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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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February 1, 2014

A Proposal Story & The Recipe for Love

I have really horrible handwriting. It’s true. My mom wouldn’t even let me help address the envelopes on my wedding invitations because of my horrible handwriting.

Recipe for Love Tea Towel Valentine's Day Gift from atthepicketfence.com

Although…maybe I was faking that so I could get out of doing it…hmmm…. 😉

I never realized just how horrible my handwriting was until I decided to do a cute little craft for our Take 5: 5 Minute Craft Series which involved writing on a towel.

5 minute craft graphic

So, I’m going to distract you from my handwriting with a story. And then you are going to decide to make this cute little craft yourself and it will look beautiful and perfect because I can guarantee that your handwriting is better than mine!

Everyone loves a good proposal story, right?

This one begins on a cold day in November, 1997. My college roommate and I were getting ready to head out on the town for a ‘girls night’ and as we were leaving our apartment she mentioned that she needed to make a quick stop at her parents home.

We hopped in her car and cranked up the music pouring from her tape deck. I’m pretty sure it was one of the super cool mixed tapes that I had made in high school and brought with me to college. It probably even had the voice of the DJ on it since I never was quick enough at pushing that “end” button when I was trying to record songs from the radio.

sharpie and towel

As we drove along the winding mountain rode towards Kara’s parents house we chatted about finals and the upcoming Christmas break and which friends we were going to meet up with that night.

And then, suddenly, Kara starts pulling her car off to the side of the road. I look out the car window and see what appears to be a homeless man standing on the corner.

I said, “Ummm….Kara…what are you doing? You aren’t planning on giving him a ride are you?” I watched as the man with the hood of his coat pulled up over his head begins walking towards my door.

And I panic…and freak out a bit….and wonder if I have any cash in my purse that I can give him.

Then as he moves closer and closer to us I notice he’s holding a cardboard sign.

It’s pitch black outside but with the help of the car’s headlights I’m able to make out what it says…

recipe for love tea towel

“WIFELESS WILL WORK FOR MARRIAGE”

recipe for love towel with ribbon detail

He pulls the hood off and there standing before me isn’t a homeless man or a hitch-hiker or a night prowler lying in wait for two college girls.

It was my boyfriend. My guy. My love.

The one to whom I had given my heart.

He got in the car with us and Kara drove a little bit further before turning into a driveway. It took me a minute to realize where we were being that it was at night and all. But I soon got my wits about me and recognized the park where we had enjoyed many a picnic. All of those special dates which we went on mostly because we didn’t have a lot of money to spend on fancy restaurants but ones we knew we wouldn’t trade for all of the china and cloth napkins in the world.

ribbon detail on towel

He had set up a table with candles and flowers and then it happened…that moment I had dreamed of and knew was coming and yet for some reason it still took me by surprise…and took my breath away.

He asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. To be his wife. His partner.

The tears flowed and I  blubbered my way through saying a great big ‘YES’!

We just knew that we had found the recipe for love.

But, you don’t really know until you know…and then you know. Right?

Recipe for Love towel atthepicketfence.com

You see, this particular recipe gets put to the test as the years go by. And some extra ‘flavors’ are added in.

Flavors like loss, grief, heartache, disappointment, worry, fear, great sorrow and great joy.

And that’s when you know. That’s when you know if your recipe for love can withstand the addition of these flavors.

If it can, perhaps, just perhaps, the result will be something richer…deeper…with more substance.

That young man, the one who held up a sign that said ‘wifeless will work for marriage’, is sitting next to me as I type out these words. He makes me laugh as much today as he did that night over 16 years ago when he asked me to be his forever. He’s my best friend.

And our recipe for love has withstood the addition of a few extra ingredients….some flavoring.

I pray it’s a recipe that will be passed down from generation to generation…

along with my mixed tapes. 😉

Vanessa signature

 

 

22 Comments Filed Under: Crafts, Five Minute Crafts, Good Ideas Tagged With: 5 minute crafts, cheap crafts, crafts, Five Minute Crafts, Take Five

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Comments

  1. Lori Alexander says

    February 1, 2014 at 5:22 AM

    What a unique way of proposing! This is a beautiful love story. You are very blessed.

    Reply
  2. chelsea says

    February 1, 2014 at 5:39 AM

    So sweet!

    Reply
  3. Thistle says

    February 1, 2014 at 5:48 AM

    Vanessa,

    What a wonderful story! Proposal stories are the best. 🙂

    Happy day to you friend!
    karianne

    Reply
  4. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    February 1, 2014 at 6:29 AM

    OMG, Vanessa, that is a beautiful story! My husband still makes me laugh after almost 29 years of marriage {and almost 31 years of being together}. Oh yes, I love your towel, too! : )

    Reply
  5. Marty Walden says

    February 1, 2014 at 7:09 AM

    So beautiful and what a great proposal! Love your heart and your love for your husband and kids. It shines through in every project and word. You’re amazing!

    Reply
  6. Anita Ward says

    February 1, 2014 at 8:08 AM

    How sweet……..may you share many more years together bonded by The Love Of God!!!!!!

    Reply
  7. Claire @ A Little Claireification says

    February 1, 2014 at 8:14 AM

    What an awesome proposal story Vanessa! So sweet and I loved reading this.
    And haha- you could always hear the DJ on my mix tapes too. lol

    Reply
    • Vanessa says

      February 1, 2014 at 11:56 AM

      LOL! Glad to know I wasn’t the only one who was lacking in mixed tape making skills Claire!

      Reply
  8. Hillary | lulalizett says

    February 1, 2014 at 9:22 AM

    Vanessa, this is hilarious! I can just imagine you panicking as a shadowy figure walks toward your car door. I would have had an anxiety attack!! I love it! Oh, and your handwriting is definitely not horrible! Your tea towel looks great!

    Reply
    • Vanessa says

      February 1, 2014 at 11:55 AM

      LOL!! Yes I definitely was having an anxiety attack too! Thanks so much for coming by! 🙂

      Reply
  9. laura@top this top that says

    February 1, 2014 at 10:38 AM

    who cares about your handwritting your story is beautiful!

    Reply
    • Vanessa says

      February 1, 2014 at 11:55 AM

      Awwww…thanks friend! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Carol Reddin says

    February 1, 2014 at 2:58 PM

    I remember this story well! Our family has definitely been blessed by the addition of your husband! Wouldn’t trade him! Mom

    Reply
  11. vanessa prohaska says

    February 1, 2014 at 3:38 PM

    Lovely story, cute project and what an awesome college friend!

    Reply
  12. Vivienne at The V Spot says

    February 2, 2014 at 1:31 PM

    That. Is. Awesome.

    Reply
  13. kelly says

    February 2, 2014 at 8:56 PM

    Just love this!
    xx

    Reply
  14. Judy says

    February 3, 2014 at 11:02 AM

    What a beautiful way of proposing. Great story.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      February 3, 2014 at 1:07 PM

      Thanks Judy! Hope you are doing well friend! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Sue {munchkin munchies} says

    February 3, 2014 at 1:47 PM

    What a great proposal story, and I love your tea towel! Thanks for sharing!
    BTW, is this just a plain muslin tea towel?

    Reply
    • Vanessa says

      February 3, 2014 at 5:02 PM

      Thanks Sue! And it’s just a flour sack towel from Target. They came in a pack of 4 and were under $5! 🙂

      Reply
      • Sue {munchkin munchies} says

        February 3, 2014 at 6:13 PM

        Thanks, Vanessa! 🙂

        Reply
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    February 3, 2014 at 8:34 PM

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    You can prevent build-up from happening on your carpet as well keep
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