“I was about to bust with my love for her.”

Mandy and Mike

Mandy and I hit it off from the start. The first night, I met her sister and dad (a Baptist preacher). Later, I found out that after the third date Mandy had wanted to stop seeing me because she was falling in love and got scared. But her heart would not let her do it.

It was funny, we had been dating for about two months and we were head over heels in love with each other and scared to say it. Mandy's mom would ask us how we felt about each other. We both would say we are in "strong like" instead of love, until one special day! I wrote the words down and asked Mandy to read what I wrote. She read it before she thought about what it said. I always tell her that she said it first. About a week later I slipped and said it, too. I did not want to say it first, yet I was about to bust with my love for her.

I had never been in a serious relationship before I met Mandy. With the girls I dated earlier, if I had seen them once a week I was good. When I met Mandy, everything changed. I was with her six days a week (I had to take one day off to do laundry).

A dramatic proposal

After we had been dating for about five months, I knew that I wanted her to be my wife. But I knew that I could not propose in some plain way. Mandy loves the television miniseries "North and South." I wanted to do something based on it, but I couldn't figure out what.

Then I had an idea. I asked Mandy's mom, Linda, if she could make a Civil War ball gown. Linda found a pattern and said she would make it while Mandy was away at work. Searching online, I found a Civil War officer's uniform. Mandy's birthday is July 5. That would be the day. I wanted to ride up to her on a horse, dismount and ask her to marry me.

Everything was falling into place except for one thing -- I couldn't find anyone who would rent me a horse. I started looking in May. Mandy's mom and dad and all of my friends were looking for a horse to rent. When the last week in June arrived, still without a horse, I began to think I was going to have to buy a stick pony. I even put an ad on a local radio station that does a swap shop show. I was on so frequently, everyone at the radio station knew my voice. Finally one day I got a break. I called the show and told my story about needing a horse. About five minutes later my phone rang. The man said he would do it.

The big day arrives

On the day of her birthday I wrapped Mandy's dress and took it to her mom's house. I put a note on the box telling Mandy to put on the dress and to be outside her house at six o'clock -- no questions asked. I had asked the man to bring the horse to me at 5:40 p.m. At 5:50 p.m. I was getting scared because he hadn't arrived. Two minutes later he and the horse appeared.

I rode around from behind her house to meet Mandy. I had a big speech planed, but when I saw her, my mind went blank. All I could do was get down on one knee and ask her to marry me.

I thought July 5 was the best day of my life and it was -- until last January 14 when I saw Mandy walking up the aisle to become my wife.

Success tips from Mike:

• Be honest about who you are and what you are looking for.

Don't be afraid to consider someone who does not measure up to everything you're looking for. You could miss on a great person.

Post a picture with your profile.

• First date: I met her after she got out of class and we went to Taco Bell to eat. Then we went back to her house and watched "Elf." I didn't like the movie, but everything else was great.

Do you have a love story to share? Let us know!

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