October 10, 2009

We're ENGAGED!!!

Ok... lets back up a little bit. Justin and I moved to Newport News, VA from Richmond, VA in July of this year when he received a promotion to be the Store Manager at the Target here. A lot of people thought I was crazy for just up and moving; especially without a ring. But I was in no rush for a ring and I knew that Justin and I would eventually be at that point. So of course I said ok when he told me that his promotion was going to take him out of Richmond and we would be moving.

We have been in Newport News for a few months and I of course had started dropping hints about engagement rings and bringing up topics of marriage. And being the sleuth that I am... it was nothing when I picked up on little things that were "different" with Justin's attitude and how he was acting. He started being a little more huggy and kissy and would make comments about engagement rings and I knew that it was coming soon.

So in September, when we took our annual beach trip to Southern Shores, NC I was 100% sure the proposal was coming. Melissa, my big sister in sorority, can tell you that I was getting all worked up over it. I even told her before we left for the beach that I thought he was going to do it then. So the week went on and anytime Justin said something about walking on the beach at sunset or pouring glasses of champagne for no reason my stomach flipped and flopped into knots. Well the week came and went and there was no proposal... no ring. I was completely bummed. So life went on with no ring.

The day Justin proposed was like any other Saturday for us. We got up and ran our errands at Target and Fresh Market. At 10, we had to pay a visit to our apartments rental office to handle some things with our account. Then we left for the Farmer's Market in Williamsburg -- something we do often, like once a month. We visited some of our favorite vendors and bought veggies and other things for dinner for the week. Then we had lunch at The Trellis and went over the map for Colonial Williamsburg. It was drizzling, but we still decided to walk around. We even bought annual passes so that we could come back if we wanted to for the Christmas decorations and if we ever needed something to do. We were walking around and being a Saturday it was full of people so it took us a while to get away from the crowds of people. On our way to the some of the sites on the outer part of colonial williamsburg we walked by this patch of bamboo that had grown up by one of the colonial houses. And in the middle there was a path. When we came back through that area, Justin insisted that we look at what was in the bamboo. Me, being my usual self, said something like "there's nothing in the bamboo" but of course followed him in. So there I am standing in the middle of this bamboo area and I turned around to see if Justin was ready to leave and he started fumbling with his pocket. And the first thing I said was, "are you kidding me?" I knew right away what was happening. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. OF COURSE were the words that came out of my mouth. I was in complete shock. I was laughing/crying/shaking and somehow managed to slip the ring on my finger. OMG... what I had been waiting for was finally here and the ring was BEAUTIFUL.

Oh... and the ring... he did that all on his own -- and I think with some help from his Mom.

And so our journey to "I Do" begins...