The Proposal

I am so excited about today’s post. I’ve been searching for the time to write this post because it is one I want to remember. It is a post that is very special to me.

This is a story I will tell over and over throughout the years. This is a story of how I expected to grab dinner with Charles for a Friday night date night, which we did. But, before that dinner happened. Before we walked into the restaurant that holds my first date memories with him. Before riding in the car and searching endlessly for a parking spot and holding his hand with the biggest smile on my face. Before any of that took place something even more special happened.

This is the story of how Charles proposed to me.

I knew a proposal was coming at some point.

We talked quite a bit over the last few of months of what our future would be. So, I knew a proposal would happen. It was just the question of when and where that lingered in my mind.

On the last Friday in July, I started my morning like I usually do. Hot shower. Cup of tea. Radio playing in the background as I dressed for work. I had a sick dog that morning, and my main priority was scheduling a vet appointment to make sure everything was okay. As soon as I walked out the door, I was on the phone with the vet scheduling our appointment around lunch.

My morning went as usual, and before noon I headed to the vet. After the appointment I made my way home and decided last minute to stay the rest of the afternoon there. For me, this decision was not a big deal. For Charles, this meant the first change in his proposal plans.

It is on the days when you want something to happen a certain way the world often plays tricks with your original plans. I personally love those moments because they make a story yours.

When Charles and I talked earlier that morning, our original plans were to take the dogs walking after work. It is one of my favorite things we do together. Little did I know that Charles was planning to use this as part of his proposal. However, once one dog was prescribed medicine that left him sleepy and the weather threatened rain, those plans were thrown out the window. For me, this was no big deal. For Charles, this meant quick thinking.

When he got home from work, Charles immediately asked if we could grab an early dinner. I thought nothing of this. I asked if there was any particular place he wanted to try that afternoon, and he mentioned we could decide once we got in the car. So, I headed to the bedroom to grab a pair of shoes, and he walked outside to let the dogs out one more time. Little did I know that in those few minutes before getting home, Charles had worked quickly to setup a few surprises outside.

Once I finished grabbing my things, I noticed that he hadn’t let the dogs back into the house. So, I walked outside wondering what he was doing and talking about how the backyard was a mess from the dogs. But, as I turned the corner my thoughts completely changed.

I remember how surprised and shocked I was to see him down on one knee as I turned the corner. I remember the words he said as he lifted his right hand holding a diamond ring. His words were sweet and straight from the heart. I remember the way he smiled as I put my left hand out to slide the ring on my finger. I remember the red roses and my favorite chocolates and the sign hanging alongside the fence as he pulled me into his arms. Will you marry me? And I remember the peaceful and excited feeling in my heart as I said yes.

My eyes constantly glanced over my left hand the rest of that weekend.

I was truly surprised by the proposal that afternoon. We celebrated with dinner that night at the restaurant where we had our first date and spent the rest of the time calling family and friends about the exciting news. And every day since then I look over at my hand and smile any chance I get. I’ve always wondered how it would feel to be proposed to one day. How the events would unfold and how it would feel knowing that I would be a wife. And now I know the answer. It is a feeling of joy and love like no other.

XOXO – Ashley  “AKA The Future Mrs. Hooker”

On Another Note…  THANK YOU for taking the time to read and follow along! I’ve been blogging for almost two years now with my posts geared towards sharing my story of learning photography, building a part-time photography business, and my life in general. I love having the opportunity to put this information together and share with the world topics I am passionate about. And it because of YOU and your reading and your support that I continue to do this – THANK YOU!!