Earls Ever After: The Proposal

Andrew and I had been dating for almost a year and we started to talking about the "M" word. We started to looking at rings, he went and talked to my dad, and we set our temple date and time for the sealing. I came home from school during the 3 day weekend in January and I absolutely knew that nothing was going to happen that week. Andrew said that he had a surprise date for me that night and I thought nothing of it because he has planned surprise dates for me in the past so it was nothing unusual. When we got into the car he handed me a blindfold and said, "Payback." A few months ago I blindfolded him as a surprise date, so once again I thought nothing was unusual or strange.

We drove and I could tell when he was making left and right turns so I knew we were on the freeway going down to Provo, but that was it. We finally arrived at our destination and he had me take off the blindfold in the car. We were at the Seven Peaks Ice Skating Rink. For a Christmas gift he got us both season passes for Seven Peaks and he had suggested we do this. I was so excited to do something new with him. His sister Amy was there because she loves ice skating. We skated with her for awhile and on our own for a couple of hours.

When we were done ice skating and Amy left and I kid you not when she left and how she said goodbye I thought to myself, "She could be going to get things ready for the engagement/proposal." But obviously I knew that Andrew wasn't proposing till next month, so I knew it was all in my head.

Anyways, Andrew and I got back to the car and he gives me the blindfold again. Seriously? He tells me to put it back on so I did. I had absolutely no idea where he was taking me. After our car ride he parked the car but this time he did not let me take off the blindfold. He came and opened my car door and walked me to where he wanted me. I feel so awkward because I'm walking around with a blindfold on and a car honked while I was walking. Andrew said that it was not at me but I think he was saying that to be nice ;) When he finally allowed me to take off my blindfold we were standing in front of the doors of Lowe's. I started laughing because I knew that we were doing this after the surprise date. We had talked about it. We went to Lowe's to look at the paint samples to pick out our wedding colors. We were there for about an hour and we collected quite the number of paint samples. We got back to the car and he asked if I was hungry. It was around 6:00 so I was. He once again handed me that blindfold. I could not believe I was being blindfolded for the third time!

We drove and I thought we were in the parking lot for the mall. I asked him if we were there and he simply laughed at me and then we started driving faster than parking lot speed so that idea was out. When we finally got to our destination he did not let me take off my blindfold. He came to my door and helped me get out of the car. My blindfold came off and he freaked out a little but I had my eyes closed so I still had no idea what was going on.

One of the first things I noticed was that it was quiet. There were no car noises, no people talking. I had no clue where we were. I started walking on grass so I thought he had set up a picnic in a local park. I asked if people were looking at me because I was blindfolded and he said that there was no one here except for a few people off in the distance but they weren't even looking at us. My immediate thought was those people were his family. I started thinking this could be a proposal but once again shook off the idea because I was certain he was going to propose in February. We continued to walk and that proposal idea kept coming to my mind but I just knew that it wasn't happening. We walked down a hill and I could "see" lights through my closed eyes and blindfold. Oh my word. I thought that this seriously could be a proposal. We got to a landing on even ground and he made me stand in a certain place. I could hear him kneel. Oh my goodness, this was not happening! When he had me take off the blindfold he was down on one knee and asked me the question, "Audrey, will you marry me?" Apparently I said yes before he could even finish the question. I guess I was much too excited!

The setting was beautiful. It turns out we were in his aunt and uncle's backyard. We were able to overlook all of Provo and the Provo Temple was lit up in the night. There was a huge bouquet of roses as well as single roses in vases all around with rose petals on the ground. It was all breathtaking. Our families came and congratulated us. I can't believe this is happening! Never would I have ever imagined Andrew and I being together.

June 4, 2016... Here comes forever!