We are ENGAGED!

Jared proposed on Friday October 28, 2011 and wow what a job he did! It was going to be surprise date night, and all he told me was to dress warm. So the day finally comes and Jared tells me that he will pick me up at 7:00. Around 6:15 he calls to tell me that he just woke up from a nap and was about to start getting ready, and he would be at my house shortly.

My parents had just gotten home from my grandmother's house and were cooking dinner. I was ready and waiting and watching a movie in my room. It had been a long and busy week, so I was a bit tired. Mom kept coming up the stairs telling me that if I fell asleep she would not let Jared in and make him go home. For the first time since probably our first date, Jared was a little early coming to pick me up, which was fine with me, I was ready to get going so I didn't fall asleep.

We hopped in the car and he still would not tell me where we were going or what we were doing. We were driving into Hueytown when he finally told me that we were going to grab something to eat. So I started guessing. "TACO BELL?" nope and we went right passed it. (but he did tell me that was his first choice.. such a smart guy!) at the stoplight in the turn lane, "CAPTAIN D's?!" -No. Really?. . . . and then my final guess "PIIIIZZZZAAAA HUTTTTT!!" YES! (I asked earlier in the week if we could go to Pizza Hut at some point in the weekend. I love pizza and it had just been on my mind) So we went in, the pizza was ready and out the door we went again.

On we went to the next destination that he still was not telling me, but he didn't have to. We pulled up at our church within a few minutes and I knew what we were doing! We were watching a movie out at the amphetheater just like we had for our second date. (Jared was in Montana for a week skiing during the first of March and the night he came back, I believe that was a surprise then as well.. he had a couch and a movie projector set up to watch one of my favorite movies, "The Blind Side.") I got so excited! I had been wanting to do that again for the longest time! So we pull in and just like before there was a couch and the projector, but this night being a bit more chilly that the last, we also had a fire pit, an electric blanket, and a tent with lights around the top just in case it rained. It was freezing by this point, and time for pizza. As we sat on the couch and the movie "Sweet Home Alabama" began, Jared started getting antsy. "We've got to hurry up and eat so we can get under this blanket." He eventually quit eating and said it was just too cold, but I continued. I was excited that I had Pizza Hut pizza and breadsticks and was going to enjoy it. He tried at one point to take my breadstick to hurry me along and I just looked at him like he was crazy. Finally I finished and snuggled up close to him under the electric blanket. It wasn't too long until McDreamy had Reece dropped off at a warehouse looking building and she walked inside to meet him. Thinking she was on her way to a benefit for his mother, she got the biggest surprise of her life... and so did I. When the lights flipped on and he got down on his knee in Tiffany's, my movie screen at the amphitheather cut off, and a song and slide show popped up. Some of the sweetest little messages flashed across the screen as pictures of Jared and myself from the beginning until then were scrolling across the screen. The next thing I knew, HE WAS ON ONE KNEE! The screen said "Will you marry me?" and I looked at his sweet little face. I couldn't tell you exactly what he said, but I knew at this point that my life was changing! I grabbed his face as soon as he could get "will you marry me?" out of his mouth and I kissed him and pulled him off the ground. This was the moment I had been waiting for. This was the day that I was finally going to be able to say, "I really am going to marry that boy!" People started rushing across the field and I could hear shutters snapping. But the only thing I cared about was the man standing in front of me that my arms were wrapped around. Realizing I had not said yes, I looked at him and said, "YES, by the way..." He looked at me grinning from ear to ear and pulled back just enough to show me a box and ask if I wanted to see what was inside. MY RING! My beautiful engagement ring that he had custom made just for me! AH! My hands were shaking as he gently placed that beautiful diamond on my left hand. I had never been so excited!

Friends and family were surrounding us at this point and the pictures are fantastic! Everyone was so happy for us! Up in Holt Hall (the fellowship hall at the church) more family and friends were waiting, along with 245 balloons (we had been together for 245 days, and I LOVE balloons), Snickers and Life Saver Gummies (my favorite candies), and a Cookie cake! :) YEA!

My grandmother and his, my parents and his, brothers, sisters, neices, nephews, friends, uncles, aunts. . . they were there. It could not have been more perfect! They had all been working behind my back to plan all of this, luckily I was so busy with different things all week that it never seemed obvious, and it turned out flawless!

I am one very lucky girl, and I cannot wait to marry the man of my dreams!

I figured out a few little white lies I had been told during the day and that week, but it was all so very very worth it! I have GREAT friends and a WONDERFUL family who are all so excited and were such an AMAZING help and I couldn't be happier!

pictures to come.  .  .

245 balloons for being together 245 days!