OH MY GOODNESS friends, I can't believe I'm typing those words. Me, engaged. WHAT?
It's true.
Let me tell you lovely folks how this all went down. It's a pretty fun story, and really it fits BRad and I pretty perfectly.
So.. it was July 20th (ish) and Brad and I were having dinner. I think I blogged about this already. He texted me to ask if I wanted to go look at e-rings. I was over the moon excited about that. Well we went to look. We both fell in love with a ring and band. I was told to leave this store. Enter thoughts of OMG YAY OMG OMG I'm getting engaged at some point in the near future. OMG I'm so happy. Etc.
Cut to about 45 mins later. He calls me to find out where in the mall I am. I proudly show him the present I bought him. And casually mention, "did you find a present for me". AKA-- where in the French is my ring :) He tells me the financing didn't work out. I think umm what, you have super credit. But he goes on to say something about how he just got a limit on a credit card increased, and was just pre-approved for a home loan so those things probably caused him not to get approved. I bought it. Seems legit. Credit card companies are weird/I don't really understand them. BUT hey at least we are heading in the right direction. I'm excited.
Jump to a few weeks later, on a Saturday, we head to the near by town of Crawfordsville to spend the day, explore, see a movie because I won free passes from a radio station. We had a fun day, went to this crazy round jail museum place, antique stores, etc. I was DYING of thirst. BRad, likely sick of my whining, pulls into Taco Bell to get me a beverage. We are waiting in what has to be the slowest/longest drive thru line EVER. I'm bored. I'm fidgety. I'm pressing buttons, wiggling around in my seat, I'm basically a 5 year old. THEN IT HAPPENS.
No he didn't pop the question at T-Bell. I flick open the glove box, for ZERO reason other than I'm still bored. Andddd... WOOP THERE IT IS!! The bag from the jeweler!!! I'm not sure who slammed the glove box closed, I think it was both of us. My hand fly up, and cover my mouth. I'm sitting there in shock, happiness, excitement, OMGness I ruined it-ness. I almost cried, because I was so very excited. My sweet BRad is just like oh no. He's sort of in freak out mode. He finally asks me, "do you want me to do it today, or stick to my original plan?" I tell him of course stick to his plan, that way something will still be a surprise. I felt really bad that I messed up his plan. But we laugh about it now. I would be the one to find my e-ring in a Taco Bell of all places. It's just so us. I'm so very glad it's something we laugh about now.
Actually oddly enough we had went to dinner at good ol' Taco Bell the night before and he gave me a sauce packet that said WILL YOU MARRY ME. Hahah maybe they will cater our big day! :) Just kidding!
So I spent a few weeks trying to get hints, etc. I even convinced him to go ahead and take my ring in to be sized before it was official so that I won't have to part with it once it's mine!
So lets jump to Friday September 6th. We are in Nashville to enjoy a mini vacation, and see Butch Walker in concert. We went to Antique Archaeology the store from American Pickers. I got out of the car, and walked ahead. He told me to stop and stand on the grass that was in the parking lot. I wasn't facing him, but I stopped and stood there, looking around. I turn around after a minute or two and he was standing there with the sweetest look on his face and a sign that he had made that said "PICK ME". OMG So cute! He bought a cute little hard shaped box that was on the sign too. I walked up to kiss him, and said "pick you for what" and he smiled even bigger. I was told to open the box, and there was my beautiful shiny ring!! I said YES!!!! And gave him another big smoooch. There was no big speech, but I'm sure I would have been a melted make up mess if that would have happened. It was sweet, and perfect. He told me over and over through out the weekend how much he loved me and what I meant to him, and we started using crazy words like fiance, and future husband/wife!!! :)
The next day, more than 24 hours later when we were driving home, it FINALLY clicked in my head why the sign said PICK ME..... we were at the American Picker's store!! Dingy me!! :) We cracked up about that aspect of the story :)
We also agreed on that drive that we would hold off making any big wedding plans until after the first of the year. We want to take time to enjoy this stage of our relationship. We don't want to rush into the stress and craziness that comes with wedding planning. Now of course I'll keep pinning things on my beloved (secret) wedding Pinterest board, and we'll discuss things I'm sure between now and then, but no plans will be officially made until after the holidays, and all that stuff.
Anyhoo-- that's the story of how I'm not a bride to be!!
Clearly I'm very excited, and so this story may not be the best written thing ever, but you can deal with that right? :)
XO
Tara
PS I was FLOORED to see that within one day over 100 people liked the first picture I posted of my ring on my facebook, it was my hey we are engaged announcement. We are feeling so loved!
