I had been waiting for this moment for a while. Never knew how I would react when it finally became real. However, I feel like I should have known something was in the air.

Hint #1 Luke and his parents were very late for dinner...a little strange since Luke is always annoying me about being on time and my parents and I were EARLY!  Hint #2 Luke's parents came to visit us in mid September when the weather started to turn cool...Luke's dad doesn't like cold weather anymore. But, I just thought they had missed him so much he was worth the chilly air.

I have to admit once Luke told me had a bracelet for me, I wasn't thrilled at all. He knows I never wear formal bracelets and he could have given that to me at home. After I opened the box everything just went blank for me...complete shock. My hands were trembling and I couldn't believe this moment had come. Luke and I had talked about marriage since the beginning of our relationship. It's something we both wanted so I guess timing was everything in this moment. I couldn't believe that he really wanted to embark on the next part of this journey with me. I couldn't stop looking at the ring on my finger! My first thought was I couldn't believed I was engaged, followed by "Wow he did an awesome job"! It was perfection.

I was nervous. I am usually a person that plans out a lot of things but this proposal was not according to plan. I had the ring made in Florida; and my parents were coming up for a visit and were able to pick up the ring for me. It was September and I had planned out how I wanted to pop the question.  In mid-December when Lisa and I had always celebrated our anniversary. I wanted to orchestrate a surprise trip to a nearby botanical garden where we usually see the Christmas lights. I had it in mind to get all our closest friends and family together to help surprise her…but things didn’t go according to plan. 

It was Friday September 14^th 2012, my parents had arrived in town as planned. Lisa and I met my folks in their hotel before dinner. While my dad distracted Lisa in another room with idle chitchat. I snuck with my mom to take a sneak peek at the ring. I opened the box. The light danced off the diamond and an unsuspecting and overwhelming feeling took over. I could not hold onto this ring, the moment I saw it. I knew it belonged on her hand. I fought the urge to run over to the next room. I calmly put the ring away.

Saturday September 15^th 2012…Didn’t sleep at all that night. I couldn’t think of anything else, except how much that ring belonged on her left hand. Throughout the day I felt on edge, unable to focus on anything. Despite everything I felt, I was doing my best to hold out and stay with my plan for December. As the day wore on, I knew Lisa and I were going to be having dinner with both of our parents at our favorite Italian restaurant in south Philly. As I was getting ready for dinner, my dad called me and said, “Why don’t you bring the ring just in case you feel it is the right time to ask her”. Surprisingly I found myself agreeing and completely throwing my plan out the window.

Now the problem was this ring box wasn’t your typical little black box. It was a large polished cherry wood box. So I planned to hide the ring in my dad’s camera bag. We even came up with a code word (“publix wings”) to signal that I was ready. I quickly rushed out the house to pick up my parents. Halfway to the restaurant I realized that I had completely forgotten the ring and left it in my sock drawer! Panicking I tried not to cause an accident as I rushed home.

Forty-five minutes late for dinner my parents and I arrived. I was completely flustered but then I saw Lisa and I told her “I am overwhelmed” she just looked at me and said simply “Its ok, I know. Everything is fine” and smiled. I instantly felt relieved and calm again. Dinner came and went. And while everyone was busy talking and laughing. I looked at Lisa and I knew it was time. I looked to my dad and said in a low tone, “Ya know I think I could use some publix wings”. He smiled and nodded and passed me his camera bag. I took out the box and slid it over to Lisa. She looked at me with the ‘what is this look’. “I got you a bracelet while I was out today” I said. She gave me a questioning look because I know she never wears bracelets.

She opened the box. And I would not trade anything in the world for the priceless expression on her face when she saw the engagement ring.