June 24th, 2005 ~ That Afternoon...
It was a Friday. We were on our way to the beach with some of Sean's family, and looking forward to a weekend away. Sean and I had been talking about getting engaged for a few months. I was good about giving him subtle hints that I would happily except his proposal at any time (and more obvious ones, like randomly changing the background of his computer to pictures of the rings that would make that proposal complete...). We were a day away from celebrating 5 years and 5 months as a couple, so the question was far from being "if" and was simply "when". I was excited and hopeful that this beach trip would be the trip and that I would come home with happy news to share! We didn't talk about it during the drive, and I most certainly didn't ask any questions. I knew it was a possibility, but I still wanted there to be an element of "surprise".
That Evening...
We arrived to our condo early that evening. After getting settled in, Sean asked me if I wanted to talk a walk on the beach. Let me take a moment to tell you something about Sean: He does not like the beach. Well, he likes the golf courses at the beach, but not the sand. So, when he suggested we go walk in it, I got a little nervous. I was certain the moment I had been waiting for was upon me.
He took my hand and we began our evening stroll down the beach. I remember actually being nervous. "What will he say?" "What kind of ring did he choose?" Lots of questions started racing through my mind, but I soon realized that Sean did not seem nervous, or fidgety, and I listened as he started a relaxed and "normal" conversation. Then I relaxed. If he was going to propose, he would wait until the following day, our 5 year and 5 months anniversary. The rest of the walk was just us being us. He finally asked me if I was ready to turn around and head back to the condo, the sun was starting to set.
We made it all the way back to the entrance of the path leading to our condo. It was a beautiful evening. As I started up the path, Sean asked, "What's that?", so I turned to look. It was a blanket laid out on the sand. On top of it was something that had been covered up with another blanket. I got nervous again.
He grabbed my hand and lead me over to the blanket. We sat down together and he uncovered the "object" that had been hidden. It was this little guy, dressed in his tuxedo and kneeling on one knee...
Sean said a lot of really sweet things during that moment that I honestly don't remember, because I was honestly surprised! The very cool thing about my handsome bear is that whenever I press his hand I hear Sean's voice, telling me he loves me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me. And underneath that little red heart he's holding? That was where I found my engagment ring, and Sean couldn't have done a better job picking it out.
(Us, newly engaged, the following morning!)
I like to laugh now and tell Sean that the bear is the one who really asked me to marry him. Either way, I got the proposal of my dreams, and I never even dreamed that that's how it would happen! It was an awesome trip, and obviously one that I will never forget. I'm kind of getting all teary just thinking about it...
Sean's brother and father set everything up on the beach while we were on our walk. I recall now that I watched them scurry away once they saw we had arrived. Sean had also met my dad prior to our trip to ask for my hand in marriage. :) It was also Madison's first beach trip, so the weekend holds many special memories.
Here are a couple of our engagement pictures, appropriately taken on the beach!
And who would have guessed that 3 years later we would become parents to our beautiful little Grace...I love life.
