Part IV- Engagement

“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.” 
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

I wrote out our "love story" awhile back...

Not really knowing where this was going,

but having a pretty decent idea...

(you don't typically stay thousands of miles away from friends, family, and sun, for someone you just kinda like).

Life can give you whiplash with how fast it changes on you..

but I always told myself no matter what trials and hardships I faced,

that I would continue to believe in love..

believe in fairy tales..

and believe in second chances.

Yesterday Stephen told me he wanted to surprise me with a small trip..

I woke up at 9am (basically the crack of dawn)

got myself ready,

and walked down the seven flights of stairs to the car

(Its always important for me to throw in how many flights of stairs we have to walk up and down for dramatic effect)

We got in the car and he blindfolded me.

An hour later the blindfold came off and I was outside my FAVORITE place in all of Scotland..

The Cameron House Hotel.

I figured we would lounge by their pool and just relax..

When we got inside S made me wait by the fireplace while he checked in.

He got the room key and he said "Okay, we are going to drop off our stuff in the room and then we are going to the carrick spa."

GASP.

This spa is something I have been observing from a distance via the Internet for a very long time now.

The room was a lovely suite.

I couldn't believe he splurged on such a nice room.

A driver picked us up and drove us to the spa where we were pampered for four hours.

Massage treatments, lunch, infinity pool..

heaven on earth.

When we finished at the spa we came back to the hotel..

Stephen said he had to get the key to the room from the front desk..

then all of a sudden this butler man appears and says "right this way."

We went through the double doors only used by swanky people..

and went up these fancy flights of stairs..

and entered our NEW and even MORE luxurious suite.

Then i got teary eyed because two flat screen tvs and heated floors make me emotional.

There was champagne and chocolates waiting for us,

and big white bathrobes (nuff said).

We showered, snacked, and rested before dinner.

We dined at the Cameron Grill,

which was delicious.

We decided what our posh alter ego names should be,

(Gawfrey and Merriweather for those curious)

and then had dessert.

We got up from the table to leave,

and next thing i know stephen has stopped me.

He turned to me and grabs my hands..

and got really serious..

My face I'm sure went white then red and I said

"oh my god are you really doing this in front of all these people???"

He said some lovely words..

then boom.

he was down on one knee.

The woman next to us screamed.

The restaurant turned to stare..

gasps, yelps, and then a hush.

For those that know stephen,

know that he is a very private, quiet person..

So never in a million years would I have thought he would of proposed in front of a group of people.

My stomach nearly fell out of my butt.

He opened the box and my first reaction to the ring was

"holy shit"

I know..

classy.

It just happened so fast.

And it was so sparkly..

I said yes, duh,

and then everyone cheered and clapped.

A Scottish man married to an American woman bought us drinks,
(the irony)

and the restaurant gave us champagne.
(they told us later all the women in the restaurant were crying)

We sat down at the bar/lounge next door to celebrate,

and when the shock wore off i just started crying.

It could not have been more perfect...

more beautiful..

I feel so blessed to have met a man like stephen,
who cares for me and loves me in the most amazing way.

I feel lucky to have friends,
near and far
those I have met and haven't,
who have loved and supported me through what has been the craziest couple of years..

 I stated this in a post once before...

This is a testament to second chances...
to maintaining integrity..
to healthy separations..
to honesty,
selflessness,
to love,
kindness,
and most all,
to believing you deserve the best in this one life you have been given.

Stephen, my love, you are life's best.

more pictures to come soon...