OT: How did it happen for you?

[mandarin2j]

AndreaU had such a sweet story about her engagement on the picnic thread that I thought I'd ask everyone: How did it happen for you?

To get the ball rolling, here goes:

DH and I had been dating for awhile and talked about getting married as a definite in our future. However, I told him that though I am a fairly modern girl, I have that little girl fantasy about a memorable proposal, so he was going to have to actually propose at some point. (I suppose I could have proposed, but that wouldn't really fit the fantasy, now would it? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif ) We went to Florida for my grandmother's 80th birthday party, a huge family reunion where he got to meet my entire extended family. After the reunion, he and I took off for a couple of days in Key West to unwind before returning to school. On day two, he was really intent on getting to the Southernmost Point, but we somehow never got around to it during the day. That evening, we sat in the courtyard by our room, drinking spiced rum and sharing a cigar, and he asked if we should go to dinner together…for the rest of our lives. He told me he meant to orchestrate this whole thing where someone would take our photo at the marker as he proposed, but I'm really glad it turned out the way it did-quiet, sweet, and memorable. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[AndreaU]

I just wanted to add the best part (other than the fact that I said "yes")... as Don was proposing, a car drove by and the driver honked and shouted "Marry Him!" To this day, he swears no one knew he was doing it. I guess it just looked like one of those moments. The ring was my "prize" in the Cracker Jack box. The box & prize package were surgically slit open and reglued (apparently he went throught 4 or 5 boxes before he got it right). I opened it and said "Oh, how cute, a Cracker Jack ring!", not having looked closely at it!

[kwormann]

YEA!!!! I LOVE our story http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif We knew each other in college...in fact he asked me out and I turned him down. Anyway, I took a semester away and when I cam back, we basically looked at each other and were in love. Our first date was 2/12/93....he said I love you one week later, we got engaged 3 months later at a candlelight picnic and got married 2/12/94. We have been together 7 years and are still in the honeymoon stage and cant stand to be separated for very long! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif AHHHHHH ......LOVE http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Kim

[ama47369]

My husband and I met while living in Austin. One light, we were both at a place called Coppertank there in Austin. I realized that he looked familiar. So I went to talk to him to see where I knew him from. Turns out we discovered we went to the same high school in Dallas and grew up on the same street. Funny we never knew each other. To this day our parents still live on that street.

[KValley]

oooh, this is so much fun!

We met in a French class in college in 1992- I was finishing school and he was wrapping up his teacher certification program. There was chemistry, but at the same time he absolutely rubbed me the wrong way- he was forever gently teasing me. One day in class he snickered over something I said about Proust. The professor glared at him and said "Ca suffit"- that's enough. I didn't speak to him again for the rest of the term- not easy to do in a class of 6 and when I also-to my great annoyance-had a crush on this guy with chocolate brown eyes, thick brown hair, who looked so good in his Levis and hiking boots.

That was January. Two months later he came up to me in Albertson's as I was buying bread and asked if he could take me to dinner, to make up for his earlier unpleasantness. On a whim I said, "Why not?". I was leaving in the fall for Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer and had no notions of getting involved with anyone.

He proposed on bended knee in the Rose Garden of the Butchart Gardens, Victoria B.C, on May 23, two months after our first date We married on September 5, 1992- 3 months later. I never believed it when people said that you just know when it's right, until I met Brendan.

By the way, we went to Africa together soon thereafter- one hell of a honeymoon! And the French professor attended our wedding http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I love being married- I have found my soulmate, my best friend- I know the joy of unconditional love! Almost 9 years and the adventure continues. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Julie


[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 05-11-2001).]

[jazzcat]

I love these stories, Julie your story made me start to cry.

[BosunsWife]

I am almost ashamed to admit that I met my true love in a tacky bar in North Seattle.

We dated for about six months and then he got cold feet and decided that he just wanted to be good friends (we were in our late 20's). He had a change of mind when he got transferred from Seattle to Port Angeles, WA. I would go over for weekends and he would come to Seattle when he could. His ship got sent to San Fran., CA to the shipyards for two months and I got a phone call from him (on the dock by the ship). He told me to just listen and then I could talk. He proposed over the phone! Not really romantic, but you have to know him. He really wanted me to fly down and then elope to Las Vegas. I said my mom would kill me, she had waited 30 years for this moment and I just couldn't do that to her. We got married four months later in a wonderful bed and breakfast inn in Skagit County (where I was raised). That was a little over 8 years ago and its been a grand adventure ever since.

[Missi]

Well, my DH and I had been dating for almost four years and lived together for 2. He works in the hospitality industry (hotels) and had several people who had offered him jobs out of state. I told him that I was not going to move unless he was willing to commit. (We were living in the same town that I grew up in and I told him I wasn't about to leave my family and friends unless it was with a husband http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif ) He was offered several jobs which he turned down. Several months after the first few job offers, he got a job offer in Lake Tahoe, CA. (We were living in Indiana). He took me to dinner to tell me about the offer and said that it was the catalyst for doing something he knew it was time to do. (I knew this was a proposal, but interrupted and told him I wanted the whole shabang proposal- ring and all!) Several nights later, after dinner with my parents, he proposed in front of my family! My mom just about lost it! After I said yes, we had to tell them that we were moving. It was quite a shocking evening for everyone! That was 7/2/99 and we were married this past January.

[JanetB]

Well - my story is kind of recent - in January my boyfriend of 2+ years proposed. I didn't know what was up - but he kept calling me one Friday to convince me to go out that night. I had a cold - and was not up for it - but he kept pushing. I didn't go out. And, I had no idea that why he sounded really disappointed. I found out the next day.

The next day I felt a little better. He convinced me to go to Central Park (we live in NYC). When we got there - he literally almost forced me to go on a horse and buggy ride. It was cold out and I had little interest at the time. And, about half way through the ride - he took out a little black box with the most shiney ring -
And, for the first time in 2+ years I was speechless! We're getting married in Oct '02!

[crazycook]

I met my X the summer before I started university. He was my foreman. What clinched it for me? He gave me his black jelly beans. Done deal! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif (Have to have read a previous post on posters' food loves) It's gonna take a heck of a lot more than black jelly beans today though. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

I'll never regret my marriage though. The most beautiful part of our union, I have to say with a warm smile on my face, is the two blessings I hold dearest to my heart. My two children are the reason God put the two of us together. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

It touches my heart to read about your love stories. It's wonderful and inspiring to know that finding true love really does happen for some of us in "real life". I will never give up hope that my soul mate is out there, somewhere ...hmmm...wasn't that a song?

[aggie94]

DH and I were both sophomores at Texas A&M, which prides itself on its longstanding traditions. One of those is Bonfire, and associated with that is the Bonfire Buddy. Male dorms and female dorms get paired up and names are exchanged, a la Secret Buddy fashion, and you send your BB gifts to get them motivated to participate in Bonfire festivities. Traditionally, the women get slips of paper with a guy's name and number on it. The guy just has to sit and wait to hear from their BB.

I got my BB's name and called several times, but he was never around. I finally decided to leave my name and number with his roommate, but he never called back. Then, the last night before our first gift drop (and I was not about to send him a gift when I had never spoken to him), I decided to try ONE LAST TIME to get ahold of him. If he hadn't been there, I wouldn't have called again. He was home, and turns out that roommate wrote down my number wrong. We set a time to meet for dinner a week later or so, and things just grew from there.

We moved in together about two years later, and about two years after that, he got down on his knee and proposed to me on a little wooden bridge in our favorite park in College Station. We had a LONG engagement, because we were both still in school, and then we graduated, but then I went back to school, and then he went back to school, etc. But 5 years after our engagement, we finally married last August in a beautiful riverfront gazebo ceremony in Oregon.

I feel so fortunate to have met him -- he is truly my soulmate and the best friend I could ever have.

[JHolcomb]

These stories are so wonderful! Of course, I think that ours is too. My husband and I went to elementary school together. We were in the same 5th grade class, where all I remember about him was beating him in the 5th grade Jeopardy tournament (I took the title!). I remember that, and I remember him moving away to South Carolina. We didn't meet again until college. I was on campus outside of my dorm and I saw him walking up the stairs-he looked the same as he did in 5th grade-only bigger, naturally. Anyway, I got up the nerve to go and ask him if he was the kid I went to grade school with and told him my name. He said yeah, but little else. I was so embarassed because I thought that he thought that I was a huge dork for coming up to him-he sure acted like it. Anyway, I walked away embarrassed and didn't see him again for 2 years. Mind you, we went to the same small school.

Anyhow, junior year a very good friend of mine and I were hanging out and said that he was going to hang out with Heath, did I want to come? I said sure, and sure enough it was the same guy from 5th grade. Turns out we had a very close mutual friend in common, and we occasionally hung out. But we didn't start seeing each other until after graduation. Something just clicked at my Memorial Day cookout and we've been together ever since. Turns out he was painfully shy and hadn't pursued me (although he was interested) because he couldn't get up the nerve to ask me out. Awwwwwww...

He proposed to me that July (I think, I've never been good with dates) on his couch. Not romantic, but the day prior to that had been amazing. We went to my grandparent's farm and walked around. We ended up in a pine grove behind their house and it was so amazingly romantic. It was if I could feel myself becoming one with him. That was when we both knew for sure. Anyway, we've been married for 7 months this weekend. I can't imagine myself with anyone else. I know that he is my soulmate and that we were meant to be together. Sappy, I know, but I'm still so in looooove.

[chefbec]

I was the "chick singer" at my husband's sister's wedding. He was wearing a white tux and looked great. We flirted the entire time, then he left without asking for my number. He thought I was married to the guitarist. I handed my phone number to his mother! She gave it to his sister (at least she didn't toss it). The rest is history. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[JulieAnn]

Probably aren't too many of you that can beat how quick we married and how young I was! I was 19 ( to give myself a little credit I was a junior in college - I graduated a year early from high school) and I lived in a foreign language house at BYU. My husband lived in the corresponding men's house. I had paid NO Attention to him at all and had even told my roommate who had dated him a little bit that she could do a lot better than him. For various reasons mid-October we started hanging out (not even dates!)Nov. engaged, Jan.1992 married. He wasn't going to formally propose, but I demanded one! He had roses sent to me while we were donating plasma for money in the plasma center. And he's been just about as romantic ever since!

[kwormann]

kvalley...you made me misty....I dont know very many other people who feel as I do about their spouse. People seem amazed when we have a "date" several times a month or when I say things like "I cant make it to happy hour because I want to be with Scott". In fact, one friend said "I hope I'M never like that!!!!

Yea for us!

Kim

oh....ps...did I mention I bought my wedding dress a day before I got the ring?????? Hows that for confidence!

[This message has been edited by kwormann (edited 05-12-2001).]

[Tiger]

We had been dating for over 2yrs when we went to my work Christmas party. They called me up on stage and I thought I had won a doorprize. My now husband came out and asked me in front of everyone to marry him. Over 700 people!! (This is very out of charater for him)
I was shaking and I did say YES! They played going to the Chapel to get married and everyone danced. It was like a big engagement party.
Forever at work I was known as the girl who got engaged at the Christmas party.
My husband said he knew I would like something big and I give him a lot of credit for doing it!
We've been very happily married for almost 9yrs now.

[dearamy]

He gave me plane tickets to Maui for Christmas. We planned our trip for February. Even though we knew we wanted to be together for ever, I expected that we would get engaged after much discussion and some more time together (we had been together for a little over a year). But, our first evening in Maui, after an in room picnic (it was too windy for the beach picnic we had planned), we walked along & the beach & even though it was very romantic, I was still stunned & unbelievably filled with joy when he whispered that he thought we should spend the rest of our lives together. Still not getting that he was proposing, I said "Me too!" & expected that to be the end of the conversation. But, the next thing I knew, he was down on one knee & pulled out the most exquisite diamond ring. We returned to our room, opened the champagne he'd brought along (of which I was unaware) & called our fiends & family back home. We are getting married in September & are so in love. At least once a day we look at eachother & say, "We are so lucky!"

[LaraW]

These stories are all so great!

DH and I have known each other since I was a freshman in High School. We knew each other in H.S., and even were friends, but did not date each other until we were in college. We dated the last 3 years of college, and for two after that before we were engaged. On his birthday, in 1997 (he picked his birthday because he figured I would never see it coming that day), we were on our way out for dinner. He took a turn that was the wrong direction from the restaurant where we were going, and headed toward our high school. He said "I want to show you something". He walked me across the front lawn, and proposed there. We were married a year and a half later; 2 1/2 years ago.

[KValley]

Kim I know what you mean about missing happy hour! Sometimes I feel like such a geek, but there is no one else I'd rather be with- life just seems so uncomplicated and complete, even when we get fussy with each other. I just love the knowledge that this is it, I've got this guy for life, which is exactly what scares a lot of people- that type of committment is pretty overwhelming. But it's that security which makes it easier for me to take chances in other areas of my life. We both came from classic 80's dysfunctional families- multiple marriages and divorces on both sides- perhaps this is what makes us work on our marriage as hard as we do.

crazycook I am so glad that you have such a wonderful outlook on your marriage, even though it didn't work out. Your children are blessed and they will thank you later for being grateful that you and your ex came together to create them. My parents divorced when I was 10 and it was very ugly. Nine years ago- 12 years after they split- my mother stopped speaking to me when it became clear that I had forgiven my dad and was forming a great relationship with him- she still harbors an incredible hatred. She missed my wedding and will probably never know her grandkids. I've been without my mom for 9 years and it still breaks my heart-always will. Let your kids know their dad and love him in their own way, no matter how much he may drive you crazy.

And you will find someone! I don't believe there is one right person for everyone- relationships are just too much hard work for love to be as simple as that. I believe that an open heart and a bit of fate lead us to a partner who will be willing to hold our hands and our hearts no matter how messy life gets. Oh my, I am starting to cry....where's that wineglass...?

[Jen]

I have kind of a funny engagement story. My DH and I were very good friends in high school, but both of us were dating other people. We graduated and went off to the same university, with a large group of our friends. Something finally "clicked" when we were in our 2nd year of university, and we've been together ever since. In 1994 I spent my fall semester in Montreal doing a co-op term (working for four months towards my degree). Some good friends of ours had been married that summer, and that had put us in a "wedding" frame of mind. So this four months away was kind of a test to see whether we really wanted to be together. (I should mention too that we were quite young - I was only 20 and he was 22 - although like JulieAnn I was a bit ahead - in my 4th year of university). After only a week or so apart, we both knew that it was "meant to be". When I got back to Vancouver before Christmas, we picked out engagement rings and I waited...and waited...and waited. Finally, at the end of July, he proposed (I found out later he'd had the ring since APRIL!!). We went up to the top of Grouse mountain, which is one of the ski hills here in Vancouver and has a beautiful view of the city. He told me we were having dinner with his parents, so as soon as I got up there and realized it was just the two of us I knew. After dinner, we went out onto a small balcony adjacent to the restaurant, overlooking the entire city, and got down on one knee and proposed. The first thing out of my mouth wasn't "Yes", but "you're going to drop the ring!". This balcony was sort of a wood slat deal, and just as I said that we heard a "clink, clink, clink"..he really did drop the ring! It was pitch dark, and there was about a 50 foot drop under us - if the ring had gone through the slats, we would never have found it. Thank God, it was safe and sound and of course I said "YES"!!

OK, I have to use up way too much board space to tell the other funny part of this story. My DH really wanted to get "permission" from my parents before proposing. Since we'd known each other so long, he knew my parents but was still really nervous about doing this. My mom worked about an hour's drive from his house at that time. He called her up and arranged to meet her for lunch one day (of course, she figured out right away what this was all about). They went for lunch, and he NEVER ASKED HER!!! She said it was so funny - he was so nervous, and she was just waiting for him to come out with it, but he never did. At the end of the lunch, he just said "bye" and left! Our "date" was for that evening, so when he came to pick me up he was frantically trying to figure out how to get my parents alone. I realized I had no nylons, and expected him to offer to run out for them...but instead he just said "OK, see you in awhile then"...of course, because he wanted to talk to my parents. When I got back they were all sitting around the kitchen table looking really uncomfortable. But it was so sweet, because when we got home that night they were waiting up for us with champagne - it made the night really special for us. (Which was a good thing, because when we told his parents the next day, they completely flipped out - but that's another story)!

Sorry to take up so much space with my sappy story! But after five years it still brings a huge smile to my face. I never understand why people are so afraid of marriage - I think it is the most beautiful and sacred thing I have ever been a part of. There is something so magical about this solemn, unbreakable promise that we have made. It brings more meaning to everything I do. I have never been more happy than in these past five years!

[patsyk]

This is such a neat topic! I met my dh at a New Year's Eve party... we dated for a year and 3 months before he moved to NJ for a job (I lived in Kansas City at the time)... so, we did the long distance thing and visited each other about every 4-6 weeks... veryn

[KLynn]

How fun!

My husband and I had a joke about the color brown. I often wear brown and neutral colors in general. On our first date, he made the statement to me that he HATED brown, not realizing that I wore it all the time. So on our second date - to see what he was made of - I wore an all brown outfit!

Three months later (on Valentine's Day) he gave me a beautifully wrapped present. Inside was a gorgeous long, silk, BROWN dress! It was his way of telling me he loves me just like I am - brown clothes and all. Underneath the dress was a small, leather box with a diamond ring! He proposed and we were married 6 months later.

[crazycook]

KValley: Heartfelt thanks for such kind words; your sentiments moved me to tears as well. The biggest hug to you. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
E===== http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif =====3 ( my attempt at outstretched arms for your hug) My heart is open and I too believe that when the time is right, I will find someone special.

I hold no hatred towards my Ex, he has a right to his happiness in this lifetime. The most important thing for me is that he is active in the children's lives and that we can still parent them even though we are apart. I am proud to say that my children are two loving, caring, genuinely good and kind souls. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I'd say well-balanced too but they are a we bit demented like their mom. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif We have a lot of fun together though and laugh a lot.

I hope with all my heart that your mother will come around. Life is too precious, too short for us to let hatred ruin it. She is missing out on so much love.

BethH: Congratulations!!! mb is right, it is very exciting news and a big deal. May love be eternal for you. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Best wishes to all of the great couples here. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Anna

[Luv to Cook]

What a great topic...all these stories are so wonderful!

I met my DH thru a friend when I was in grad school. He came to my house for a party and at the end of the night we decided to see each other again. He asked for my email and of course I slipped in my phone number. He emailed me for weeks but did not bother to call. One night I was out with my friends celebrating my b-day and I saw him out at the same bar...turns out he was celebrating his b-day, which was the same day as mine! On top of that, his mom and mine have the same bday and our brothers have the same name! Well, if that is not destiny I don't know what is! We started dating soon thereafter and he proposed about 6 months later...that is a story in itself.

My best friend used to work as an accountant at Arthur Andersen in Northern VA. At the top of her office building was a private dinner club, the Tower club. She told me that after April 15th her company has a after-tax party. Her company always did stuff like that so I had no reason to doubt her. Well she told me that me and my then boyfriend could come. My best friend and I were going to go together and my boyfriend was to meet us there. She gets me to the party and tries to get me into the party room. I get irritated and tell her to go in. She pushes me in the room and my boyfriend is standing there alone. I am thinking to myself, "poor guy, doesnt know anyone at the party and is all alone!" Then I look over and see a table with lace and candles and a beautiful diamond ring in the center. I ran over to the table and tried to put the ring on. He caught me, got down on one knee and proposed. Of course I said yes and we hugged and laughed and cried. I then noticed the dinner table was set for 12. Turns out he invited my best friend, brother and a few other close friends to join us for a very intimate dinner. Everything was so wonderful. And this is the best part...during dinner I leaned over to him to ask "Where is the tax party?" He still makes fun of me for not realizing there never was a tax party!

We just celebrated our one-year anniversary and everyday just gets better!

[BethH]

I've actually been engaged for all of 1 week and 2 days!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

My dear fiance took me up to Michigan for a mini-vacation for my birthday and surprised me by proposing on the bed and breakfast's deck overlooking the ocean. I said yes and we are planning to elope in late-July to the mountains in Idaho! (Can you plan to elope? I don't know!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

We've been together for 2 and 1/2 years and have known since the very beginning that this was exactly right. Wonderful. I agree with all above who have their best friends and soul mates as husbands...I feel so lucky.

I had wanted to tell everyone here, but was feeling a little shy about starting a new thread just for me. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I'm so excited!

[AvrilH]

This is so sweet... I MUST contribute my 2 cents.

I met my dh through a mutual friend. We knew each other for months, and nothing happened (he is 10 years older than I, and I think he was taken aback by that.) Then one night, at a party, he showed up with ANOTHER WOMAN (I was there with a date myself http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif) But seeing him on a date brought out a green-eyed monster - I hadn't known until that point that I had feelings for the man.

A few months later, he asked me out. We dated platonically for some time, and we had great times together. Then once I referred to some concert tickets I had. He said, if you take me to that concert, I'll take you to France (we had just been discussing how we both wanted to see the Musee D'Orsay in Paris). I said "sure" but thought nothing of it.

Wouldn't you know? A few months later he came through. We had a wonderful trip, and had our first kiss on an overnight train between Nice and Geneva. How's that for romantic!

That was 1993. We are still as compatible and happy to be with each other as we were back then. He is my favorite person in the world (except for our 2 - soon to be 3- children).

And he promises to take me back to France some day. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[mb]

congrats BethH - that is so wonderful and exciting! i wouldn't worry about starting a new thread just for yourself - it's a big deal and i'm sure everyone would be happy to hear the news! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

my DH and I met while in college. I was the president of our campus chapter of habitat for humanity, and one weekend, he decided to skip his rowing practice and come out to volunteer and help build a house. on that first day, we were given the task of laying sod (you can imagine how dirty everyone got with all that grass and mud!). i knew that if he liked me the way i looked at the end of that day, then he was a keeper! but seriously, there was instant chemistry and we haven't been apart since (that was nov '96)

our engagement was a real surprise, even though we'd been living together for about a year already. it was my 2nd year of grad school, but i decided to pursue a PhD. we planned to use spring break to drive to NY (to visit family & Columbia), then drive back by way of NC (to visit UNC) and Atlanta (to visit Emory). We left Miami one afternoon and drove straight to NY without stopping - about 24 agonizing hours!

when we arrived at his family's home, we ate dinner and then were planning what to do on the weekend. of course, all i wanted to do was SLEEP! all of a sudden, his sister says, "Why don't we go to Paris?" I thought that was sort of an odd & unlikely suggestion...until he pulled the airline tickets out of his back pocket! sure enough, our tickets were for the following afternoon to fly to paris for the weekend! he even 'stole' my passport out of my secret hiding spot!

we arrived in Paris and spent the first day getting our bearings. (by the way, i still had no idea of what was to come...i was so in shock just by being in paris!) his sister and her husband had come with us, so i thought it was just sort of a fun-vacation! that night, he tried to go up the eiffel tower, but i was complaining (it's too cold & dark - let's go up during the day so we can see the whole city, etc.) so we didn't go. the whole next day, we visited museums, etc. and then walked down the champs elysees. we were able to go to the top of the arc de triomphe - beautiful city views, esp. of the eiffel tower, etc.

we were up there a long time and it started getting late. the sun had set and all the lights came on in the city - truly spectacular! after a while, i suggested going down and getting some dinner. my DH was like 'oh, let's just stay a little longer', and i agreed. but then more time passed, and it was getting cold (it was early march), so i said 'are you ready? i'm getting hungry!'. again, he said, 'oh, let's just wait a few more minutes'.

all of a sudden, i noticed he had a weird look on his face and i coudln't understand why he was stalling so much - i mean, it WAS cold, and it was late - we were all hungry! so i just looked at him and said, 'why? do you have another surprise for me?' and he said, 'just one more', and he got down on his knee and asked me to marry him.

luckily, my SIL and her husband were there, so we have photos of the whole thing - very romantic with the eiffel tower in the background and the champs elysees all lit up below us!

of course, i said Yes, and we were married about 1 year later (march 2000). we didn't go back to paris for our honeymoon, but we did go back this past february (our baby is due in june and we had some airline tickets to use up...)

of course, we went back to the arc (this time i was allowed to use the elevator to the top because of my 'delicate state'). this time, the eiffel had a glittering display of lights (like at the millenium celebration)... so paris will basically always have a special place in our hearts.

the best part is that he continues to do romantic and wonderful things for me - i try to do stuff for him too, but he's harder to surprise! we are still so in love, and can't stand to spend time apart (yes, you all can gag now!). we were definitely meant to be - we're like 2 peas in a pod. it's amazing that we even found each other. i could go on and on, but i'll spare you! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[sneezles]

Wow! These are some wonderful stories!

I met my DH at a friend's wedding (she is now my SIL). Richard sat across from me at the reception and we talked non-stop. He moved to Europe shortly there after and I moved to Omaha. Six years later he called me (I was in Lincoln by then) and asked if I'd like to move to Singapore with him...I laughed and said, "sure why not?" I flew to Houston to meet him for the weekend (May 5, 1979) and we were married June 23, 1979 (and then living in Singapore by July 1). He is now "retired" (sold his company) and is here 24/7 and it is wonderful! This summer we are going on an Alaskan cruise to celebrate 22 years together (Singapore was way too hot for me...Alaska temps are more my style!).

[hka]

I loved reading everyone's stories! I have to add mine now http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif.

I had actually seen my now husband a few different times at a mutual friends house. I had actually never talked to or officially met him. I would see him sitting in the corner being oh so quiet. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif My girlfriend and I would get invited to this mutual friends house along with other singles to just "hang out".

Well, my girlfriend starting dating one of the roomates of the house. That's an interesting story also, since he usually wasn't there when we were there. He would ride his mountain bike a lot and was never around. Well, he happened to hurt himself and was laid up with a bad knee. That's how they met and started dating. Isn't it interesting how things work sometimes?

Anyhow, so my friend and her now husband start dating. He decided to throw her a surprise birthday party. I was at the party and so was my now husband. Well, this is when I first talked with him. I thought he was about 25 years old (I was 21 at the time). Well, I get to talking to him and find out that he's actually 30, divorced and has two kids! I'm thinking, no way am I getting involved with this guy! That was in January. In February, I went to this singles retreat with my church. Well, he was there and was playing in the band. I know I was supposed to be worshipping God but all I could do was keep looking at him thinking, man, I like him! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif. So, at the end of the second night we spent quite a bit of time talking and that's when I really felt the mutual attraction we had for one another.

A few weeks a later a friend set up a dinner party and invited him. It was definitely a set up because she didn't really know him that well and wouldn't have ordinarily invited him. There were others there, not just the too of us. I guess she didn't want to be too obvious! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif So, after the dinner my best friend, who was dating the housemate, set up a double date. We went out to dinner and a movie and have been together ever since!

I can relate to all of you who have stated that you have found your soul mate. There's nine years difference between my DH and I but you sure wouldn't know it. I enjoy being around him more than any other person I know. I can also relate to the happy hour thing. When I get done with work the last thing I want to do is go out. I just want to get home to see my hubby. Don't get me wrong, we've definitely had our moments, as all couples do but it's worth it. I think marriage, besides raising children, is one of the hardest jobs you can have because it is work. But it's great and rewarding work!

Sorry, about that! I'll get off my soap box now! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif