The Proposal

So this is how it happened :)

We were gearing up for the Walk to Defeat ALS which was happening on October 10. Aaron’s sister, Katie, had this idea that after the walk she, their mom, Aaron and I should go up north for a color tour and we thought that was a great idea…

Apparently, when Aaron heard this great idea he was thinking that would be a great time to propose to me. And he had the perfect spot in mind. As a child he and his family spent a lot of time near Traverse City and Old Mission Point was a very special place to him. It is way up on the tip of a peninsula north of Traverse (on the 45th parallel to be exact) and there is a lighthouse there. Last year on the way back to Grand Rapids from camping in the UP Aaron brought me there for the first time. So, he thought it was a great place to ask me to be his wife :)

He was very sneaky about getting the ring and everything without me knowing, you can ask him about it sometime. So October 10, 2009 rolls around and the walk was great, a little chilly but it was a beautiful walk. The four of us met at Aaron’s mom’s house to start our journey. On the way up north it was a little drizzly but no big deal right? I mean, we are just looking at all the pretty colors on the trees and we can do that from inside the van. So that’s why it was weird to me that the whole fam (who was all in on the surprise) was bummed about the weather. Especially when it started snowing! Yes, I said snowing!

But by the time we got near Traverse City the sun had come out and it turned into a great day. We were all relieved… some of us more than others however, namely Aaron. And he started acting really weird in the van. In my mind, I thought he was going to propose to me when we went out for my birthday in a couple weekends so I wasn’t shocked that he was being silly. Then he does something (I can’t remember what) and I told him I was mad at him (jokingly) and he says, “I don’t think you will be mad at me for long…” and gets the silliest grin on his face. So I stared at him. Then he said it’s because I am never mad at him for long. Right….

The weirdness continues until we get to Old Mission Point. And I am extremely sore (because of my ankle surgery) from the walk and don’t feel like walking anymore than I have to. And it was freeeeezing at the lighthouse! So, when we got down to the stairs to get to the beach I told Aaron I had seen it before and would wait there. He asked me very nicely to come down just for a minute and boy am I glad I did!!

His mom and sister started walking to the shore and Aaron and I walked toward the lighthouse. Then he turned me around so that we were standing face to face. I told him how cold I was so he held me for a second to warm me up. Then he started talking…

He said “Babe, you know that 2 weeks after I met you I wanted to tell you that I love you” this is when I was thinking to myself “ummm….what is going on here?” Then he said, “this is a very special place to me and I hope that now it will be special to you too.” He started reaching in his pocket and I started freaking out. As he started to get down on one knee I screamed “you are not! You are not!!” then I started crying, a lot.

He pulled out the most beautiful ring and he asked me to marry him!!! I couldn’t speak right away so I started shaking my head yes but he didn’t get it. So I somehow squeaked out a yes and he got up and held me in his arms. Then he yelled to his mom and his sister that I said yes! Apparently, his sister Katie was taking pictures the whole time and I am so glad she did! We all shared in hugs and tears and I stared at my fiancé and my beautiful ring the rest of the day… ok, maybe I still do :)

Here are some of the pics.

The question

Trying to get out a yes :)

Post proposal love. First hug as fiance's!

Did I mention how cold it was there? But it was perfect anyway!