3.21.2014: Engaged!

My most favorite day:

Josh had mentioned earlier in the week that we should go to the outlet malls in North Bend then check out the lower Snoqualmie falls viewpoint since it just reopened after years of renovations. 

Seems nothing of suspect for a beautiful, sunny Friday. 

I came straight from work, so at least I changed out of my work jeans into yoga pants. But I had my hair grossly up, glasses on, makeup nonexistent. 

Glad he loves me anyway. 

Get to the viewpoint, I'm still totally oblivious. 

I start to take a couple pictures of the falls--(there were rainbows!)

As I took that picture, Josh got down on one knee behind me :) 

I turned around, and he simply asked, "Kirsten, will you marry me?" 

:) 

My eyes got huge and I said Josh!!!!! 

And then of course I said Yes! and just started hugging him--so much so that he had to say, "Well are you going to put the ring on first!?" Oh yeah :) 

Total blessing was that before we got to the viewpoint there were other people, and about 5 minutes after he proposed a bunch of people came down, but for those 5 minutes we had it all to ourselves. He told me how he managed to ask my dad (4 in the morning when he was in SD over Christmas, my dad wakes up crazy early). He told me he had had the ring for about 3 weeks. I was so excited and still couldn't fully believe it all was really happening.

As we walked back up the trail to the car he told me the story of buying the ring. The main diamond is from his grandpa's ring--he passed away shortly after Josh and I met, so I never got to meet him. So the ring is even MORE special! 

Once we were in the car, Josh said only his parents knew he was proposing that night, so he suggested going to their house and going out to dinner with them to celebrate! 

The car ride back to their house was filled with me calling my mom, dad, grandma, and close friends. I was still sort of in disbelief I think--everything was such a blur of excitement! 

Once we got to Josh's parents house, his mom and dad were sitting in the living room, so they jumped up and gave us both hugs and looked at the ring--they helped pick it out, but they hadn't seen it on me yet! ;) 

Then Kevin said, come on into the kitchen we started some appetizers! 

I walk in...first saw this:

...and thought, "that looks like Brittney's sign.."

Then, SURPRISE!!! The kitchen was filled with friends!!!!! 

Surprise engagement party! I was SOOO excited, is this all real!? How could it possibly all be this perfect!?!

Good job, Josh :) 

So we got to tell the story to everyone, and we just felt SO loved! 

I spent much of the party continuing to call and text my MN friends (two of my best friends didn't answer when I originally called). 

Then towards the end of the night, Josh said something about his "bride-to-be".

And I think that's when it finally truly hit me :) 

I get to marry the most wonderful Christian man and spend the rest of my life with him!

That is certainly something to celebrate!