I said "Yes!!"

WE'RE ENGAGED!!

I am still not tired of saying that. Chase and I are engaged, and it is the best feeling in the world. I've been giddy for days and I really hope that this feeling doesn't go away any time soon. I'd like to share some photos with you and fill you in on the "story" behind it all.

It started out like a normal Friday. Chase and I went to dinner at Olive Garden (which is a normal thing for us because you can't beat that never-ending pasta bowl). After a seemingly-ordinary evening out, we got in the car to head home. Once in the car, he told me about the Christmas bonus that he had received because of his recent promotion to management at FedEx. He informed me that he had used his bonus (which I now know was completely fictitious) to make a "big purchase" that he wanted to show me before he made the down payment. He then blindfolded me in order to keep it a surprise until we got there. I assumed this "big purchase" was a boat, because he's been talking about buying a fishing boat for as long as I can remember. As we left the restaurant, I sat blindfolded in the front seat (trying to follow the turns, of course, but having no luck in that department) and he continued to tell me how amazing and, in his words, "bad ass" this surprise was. Finally, we reached our destination and Chase helped me out of the car. He walked me toward his big surprise and then stopped me. He whispered a lot of extremely sweet things in my ear (sorry...I've got to keep some parts of this intimate moment between the two of us, right?) and I then realized we were, indeed, not there to see a boat...but where were we? He removed my blindfold, and there in front of me was the Pines Theater in downtown Lufkin with "Will You Marry Me?" on the marquee. I saw the sign and turned around to find him down on one knee. I furiously nodded and said "yes", but of course it was muffled by tears and my hands over my mouth, but he knew the answer anyway. After a long embrace and more tears, I heard voices and turned around to see both of our families there. I was so glad to share that moment with them because it made it all the more special. It was by far the best day of my life...and MUCH better than a boat.