The Proposal

Our 4 Year Anniversary

March 7, 2011 marked our 4 year anniversary. Since the start of our relationship it has been one of long distance. At first the distance was as far as Florida and Tennessee, and after that we got a little closer with North Carolina and Georgia. And now we are anticipating the next month when Fred moves to Georgia! At that point that will be the first time in our 4+ year relationship that we have lived in the same location. We could not be anymore excited about this!

Now back to the proposal, but I thought she should have some background information first. So, we had made plans for me to drive up to N.C. to spend the entire weekend and week there to celebrate our anniversary. Fred had planned this romantic getaway for the weekend at the Biltmore; however, those plans quickly went out the window when I was schedule for a job interview. So reluctantly, I took the interview which was schedule on Monday morning, the same day as our anniversary date . So once again, Fred had to change his anniversary surprise plans with me because I would not get to NC until the evening. I took my interview that morning which started late because they had a different time that was told to me. Needless to say, all the trouble was worth the wait because I was offered the job. After the completion of the interview and running around after to complete some errands, I was finally on the road, almost 1 or 2 after my predicted time. Once Fred heard about all the drama going on back in Atlanta, he once again had to alternate his plans for our anniversary celebration.

Fred told me that we had dinner reservation at 7:00 pm and don't you know that after 6 hours or so of driving up to NC, I made it there at 6:40 pm. I hopped out of the car and into his car and off we went to have dinner that would be unforgettable! I had no idea what was in store for me at dinner. Because I was late I was oblivious to all of the signs... For example, when I arrived to his apartment, he didn't even give me a hug which was unusual, but he had already jumped into the car. I didn't think anything of it except the fact that oh it's probably rushing me because we have 7:00 dinner reservations when in fact it was because the ring was in his inside coat pocket (he he he).

We arrived at the Brazilian Restaurant in Raleigh, NC called Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse. I was super excited once I found out that we were going to be eating at a Brazilian steakhouse. I have been to one before Fire of Brazil back home in TN, but it has been several years since then so I was ready to dig in! Eating at this place was also a pretty big deal because my fiance' was stepping out of his comfort zone and trying a new place with different cuisines. I am always encouraging him try new foods. As we were getting out of the car to head into the restaurant, my anniversary present was in the trunk of the car and apparently it was too big for him to hide so he made me close my eyes and walk in front of him so that he could carry it behind me with out me sneaking a peak.

We went inside Brasa and the hostess took us to our reserved table. Once we got to the table, there were a beautiful set of flowers on the table. I was super geeked because I absolutely love flowers and because getting them from him is rare and a special treat. We sat down at the table and ordered a bottle of wine and the gold plate dinner. The food was absolutely fantastic as well as the wine.

Around half way though dinner, Fred asked me if I wanted my anniversary present. I declined and said that I wanted to wait until the end of dinner or around dessert. After my response, the conversation between us went kind of dead, so I asked him, "Do you really want me to open up my present now?" He replied, "Yes I really would like you to open it now," so I conceded to his request. He pulled from under the table a Build a Bear box. Immediately my face lit up because I am a stuffed animal fanatic and especially towards Build-A-Bears! I opened up the box and pulled the bear our and read the Birth Certificate and proceeded to ask him a million questions about the bear. The tan colored bear was dressed in a black tuxedo and black bow-tie. Once again oblivious to the attire of the bear, I simply thought he was dressed in a suit and bow-tie. Nothing unusual because my fiance' wear bow-ties frequently.

I put the bear back in the box and Fred looked at me like "Are you serious, did you just put the bear back in the box when there is more?" He kindly told me, "The bear talks hunny." I replied quite ecstatically, "Oh really it does!" I quickly pulled the bear back out of the box and looked eagerly for the button to hear what the bear had to say. I looked everywhere on the bear from hugging him, to pressing his foot, arm, and paw (but just not the right paw). After all my searching and his anxiety over me looking for the button, he told me that the button was on his right paw. I pressed the bear's right paw and out from it was Fred's voice saying "Will You Marry Me?" I was in shock, stunned, and I looked up at him and there he was with a beautiful cherry wood ring box and the most amazing and gorgeous ring ever! I said yes of course, but he didn't hear me so he had to ask me again after I asked him all the questions about preparing for the proposal, asking for my parents blessings, among other things.

The ring was truly stunning. I was quite surprised not by the beauty, but because it was not the ring I thought it was going to be. I love this ring over the one I thought it was going to be and over any of the rings that we looked at when we went engagement ring shopping. My engagement ring encompasses everything that I had expressed that I wanted in the rings I had looked at prior. I am so happy with his hob of picking out the ring all by himself. And of course he stuck with our favorite designer, Scott Kay.

After dinner and dessert, we went back to his apartment and I called my parents, close friends, and relatives to share the good news. It did not take long for the news to spread in my family even though I have a really large extended family. And then for the rest of the week, I spent time composing a nice text message including pictures of the ring to send to my other friends and family whom I didn't not call.

My only regret from the entire experience was that we didn't take any pictures of our proposal night.