Seven years ago, on this very picnic table, I was asked a very important question and gave a one worded answer that changed my life for the better. I knew it was an incredible decision then, but I had no idea just how great saying ‘yes,’ would be on that day, August 17th, 2012.
Seven years ago today, Craig and I went to the eye doctor together and on our way home he told me he was going to take me back home because he needed to work out. This wasn’t anything out of the ordinary so I thought nothing of it. He dropped me off, I chatted with my family and a while later was laying on my couch, talking to my dad when Craig walked into my house and said, “Hey, come with me I want to show you something.”
We walked outside to see his mom on a 4-wheeler with a barrel with wheels attached behind it, the side cut open so Craig and I could ride in it. Craig and I squished into the barrel and his mom took us on a ride. I assumed this is what he was showing me! His family had this barrel/4-wheeler contraption for a while but I’d never been able to ride in it, so I thought he was excited for me to have my chance.
We were driven to a nearby park, we got out and then Craig’s mom drove away. I was a little confused, but I didn’t mind the thought of now being stranded at a park with my boyfriend. We walked around for a minute and then he lead me deeper into the park. Pretty quickly I spotted a picnic table with an enormous bouquet of colorful balloons tied to the middle of it and we kept walking towards it. In all honesty, I thought the balloons were for a kids birthday and I was worried we looked suspicious walking towards some kids awesome birthday setup. But quickly I realized the setup was actually for me.
On the table, there was a blue box with the Up house on it. Craig had me open it up, and inside was our very own Adventure Book (like from the movie, Up – my favorite movie – especially at the time). The book was magical. Craig had made it and highlighted our adventures we’d gone on in our past year of dating with lots of special write-ups and messages to me. The last page is one that still gives me goosebumps. It said we’d been on many adventures together and he didn’t want them to stop. The last line said my name and, “will you marry me?”
“AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” Is what I was saying on the inside, but on the outside I just started giggling and hid my face behind the book, trying to sort out if I was going to burst into tears or start screaming. (The tears won).
Craig knelt down in front of me and pulled out a box with a beautiful ring inside and asked me to marry him, to which I very happily said, “YES!!”
Best. Decision. Ever.
