Her story / jeji příběh

Her story:

So I met David on December 4, 2011. I had been preparing for our English advent service CB Ostrava. (the church) One of my jobs was to pass out candles at the door for our "candlelit" service. As I was handing out the candles people would walk by and say things to me in Czech. Of course at this time I had no idea what half of them were saying. Well I remember my friend Markéta coming in and there was a boy with her. He said something to me in Czech and I just smiled and nodded.

The service started and we sang some carols and I read the story of the nativity. After the service we had prepared tea and coffee and sweets in the cafe of the church. The same boy that came in with my friend was sitting at the table with all the kids from the youth group. There was one empty seat next to him so I sat down. He introduced himself and I told him my name. He asked where I was from and "How long are you here?"  We Americans love it when Czechs ask this question because we don't know if it is how long have I been or will be here. So I answered with both. I have been here for a year and a half and don't know how long I will be here.

To this response my friend Markéta chimed in with "forever". She had been teasing me a long time about me staying in the Czech Republic. So my response to this was always "find me a husband." After this response David asked what I was looking for. This kind of shocked me that he would be so straight forward. Up until this point I didn't really have any interest in dating him. But this sparked my interest. After giving him a rather short list he replied "Well I guess I can't help you". This definitely removed any thoughts I had of us dating or anything like that. Through out the rest of the evening we chatted and he found out why I was here and everything. I found out he was a youth minister for another church in a town not far from Ostrava. At the end of the night he asked me if I could be found on facebook. I told him to look me up through Markéta.

That night I got home and I had received a friend request. My heart skipped a beat as I clicked on it. It was from Daniel Neuwirth. I was a little confused because I remembered the guys name as David. So I did some searching and discovered that this Daniel was David's brother. So I sent David a message: "your brother just added me on Facebook. :)"
his response: ":) Yes, I've asked him if he knows you and if it is safe to add you on facebook :) So, how are you? And what is your plan for this evening?"

Two days after we met he suggested that we go get lunch together sometime. A week after we met I went to Vienna to see the Christmas markets. While there I talked with a friend about this guy that had captured my attention but I had no idea how he felt. I decided just to take it for what it was and let him do the rest.

We went to lunch a week and a half after we met and it was one of the best three hours I have spent talking with someone. He definitely had captured me and impressed me. That Sunday he asked to pick me up for the advent service. I agreed and he showed up at my door with a single rose. He looked so nervous and I was just as anxious. After two weeks this guy is coming to pick me up with a rose?! He told me that he was interested in me but felt like everything was going fast and people were pushing us together. So he asked me to pray with him for one month about us starting a relationship. How could I say no to that.?

So for the next month, until January 19th we prayed and sought The Lord about our relationship. We spent time together and talked and tried to keep the physical contact to a minimum. On January 19th he took me to a place beside the river in the mountains. And standing in the snow he asked me to join him in a relationship. I accepted and we started dating.

We spent a lot of time together and took several trips that helped us to grow closer to each other. Things were not always perfect but this man truly showed me what it means to protect me and how valuable I am in the eyes of my Lord.
For the summer I went to Texas. We had decided that he would come for two weeks to visit my family and meet everyone. The time there was wonderful. I am sure it was a complete culture shock for all of us. I was watching carefully how this guy interacted with my family and the respect he showed.

On August 26 while I was going to bed I told David that I would like to sleep in a little the next day and wouldn't be up before 9:00. I told hi. That if he wanted breakfast sooner he would have to make it. He asked me what I would like and I said, joking, pancakes and bacon. I was joking because I knew that he would have to find a recipe and all the ingredients in my mom's kitchen. The next morning I woke up and started getting ready. I got a whiff of bacon and thought...really? I went downstairs and David was standing over the stove cooking the pancakes and bacon I had asked for. I was really impressed, but didn't think anything of it. We ate breakfast together and afterwards I got up to clean the kitchen. David insisted on cleaning it himself but I told him it is only fair that I do it. So I started cleaning. He kept interrupting me with hugs and words of affection. Getting annoyed I continued. One time he stopped me in the middle of the kitchen. This is what happened. My thoughts in parenthesis.

"Shelly, you are the greatest gift God has ever given me."
(Yes I know, you tell me this all the time. Can I do the dishes?)
"I love you so much."
(Ok....I love you too. Dishes?)
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
(I know you do....dishes now?)
David moves his hand towards his pocket and gets down on his knee...
(Say what?!?!)
"Will you marry me?" On knee with ring in hand.
(Holy heck!!! He is asking me here now? In the kitchen. Am I ready for this?)
"Right now, you are asking me right now? Here? I mean...YES"

He put the ring on my finger and I have no what happened after that. I had to sit down. I was in shock. I am going to get married. To this incredible man. He loves me. He bought a ring. Really?! I'm getting married. White dress and everything. :) I am incredibly happy and can't wait to live out this adventure called life with David Neuwirth