Unabashed Bliss

I was exhausted, it had been a long day at work, hadn’t taken a lunch break and all I wanted was to go home, sip on a glass of cab and crawl into bed. Thankfully 5 o’clock came fairly fast and I headed out the door knowing the love of my life was waiting out front…

…with our dogs Bailey and Kohen who were pacing anxiously in the back seat ready for the park. I flopped into the passenger seat and of course, the sweet heart that he is had brought me my favorite sandwich and iced coffee. A kiss on the cheek Jonnathan suggested we try a brand new dog park he heard was really cool. I was pretty much willing to go along with anything immersed in my Tuscan Chicken Sandwich heaven. Jonnathan drove and soon I fell asleep to wake up over an hour later at the ocean! Wow, I didn’t realize this “new park” was so far away! Not wanting to stomp on his parade and in my excitement at being so close to our favorite beach spot where we had camped in the past and I grew up going to I suggested we head there.  Jonnathan in his nonchalant charm agreed saying it would be more fun than the park he was trying to find.  So slick! How did I not pick up on his sneaky plans?!

We drove the car out onto the beach and laughed watching our dogs run in the water and dive into the sand dunes.  It was pretty chilly, but we ran around with Bailey and Kohen and had to keep chasing them out of the water as they kept trying to drink the salt water. The tide came in fast and we tried to move the car…but only got so far.  Somehow Jonnathan directed from behind the wheel and I pushed.  Not sure how that worked out, but we managed to rock the car out of the thick sand. Just for Jonnathan to get it stuck again while I started the bonfire.  I laughed seeing how a van of guys had to help him get the car unstuck while the sun set and focused on keeping the bonfire from going out.  Then out of the dark comes Jonnathan with cooler, blanket, pillows, camera and tripod all in tote. Wow! Then the butterflies started.  I knew! He laid the blanket and pillow out and asked me to listen to music he had put together on his IPod Touch and told me to keep my eyes closed. I could barely keep myself pulled together. I put the headphones on and the best minutes of my life began.  Jonnathan had selected songs that were HUGE in our relationship: our first date, our first kiss, our first road trip, songs we loved singing to at the top of our lungs to, songs that represented the most intimate moments of our relationship, ending with the song we both knew we wanted me to walk down the isle to.  I cried, I laughed, and cried some more remembering all those incredible moments. Reflecting on how strong our relationship had become, all the struggles and triumphs and how blessed I felt knowing what an incredible man I had been gifted to find.  He removed the head phones and kneeling before me as we were now surrounded by glimmering tea lights and a night sky full of stars with the heat from the fire spoke to me relating the days events to our relationship. How we both, as dreamers always want the picture perfect life, but like today with the wind, the clouds, getting stuck in the sand….instead of becoming upset or disappointed in life’s circumstances, we laugh.  We laugh together as a team taking on life’s adventures loving and leaning on one another.  He spoke of loving me and finding peace in his heart knowing how strong our love is and asked me if I would be his wife and mother of his children.  Sobbing I kissed his face all over and realized I hadn’t said yes.  Yes!  Of course! Yes!  He slipped the most incredible ring onto my finger and we cuddled by the fire under the starry night sharing wine from a winery we had visited long ago and had saved for the perfect moment.  And I’d say this was definitely the perfect moment.