A Proposal to End All Proposals

I have been proposed to many times (See March 30, 2004). But tonight, I received the last and best proposal ever - yes, I am engaged to be married to the most wonderful man ever who loves me more than any man every could. I am too blessed. Here is how it happened:

It all began on Monday night, as Ry and I were taking stock of our weekly plans. "Can I ask you out on a date for Friday night?" Sure, I said. Of Course! He said wear a beautiful dress, and bring your warmest coat possible. He picked me up at 5:30. . . with a huge bouquet of flowers, and while I still had another of his blooming fabulously on my desk. He had in hand the most beautiful bouquet I have ever seen in all my days with flowers. So I grabbed a vase and we were out the door. He suprised me by taking me to dinner at Palisade at Elliot Bay. We got there early enough to get an amazing table. I knew he wouldn't propose there, so it was relaxing just to chat and hear him talk about his heart. After dinner, he seemed to be taking his time. We got gas, grabbed him some coffee (where he told the barista he was about to propose!) and then drove by "our house" on Queen Anne before he proposed heading to Alki for a beach walk. We stopped at a lookout point and he grabbed my sleeping bag from my truck and wrapped it around me tightly to keep me warm. He got a little awkward and pulled out an envelope from under his jacket. He opened it and read me a letter he wrote to me last night. It was so unbelievable. He talked about the first time we really connected when he walked by me crying in the parking lot and how he felt so calm, and how we have grown together and how the Lord has guided us to where we are. And then he read the lyrics to this song that he feels was written about me. And then, we got up and jumped in the car to head down the beach further. He parked and we got out. He said, "lets take a walk." So we were walking down and he wanted to walk in the (very cold) sand. I took my shoes off. O'well. He was looking up and down the beach so I just kind of ignored it and looked at the neat houses up in the hills. We kept walking and we stopped and looked down and in the sand was written "Marry me" with flower petals in the letters. He got down on one knee, and I began to bawl. I couldn't hear anything he said, and I couldn't see anything, but I saw a ring box and Ryan asked me for the second time to be his wife. Of course I said yes. Jessica, Autumn, Sharon and Amber popped out like the paparazzi to take pictures and Jessica played "At Last" and we danced on the beach. And earlier at dinner, I was thinking the only thing that could make our night better was dancing. We did a little photo shoot and then everybody jumped in our cars and headed back to Queen Anne and met at The Melting Pot for fondue celebration! It was perfect. I couldn't stop saying, "I'm getting married" like Steve Martin's hallucination of his baby girl in Father of The Bride. It was perfect. Ryan is the worst liar, so I knew it was coming, especially when (in efforts to throw me off) he told me he took the ring back because the diamond looked cloudy to him. But of course, as always, he completely exceeded my expectations and made it a night I will never forget. Pictures to come soon.


I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!