I had one more year of college after he graduated, and it was very hard to be apart after over 1.5 years together in school. We alternated weekends at school and at his new home, but every Sunday I dissolved into tears when it was time to part.
As Thanksgiving weekend approached, I was doing very well in school (because I had nothing else to do but homework during the week, ha!) but I was very sad. To cheer me, he told me he had a big surprise waiting for me when I came for the weekend!
I drove to his place Wednesday afternoon and found the key he'd left under the mat (he was at work.) When I walked into his tiny apartment, there was a tiny rose on the carpet in front of the door. Another rose on the kitchen counter, another on the dining table, another tucked into the covers of his bed. It was so cute, they were all over the place. I found them and put them into a vase he had ready.
That evening he made a wonderful meal (barbequed steak and potatoes), then lit a fire in the fireplace, lit some candles, turned out the lights and got some music playing. I then noticed a huge gift-wrapped box on the fireplace mantle.
He told me to open it, so I did, and inside found a smaller box. Inside that was a smaller box yet. And another. I think there were 5 or 6 in all, it was exciting and exasperating all at once! Until I saw the last box, which was
ring-sized. I caught my breath, and he said, "Go on, open it."
Inside was a beautiful eternity band. He told me he loved me, that he knew shortly after we'd met that I was the one, that he'd told his beloved grandmother before she died (6 months earlier) that he was going to marry me, and lots of other beautiful things that had me sobbing with happiness.
Then he paused and asked, "Do you like the ring?" I said yes, but between the tears and the low light, I honestly could hardly see it. So I leaned toward the fireplace. Then some more... just a little bit more...
"Oh, for pete's sake!" he said, and snapped on the lights.
"Oh, it's so beautiful!" I gushed.
It truly was a lovely way to ask me to marry him, but he ALWAYS mentions how he had to save me from setting myself on fire...
In September we'll be celebrating 13 years of marriage and 2 handsome little boys together!