My Everyday Adventures: L-O-V-E

Friday night, I was shown once again what pure love and joy is. One of my best friends and roommates, Christen got engaged. Let me back up first.

On Thursday, us girls went to support Christen in this event she was in charge of. Chelsey (which, for those who do not know, is Christen’s twin sister), with this sly smile on her face called me over to the table and said, “Erica…I got some news for ya.” Then she smiled the biggest smile and started to say, “Chris...” and before she could even finish saying Christen’s name, I knew what she was about to tell me. Spencer was going to propose to Christen, I just knew it. I looked at Chelsey and in less than a second I started screaming. Then Chelsey started screaming. If you know Chelsey or I, and if you know Chelsey and I together, I am sure you can imagine this scene. One of our many talents together as friends is screaming with excitement.

I should also let you know that I never would have thought that I would be ‘that girl’ who screams when she finds out her friend got engaged. I always thought it would be exciting, but nothing to scream about. After all, I knew it was coming eventually. But, last night, right there in the middle of the HUB, I suddenly could picture this girl who I have been living with for four years now getting asked to be Spencer’s wife, and I was ecstatic for her. Chelsey and I could not contain the screaming, so we ran downstairs to the bathroom and just let it out. Needless to say there was someone in one of the stalls (oops…oh well) and all of our friends above us could hear our screeches. That kind of joy just can’t be replaced and now I am glad I was ‘that girl’ who nearly had tears in her eyes finding out her friend was about to get engaged.

Then Friday night at 7:30, us girls prepared the other apartment with a decorated white board, desserts, music, and gifts. As we sat in anticipation for Christen and Spencer, we were all giddy with excitement. The next time Christen would walk through that door she would be a fiancé to Spencer. I could picture in my mind what her face would look like when she would come in with her ring, and I felt so good inside. As we put on songs like “At Last” and “Love,” and as Chelsey came through the door saying she would be here in fifteen minutes, I felt a certain kind of love in there. No one needed to say it, you could just feel it and see it. It was written all over the way Chelsey was breathing heavily after taking picture after picture of her sister after the engagement, how Emily stood choosing different songs to play, how Courtney and Megan struggled through laughs to draw the perfect diamond on the white board. This love for our friend was so evident we couldn’t help but just giggle. It was beautiful to feel so extremely happy for someone.

When Christen and Spencer’s parents arrived, I think I would not be alone in saying that it felt like Christmas morning. Here the four of them came, happier than I have ever seen them with desserts and sparkling juice and gifts. They busted through the door smiling and screaming in anticipation for their children’s arrival, and it was a lovely sight. Christen’s mom hugged me and exclaimed, “I am just so happy!” And right after that, in a moment of utter delirious joy, Christen and Spencer’s mom looked at each other and hugged laughing with the realization of the future their children will have together. As us girls looked on we couldn’t help but laugh and hug too. It probably sounds cheesy, and maybe it was. But right there in that moment we could all feel that love of family. We, as friends who in a magnificent way formed our own family, and the Batts and Melvins who were becoming one family together.

And when the moment finally came, Christen opened the door and just stood there smiling with Spencer behind her. Then we all screamed and Christen ran up to us and showed us the diamond. And we stood there hugging and screaming and Christen cried and screamed some more. Spencer finally popped the question. Do you know how long I have had to listen to Christen say, “Well obviously I am not getting a ring anytime soon…”? Hah. As Christen and the five of us stood around her talking and screaming at once, I looked over at Spencer standing there with the guys just watching and smiling. He was looking at Christen the way a future husband should look at their future wife. It was precious to me to see him just watch her and let her do her thing and be excited. And I just looked over at him and said, “Good job, Spence.”
We could all see the love Spencer’s parents had for Christen and how excited they were to welcome this new daughter into their family. And Christen’s parents joking with Spencer about how demanding Christen was with the ring shopping and her dad giving him advice. It just made you really excited for these two people.

And right then and there you just knew that this is what love and life is supposed to be like. Not just a happy love and lust feeling. But true joy. Joy that comes despite pain and arguments and late night fights and long distance relationships. Last night showed all of us once again that love is not just a feeling at all; it is a choice. It takes work, but through the work comes great rewards, and an enduring and strong relationship.

The rest of the night Christen opened the gifts and we toasted to the new couple and joked about Spencer and Christen’s relationship. I still remember the first night Spencer asked Christen out because I was sitting on her bed when he texted her for the first time. Valentine’s Day 2008.

And what a ride they have had. Today I look at Spencer and Christen now and am so happy for both of them and for the love that was in that apartment Friday night.