I said YES!

I know some people have been asking to hear how Ryan popped the question, so I will give you the story right here on my little blog!

So to give some background information: Ryan and I met on October 26 of 2008 after Metro at Prestonwood, we went out to eat with a huge group of people and Ryan instantly caught my eye. I was sitting by his friend Shaheen Hajibashi at Tin Star and Ryan was sitting across the table. I found myself looking at him practically the whole night and trying to find any way I could to meet him. After dinner, a few of us were standing out in the parking lot talking and Ryan introduced himself to me and the rest is history. We talked that night and figured out that both of us were going to Baylor Homecoming that next weekend and planned to meet up there. After Baylor Homecoming, we hung out in big groups most of the time, but clearly there was an attraction between the two of us.
It wasn't until January 14, 2009 he asked me on our first date! We went on our first date on January 16 to Cyclone Anaya's in Addison and had a wonderful time. We continued dating and on November 7, 2009, after we went to our friends Lauren and Bryan Dykes' wedding, Ryan said "I love you" for the first time. Of course I replied with "I love you too!" Again, we continued dating, falling more in love each day.
In late July of 2010, I was stupid and broke up with Ryan and broke his heart, and honestly my heart was broken as well, it was very hard for both of us. Looking back on that time now, it was probably best for the both of us because we really started to understand our true feelings for one another when we were apart and it helped both of us to mature and grow in our relationships with the Lord outside of our relationship together. That was something that was lacking in our relationship before. The Lord was not first in our lives.
After a couple of months of not communicating, Ryan got in touch with me in November, around Thanksgiving and we texted back and forth about how strange it felt not to be together, especially around the holidays. He asked me to go to dinner with him, but I was reluctant and was not sure if I was fully ready to commit again. I talked a lot with my mom about my feelings towards Ryan and how they had never gone away and how I pretty much thought about him the whole time we were apart. I told my mom that we had been in contact and I could tell she was thrilled! My parents had asked me about Ryan every week while we were broken up. We texted back and forth for a while and I finally agreed to go on a second first date with him on December 22, 2010.
Needless to say, the date was awkward, but what date wouldn't be awkward when you haven't spoken to someone who you love for almost 6 months? We went to Patrizio's in Fairview that night and walked around the shops in Fairview afterwards and looked at the Christmas tree's and beautiful decorations all over. It ended up being a great night for us to reconnect. (No second first kiss that night though) We talked again for about a week and a half and then went on our second second date on January 1st, 2011. We both agreed that this night was a special night because it was a fresh start for the both of us. Now the rest, really is history. We went on more dates and came to the realization that this really is what the Lord had planned for us in our relationship. As hard as it was, the break was truly needed for us to mature and grow in the Lord separately so that we could grow together in the Lord.
We almost immediately started talking about our future together and how we both were ready to fully commit to the other one. We made a promise to each other that we were going to marry one another.

Time has flown by since then, we have been back together, seriously more in love than I could have ever imagined the first time. Our relationship is much stronger and is based on the Lord. So, now onto the proposal! (What you all have been waiting for...)

Ryan had told me early on in the week that he wanted to go to an early dinner and a movie on Saturday. I of course wondered why in the world did he want to go to an early dinner? We never go to dinner at 5, and of course, I poked and prodded wondering where he wanted to go and why so early? He was very good at just playing it off like it was no big deal. Friday night, I went over to my friend Katie Apple's house to set up for a garage sale we were having the next day, and Katie owns a boutique called "Apple Blvd", you should check it out, and she had the perfect dress for me and convinced me to wear it on our date the next day. I was reluctant because it seemed a little too nice for just dinner and a movie, but I thought why not, its fun to dress up sometimes. So as I'm getting ready on Saturday for the date, I'm texting back and forth with Ryan and my mom, trying to get something out of my mom and see if she knew anything and asking her what to wear. She was so sly and acted like she had no clue, when in all reality, Ryan had taken my dad to lunch the Friday before and shown my mom and dad the ring that day.  My mom knew for a whole week and didn't say anything to me! So, after much deliberation between a blue maxi dress and the pink ruffle dress, I decided on the pink because it made me look tan! :) Ryan comes to pick me up and we head on our way down the tollway south towards Downtown Dallas. I ask where we are going, and he calmly says he wants it to be a surprise. I start naming off places and think maybe we're going out of town or something since its so early in the night, or going downtown for some kind of event. I have no clue what we are doing at this moment. He exits Mockingbird and heads toward Highland Park. I start to name off places there like Patrizio's and other places in Highland Park Village, well we pass Highland Park Village and he turns onto Versailles. I immediately wonder what we are doing, then remember my friend Lauren Groentenman from highschool lived on that street and she lived by a gazebo and fountain that we used to play in back in High School for fun. I start telling him about those times and he stops in front of this beautiful gazebo.

I then see his brother in law, Derek and his younger sister, Caroline pop their heads up from the bushes. They were looking for us because Ryan had driven the wrong way on the street. (He was nervous!) I said to Ryan, "Thats Caroline and Derek" and he kind of just laughed it off. At that moment I knew it was about to happen! We got out of the car and started walking towards the gazebo and I start to see the candles and the flowers all set up in the gazebo.

We get into the gazebo and immediately I start to tear up, but hold it back. We look at the set up, then Ryan grabs my hands and pulls me towards him. He starts telling me how much he loves me and how ready he is to spend the rest of his life with me.

He reaches into his back pocket...

Gets down on one knee and says, "Elizabeth, Will you marry me?"

I lost it, teared up and through my tears, said, "YES!"

We hugged and kissed and then he put the ring on my finger. I again, teared up because it is absolutely beautiful!

His sister Caroline and brother in law Derek come into the gazebo and we hug and then from around the corner comes Ryan's older sister Lauren with her and Derek's son Dean. We all cry, hug and celebrate! Caroline takes some pictures of Ryan and I there in the gazebo and near the fountain. She did an amazing job and I am so thankful they were all there to help Ryan set it all up and take pictures and video so that we can always remember this special time!

Ryan and I then went to dinner by ourselves at Patrizio's in Highland Park Village to celebrate! What a special time for us as a couple to celebrate. After dinner we head over to his parents house where he had set up a whole party with all of our family there that could make it! That was such a surprise and such a blessing that our families got to meet and celebrate with us together as an engaged couple.

It was the most perfect proposal ever and I could not have asked for anything better. I love you Ryan so much and thank you for everything! I am so lucky to have you and I can't wait to spend my life with you!