The first time Imari told me about Lucas, I’m pretty sure I was at the edge of my seat in excitement–eyes wide open. They had been dating for only a couple days when I met up with her, but I didn’t know the full story yet! I had only seen some photos of the two of them up on my feed while I was away at UCR, and I definitely had a feeling something was going on. When she talked about it all, I could just see the joy and excitement she had about it all!
I remember vividly how excited she was and how she was so passionate about the entire relationship. I’m pretty sure she said something along the lines of… “Margie, I know we haven’t been dating long, but… I think… I can almost say that I love him…!” She squealed like a little girl and I’m pretty sure I laughed. She’s not one to be swayed by emotions, but I could totally see that Lucas had a strong place in her heart.
What I remember most was what Imari told me about Lucas’s heart of prayer over her even before they really became good friends. He prayed for her while she was in Hungary, and when she came back last year, they finally became good friends.
“He doesn’t remember, but I talked to him my first semester of bible college and his last semester in one of our classes. I asked a question and he turned around and answered it. But, I guess we officially got introduced way before then at church, which I don’t remember. Haha. We normally just skip that and jump to summer of 2012. It wasn’t until On the Edge 2012 where we became good friends. Over the course of after summer up unto that winter is when my feelings for him developed. I was attracted to his genuine heart for The Lord and the fruit he produced through his life. And progressively that interest in him grew more and more.”
For Lucas, like Imari said, he remembers first meeting her as she welcomed him in one Sunday at Inland Valley Victory Church (it’s now New Hope Calvary Chapel)! During that On the Edge program of 2012, Lucas saw Imari’s heart to serve the Lord as their friendship grew and thus his friendship with her flourished to even more. “Her beauty caught my attention, but it was her steadfast love for The Lord that stole my heart.”
A few days after our meet up came Valentines day. Crazily enough, I got a text asking if I was free to photograph a special surprise Lucas had for Imari on that day! He set up a cute little Valentines day dessert with the help of his friends, and led her there after surprising her after her last class. This was their first date. :) Surprising Imari has been a running theme I’ve seen in their relationship! So romantic!
Over time, our individual meet ups, as well as meet ups with our close girl friends led to me seeing how much Lucas truly blessed her and also led her in their relationship with each other and keeping things God-centered. He never failed to take care of her, and even when he moved to Kauai for missions (he’ll be returning for good soon!), he never failed to surprise her and send her his love. Things progressed quickly, and though it may seem “too quick” to some, hearing about their relationship (their tough times included), I truly saw how they were maturing in their relationship and how God had been blessing and leading it so much.
Imari had told me that from the beginning, they spoke of marriage as being the goal of their relationship. Lucas’s answer to me later on expounded on it in such a godly way: “Nowhere in the Bible do you see God honor dating relationships. He honors covenants. Marriage was always the goal in this, because that was always God’s will for man. To not be alone and to marry one woman. Never have I heard the voice of The Lord as clearly as I did when He told me it was time to pursue His daughter.”
“When you know, you know. The Lord made it clear to me by envisioning my future with this man. Also, we soaked up pursuing a relationship with each other in prayer prior to confessing our feelings for one another. We wouldn’t have dated without the pursuit of marriage.” – Imari
When Lucas texted me and her close friends about proposing, we all nearly died (of excitement)! We had not long before that talked about proposals and rings, and all that jazz! I was in quite a predicament though since I was going to meet with her two days after that text was sent and I broke a sweat trying to make sure I didn’t spill the beans! (Oh, having to keep in these amazing secrets takes quite a toll on me! haha)
Quickly, Gail, Sam and I devised a plan to make sure Imari looked her best that day for the proposal photos and videos, and made sure to include her other best friends in on the scheme! As Gail, Sam and I worked together to “casually” initiate a photoshoot between us girls for fun through a group text, we got Imari excited to dress up and be photographed on the same day she was to be proposed to! Props to Imari’s other best friends, Tina and Sarah, who took her to get her nails done and helped with her makeup during the day of! :) It absolutely accentuated her beauty! She looked gorgeous!
The 21st of December was an absolutely beautiful day! It was chilly, but not to a point where dresses and tights weren’t do-able, and the sun was up and shining down on everything! Imari thought Lucas was still in Kauai, and unable to come home for Christmas, and he texted her throughout the day as if he were still there! Good thing she didn’t suspect a thing!
When I look back on this past Saturday, it was truly such an overall blessed day! I can’t wait til you get to the proposal! I couldn’t keep my eyes from welling up when I took the photos, when I edited the photos, and even now as I’m curating them into this story! So beautiful!
Meet Imari & Lucas! :)
Lucas’ 3 favorite things about Imari: “Her heart for The Lord, her smile, her integrity.”
Imari’s three favorite things about Lucas:
1. “His unyielding, unwavering love and commitment unto The Lord.”
2. “His undying selflessness.”
3. “The example of Christ he is to me.”
I got to see Lucas with John & Chris before the photoshoot with the girls began! We snuck on over to a part of the Calvary Chapel Bible College campus where there weren’t too many people and I took a couple shots of Lucas with the ring! He got the exact ring Imari wanted–it’s an absolutely beautiful ring!
“I purchased the ring middle of October but it wasn’t finished being made until the 10th of December. The planning though has been going on since my sisters wedding in August. I was inspired! Haha It took so so so much prayer, time, and lots of loving friends and family willing to help out. Day by day also, nothing got done in a day so I had to learn to be patient ha.”
After we met with Lucas, we headed over to the opposite side of the campus where we were meeting with Imari, Gail, Sam & Abby! And so the friend photoshoot began! What a perfect way to get her in the mood for photos!
**IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE FROM OUR FUN FRIEND PHOTOSHOOT, CHECK IT OUT HERE!**
We left the park, shivering, and made our way to eat some wings for some dinner and catching up time before we headed to A Very [REVO] Christmas, the destination where Lucas would propose! It’s awesome because we all served with one another, and got closer to one another through REVO! So we were excited to all be able to go to one (school made it hard for us to all go at the same time), and for it to be a very special one in multiple ways! ;)
As the outreach night began, the emcees gave some announcements, including one that deemed Imari as REVO staff of the month! Which meant she would be the “grand prize holder” for their icebreaker game! Little did Imari know that basically everyone on REVO staff, and those at New Hope Calvary Chapel were in on the proposal!
Once all the normal prizes were given during their game that was similar to “Deal or No Deal”, they called up Imari to the stage to hold the “grand prize”! BUT! Before it was announced, we were all forced to watch a “commercial”, just like they do in the TV show! We watched a little Christmas video from the team in Kauai!
Lucas then came onto the screen individually at the end to give Imari a special shout out and surprise… He wanted to give her another surprise for Christmas…
…himself. :)
Imari was absolutely stunned and ecstatic to see Lucas!
Lucas gave a beautiful testimony of God’s blessings upon us, and how He makes things beautiful in His own time, and how he wanted to share with Imari a beautiful gift.
*Cue the tears that welled in my eyes with joy*
And then… it happened…
I asked Lucas what he remembered feeling during the entire day and during the proposal:
“The entire day was a dream, I could’t think about anything but the moment on that stage. During the proposal all I remember is seeing her face up there on stage and her smiling at me. Everything else is pretty foggy to be honest.”
And of course… she said yes… a very big “YES”!
“I was definitely shocked. But I knew there was something funny going on because everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was acting just slightly off. But I was amazed at the planning and preparation Lucas put into this big night. I absolutely loved that he let all of our loved ones know. But I found it hilarious that everyone and their mother’s knew months in advance before me. Also, I feel like I’m living in a fairytale. The love of my life asked me to marry him!!!!!” – Imari
Lucas’ face shows it all–SO much content and joy!
As they headed off the stage, Imari & Lucas’s family and friends trailed after them to congratulate them in the foyer!
So much joy and love in the room!
We gave the newly engaged couple some time with their family and to themselves as we headed back into REVO, to worship and praise God for all the blessings He truly gives!
And then we heard a beautiful message on the Gospel and the importance and joy of Christmas as a beginning, and how it’s only fully experienced when we remember the cross, too!
& Of course afterwards, we got to take more photos with Imari and Lucas. :)
CONGRATULATIONS LUCAS & IMARI! :)
What a marvelous night of so many kinds of love! Love between friends, romantic love between two people, and a redeeming love between a great God and undeserving man. My heart was so full! It was truly a REVO to remember! :)
& Lastly, I asked Lucas and Imari if they had any advice for those waiting to be engaged/those proposing! Here’s what they said:
Lucas to the men looking into their perfect proposal: “Surround it with prayer, God’s timing WILL BE perfect! Be patient! If you want it to be special it’s going to take lots of time and effort.”
Imari to the women in serious relationships waiting for that ring: ” God’s timing is crucial! Psalm 27:14 is like a theme verse of ours. As you expectantly, obediently wait on The Lord (seeking Him), His perfect timing will unravel right before your eyes. There’s no other place you’d want to be than in the center of His will. Also, practice self-denial with one another. It’s a key ingredient in a long lasting relationship.”
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE! :)
P.S. Don’t forget to check out the photoshoot from this day as well! CLICK HERE TO VIEW