Our Story - Draft One

Tim and I had been dating for a little over a year... I was anxious.

Okay, let's be honest, I was anxious after like 4 months. When you know, you know, you know? And even when you thought you'd known before, when you really really really know, you really know.

So, anyway, we had had some adventurous time over the holidays: power outage for Christmas, trip to California for MSU's first Rose Bowl appearance in 26 years, and a flooded basement upon returning after the new year. Things were just about to settle down a little, and we were going to have a quiet, productive weekend.

We shopped Menard's for all sorts of home fixtures and ideas, put up shelving in Maddie's closet, and finally, after almost 8 months, put up an IKEA pantry organizer in the kitchen. We cleaned, did laundry, and just felt good. I even got in a "quick" Target trip!

I had made a garlic-studded pot roast for dinner (thanks, Emeril ;)), and Tim was trying out this new "melting potatoes" recipe he'd found in Cook's Country. We had a couple different bottles of wine open, so we decided to pour some and reward our hard work, along with our "fancy" dinner. As we were clearing off the coffee table to settle in for some serious Pirates of the Caribbean, Tim handed me some of my "fancy" earrings and asked if I was going to wear them for our "fancy" dinner :) (Little did I know, he had another "fancy" piece of jewelry he planned to add to my collection!) Since those earrings didn't match my outfit, I chose a different "fancy" pair (some fabulous pearl chains that my mom had gotten me for Christmas), and we settled in for dinner.

I was just about to drink some wine when Tim said, "No! We need to toast to all our hard work!" Since toasts are not uncommon in my house (kids included :)), I didn't think anything of it. "Yes," I said, "to being so productive today, and to a nice dinner!"

"And one more thing..."

As Tim said that, he set down his wine glass on the table, pulled the ring out of his pocket, and got down on one knee right in front of my couch. "Kristen, will you marry me?"

I couldn't stop crying. I don't think he had a chance to breathe for at least a minute, I was holding onto him so tightly! After our hug, and my excitement, oh, and of course, my saying, "Yes!" I remembered he hadn't put the ring on my finger yet. It fit perfectly. I couldn't stop staring at him. It was so pretty, but it wasn't the ring that caught my eye (though it does every time I type anything), it was Tim - it was us. I was, and still am, so excited!