The Proposal

So today, I thought I'd tell the story of how Caleb proposed, since I've told it many times (all differently, most likely) and to some, not at all! (And for that, I fervently beg forgiveness.)

It is a month and a day exactly that we've been engaged (where does the time go?), on September 20, at King's Island with both of our families (minus the moms, unfortunately.) Now, I had known it was coming, I knew he was going to propose soon, (but didn't know specifically obviously) and I think I'm generally a difficult person to mislead as far as surprises go, but this truly was cleverly done!

We arrived early in the morning to meet up with everyone around the time the gates opened, and wasted no time, starting with the Vortex -- my ultimate favorite! The morning passed quickly, one adrenaline boost after the other, as we exhausted ourselves with laughter, sprinting to water fountains, and running to the next roller coaster.

For those of you who have enjoyed the thrills of King's Island, I'm sure you're familiar with all the roller coasters and rides there. Well, there is one ride that is sort of like bungy jumping on a cable, and it hikes you up and then you drop, swinging like a pendulum (awesome!!!) Around lunch time, right before we went to the cars for our out-of-the-trunk picnic, Caleb suggested that the two of us go on this ride, and I enthusiastically agreed. We planned to go later in the afternoon; and after lunch, a few more coasters, and the deadly DropZone (or DropDead, whatever it was called) -- which I don't believe I will EVER have the stomach to brave again -- Caleb and I got harnessed and ready to fly.

I remember thinking that it was going to be the awesomest, scariest, most brain-dead thing ever (even though I didn't think it could be more stomach-plummeting than DropZone) but I was comforted knowing that I was doing it with Caleb, and it would just be a blast . . .

So, on this ride, you have to climb into a harness which is then attached to the cable (all done by the assistants), and you are hooked up vertically, dropped horizontally, and then gradually pulled up by the cable. Caleb and I were instructed to link arms, and I was flipping out (in a good way) the whole time, and he was just getting more and more excited by the second. The assistant said that when we got to the top, we could unlink our arms, to which I responded under my breath, "Or not . . ." And Caleb just chuckled as we were being pulled up further and further, and then said, "Well, you're gonna have to let go if you want to put this on." And I looked over at him and between his finger and thumb was a ring. A very sparkly, very gorgeous, very blindingly shiny ring. My brain jammed. "You did NOT . . ." was all that came out. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh . . ." was all I could say. I didn't know WHAT to say! "So is that a yeah?" he asked, beaming. "YES," I grinned.

And then the ring was on my finger, and down below, all our family started clapping and cheering and laughing and clicking pictures, and then we were FLYING. When we landed safely back to earth, Caleb turned to me and asked, "So, will you marry me?" And of course, I answered with another fervent "yes."

It was the most glorious moment to start the engagement chapter of our lives with such an exhilarating beginning . . . I think Caleb did an incredible job. I couldn't have been more surprised since he had been misleading me in saying it wouldn't be the King's Island day so that I would stop pestering him about proposing (sorry, Love). But now we are engaged, and have been for a day more than a month, and I am loving this new season of our relationship, learning more and more about each other, deepening our friendship, and preparing to be married!

I'll post some pictures of the ring, as soon as I get my act together and pick up my camera. But until then, here's the story of how he did it.

And that is the beginning of our journey!