My Life As A Nomad & A Gypsy

It all started out with Kevin and I discussing getting engaged. I created a board on Pinterest so he could see which style I liked and what type of ring to purchase. I told him it was up to him if he wanted to custom make a ring or find one that was similar. With much searching and deliberation on choices he decided to have a jeweler make a ring. At first I didn't want to see the plans because I wanted it to be a surprise. Eventually he showed me and it wasn’t quite the right style. After going to other jewelers we found a ring that was such a great fit for me but alas, they couldn’t make the modifications to the ring that we wanted. Kevin decided that it was his mission to make or find the perfect ring for me and he set out to find it. I of course am thinking that this will take weeks or months on end because we had just lost two of the options we were planning on. Boy was I wrong!

Christmas being only a couple weeks away I assumed he would wait until the hassle of the holidays and my College Graduation were out of the way. I had no idea and was completely blindsided by his proposal. We talked and he was trying to convince me that we should exchange Christmas gifts with just the two of us and I was the opposite, wanting to open presents all together Christmas morning with the kids. After a day of thinking, I changed my mind and tried my hardest all day Friday the 12th of December and Saturday the 13th to convince Kevin that opening presents Saturday the 13th should happen. He kept telling me that it might not happen because he doesn't have the last piece of the gift and he can’t give me only half a gift. I was adamant about opening and asked over and over if the other piece of the gift had come yet because he had to go pick it up. Finally on Saturday around 1:30 the piece came in!

YAY! We could open Christmas presents sooner! I was ecstatic. I was so excited to give Kevin his Christmas gift and super excited to receive mine because he always gives the best and most thoughtful gifts. I had no idea or inclination of what his gift would be this year.

BACKSTORY: Ten years ago in High School I was Artist of the Year my Senior year and the Art Club and Department wanted one of my ceramic pieces to put on display and to keep at the school. For a couple years now I have wanted to go back to Illinois and see friends and grab my ceramics piece so I could bring it home. I have mentioned this to Kevin once, maybe twice since we've been dating and he remembered! Very smart man ;) I love my art pieces with all my heart and I have missed this vessel very much!

The trial of getting the vessel was unknown to me until afterwords. Kevin had tracked down, after failing a few times, my High School, and then hoping he got a hold of the right teacher. He succeeded in contacting my old art teacher Susan Burns and convincing her that he was who he said he was and not some crazy man wanting to steal my vessel. He had her take the piece to UPS and have it wrapped with tons and tons of bubble wrap, foam peanuts, and styrofoam. It made it safely to his house!

Before opening gifts Kevin suggested that we change into our dress clothes for the night because we had volunteered our night to usher at an Orchestra event for one of my dear friends in Pocatello. Kevin said that he wanted to change before opening gifts so he could take me out to dinner right after and then head to the performance. I begrudgingly said yes because I was comfortable in my jeans and shirt but I am so glad he convinced me to change! Kevin opened his gift from me and then it was my turn. He asked if he could record my reaction and I said sure not even thinking that this would be a gift of a ring because the present was huge and we had just decided barely a week ago that the ring we wanted wasn’t going to happen and I had no idea he had a jeweler already working on the most perfect ring already and it was already sized, set, and boxed up for me! The jewelers rushed the sizing and setting of the stone so Kevin could have it by Saturday afternoon. How amazing are they! So I kneel down next to my present and he has the video rolling. At about 17 seconds in the video I start tearing up because of how thoughtful and amazing the gift was. I didn't notice the white box sitting inside the vessel until shortly after opening because It just looked like a piece of foam...again...I was wrong. I apologize for his words being too quiet and our heads being cropped off at the end...who wants to see us kissing anyway right?!

THE PROPOSAL VIDEO