Meet Me at the Boathouse...

I know that most of you reading this were either at the proposal, or have read the subsequent email, but Derrel put so much effort and love into it, that it bears repeating....at least 400 more times.

Derrel and I had gone to lunch Saturday; nothing special, just a new sandwich shop in town. As we're leaving, he gets a call from his best friend's wife "reminding" him about his best friend's party happening at a local park. On the way over there I was kinda bummed. We had plans of watching "24" and taking a nap, and those plans were now being sidelined. What a schmuck I am.
We were walking through the park looking for his friend, Derrel trying to convince me that this large bingo party was where his friends were. We approached a tree with a blanket set out, roses, and a song playing, at which point he told me there was no birthday party. He sang "From Here to Eternity" to me, got down on his knee, and asked me to marry him. Judging by the new blog, I said yes.

Then our families emerged from the bingo party, who was also kind enough to give us a round of applause before yelling out B-29 (really, we have it in the video). :O)
Both of our families came up from Orange County, my sister, Rodney and Nathan from Sacramento, and his brother and niece from Phoenix. His mother then hosted a little engagement party at their home. It was absolutely perfect. An amazing day that was topped off by the Rascal Flatt's concert we went to that night. When they played our song, it meant so much more than it ever had before.

So that's how this story begins. God, in his own perfect time (which was about 8 years), has blessed us with this journey laid before us. And, hopefully, this blog will help bring you all on the journey with us!