Our Engagement Story

June 30, 2013, I received one of the BIGGEST surprises of my life. You're probably thinking, "yeah right. They totally talked about it and went ring shopping and all that jazz".
Correct. But the timing of it was a complete shock. And let me tell you why...

Ring Shopping in May: So after gazillions of stores( jk maybe 10) we found rings that we LIKED but there was no banner screaming YES with confetti flying everywhere. We needed to LOVE it!
 Ha and isn't it like so awkward-funny when you're ring shopping 'cause you totally know it's coming, but it's not official. Seriously. SO FUNNY.

So a couple days later I get a text from J, showing me two of the most beautiful, rose gold halo cut diamond rings. He went to Jared's.  Shane Co. while I was at work and found those two gems. He asked me which one I liked better. HELLO?? Most indecisive person over here! I'm seriously the worst...
I really couldn't decide. I LOVED them both. So I told him to surprise me. And he did just that.

The next day Jerret came over and I was loaded with giddy questions. He told me all about the process. You ladies know the 5 C's:  Cut, clarity, color, carat and certification. It was so dang cute seeing him talk about it. He literally spent hours inspecting each diamond to find the one. Seriously?! Amazing.

BUT there was some more surprising news. The ring wouldn't be ready until August.

I consider myself to be a pretty patient person. But this news sorta killed me inside. I had always dreamed of a fall, September wedding.

So Jerret told me to just start planning, go wedding dress shopping, and it would all work out. But it just felt silly to me. I needed that ring on my finger to do all that.

Fast forward to June 30th: It was a loooooooooong night at Tia Rosa's. I was hostessing at the time and that night dealt with a lot of angry customers. My feet were aching. I was sweaty and reeked of chips and bean dip. While I was rolling silverware I day dreamed of going home, snuggling up to Jerret while watching a movie.

My manager then walked by, burst that little dream bubble and told me to clock out. And the craziest thing happened as I was leaving. She shouted to me: "haha just watch, you're gonna get engaged tonight". I shook my head and laughed, knowing that wouldn't be the case.

I called Jerret on my way home telling him my plans on what I wanted to do. He was so smooth and agreed to them. He told me he'd be over in about 30min.

So I got home, freshened up and waited for him, on the couch. 30 min later the doorbell rang. Lazily, I asked my sisters to open it. They did, but it wasn't Jerret...

It was James and Makenzy. (Jerret's sister and brother in law). James was holding a video camera, and Makenzy was holding a sign that read: "It was only day one, on a late Saturday night, I tried to take you here, but you never got a bite". Kenz asked me if I knew what the card meant, and I answered: "yes. It's Lolo's Chicken and Waffles. We were supposed to go here on our first date, but it was too crowded. So we went to Chipotle instead".
*By the way Jerret took me on the most fun, creative dates, so honestly that's what I thought it was... boy was I wrong!

So James and Kenzy lead me to this hot rod. Kyle( Jerret's dad) was our chauffeur for the night. James opened my door, but Jerret wasn't inside. So we get in and headed to our next destination: Lolo's. Everyone was acting super different... and as we pulled into the parking lot, I saw Caeden(Jerrets younger brother). He was holding a ring box.

My. Heart. Stopped.

Ha was this really it?? Where the heck is Jerret? Of anywhere it shouldnt'it be Chipotle? Right? What's going on?? 
Those were the questions running through my mind.

I walked up to Caeden while Kenzy and James filmed me. Caed asked me: "Do you remember this place?" I responded: "Yes. We were supposed to go here on our first date, but it was too crowded. So we went to Chipotle instead". He told me I was correct and gave me the ring box. I opened it and saw a plastic heart shaped ring with a clue inside that read: "You wrote this in your journal, that we have been here twice. No we're not in Pittsburgh, its just custard and Italian ice."

So off we went to Rita's Italian Ice on Mill Ave. (This was a favorite of Jerrets. He first tried it on his mission in Pennsylvania!)

I got out of the car and walked towards the building. Again, Jerret was not in sight. Only his sister Nikelle! She too was holding a ring box. I walked up to her and she asked, "Do you remember this place?". I answered, "Yes, Jerret and I went here a lot. It's one of our favorites." She told me I was correct and handed me the ring box. Inside the ring box it read, "Traditions, traditions, oh how they are so sweet. We always went here after the temple. To go and grab a treat."

Flor De Michocan was our next destination! So we all piled up in the car and were off!

As we pull into the parking lot, I noticed that Caeden was waiting outside the shop. So again, I went up to him and waited for that question:)

"Hello Maddi."
"Hello Caed."
"Do you remember this place?"
"I sure do. Every time after doing baptisms, Jerret and I would stop by and get ourselves some strawberry popsicles."
"Correct."

He then handed me that ring box. I opened it and it read: "Although you've never caught one, I took you here and tried real hard. Was this place in Gilbert? Or was it my backyard?"

I honestly believe my brain was absent in that moment. So many emotions filled my body I couldn't think straight. So James and Kenzey helped answer that one. It was Freestone Park!

As we were driving I couldn't help but think. I'm going to be an ENGAGED woman. GAHHH!!!!!

We arrived in the parking lot. Jerret,again, NOT IN SIGHT. I was sure this would be the last stop?...

Wrong.

So I get out of the car, and see Nikelle a few yards away. I walked up to her and she then asked me the question, "Do you remember this place?" I told her "Yes. Jerret was so determined to help me catch my first fish here. But my bad luck stopped us!" She told me I was correct, and handed me the box. I opened it and read the last note: "This spot is really special, I won't tell you where it is. Just trust your driver, the decision is his."

So we all got back in the car, and I begged Kyle to tell me where we were going. We started driving towards my house, but quickly he'd flip a U turn. He did that so many times, and I couldn't help but laugh. He then started towards the B-Line highway towards Snowflake....I had NO IDEA where we were headed.

So Kenzey and James opened up this bag filled with treats and Ned's. I had a feeling we were going on a road trip. They offered some to me, but I was wayyyyyy too nervous to eat!

The whole entire time my bladder was getting more and more full. I was seriously 'bout to BURST. I didn't want to tell anybody just in case I delayed plans or ruined a surprise. But my bladder could hold no more.

I whispered to Kenzey, "I have to pee, SO BAD!" So sweetly, she asked if we could stop somewhere. She's seriously a life saver, and I am forever indebted to her.

We turned left onto Shea Blvd. and stopped by at the Wendy's. I wanted so badly to tell somebody! I literally almost told the girl in the stall next to me, "I'm going to be ENGAGED!!!"

So after THAT... we headed towards Fountain Hills. We pulled into the parking lot by the Flag Memorial. AND THERE HE WAS. I took a deep breath, and opened the car door to get out.

My legs were like jello and my heart out of its rib cage. And right under the flag was the love of my life. 

I walked up to Jerret. We stood face to face. He was so cool and collected, as always. And I couldn't breathe.

He asked me: "Do you remember this place?"
I told him: "No, we've never been here together."
"Well, I hope you'll remember it for the rest of your life."

He got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him.
I said YES, and hugged him real tight.
He put that ring on my finger and pulled me in for a kiss.

That moment. One that a little girl dreamed of from day one. It happened... It happened to ME!!!