THE DETAILS!

"Here's Your Hug"

On Friday (Nov. 2), I left work a little early to arrive at the Doctor's office in downtown Long Beach before they closed for the night. Upon arrival at Kaiser's front desk, I found that I was a MINUTE too late and they would be unable to help me. I was utterly frustrated, since the day before I had attempted to get to the aforementioned doctor after work, but was thwarted by a stopped train in my path. Realizing I would AGAIN have to take work off to see the Dr. brought me to tears.

Of course, this was on the heels of six weeks without seeing Chris...the longest we've ever been apart by FAR. It was starting to get a little painful. When Stephanie and Stephen called me for dinner on Friday night, I just wasn't in the mood. I was upset. I was lonely. Chris had been privy to several emotional breakdowns on my part over the last couple weeks. Add one more BIG one to the list. I just wanted a HUG from my BOYFRIEND, and that's what I sobbed to him over the phone as I walked up to my apartment. With a tear-stained face, I opened the door to find CHRIS sitting on a stool in front of the door with a huge bouquet of roses to the side of him. "Here's your hug," he said.

After a good LOOOOOOOOONG hug, he sat me down on the couch, got on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes! He put a beautiful diamond solitaire on my finger and told me to get packed...

"Good luck in THAT line."

Steph and Stephen drove us to the airport (LAX) where Chris had booked us flights to ??? (it was still a mystery to me). We arrived at the United terminal only to find about 70 people with their whole LIVES packed on small carts headed to San Salvador on a flight that evening. We stood in line for nearly 2 hours as the SLOW attendants processed their baggage. An antsy Chris counted down as we watched our scheduled flight slip away as we stood in line. Some phone calls to cancel reservations had to be made, and we had to reconcile that we weren't going anywhere tonight.

Plan B was to stay near LAX to catch the earliest flight out in the morning, and that we did.

"Car 54, Where Are You?"


On Saturday morning, we arrived in MONTEREY where a weekend of romance and relaxation was thoughtfully planned out. Chris was disappointed in our designated rental car, which resembled an unmarked police car. This may have explained why traffic slowed down as we approached. He MUCH preferred the golf cart we were assigned when we arrived at our posh resort on the beach! After some lunch (where we announced our engagement and received a free milkshake!) and a short nap, we hit some of my favorite places- Pebble Beach. 17-mile-drive. Chris had made reservations at my favorite restaurant at Spanish Bay Golf Course, and we arrived just in time to hear the bagpiper wail a few melodies as he walked across the green into the sunset. Perfection. After dinner, we were able to rest by the fireplace, watch a movie, enjoy the ocean, just BE together...something we don't take for granted at all.


"Thank You, Daylight Savings!"
He had taken care of EVERYTHING this weekend, including my absence at Revolution on Sunday morning. Additionally, God contributed to our weekend by expanding our time together! Daylight Savings afforded us an extra hour to enjoy. We needed to be back at the airport midday, so we left fairly early on Sunday to drive to San Jose. Fortunately, our flights were leaving from the same terminal, so we could share some breakfast and coffee before parting to board our separate flights. It was much easier leaving this time, knowing I'll be seeing him again in a couple of weeks. Whew!


It was absolutely beyond anything I could have dreamed of for the perfect engagement. I feel cherished, loved, and certainly spoiled! And I'm still wrapping my brain around the fact that I get to feel like this...for the rest of my life. Awesome.

Some MAJOR shout-outs are due on this posting, so if you're not a "read the credits" kind of person, you can probably stop reading here. :) Thank you STEPHEN AND STEPHANIE, who have been co-conspirators during this whole process. You dirty, rotten liars...I LOVE YA! Thanks, KAELYN, for letting Chris practice the "big question" on you, and for saying "no" so that I could have him! Thank you, CHRISTOPHER LYTLE and KEITH DICKSON for taking care of my Sunday morning responsibilities so I could enjoy this weekend. You are SNEAKY! Thanks to REBECCA, ERIC, JENNY, RACHEL, JESSICA, KIM, MOM, DAD, DEREK, BETH, CARRIE, and ALLLLLLL the rest of you who KNEW the plan, yet managed to keep it a secret from me. Well done. Mission accomplished.

And thank you CHRIS STAVENGER. I am a happy, happy girl. :)