We’re Engaged!

We have some exciting news to kick of 2020. WE’RE ENGAGED! Jeremy asked me to marry him back on December 23, and (through lots of happy sobs), I said, “yes!”

In the days that followed, we were able to surprise our closest family and friends with the news, and had a great deal of fun in doing so.

I thought it was about time I shared our engagement story here, for those who haven’t had a chance to hear it just yet. It’s a good one!

The Monday evening before Christmas Eve, I was out running some last minute errands for our holiday gatherings. I sent Jeremy a text message asking if he was home to help me unload groceries and put things away. He replied that he was, but that he’d need my help with something first and to leave the groceries in the car. Oh, and also asked if I could wait a few minutes more before heading home.

I had a feeling something was up then.

About an hour later, I arrived home and was greeted with a note on the front door. It read, “This is the house that our love built. (Flip over when you’re done).”

“Check the open book on the TV stand. Have fun with the scavenger hunt.”

After unlocking the door, I knew exactly what I’d walked into.

The house was still, aside from one of the most significant songs in our relationship* – Iron & Wine’s “Trapeze Swinger” – playing in the background and Rosie running to greet me.

Jeremy had always told me that he’d never propose in a place that didn’t already mean something special to us and that he’d have a lot to say. And he has always been adamant that Rosie would be there for it.

*The song, for those interested, was one that we listened to on repeat in the first year of our relationship. It’s brimming with nostalgic lines (“Please, remember me, happily, by the rose bush laughing…”) of sweet memories of experiences and relationships that have ended. When we first got together, it was a comfort to each of us, both individually and as a couple. Jeremy had just come out of a seven year relationship and had some major shake-ups in his circle of family and friends going on. I had just returned from a year abroad and was feeling disoriented and insecure, pining for past experiences and relationships. It’s the song that helped us both move on and continue to grow.

Anyway, after attempting to compose myself, I picked up Rosie and we made our way to the bookshelf. On the open book was the next note:

“It all started at a bookstore…”

We met at a bookstore in the summer of 2011. The scavenger hunt proceeded to walk me through every significant milestone in our relationship from there on out.

From the open book, the notes sent me from place to place around our home, each tucked away on an item that represented things like our first time talking over drinks late into the night (bar cart), our shared love of certain artists and songs early on (record player), his support of my growing career (computer) and my hobbies (baking cabinet), and adoption of Rosie (her basket of toys).

Of course, that one really got me, the point where I could no longer hold it together, was when I came across the note taped to the back of one of my family photos, which addressed how he had promised my late grandpa that he’d take care of me (every time we’d say goodbye to my grandpa, he’d request demand that Jeremy do so), and how he wished he was still around to see us married.

There were probably twenty of these notes, some incredibly thoughtful and sweet, and plenty of lighthearted ones, too – like the one tucked in our drawer full of vitamins and medications, which mentioned he’d be there for me through sickness and health (and that he also appreciated how much time I spend reorganizing that drawer),  and the one that sat on top of the sink, which was full of dishes at the time, that promised he’d get to those later but that he was running low on time!

I never thought he’d propose around the holidays, since it’s (maybe) his least favorite time of year. But I love that he decided to do so in an attempt to feel more grateful, excited, and nostalgic for them in the coming years.

I didn’t think I’d recover from the last note, which was taped to a mirror and caused me to see my reflection as I read it:

“This is the girl I promise to love forever. Thank you for making my life better in every way. We have so much ahead of us, and I couldn’t imagine anyone else that I’d rather spend the rest of my life with. I love you, Aly. I always will. (Turn over one last time).”

And when I flipped that one over, I had one more laugh:

“Come to our bedroom. My knee hurts.”

I grabbed Rosie and we made our way up the stairs, just as the song was coming to an end (that bit was scarily perfect) and I could hear him crying before I’d even gotten halfway up.

From there, we’re not entirely sure what was said between sobs and hugs and Rosie jumping at our legs. I’m pretty sure all he got out was, “So, will you?” And all I could say was, “Yes!”

After we gathered ourselves and talked at length about the proposal and each memory left on the notes, we went out for dinner at the same place we had our first date and spent a few hours talking about the many other plans he’d had for the proposal leading up to this one and all of our initial wedding thoughts, came up with all of the fun ways we were going to break the news over Christmas, and continued to stroll down memory lane and how we got here.

I feel so lucky to have found someone who can turn an ordinary Monday night at home into something exciting and meaningful and magical.

It’s been a long, winding, bumpy, and beautiful road in the nearly nine years we’ve been together, and I was so thankful to revisit all of that and reflect back on just how far we’ve come. I can’t wait to see what the next decade has in store for us!

Whether you’re family or friends, or readers from afar, we appreciate the support and love you’ve shown us over the years, and are so happy to have you in our lives! Thank you, thank you. From the bottom of our hearts. ♡

xo, Aly