I can't believe I haven't shared the details of our engagement yet. It is probably the only time in my life (besides my 18th surprise birthday party) when I have ever been truly 100% surprised. I'm pretty intuitive and am able to sense things that are out of the ordinary. However, somehow, I didn't see this one coming at all.
It was a brisk Saturday morning at the end of March (can't believe it was over a month ago!!) and Casey was in Missoula for the weekend. We had a great dinner with Kelly and Emily (friends in the HHP department) the night before and had planned for the last week or so to walk up to the "M" that overlooks Missoula on Saturday morning. So, we wake up Saturday morning around 7 a.m. and Casey is ready to go. When he asks if I am ready to hike the "M" yet, I say "no, let's wait till it warms up a bit." In hindsight, this should have been a clue! Since when does Casey want to get out of bed and start hiking at 7 a.m?! After a little lounging and a call from Casey's sister in Italy, we make our way to the "M" trail. We head up the trail and I stop every-so-often to catch my breath and take in the beautiful view. Casey, ever-so-patiently, stopped when I stopped and also took in the view. Upon reaching the top, I take a seat on the "M."
This next part all happens in about 5 seconds: Casey pulls me up, gets down on one knee, asks me to marry him, I say "is it real!?" and "are you serious!?" and "did you ask my dad!?" (I can't believe I asked if it was real). After a convincing yes to each of the questions I threw his way, I reply with a "YES!" It happened so fast, but I still remember it as if it just happened. I remember how I felt, I remember the look on his face, I remember his exact words. It was priceless. And I was completely surprised.
As the day unfolded and we walked back down the "M" trail, Casey told me the details of how he went to Joseph the previous weekend to ask my dad for my hand in marriage, stayed the night with my parents in my house, bought the ring the night before in Missoula (he told me he was heading out of Clarkston an hour after he had already left so that I wouldn't know), almost blew his cover when I called him while he was in Joseph, and almost gave it away by carrying a bulging ring box in his gym shorts pocket up to the "M." I love replaying the story in mind. The rest of the day was full of good food and friends. We spent the day together messing around in Missoula and then went to our favorite restaurant in Missoula to celebrate- the Red Bird Wine Bar. Delicious food. We met up with my friend Emily and some others for dessert and then went out dancing at the Union Club. March 26th, 2011 is certainly a day I will never forget! I am blessed to be engaged to my best friend, and couldn't be happier!! Without further ado...here are the pictures of our special day.
The newly engaged couple.
So excited.
He did such a great job picking it out. I couldn't have picked out a prettier one myself!
