Zach Pops the Question!

Bates Family General

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  Zach wanted to surprise Whitney… He had already let the cat out of the bag that he had a ring, even though she hadn’t seen it! So she knew the big day was coming, she just didn’t know when or how!

  Zach had been planning for weeks. He had coordinated with her parents to have an overnight bag ready and waiting. He had arranged absences with her work and college.

   On an early, unsuspecting Wednesday, Zach was waiting on Whitney’s porch as she was leaving for school. He told her he wanted to take her for breakfast. The surprise breakfast turned out to be a drive thru breakfast, because Zach told Whitney he was late for an appointment! That appointment was our airline ride to Orlando, Florida! (Zach had found a bargain $59 flight!) 6516_10151487580248603_734273456_n

  When we arrived, we took a ride to see dolphins on the Little Toot boat in Clearwater, Florida. Dolphins followed the boat, jumping in and out of the wake for miles. Then we stumbled onto a pod of about 15 dolphins and their babies. It was an absolutely unforgettable ride!! That evening we found a church to attend, then settled in so we could prepare for the next day’s exciting events!

DSC06951  On Thursday morning, September 12, following lunch, Zach took Whitney to have her nails done. This gave us just enough time to search out a private proposal spot on the beach to fit the description Zach had given us. After looking at 3 spots, we thought we wouldn’t be able to find the ideal place he had envisioned, but someone directed us to SDSC06969myrna Dunes Park. After about a mile and a half walk along a beautiful boardwalk, the dunes open up to reveal an inlet with a lighthouse in the background on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

  Zach proposed in a gorgeous setting, and I don’t know if they cried more or laughed more. Their hearts were so filled with joy! They ate a steak dinner together on the beach while they watched the sunset, and a new chapter in their lives began!! (She said, “Yes!”)

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