?Question?... Bling...YES!

It's not a secret that I don't do surprises well. Never have. As a matter of fact, my lil sis told J the other day that it would be almost impossible to surprise me because I'm "evil"... harsh. I think she is either referring to the many days of December gone by's that I "forced" her to help me unwrap and then rewrap all the presents under the tree or perhaps how I taught her to steal the car keys and look in the trunk to find the hidden presents. Maybe she is referring to the times I had her stand lookout as I snuck into my mom's wallet to read receipts and figure out our future hauls. Certainly she couldn't be referring to my master therapist skills that will after hours of questioning will wear anyone down who holds a secret, especially a big one like this:

With the bling acquired, I knew the proposal was coming, just didn't know how. J promised to surprise me, which only whetted my appetite and sent me on a frenzy to find out exactly what was going to happen. Bless my dear friends and coworkers hearts... such stalwarts they were! I'll admit, I'm still surprised everyone stayed on J's team and wouldn't come over to my team by spilling the beans. After a rookie mistake (sorry RM, I just figured it out) I knew the place of the proposal. J threw his hands in the air and said, "fine, I give up, you win, let's just go to dinner and I'll give it to you." Victory... I thought.

J is a romantic at heart. He is also quite talented in so many ways. He's the kind of guy that everyone loves. Before dinner we took a romantic walk around the park that was so confirming to me. Walking on that path, being with J, talking about a future together, I knew it was a go and the absolute right thing to do. I didn't know he was stalling.
When we finally got to the restaurant, we were walked to a beautiful table with roses and an amazing painting set on it. Weeks earlier I had told J about my favorite painter, http://www.kershinik.comKershisnik and shown him my favorite painting by him. (J is actually quite the artist himself. I'm quite proud of the fact that he painted a few murals and worked many hours overtime to help pay for my ring. I love his work ethic.) J had done a study of that painting and painted us in the corner. I'm holding my ring and kissing J. Also, he painted in the temple on the top of the hill. I just think it's amazing and incredibly thoughtful.

My favorite surprise though was when the live musician started playing our song, "Then", by Brad Paisley. When he started strumming it, J asked me if I'd like to dance. I shook my head because I was too scared and shaking, luckily, he was too. In the part of the song that the guy gets on one knee to ask the girl, J pulled out my ring and asked me to marry him. That was the easiest "Yes!" I've ever said.

The guitarist was fantastic. He had never heard the song before and the music J ordered online didn't come in time so he sat down and learned it by ear on his own. His wife told us the night before he sat and sang it to her all night long. So sweet!

Without getting too personal, Y'know I've waited many a moon to find J. Perspective is everything, the rest of it was too hard, too forced, but with J it is the most natural/comfortable life transition. Maybe 8 years ago, while we were in the same singles ward, we should have hooked up... but there was a lot of life to be lived in those last 8 years. And a lot of growing up to be done. Now, we have a ridiculously fabulous life ahead and I'm excited as all heck for it.

I've always wanted a sapphire to be somehow incorporated into my ring. I love it! I think it's beautiful and perfect for me.