baron von Steuben to become the real fighting force that would win the American Revolution. The difficulties of Valley Forge were poor supplies, disease, and desertion. But, I like the story of Valley Forge because many of the men there stuck through the difficult winter and remained with the army.
The morning of December 27th we arrived at Valley Forge National Historical Park and Will drove us to the National Memorial Arch. We parked, and walked up the hill just as the sun was rising. We were standing under the Memorial Arch when Will asked me to tell him the story of Valley Forge again. I was a bit confused because I had told him the day before. But I told him the story again.
Then he said that he was willing to do that, to stick around through the hard times. Even through eternity. He got down on one knee, pulled a small box out of his pocket and asked me to marry him. I said yes and he stood up and placed the ring on my finger. The next words out of my mouth were "you lied to me." That sneaky boy told me that the ring hadn't come in time. But don't worry. I've forgiven him.
