100 days challenge - Gives Thanks day 73 - The Proposal

Cairns where two world heritage sites meet and a place where I found a diamond ring.

On 13 June 2013, the most unromantic boyfriend decided to do something special; to propose at Shangri-La Cairns.

I have nothing to suspect about as it is very common for us to travel together for his race. Something different was that I were extremely busy at work that I hardly have the time to plan any itinerary, so Aaron decided to take over this opportunity to give me a surprise.

What a wonderful joke it is.

It was 4 days after his race; we were adventurous on that day that we decided to go for white water rafting at the Barron River. The day ended pretty fun, tiring and with lots of bruises. It was a rare occasion that he suggested to have a nice dinner to end the day and gave me time to dress up (though I were too tired to dress nicely. *Regretted*).

At North Food and Wines with Sea view

Suspicion arise when the restaurant and bar manager of the North food and Wines, Illy Toloa-Suaniu, brought a bottle of wine, calming that it was the restaurant “lucky draw” and we were the lucky ones. I thought I were over sensitive about things and were embarrassed about myself but I soon put this aside when the seafood tower that we ordered were presented to us. 

Good wine, Good view and a Good ambience

Seafood Tower

 We took our time enjoying the dinner, but I bet Aaron was struggling internally throughout this meal. I reckon it is always a tough mission for any man to pop the question. As for the wine I mentioned earlier, I felt bad not to drink it since it was a gift by the restaurant, so started to drink a few sips while enjoying the lobster, smoked salmon, crayfish and shrimps. It is the best combination I would say. Unknowingly, I drank half the glass and it was more than I could handle. I was feeling sleepy and requested to head back to the hotel to rest.

Before I could stand up from the dining table, the manager has stepped in saying that she has prepared a dessert for us. This was when I knew it is “the moment”.

The specially customized dessert with the ring setting on top with the strawberry 

I saw the ring on top of the customized ice crystal ball and that brought me to tear. Overwhelmed with joy! Aaron was caught off guard too, because North Food and Wines were so kind to help organize this occasion that Aaron only has to do the bare minimum of handling them the ring.

“What am I supposed to do next?” That was his respond, bringing about laughter within my tears.  No fancy speech like he did while emceeing, no animated actions like he did in Sunday school but just a simple “Will you marry me?” and at the same time trying to kneel down with his sore legs. However, all these melt my heart, how could I reject? *blush*

Though no fanciful speech, he jotted down our dating journey in his personalize drawing album. It wasn’t easy to have an endurance dating of 6 years but it definitely taught us how to love and understand each other; and that how we like it, we are endurance athletes.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Thanks to all the friends that contributed the ideas, suggestions and/or simply keeping the cat in the bag. Thank you Illy and North Food and wines for the months of coordination and the surprise. Thank you my fiancé for loving me. Thank God for the angels He places in my life.

The wonderful lady behind the occasion

A special thank you for North food and wines for sponsoring the wine and customized dessert for our special occasion. If you would like to hold a special occasion there:

Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns Pierpoint Road, Cairns, Queensland, 4870 Australia
Tel: (617) 4052 7670 Fax:(617) 4031 2815 Email:illy.suaniu@shangri-la.com Website:www.shangri-la.com

To end off, I’m engaged!

Run To See The World

Recently Aaron and I have been traveling to countries for races and this is addictive. We are inspired by some of our friends who often fly to overseas for races. We are neither rich nor elite, holiday trips are an indulgence and our race timings aren’t good enough to be sponsored. This doesn’t stop us from seeing the world and the passion to run. So, don’t know since when we started having this laborious and expensive hobby of taking every overseas race as a holiday. Tiring but this how we like it! We run to see the world. Much from the unspoken truth is the Love from our God that allows us to be able to see His marvelous creations with every breath we take.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. – Matthew 6:33

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord – Psalm 150:6

Cingjing Nantou, Taiwan - 2013

Taipei, Taiwan - 2013

Often I will throw nasty comment at Aaron for not having normal couple relationship of having dinner date or just spending time talking sweet things. No anniversary, no Valentine day!  Ironically, I repeatedly have to shut myself up with all my nonsense because as an athlete, I understand it all. Most of the time, we get to see our partner ugly worn-out face that is rather unappealing. We see each other very frequent, like 4-5 times a week, many it maybe seems but none is romantic. Trainings and ministry works are the time that bonded us together.  Now that we have this expensive hobby (I hope this will last for as long as it can *praying hard*), it helps spice our relationship a little and motivate us to train harder. I treasure every trainings, ministering and overseas trips and am really thankful for that. Thank God for His provision to our endurance dating relationship.

Our first trip together was 5 years back. First destination - Bangkok; a trip that we truly understand what “Venus vs Mars” is.  Aaron’s intolerant to wait was immediately surfaced during that trip while I shopped. Back in those honeymoon dating days, he was always the enthusiastic party wanting to shop with me but I guess 1 year was his threshold. This trip unveils our differences and similarities; running shoe is always the item on the packing list. Since then, running shoe is a “Must bring” item for every trip.  Till date, we have run in Melbourne, Japan, Cambodia, London, Paris, Busselton and Taiwan.

Western Australia Ironman, Busselton - 2012

Western Australia Ironman, Busselton - 2012



Tokyo Marathon, Japan - 2012



 

Tokyo Marathon, Japan - 2012



Tokyo Marathon, Japan - 2012





Stonehenge, London - 2011





The Louvre, Paris - 2011

Dandenong Melbourne, Australia - 2009

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? - 1 Corinthians 12:17

I thank God for providing me a partner and a best friend. Though we may be different in many ways but we learn to grow together in Christ.