The Proposal!! (Ours, Not the Movie ;) )

It all started out with Tuesday night when I needed help from Cory on a project for my Education class. I needed him to dress up in his Sunday clothes and pose like a teacher while I took pictures of him to use as visuals. He made a deal with me and said that the only way he would do it, is if I would dress up in my Sunday clothes on Saturday and go with him to the Laie Temple grounds to take pictures just for fun. He said he NEEDED more pictures of us, and since he is ALWAYS saying that, I didn't think anything of it, and I agreed.

Well, Saturday rolled around and I couldn't believe that Cory was really going to make me get all dressed up on a SATURDAY, the only day that either of us have off from practice. Like a good girlfriend though, I complied because I knew how much he wanted it and because I love him so much (and I really couldn't see any way out of it, seeing as he had already dressed up to help me on Tuesday).

When we got to the Temple, Larissa and Ryan were already there, camera ready, tripod set up, and looking very nonchalant about the whole ordeal. I really thought that they just wanted to get some pictures too! After a few pictures of standing on Cory's left side, I thought I would switch it up and stood on his right side (which just happened to be the side in which he was carrying the ring box). We were posing for a picture and I felt something in his suit coat pocket. I quickly grabbed the outside of his pocket, feeling the contents inside and said, "Cory, what is this in your pocket?" Then I realized that it was a box, a box that felt very much like a velvet ring box! He very quickly said, "Oh that? That's just my gum." Gum? It couldn't be gum I thought. No one packages gum like that! But then I started doubting what I had felt because Cory seemed so unconcerned about it, so I pushed the thought to the back of my mind and resumed taking pictures.

Soon, Larissa and Ryan said that they needed to get going because they had a meeting to go to. Right. A meeting. :) I however, not expecting a thing, completely believed them. They left and Cory started pulling me in the other direction heading back to his car. As we were walking he asked me if I wanted to just go back and change clothes and maybe just watch a movie in one of the lounges or something (He has since told me that he could tell I was getting a little suspicious and he wanted to throw me off). After he said this, I thought for sure he wasn't planning to propose. However, I really wanted to ask him for a piece of gum, just to see if he really would reach into that pocket, but I resisted the temptation.

So we got in the car and started driving off, when all of the sudden Cory asked me if I had ever been up to the Temple grounds behind the temple and I told him that I hadn't. He told me it was really pretty up there and asked if I wanted to just go take a look. Of course, my answer was yes! I was starting to get a little more excited and a little more suspicious. So we parked the car and found our way up to a little winding path that goes up a rather steep hill behind the temple. As we started walking, both of us were a bit sore from the night before (both of our teams had games at the same time the night before!) so needless to say, we were walking very slowly. I happened to look up to the top of the hill while we were walking and noticed that there was a little gazebo at the top. Now I was getting VERY excited! (Cory says that he could tell that I was excited because once I looked up and saw the gazebo, I was nearly running to the top!) He of course was still walking very slowly and looked like he seemed to be enjoying the fact that I was DYING with anticipation!

When we finally got to the top, we walked over to the gazebo and inside was a table with a beautiful white tablecloth (compliments of Larissa and Ryan) on it and on top of the table was a dozen beautiful red roses. I quickly sat down on the bench inside the gazebo and looked out over the hill. It was the most beautiful scene I have ever taken it. We could see the Temple and all the way down to the beach. Cory came and sat down next to me and we sat in silence for a moment.

Then Cory began to talk about the Temple and the importance of it in our lives (I began thinking, "Oh my goodness, Temple-talk, it really is coming!!"). He told me some very wonderful things that will stay in my heart forever. Then he got down on one knee, reached into his pocket, and pulled out the ring, which is the most beautiful ring that I have ever seen. He told me how much he loved me and how he would always love me, and asked me if I would marry him. I could barely get the word out because my heart was so full that it seemed as if it was taking up all the room in my body, but I was finally able to push out the words, "yes. forever yes."

It was the most wonderful moment of my entire life, (and yes dad, it even beats winning the State Championship my senior year;) ) and I will always remember it. November 7, 2009-Our engagement! After Cory proposed he took me to see Larissa, Ryan, and Logan, so that I could show them the ring, and then we whisked off to the nicest restaurant that I have ever been to, where we were treated like royalty! It was fantastic, and they even made us a little cake that said "Congratulations"! It was amazing!

I sure love my new fiance!