She said Yes

"I promise you me"

With friends and family by my side, I exited the limo (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4) and walked to shore. My heart racing, knees wobbly, mouth smiling, all that I could see around me was natural beauty. I looked out over the  beautiful lake and saw the love of my life in a canoe, making his way toward me. After calling out his name (literally) he began to row over. 

 My thoughts in this moment:

"He's in a canoe! He's here! We're finally together again! He's going to propose! He's here!!! Would it be ok if I ran to him? How am I going to get in with these heels?! He's here!!"

A single red rose. Every time Ryan would pick me up from the airport or come home after not seeing each other for months he would hand me a single red rose... 

Then he brought out his guitar...  he began to play a song he wrote for me. 

The only photo I had snapped all day... it's still one of my most popular instagrams...

 The Instagram...

Picture perfect

Then he stopped singing...

And pulled a little black box out of the guitar case...

I started to cry before he could speak...

and said "YES!"

and kept staring at the perfect ring he picked out for me...

  We made it back to shore...

Had tear filled moments...

...pure joy.

and a private picnic in the forest...

Our perfect day didn't end on the lake in front of a majestic mountain. We left the candle lit picnic and headed home where we planned to watch a movie and bask in our joy, except "home" was actually our friends' house... where he had a surprise engagement party planned :) The day ended with our loved ones. 

I couldn't be more thankful, humbled, or happy to have the family I do. I was reminded of that yesterday as I got to celebrate Thanksgiving with both of our families (our first split holiday). This is a chapter in my life that I will always turn to and remember. I'm excited to share our journey with all of you :) Thank you for reading!