The Big Question

Sorry I have kept you all waiting to find out the rest of our story and of course how Laren proposed. Well our very first date was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, our first kiss was December 5th, and it didn't take long for me to fall head over heels for him. Christmas break came sooner than both of us wanted and we went our separate ways for almost 3 whole weeks. After multiple phone calls and a shocking amount of text messages it was obvious we really liked each other! I was so incredibly happy when we were finally reunited! A few weeks into January we headed up to Park City with Katie and Tim for some snowboarding. Laren had never been snowboarding so I was really excited to get the chance to teach him how to snowboard! While Tim and Katie went for a few last runs Laren and I put our stuff in the car and walked down into Park City to walk around Main Street for awhile. On our way to Main Street we walked past a lot condos and fun houses and started talking about what we wanted in the future. It was during that conversation that I knew I wanted Laren to be a part of my future. We talked about a lot of hypothetical "if we got married" situations.
A couple weeks later my mom asked me if Laren and I had talked about "the future." I told her somewhat and I didn't know what the future would hold, but I wanted Laren to be part of it. By that point I was really sure that Laren was the guy I wanted to marry. I met his parents a couple weeks after we had gotten back from Christmas break and I was anxious to have him meet my parents and family. I told him that he had to meet my family before anything happened.... and well President's Day we made a trip out to Oregon. It was such a fantastic weekend and my family loved Laren. I loved seeing him with my family. Sunday night after our big family dinner Laren sat down with my dad and said he wanted to marry me! They talked for a little bit and then my dad walked into the kitchen and announced that we wanted to get married. After that I became really ancy because I entered what I like the call the "limbo" stage. My family and his family knew we were getting married, but he hadn't officially proposed and so we weren't officially engaged. It was hard to focus the next couple weeks because I was so excited and I wanted to be able to share our exciting news with people. Let me tell you, keeping a limbo engagement a secret is REALLY HARD!

I was sure it would happen really soon after we got back, but no... The next Friday we were at his apartment and he asked if I wanted to go eat at Tucanos, I said sure and he said let's dress up, so of course I got really excited. I love dressing up spontaneously, but I was a little curious about whether or not he would propose. Dinner was great, but no proposal... haha. After dinner we grabbed "Secretariat" that my mom had sent me for Valentine's day and went back to his place to watch it. I just have to say it is one of the best movies I have seen in a really long time!!! Anyway it was a fantastic night!! The weekend came and went and a new week started and by the time the weekend came I was resolved to the fact that I was just going to have to be patient and it would happen when it happened. I'm not sure what happened Friday night, but Saturday we hit up the BYU basketball game. We won, of course, and the game was SO GOOD! Saturday night we grabbed dinner at the Creamery on 9th and then saw Tangled ( my favorite movie!!!)at the Varsity Theatre. After the movie I asked Laren what he wanted to do and he said lets hike the Y. I said okay and we ran by my apartment so I could change. As I was changing I realized what I had just agreed to and was regretting my   response. I haven't worked out outside in Provo in a while since the weather has been so cold and well the elevation and my lungs do not get along very well! I have to say it was not a fun hike for me or a fun hike for Laren seeing as I complained pretty much the entire hike up to the Y. This is where I throw in my disclaimer!!! I actually really enjoy hiking, some of my favorite places to hike are the National Parks in Souther Utah. AND I am not a complainer, sooo this is not how I usually act when hiking!!! However, that night sadly I complained a lot. I even asked him if we could stop halfway up and enjoy the view there. He wouldn't let me though and we hiked all the way to the top. We got settled and he made the statement " see isn't the view worth it?" I stubbornly replied "no! I've seen the view and that hike was not worth it." I am actually embarrassed at myself that night.... We sat and talked and cuddled and while he was telling me about something I felt him put an object into my hand. I looked at him and asked him what it was and he ignored my question and preceded to finish what he was saying and then asked me if I would marry him. I said YES!!! I was so excited, even though I knew it was coming it still took my breath away and I had to internalize everything. It was the happiest moment in my life and it keeps getting better everyday.
Everyone always asks me how he proposed and I have to laugh a little bit because to other people it may not seem like a big, fancy, or creative proposal, but it was very "us." We are not a fancy over the top couple and we love getting to be with each other even if it means the only time we get together is sitting in the same room doing homework. I loved his proposal because it was sweet and simple and so reflective of our relationship. Another question I get a lot is if Laren picked out the ring by himself or if I picked it out. Well, the answer to that is that Laren picked it out all on his own! He had some ideas of what I liked, but I had told him that I didn't care what my ring looked liked as long as I had him I would be more than happy. I was really surprised when I looked down and saw the ring, I couldn't and still can't get over how beautiful it is. I love it and I love that he picked it out all on his own!

So that my friends is the story!! 

We are getting married August 11th in the Portland Oregon Temple and I could not be more excited. I have never been happier and I am so excited for everything that the future holds for us!