engagement

In honor of a close wonderful friend getting engaged last night...

Me and the smokin hot now-hubband had been dating about eight months and after many deep talks and personal soul searching, knew we wanted to get married. He called my dad (a conversation I wish had been recorded), and we set a date. Knowing how quickly availability would disappear, we even made our appointment at the temple before the official "question". My brilliant husband had decided to design my ring himself, something I assumed would take weeks to do. So when we would go out on dates, he tried to set me up! Finding a romantic spot, he would kneel down and... tie his shoe. What a tease. So on April 20th, a Wednesday evening, he had promised to pick me up after my evening class. Class ran over and it was raining lightly so when he picked me up and told me his plan to go take a walk up to the quarry, I suggested postponing to a different night. It didn't work. So we drove up the canyon in a friend's jeep and the rain quickly turned to snow. He had planned to drive up to the waterfalls, where you can look over the whole valley and have music playing at sunset for a perfect romantic evening. Unfortunately, the snow was so deep, the jeep got stuck. I again suggest going home but he declined. We decide to walk to the falls. Afterall, it was beautiful and peaceful, with the snow falling and the trees perfectly frosted. So we began walking... which turned into hiking... which turned into trudging and the snow was soon thigh deep, the falls much further than we thought and it was now becoming dark, having missed the sunset.

As we walked, he had kept me at arms length, only giving a half hearted side hug when we took a break. And then his shoe came untied and he declined my suggestion to stop to tie it. So we walked awhile more. But finally, wet, cold and the falls no where in sight, we decided to stop. We stood together to enjoy the stunning view and the enchanting snow around us when he surprised me with long stem red roses. (they were inside his coat, preventing him from being able to bend and tie his shoe or being able to hug me). He had previously given me 5, one at a time, leaving them in my room or car as a thoughtful and romantic surprise. He now presented me with 7 more, making it a perfect dozen. I gushed, we cuddled and it was wonderful. And then taking my hands, he knelt down, opening a small green velvet box, and smiling, he asked me to marry me. The next few minutes are a little fuzzy but there was possibly some squealing and definitely some kissing as I answered yes and he slipped on the exquisite ring. Then we hurried back to the car, stopped at each of our apartments to change into dry clothes and then we went to Chili's for a late dinner and phone calls to family.

A flurry of wedding plans, a short engagement, a blissful day and our life together official began.