October 21, 2005

3 years ago today....Aaron and I got engaged! I thought I would tell our engagement story for anyone who doesn't know it:

Aaron is quite the romantic and blew me away on our first date by taking me to a really nice Italian restaurant and then surprised me by having a limo waiting for us after our meal! We drove around Minneapolis for a good 2 hours, talking and getting to know each other better. It was the absolute perfect first date and he blew me away! :) So, with that background knowledge....

When we arrived at the Loring Pasta Bar on October 21, 2005, I had a hunch "this was the day I would get engaged" but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I even took this picture out front, "just in case" so I would have a good engagement night picture :) ha! We ate an incredible meal while live jazz was playing in the background and everything was perfect! After the meal, we walked outside and I was almost certain I would see a black limo like the one we had on our first date. I looked around...no black limo. Hmmm...I thought. Don't get your hopes up! A minute later, a black stretch limo pulled up and Aaron with a huge smile on his face, escorted me to the limo.

The limo took us to the Stone Arch Bridge, which is my absolute favorite spot in Minneapolis. I "hinted" that I adore bridges and Aaron took that hint and made our proposal so special by walking along the bridge. After walking for what seemed like hours, Aaron looked at me and said, "My neck is really hurting! Can you take my necklace off? (We used to wear each other's rings around our necks) As I helped him take his necklace off, he put it in my hand and I felt a different, bigger ring in my hand. Before I knew what was happening, he was down on one knee and said, "I love you" for the first time, followed by an incredible speech and ending with "Erika, will you marry me?" :) I can still remember the feeling....the overwhelming love and joy I had at that moment. God had revealed my future husband to me and had blessed me beyond what I could have EVER expected :)

It didn't end there though...of course I said "yes" followed by asking him to ask me a few more times because I didn't believe it! We walked back to the limo and had a red carpet out when we came back as well as the first red rose Aaron had given me. Up to this point, he gave me only white roses as a symbol of purity and now, a red one as a symbol of his love for me. :)

We drove back to NWC and I thought the evening was over. Perfect proposal by a perfect future husband....however, it wasn't quite over :) Aaron said, "I have one more surprise for you" He drove into Perkins. What are we doing at Perkins? I want to tell everyone, not spend time at Perkins! I thought. But, he said, "I thought we could go plan our wedding right now!" I almost laughed out loud because I was so confused, but I followed him into Perkins and saw countless number of friends hiding at a table, waiting for us and a loud chorus of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" when we walked in! A surprise engagement party!!! :) *sigh* What an incredibly special proposal. :) The night ended with the rock being painted on campus (a tradition at NWC when a couple gets engaged), a decorated dorm room, and a slumber party with my roommates :) It was so beautiful and so perfect :)

Thank you Lord for blessing me beyond blessing that night! Thank you for helping me wait for the right one who you sent in your perfect timing :)