Eastern Michigan University in the Fall and be a part of Chi Alpha Campus Ministry so I agreed to give him my e-mail address.  We began corresponding during the summer and got to know each other better while hanging out with mutual friends on and around campus.
     I asked him when he first let his feelings known why he was interested in me.  He explained that if God has told you you are going to have an orange in your life and that's what is good for you, why waste time dating an apple (he hadn't dated anyone for two years).  He said there were plenty of opportunities over the last two years for him to date an apple or a pear,  but why waste time when there is an orange out there somewhere.  I totally agreed and it had been a year since I had been seeing anyone, I guess in a way I was waiting for an orange too, but I never heard that particular analogy before.  He told me he wanted to get to know me better cause he thought I might be an orange.
     In my past I have prayed about my relationships and gotten "no"s and had to end things.  This time I have not gotten any "no"s from God, but instead open doors.  I have had a list of 38 qualities written out since I was around fifteen or sixteen that I would like my future spouse to have (Loves God is number one).  He met all 38!
     On Thursday January 11, 2001 we became engaged.  We began carpooling on Tuesdays and Thursdays to Eastern Michigan University in hopes of better odds of actually finding a parking spot.  After my class on Thursday I got a message to meet him at Solid Rock Coffee House, where he was 'studying' to catch my ride home with him.  I was running a little late after my last class and got to the coffee house a little late.  When I got there I couldn't find Rich anywhere.  I asked Don if he had seen Rich (Don owns the coffee shop and knows both of us from frequent stops in to study).  Don looked at me really confused like he didn't remember ever meeting a Rich, then he said, "Oh yeah, he just left and said he would be back in a little."  I asked where he went and Don said he didn't know, I asked how soon Rich would be back and again Don didn't know.  At this time one of our friends (another Bethany) who works at the coffee shop went behind the counter and brought out a box of flowers with a  card attached that said "follow the fruit"
     On the tables I found fruit leading in a trail onto the floor.  This trail led to a back room in the coffee house.  As I followed my trail of fruit, which contained everything but oranges, I began to think something was going on.  There I passed a banana, an apple, a pear, a lemon, a lime and a peach, finally I reached the back room.  As I entered I noticed Rich standing there waiting for me with an orange in his hand for me to take.  I picked up my orange and found a ring box behind it.  Rich got down on one knee and told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and that I am his orange!  "Will you marry me?"
     From the e-mail you all got from me I'm guessing you could tell I said YES!  I am extremely happy--excited--ecstatic!!!!!!!  We are planning for an August wedding, but have to make sure everything will work out with school.  He asked my parents for their blessing and approval (I had no clue when he did this) before asking me and they are excited about things as well!  I was told my Daddy even wanted to have a little fear brought into the event so he brought out the shotgun when they had their little gathering:)
     Some people have asked about my ring so I will let you all know about that too.  We looked around to give him ideas and we found a really unique ring at a family owned jewelry store.  All of the major jewelry stores had rings that all looked the same, but this ring was different.  It looked like a princess(square) cut diamond when the sales woman brought it out of the display and as I tried it one she told us differently.  She explained that this ring was one that someone had brought in to sell to them and they thought it was so pretty they didn't want to tear it apart and melt it into something else like they usually do.  The woman was in her eighties and passed away and her niece inherited the ring and didn't want it (I have no idea why?).  The ring is so old, it comes before they had the laser technology to cut out the diamond shapes they have today and was hand cut right at the mine.  The round shaped diamond is inside a white gold and platinum square shaped setting
     I'm looking forward to the rest of my life with Rich and although planning the wedding is fun that is only going to be one day out of an entire marriage and the marriage with God in the center of it is the important part!!!
     I love you all and I hope that this L-O-N-G e-mail answered all of your questions I've sparked in all of you!  I hope you are all blessed!

In HIM,
Bethany Erin Hurd