First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage...

I am so gosh darn freaking excited! There are no other words! :)

WE ARE ENGAGED!

Friday seemed to be pretty much a normal day. Went to classes, had lunch with Derek, had an exam, worked on a presentation, and Derek came to pick me up from class. We went out to run some errands and went back to his house to work on some homework. Derek planned to make yummy tostadas while I finished up paper for school.

When dinner time came, we sat down at the table and Derek lit a candle. It was fun, cute, and DELISHES (he is a fantastic cook!). At dinner we made plans to go ice skating for our date night. We hadn't gone together as a couple, and we were both looking forward to holding hands and falling everywhere together :P

By the time we got there (okay okay, I made us late...Derek got all dressed up and I felt underdressed so I made him take me home so I could get cute "real quick"...which never is as quick as it seems in my head...) we had about 45 minutes to skate, but it was just SO FUN! There were nerdy guys doing all sorts of tricks, another guy fell and cut his eyebrow open, and Derek and I had a grand old time. Didn't fall once!

We had decided to go back to Derek's house really quick to make some mexican hot cocoa because it was so cold! It had been stormy for the past few days. Little did I know, Derek had been praying his little heart out that the skies would clear up so we could go stargazing and he could propose. Miraculously, by the time we got home from skating, the skies were ALL CLEAR. I love going star gazing with him and I was so excited to go again, and I didn't really think too much of it!

We got out to the place on the Snake River Canyon that we normally go, and we talked, listened to music, and watched the stars for about two hours. Derek was frustrated because he kept trying to be really romantic (I promise you were!) but I just kept suckin' down my hot cocoa. I thought that hot cocoa only made it more fun, but he wanted a little quiet time. hahaha Sorry Derek!
Derek hopped down off the Jeep to "change the music", but instead of getting back up, he just stood there holding my hand. Then he picked me up off the car (he's like way buff) and stood me there in front of him. He kissed me, and then he got down on one knee!!! I was like FREAKING OUT! How is it that no matter how much you plan and discuss, when the moment happens, it still takes your breath away! 

Derek knelt there with the ring box open just smiling at me...and after what felt like an eternity I finally said "Well, do you have anything to say?" He laughed and said yes, and said "Arianne, will you marry me?" 

Well ladies and gentlemen, that's where I lost it. I started crying and laughing and smiling all at once and said a very enthusiastic "YES!"

We couldn't be more excited! We are so happy to have such loving and supportive friends and family to share this important moment with! Thank you thank you thank you!

Sincerely,
The Future Mrs. Askham :)