I guess the way that I got engaged wasn't exactly the perfect traditional way. Ryan was trying to save for a big fancy ring, but things - life - just kept getting in the way, which seems to happen a lot when we become grown ups. I won't lie, I was getting so frustrated and impatient. We have had a very long past and have been together for an awfully long time, so once I decided I was ready for the next big step, it was so hard to wait for the proposal to happen. It's never really been in my nature to be patient I suppose... I was one of those kids who would unwrap and rewrap Christmas presents in the middle of the night because I couldn't wait for Christmas day. Poor Ryan... every time we went out to dinner I would doll myself up, file my nails, and give him my best 'propose to me' face during the whole date. I am sure he felt the pressure of my anticipation radiating on him.
Anyways, I finally broke down and told Ryan my frustrations, and he told me his trying to buy a ring frustrations. I agreed to be patient and wait. And so I did. Until I found out that my brother and sister-in-law had my mother's wedding rings and that they were told by my dad to do with them what they wanted. Angela (my sister-in-law) had planned on using my momma's solitaire diamond in a necklace for me as a graduation from college present, but once I told her I wanted to design an engagement ring with it, it was mine.
I searched forever online for the perfect setting. I love three stone rings, but only when the side stones are small enough to still let the center stone stand out. I also really liked the trellis setting. It's like the prongs are weaving through each other.... so delicate and pretty. Then I found a plain ring that had a tiny little heart under the diamond. So I incorporated them both. A local jeweler created the setting and set the diamonds. Ryan got the ring when it was ready, and held on to it until he could have "the talk" with my dad. Let me tell you, that part of the wait was downright painful.
Ryan proposed to me on June 25th outside on his back deck. It was so sunny and pretty outside, and he tricked me. He made me think he was looking at something really neat on his iphone, and when Ryan had my attention, he went down on one knee and popped the question. Those four little words I had been waiting for were the sweetest music to my ears. And gosh, how exciting to see my ring finally! I never had seen a ring so beautiful. And Sparkly! It was a driving hazard for the first week for sure... I was like a raven finding a shiny piece of tinfoil. So exciting!
I don't ever want to forget that excitement, and that feeling of a whole new part of my life beginning. Which is why I am blogging about it. So that is how I came to be engaged.
