The BEST surprise

Engaged.  Fiance.  Words I thought I might never use in the same sentence as "me" or "I."  But somehow, it happened.  And boy did it happen BIG.  Here's the story of how he liked it and he put a ring on it, 5-star style.

Our one year anniversary was coming up and we knew we wanted to do something fun.  Maybe Nashville for the weekend or go to his dad's in Florida.  Finally the week before our anniversary I wouldn't quit asking him to finalize some kind of plan.  I guess I was probably driving him nuts because he told me to calm down and that he MIGHT have something planned.  I am like a kid on Christmas when it comes to surprises--and he wouldn't budge.  Not a word or a hint until I tried to start packing.  "Hot, maybe some rain, bring a couple nice outfits.  And we'll be flying."  That's all I could get out of him.

On Thursday morning on the way to the airport he finally told me he'd been planning this trip for 2 months and had been working with my mom and my aunt (whom he'd never met!) to make this happen.  We were flying to New Orleans to stay with my wonderful aunt Patti and have an amazing weekend in the Big Easy.  I LOVE THAT CITY and miss my family who live there.  I, of course, immediately started crying.  Emotional is an understated way to describe me.

The weekend was incredible.  I got to show Josh around and take him to all these great places and restaurants.  It was so wonderful to see my family.  On Friday he told me he'd made reservations at my absolute favorite restaurant, Commander's Palace.  It is a serious 5-star dining experience, and just happens to be owned by one my mom's best friends, Lally.  We were getting ready upstairs and he kept telling me how beautiful I looked.  I was thinking what a great guy he was and how incredibly lucky I was to have him.  As I was walking out of the bedroom, I put my hand on the light switch and I heard him say, "Babe?"  I don't know what it was, but I could hear something in his voice.  When I turned around, he pulled the ring box out of his pocket and got down on one knee JUST LIKE A FREAKIN' FAIRY TALE.  I laugh now when I think of my initial response, which was "Shut up!  Stop it are you serious???  Shut up!"  He had a smile a mile wide on his face.  I practically tackled him and said yes over and over.

It was amazing.  Perfect.  It makes me smile just to type this story.  We went to dinner and had champagne and a three course meal and two of my favorite desserts.  We laughed and had a great time. I got teary-eyed again several times throughout the night as I looked across the table at him.  He was really mine.  I had waited so long for this man to come into my life and it was DEFINITELY worth the wait.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself.   It really does feel like a fairy tale and I don't think that feeling is ever going to go away.  I wake up everyday and am so thankful for my prince charming.  In just a few short months I'll be Lauren Lynch and, of course, we all know what comes next in this story:  "And they lived happily ever after."

                                         Right after he asked me to spend forever with him.