engagement

yes. that kind of engagement.
here's the dets. 

we left for vacation on wednesday afternoon and drove to bald head island (well, to the ferry) where my family had already been for a couple of days. we arrived late that night, had some snacks and beer, and got excited for the next day of beach time. 

we spent the next day in the sand and sun, only going in to eat a quick lunch. my family had planned to cook out that night, and apparently it was also supposed to be my engagement dinner. my cousin haley jo's boyfriend austin grilled for hours. (thanks, austin!) after a quick trip back to the house to change clothes, i helped my cousins chop and peel vegetables to grill. haley jo kept me very busy preparing dishes while kyle was out at the beach. he had told my aunt diana that he would ask me when the sun was right. my cousin jessica sent me out to the beach a little later and said kyle wanted me out there. he was sitting with my uncle josh, who casually got up and headed back to the house. kyle walked a little while and then he asked me. the sun was just right.

afterward, ya know, after i said yes, my family showed up with champagne. we took a million more photos to add to the ones jessica and my sister had been secretly snapping during the whole thing, while haley and my brother spied and cried. then we ate, partied and danced around like crazies, and in between glasses of champagne and slices of cake, we changed our facebook status like any good social networking people. it was great and seriously the most perfect engagement day i could have asked for. 

i know things like this usually sound corny and silly when you tell them to other people, and maybe it does, but really, it wasn't at all. it wasn't over the top. it was simple, romantic and wonderful, and i'm so thankful that my family was there. there were people missing that i wish could have been there, too, but really, it was great. i liked that kyle asked me with them there, but not really there. they were watching from afar, so we were able to have our moment alone first, then celebrate after. perfect combination.

when he asked me, i just hugged him and cried, and he said "you didn't even look at the ring." too funny. but when i did look at it…dear lord. 

the most important part of the ring is that the diamond was my great-grandmother's. so not only is the most special piece of jewelry that i will ever receive, it is twice as special because it was her diamond and he gave it to me. also, it is the exact ring i have been lusting after for about a year. it is absolutely perfect.

i'm just so thankful for everything that has happened this week and that kyle is in my life at all. there is so much to plan and do in the next few months, but i am so excited. of course the wedding will be fun, but the real excitement is the marriage part. it's the right time for us now. a year ago, kyle and i would sort of laugh about being married. like "psht! married?!" but now, it feels so natural.

i'm ready for a real life with him and for our many adventures to come. 

love.

krq.