♥ The Proposal ♥

♥ October 10, 2009 ♥ Our Engagement ♥

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 was our two and a half year anniversary. We were not spending this day together because we were in a long distance military relationship.  Nick was at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and I was living back in our hometown in St. Louis.  I received a package from Nick which contained some small gifts. In addition to the gifts was a letter stating that he knew how stressful and busy my life was with working (teaching two year olds...something very exhausting) 40 hours a week as well as taking 15 credit hours for nursing school. He wanted to show me how proud of me he was and recognize my hard work and help me relax, so he bought me and my best friend, Julie, (so that I wasn't going alone) an hour long full-body massage, manicure, and pedicure for Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 11:00am. Of course I was thinking, "what an awesome boyfriend!!!"

Saturday rolls around and Julie picks me up and we go to the spa. I had no idea but Nick had arrived in St. Louis the night before. While I was at the spa, Nick and his cousin, Mike, pulled up to my house. My dad was outside and he asked what he was doing here. Nick asked if he could speak to him and my mother inside. My dad then asked, "Does Melanie know you're here?"  Nick said no and my father responded, "You're going to propose aren't you?" to which just smiled and replied, "I'd really like to speak to both of you inside."  My Dad couldn't contain his smile.  He walked in and my mother and siblings were so confused.  He immediately told them I did not know he was in town and asked them not to text or call me.

Nick said he had a whole speech prepared but he didn't get very far. He said, "You all know I Love your daughter very much and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. But I want to do this the right way and ask for your blessing." Before he could say anything else, my mother began crying and hugged him....for a long time. My father also cried and they both gave Nick their blessing. Nick then turned to my brother and sister and asked for their permission as well because he knows how important they are to me.  It goes without saying they all said yes.  They ADORE Nick.  Sometimes I think they love him more than they love me!

After speaking with my family, and packing a bag for me, Mike and Nick set out to hide clues around St. Louis for a scavenger hunt he had planned for me. Here are just a few pictures of Nick hiding some of the clues:

Nick hiding a clue at Creve Coeur Park.

Nick hiding a clue at Julie and Mike's pool.

Nick hiding a clue at Siteman Cancer Center

_____________________________________________

As we were leaving the spa,  Julie asked if she could see my phone.  I didn't think anything of it.  I handed it to her and then got in the car.  She then handed me an envelope, told me to open it, put my phone in her purse, shut my car door, and got in the driver's side.  I opened the envelope to find a letter that read:

"So now that you are all freshened up and hopefully relaxed, this is my chance to continue your gift, and maybe even show a bit of my creative side.  After the rest of the afternoon, you may even consider this acceptable for my “make-up”.  Your day at the spa was just the beginning.  Although your night at the play has forced me to cut this shorter than I had originally planned, you are going to go on a trip with Julie for the rest of the afternoon.  This is going to require cooperation on your part of simply allowing this to happen and moving quickly from place to place.  If you do this, you will make it to all of the places and you will be back in enough time to change and get ready for dinner.  I have, as you will see, had help with putting all of this together, and when it is all said and done, I will fill you in on how.  Until then, please just go with the flow and enjoy the rest of your gift.  I have informed your family about this today, and they are okay with it.  They know that you will make it back in time.  The only people that you are allowed to seek help from are Julie and me.  This works out since she is your escort and transportation, and I obviously know where you are going.  I asked Julie to mention something about you showering/doing your hair before the spa, so you should have done this.  I hope you are getting excited, because this is going to be really fun, and ultimately lead up to something special.  I hope you know that I REALLY do Love You VERY much!  This trip through the past will take you to some of my favorite places we’ve spent time together, and I hope you can appreciate why after this is all said and done.

For your first stop, you need to go to a place that we hung out a couple of times over this past summer where we used my camera in water and you built a totem pole."

{Explanation:  his "makeup" was for our 2 year anniversary, in which he did nothing.  No card, no gift, nothing.  I was pretty upset because if you know Nick, that is NOT like him!  Also, while I HAD showered and done my hair beforehand like he mentioned, it was pointless at this point because I had oil from my massage rubbed up into my hair and now looked AWFUL!}

Anyway....after reading this clue, I knew immediately that we were headed to Julie and Mike's pool.  We made a quick stop into Julie's apartment though.  I did NOT dress cute to go to the spa.  Why would I?  I was getting a massage.  No need to be cute for that.  But Julie informed me that Nick asked her to take pictures of me so I changed out of my hoody and into the ONLY shirt Julie had that would fit me (I'm a few inches taller than her and she has huge boobs compared to my tiny ones lol).

^ walking the stairs to the pool

^ looking for the clue

^ I found it!

^ holding my first clue

After receiving this clue, I opened it to find a picture of Nick and I at the pool this past summer and it read:

"Water has played a big part in our relationship and will continue to do so throughout our lives.  We have spent some good times in this pool, and had fun at the water park at Six Flags.  I really enjoyed going to Rob’s pool and just hanging out with my friends.  I know that you don’t always have the best time, but I want you to know that I appreciate you going with me.  I always look forward to coming home during my summer leave and going to the lake with you and your family.  That week is usually the highlight of my summer.  I know I have done some really cool things with my different trainings in some really cool places, but my time at the lake with you and your family is definitely at the top of the list.  I love your family and I love feeling like a member of your family.  Unfortunately, water also holds a negative aspect to our relationship.  I am in the Navy, and the members of the Navy are usually stationed near water.  This requires you to make the trip with me and leave your friends and family behind.  I can only imagine how difficult this is for you, and I want you to know that I am forever grateful that you are willing to make that sacrifice.  I know how important family is to you, and I will do my best throughout our lives together to always be around for as many holidays as possible, and to be able to take our family back home to our families and friends in St. Louis.  I can not thank you enough for being willing to make that sacrifice Melanie.  I Love You so very much for it.

For your next clue, you need to go to the place where we had our first date as a couple."

{Disclaimer:  About going to the pool with Nick's friends and how he says I don't always have the best time.  I LOVE Nick's friends.  But they are much older than us and I do not really know their wives.  They all know each other and have children so they sit together and while they are very nice women, I'm not really included and feel awkward and left out while all the boys are doing flips and jumps and goofing off in the pool.}


On with the story...

This clue lead me to Creve Coeur Park. So we headed out.

^ Julie and I in the car on the way to Creve Coeur Park

^ getting my 2nd clue

^ Standing with my clue in front of the waterfall where
Nick was the best man in his best friend's wedding and it
was our first date as  an "official" couple.

I opened this clue and it contained a picture of Nick and I slow dancing at the wedding reception and it said:

"This is where Jason and Kathi got married.  This is also where you and I had our first date as a couple.  I will never forget this day with you.  It was SO cold, despite it being April 7, that the waterfall was frozen.  I will always remember feeling so lucky to have the prettiest date at the wedding, and even more so since she just became my girlfriend.  It was such a fun day and night with you.  I will never forget how beautiful you were in your black dress with those really sexy strappy shoes.  I will always remember the blissful feeling I had while we were dancing together for the first time to “Bless the Broken Road” at the reception.  It really was a great start to such an amazing relationship that we have developed.  I know we will have many memories of times like these throughout our lives together and I can’t wait to see what they are going to be.

For your next clue, you need to choose between Main and East.  This is the place where we have said many hellos and goodbyes."

It was obvious to me that I was to head to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

^ Lambert airport

^ Julie had to wait in the car as I ran down to Information and
Paging at Baggage Claim to get my next envelope. Since Julie
had to wait in the car, she took this photo of me as I got in the car

^ Reading my clue from the airport

I opened the envelope and there was a picture of Nick and I at the airport while waiting for him to board the plane. The letter then read:

"This is probably the place that is filled with the biggest emotion for us, both good and bad.  There really is not a better feeling than knowing that when I get off the plane and head toward the exit of the terminal, that you are there waiting for me.  It really means a lot to me that you work so hard to make sure that you are there early for all of my flights.  It gives me something to look forward to in the years to come when I will be returning from underways and deployments.  I can’t wait until I can see my gorgeous wife and excited children waiting for her husband and their father to walk off the ship or out of the airport.  This place also carries a heavy load of sadness.  Every time I come home, I have to leave you at some point.  I never want to, but still always have to.  It is VERY difficult for me, despite what I lead you to believe.  This is probably the only time that I act like you in the sense that I hide my emotions.  I promise you that it is NEVER easy for me, and I always wish that I could comfort you better than I do.  Even though our relationship will be filled with coming and going and spending time apart, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  You truly are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I am so incredibly lucky that you make all of the sacrifices that you do, especially dealing with the times apart and the goodbyes.  For this, I thank you.

For your next clue, you need to go to the place that cured what, in a way, brought us together."

For those of you that know how Nick and I began dating, you should know that cancer ultimately brought us together. I knew that this clue was sending me to Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital's Siteman Cancer Center.

^ Standing outside Siteman Cancer Center after getting my clue

Nick was not a part of my life during my treatments but has been one of my biggest supporters since the day we met (just a month after my last chemo treatment). I still deal with many complications and he's there for me as much as he can be from afar and from only seeing him about 9 weeks out of the year.
I went up to the 7th floor and found an envelope on the main desk there.  I opened the clue from Siteman Cancer Center. There was a picture of us holding hands and it read:

"This place has such a strong meaning for you and for us.  I know I will never know what it was like for you through all of your struggles with your health before our relationship, and still not know what it is like for the ones that you continue to deal with during our relationship.  That is difficult for me to accept, and I will forever wish that I could have been there for you through the difficult beginning.  I am grateful that I have been able to help at least a little bit and will continue to do so.  I wish I could be physically with you through all of your doctors’ appointments and all of your scans and procedures.  I promise to be with you physically whenever I can, but if not, I am always going to be by your side in any way that I can throughout the rest of our lives together.  I only wish that I could do more.  You getting cancer, in a way, is what brought us together.  I am so glad that you opened up to me when we first started talking back in 2006.  I will make every effort to remember the 20^th every month, and I will be your biggest supporter for your continued remission and overall healthiness.

For your next clue, go to the place where we first really hung out and you gave me my first kiss (even though it was on the cheek, it still counts)."

Now....at this point, some may have guessed what was happening.  But I was still clueless.  Engagement had popped into my head but I quickly dismissed it.  I know finances were INCREDIBLY tight for Nick.  I knew once he got his 2nd Class Loan (a hefty loan given to all midshipman in their 3rd year at the Academy) he would be proposing.  But he hadn't gotten it yet and probably wouldn't until December.  So in my mind, there was NO way he was proposing.  I honestly thought there'd be some awesome gift at the end and allllllll this was simply to make up for how crappy our 2 year anniversary was and how hurt I was.

Morgan Street was the obvious next site for me. When Nick was home on leave, this was the first place we hung out at after we started "talking" (what long distance people do instead of "dating").  So we headed to downtown St. Louis to visit Morgan Street Brewery.

^ After receiving my clue from the bartender

This letter contained the picture of Nick and my "first kiss" and read:

"Well, this is where it all began, sort of anyway.  This is where we first hung out during that holiday leave in December 2006 through the New Year.  John and I came to hang out that first night here, and I remember thinking that it will be nice to finally get to hang out with this awesome girl that I have been spending so much time talking to.  We had such a good time that night that on New Year’s Eve, I left where I was hanging out and having a good time with my friends to “go see about a girl”.  That night, we couldn’t get into Throttle in time for the countdown, so John and I unfortunately spent the New Year alone here.  After a little time had passed and people left your place, we went back.  We were able to get in and had a really great night with you girls.  I bought you a Rumplemintz shot which was the first drink I ever bought you.  After thinking back, I really never bought girls drinks.  You must have been special, though I didn’t know nearly how special at the time.  After that night, we had an extremely long conversation on my drive back to Charleston and have talked everyday since.  This place holds many memories of us hanging out with my cousins and just in general, can always be counted on for a good time when going out in downtown St. Louis.  I look forward to going out on random dates with you throughout our lives, even if it is only to grab a drink or two or go watch a game at a bar.

For your next clue, you need to go the place where we have seen The Man make fireworks go off after doing what he does best."

The St. Louis Cardinals have always been a large part of our relationship. We are both huge Cardinal fanatics and enjoy watching and going to the games together. And Albert Pujols, The Man, is a our favorite player. I was not surprised that one of my clues led me to Busch Stadium.

^ After standing at Will Call for quite some time (the Dodgers/Cardinals
playoff game was just starting.

I opened this clue and there was a picture of Nick and I at a Cardinals game this past summer. The clue read:

"I wanted you to visit several places in St. Louis that were unique to St. Louis, but unfortunately there was only enough time for this one.  The Arch will always symbolize our hometown, and all of the many places we have spent time together and developed amazing memories.  These places include The Zoo, The Science Center, Forrest Park, and Busch Stadium to name a few that represent St. Louis.  Busch Stadium however, is iconic to St. Louis, and is special because of what it represents to us.  We have shared many good memories at this park, and I hope we will always be able to catch at least one game a year.  The Cardinals are special since they represent St. Louis, but they can also be taken with us wherever we live.  We will always be able to catch a Cardinals game on TV, and we are definitely going to have a Cardinals’ themed basement.  Watching Cardinals games with you is possibly my favorite thing to do.  I get to experience two of my favorite things in life, our boys smashing the competition, and spending time with you.  I am so lucky that the girl of my dreams and the one I am going to spend the rest of my life with is as big of a Cards fan as I am.  Wherever we go, however they are performing, we will always be proud Cardinals fans!

For your next clue, you don’t have to go far.  You need to go to the place that Leah picked us up from on your 23^rd birthday."

This clue was sending me to the Millennium Hotel in downtown St. Louis. Julie had to pee so we parked and went inside. I asked for an envelope at the front desk. When I opened the envelope, it had a picture of the two of us at the hotel on my 23rd birthday, and simply said:

"Go to room 915" 

and it contained a room key.



I looked at Julie and exclaimed, "Nick's here, isn't he?!" She wouldn't answer but I knew he was. I did NOT think a proposal was awaiting me (dumb, I know, but I was still thinking he couldn't afford a ring.  And Nick is materialistic so while I'm far from materialistic and wanted a small and simple ring, Nick would want something larger and nicer for me). I simply thought he had come to surprise me because I hadn't seen him since July and wasn't supposed to see him until Christmas and lately I had been being very whiney about it and he had a three day weekend this weekend with it being Columbus Day Weekend.  (I was then thinking, "Gosh, I wish I looked better. I wasn't dressed cute. I had been at the spa and my makeup had run and worn off and I was oily from the massage. My hair had been up all day and looked awful.  I should have put more effort into my appearance this morning and wish I was that girl that carried touch up makeup with her everywhere she went.)

^ I opened the letter and found a room key. I was confused at first.

^ I finally figured out that Nick was here but did not expect

what was about to come...

^ Last picture as a single lady

When I opened the door to the hotel room, I saw Nick's cousin Mike standing in the corner with a camera and rose petals and candles all over the dresser. I instantly knew what was happening. I was suddenly very weak, very hot, and shaking. As I passed the wall of the bathroom, Nick was down on one knee.  There were rose petals and candles all over the table and the bedside tables. On the bed, was a heart made out of rose petals and he had spelled out "Marry Me" in rose petals as well. There were four champagne glasses and champagne chilling.

I walked to Nick and he took my hands. I was squeezing his hands so tightly because I was about to pass out. Nick gave me a small speech about what I mean to him but I don't remember a word of it. (Although I still have the tiny piece of paper he wrote it on and memorized it from.  But he doesn't want me to put it on the internet (nor the video) because he's weird and shy.)  I most definitely do not remember saying "yes!" but I did :) We hugged for a LONG time, kissed, and then we all toasted to our engagement!!!!!

^ the bed

^ Champagne chilling and waiting with the candles lit

^ this is what I saw when I walked in the door

^ walking in the door

^ first kiss as an engaged couple!

^ in complete shock and thinking "did this really just happen?!"

^ pointing at Julie and saying, "You knew this whole time!"

^ I had to sit down because I felt like I was going to pass out

^ fanning myself because I was so hot and close to fainting

^ ENGAGED!

I had to quickly change into the clothes Nick and my family had packed because we had dinner reservations at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse!!!!  (Note: never let your significant other pack your clothes.  He'll pull something from the back of the closet that doesn't really fit and that you aren't a fan of.)

Here are some pictures of the ring from a few different angles. Nick did an AMAZING job with not only the proposal as a whole, but he picked out the most beautiful and most perfect ring ever! I love it!  I'm a very simple girl and was so happy with my ring!!!  It's perfect!!

At dinner, I couldn't eat. I was shaking and my stomach was doing flips. The manager asked if everything was good and then said "You haven't ate anything!" I said, "I just got engaged and I can't eat!" He said congrats, left, and then returned to sprinkle rose petals on our table and gave us complimentary champagne.

Prior to Nick planning this weekend, my family had purchased tickets to see Broadway's 'Phantom of the Opera.' (which was what he was mentioning in the beginning letter).  Because Nick is so amazing, he let my father have my ticket (he wasn't going to go with us) and he bought him and I tickets. So although I didn't sit with my family at the play, Nick and I were able to go together. (And going to the Fox Theatre with him has always been something I've wanted to do.)  I was also happy I was able to see my family and show them my ring (Nick did not show it to anymore before he proposed to me) and celebrate with them.  My parents, Ben, Leah, and Randy were all so happy for me and I'm glad I was able to share this with them!
Although I hadn't ever seen Phantom of the Opera and was so excited to go, I didn't pay a bit of attention to the play.  My heart was still beating out of my chest, I was still shaking, and I couldn't stop staring at my new fiance.  Guess we'll just have to go again ;)


After the play, we returned to the hotel. Nick had wanted to take me on a carriage ride around St. Louis but I was emotionally spent. I had been on the phone all night with my family and friends.  It took me about 4 hours to finally stop shaking.  But I woke up the next morning shaking again.




The next morning we stopped by my Grandparents house to share in the happiness and have a champagne toast.

^ My grandmother has been making this blanket for Nick (and me) and

it turned out perfectly that she had completed right before this weekend

As if this all wasn't enough, he told me that the next day we were going to go on a hot-air balloon ride!!! I have ALWAYS wanted to do this! The balloon ride was absolutely amazing!!

^ Nick helping get the balloon and basket ready

^ Nick took these pictures of my ring without my knowing
(the right hand one was a custom-made sapphire and diamond ring I briefly explained to him a few years ago and he surprised me with having it made.)

^ shadow of our balloon

^ how appropriate that our shadow made a heart

^ after our balloon ride

^ the men helping to pack it all up

^ champagne toast the pilot had after the balloon ride

After our balloon-ride we went back to the hotel and took a few pictures.

The proposal was beyond my wildest dreams. I honestly could not have dreamed of a more sweet, creative, and romantic proposal. I feel truly blessed to have this amazing man in my life and know that I will be spending forever with him. When I asked how I could ever repay him, he simply replied, "Just give me a lifetime of happiness." ♥ This was by far the best weekend of my life!