WARNING: It looks like TK is doing something weird with the text sizes here. I have no idea.
Sorry it's taken me a few days to post the details. You girls know it's been a crazy-whirlwind past week so I know (hope) you'll forgive me! Also, only one ring porn pic right now because a) I haven't had time to take more and b) I'm still on the road and really want to get home so I can bust out my fancy macro lens and do some fun pics and processing!.
So first, the ring porn & the short story. The short version sounds like the game of Clue: he did it in the bathroom with a dog collar.
Now, the full story (long and at least mildly rambly). The ring had been in the house, in a box, stuffed in a small gold bag, and a bigger metallic green bag, in our closet, since the beginning-ish of December. I was going crazy but really trying hard to distract myself with other projects. BF/FI kept hinting to proposing and even asked his best man to be his best man on NYE. Weirdo.
Anyway, so I know he had something planned and I -think- originally it was something to do with my birthday (the 25th). Grandma passed last Thursday night and when I started making plans to travel back east, BF seemed very interested in what my plans were. He wanted to come to Virginia with me but really couldn't because of some things going on at our ski shop. Saturday night we were getting ready for bed and I saw that the ribbon on the green metallic bag (that the ring had been in) was missing from the bag. I saw that and got worried that somehow Hogan (the pup) had gotten ahold of it and ate it. I asked BF/FI about it and he "pretended" he knew nothing about it. I was so focused on Grandma's passing and getting ready for my trip that I didn't even see through that distraction.
SOOOO, Sunday morning I was getting ready for my trip. We have this amazing big bathroom upstairs with room to pack in - my suitcase was out and my clothes were all over the place and BF/FI was downstairs getting my car ready and feeding Hogan. Next thing I knew, I heard them come upstairs and turned around to ask BF/FI something else. He was there, in his bathrobe, looking down at Hogan. I saw his face and looked down at Hogan too. On Hogan's collar was the ribbon from the ring bag (that I had noticed missing the night before) [ETA: WITH the ring on the ribbon]. I saw it hanging on there and looked at BF/FI and then he got down on his knee. He had happy tears in his eyes and said some amazing words . . . (for me it was all about what he said, now HOW he did it). Lastly, he said, “Mary, will you spend the rest of your life with me?”
By that point, of course I was crying happy tears too and said, “of course I will!” We hugged and kissed and cried and laughed together, all of which was very confusing to Hogan. He doesn’t quite understand happy tears. We then called my mom; she was already on the east coast with the fam. Then she was crying and my aunts were crying. One of my aunts told us that it was the perfect time because now the family would have some happy news. BF – now FI (!!!) - basically told me that’s why he did it then/that way/ahead of his plan. He said had really been trying to surprise me, which was really hard because I knew it was coming SOMETIME, but that he knew I would never suspect it that morning. Also, he knew Grandma had given her blessing and thought it was fitting and that it felt like the right time.
So, that’s our story. Simple and perfect. I came to Virginia, went to Grandma’s wake/funeral/burial events and spent some much needed time with family. This morning I’m up at o-dark-thirty to fly back to California and I can’t wait to throw my arms around FI and give him a big hug & kiss.
P.S. Also, within the first 48 hours of being engaged, TWO people invited themselves to our wedding. Even more people asked me what for the date. WITHIN 48 hour!!! SMH. And so it begins . . .