The Proposal

I picked D up from the airport & he insisted on driving us back to town. He'd already suggested we stop by Weed Park & exchange our "Boo-versary" gifts in the rose garden where he first told me he was in love with me during his first trip to IA back in October. We stopped there, but there was already a couple in the gazebo, so we sat on a bench in the shade.

I gave him my gifts which he opened. He was surprised and wondered how I'd gotten a copy of Muscatine! The Musical for him (it's the play we saw on our first date here during his first trip up to IA). He also loved the card I'd chosen for him which is covered in roses, quite appropriate for the garden in which we were exchanging our gifts. It reads:

I love you for the person you are.

I love you for the person that you are

and for who I have become since we've met.

I love you for overlooking my flaws and weaknesses

and for drawing out the good things in me.

I love you for believing in me

in a way that makes me believe, too.

I love you because of the way we can talk together

and with that openness comes closeness.

I love you because you are honest with me

and with that honesty comes trust.

I love you because you have brought more happiness

into my life than I ever thought possible.

I love you for the good and giving person that you are.

He loved it and then gave me my first of three gifts which was a shirt with "POUNCER" on the front. I "pounce" on D when he's not expecting it and when he needs to lovingly be "corrected". Then he moved me over to the gazebo which was finally vacated and gave me my second gift, but first he made me read the card:

When I tell you "I Love you,"

it means so much more

than just three little words.

It means that your happiness

is so important to me...

that I desire many blessings in life for you.

It means that I always

want to be there for you,

no matter what happens.

It means that I would rather

be with you than anyone

else in the world.

It means that you're not only

my partner in life,

but also my very best friend.

The longer we love,

the more "I love you" means!

With All My Love

On Our

Anniversary

This is my beloved, and this is my friend.

Song of Solomon 5:16 KJV

Then I openned the second gift to find a framed poem he'd written for me, which reads:

My Boo

From the first time I laid my eyes on you, I was taken

You made my jaw drop and caused that tingling sensation.

Ever since, it has been hard to forget the sight of you,

Who would've ever known that you would become my Boo.

You captured something in me, whether by trying or not,

Your intellect, your words, your presence, you were HOT!

After all this time, you are my dream come true,

How did I get so lucky to have you as my Boo?

When we met was not the right time for us to come together,

Today we have something that can handle any weather.

We found each after some time of being blue,

Now we have each other, I'm yours and you're my Boo.

I brought a little something special, a token from me to you,

It comes after four seasons of you and me struggling through.

Something for the Past, Present, and Future, sized just for you,

A pledge from me to always be true to my Boo.

So by this time, I am beginning to genuflect,

I've done all including my initial and final check,

To make sure that I am ready for what I'm about to do,

A lifelong commitment...me for you, and for me, my Boo.

I know deep down that this will be an amazing ride,

A life filled with love, with us at each other's side.

I promise that I will do my absolute best,

All you have to do is answer with a "yes"...

And with that he dropped to one knee and said:

"I love you and you deserve somebody who's going to love you, respect you, and care for you. I am going to do those things. You are my best friend and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I want to care for you and Isaiah. All you have to do is say 'yes'." Then he openned the little black box he was holding before me, revealing my dream ring, and said, "Will you marry me?"

With tears in my eyes, barely able to stop crying long enough, I said, "YES! Absolutely yes!" We embraced for quite a while, really more of him holding me as I let it all out...all the tears, all the fears, all the anxiety about this never happening for me with the right person. Then I embraced him back knowing I was with the right person, it really did happen, and I am going to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. When I collected myself I realized he was only holding me with one arm because his other hand was grasping the still open box with my dream ring. I pulled back and said, "Well put it on me for God's sake!" It fits perfectly :-) !

Then he presented me with gift number three. Before I openned the box I noticed three little letters written in the upper left hand corner: "OTM". "OTM?" I said, throwing him a quizzical look. "What's OTM?" I asked. "Just open it," he said to me. "What's OTM?" I said to myself as I started to open the box. "You're going to try to figure it out, aren't you?! Just open it!" he said again. I then tore the box open and found another shirt. It's a lovely cool green. I thought he might be emphasizing my passion for the environment until I pulled out of the box and noticed the message on the back: "OFF THE MARKET". I laughed realizing it went back to the discussion we'd had a few months ago when I told him just because I was his girlfriend didn't mean I was "off the market". "I don't see any rings on these fingers!" I exclaimed to him. "Huh," was his reply, "I guess I'm going to have to do something about that. And so he has :-)!

When then went home and told Shorty the news. He was happy but is still unsure of how this is going to affect his life. We're both going to make it as smooth a transition for him as possible, which we reassured him of over dinner that night. We went out for pizza together as family, laughed a lot, ate a lot, and had a great time together. It was a lovely beginning to the three of us as we plan our new lives as a blended family! I couldn't be happier!