Hey every body! I've got some big news to share! Spencer proposed to me back in April, just before Easter and I said yes! We're planning a wedding ceremony and celebration the first weekend in October. So before we get to talking about all things wedding planning and what we know about future plans, I thought I might share with you the story of our engagement.
I had been working at a client site in Sarasota, FL for the past couple of weeks and was worried that I wouldn't make it home to Orlando in time to pick up SBE from the airport. Before I left, I told mom & dad that I might reach out to them for some help with airport pickup. Unbeknownst to me, Spencer was scheduled to arrive early Friday morning in order to meet Dad for lunch. While I was rushing back from Sarasota, SBE was running around Orlando, lunching with my dad, picking up white roses and white lilies from the florist, and chilling the most perfect bottle of white wine. By the time I arrived to my apartment, it smelled of fresh flowers and Spencer was waiting for me on the balcony ready to greet with a chilled glass. 
We chatted as normal for a while, although looking back on things he knew just a little too much about the goings on in Orlando while I was away. And when I asked if I should change into exercise clothes for our walk around Lake Eola, SBE insisted that I was fine and should stay in work clothes so that we could head straight to dinner. He had made reservations at Hillstone/Houston's, the site of our first Orlando date. A brisk walk around the lake, followed by sunset wine to welcome Spring, and dinner cooked by someone else was practically perfect.
While S went to the bar to grab some drinks, I got busy instagramming the amazing sunset. Family members "liked" the picture immediately. It turns out they were waiting for some life changing news from me and all they got was a sunset. Whoops. 
Spencer baited me into a conversation that was typically hard for me: he wanted to talk about our future and I was tired of talking about potential events even though we had no real plan of how to make them happen. His master planned worked and as I got myself worked up about all the stresses that come with moving and finding a new job and making new friends and making a life in a new city without the close proximity of my family, he stood up. Yep, you read that right. In the middle of my vulnerable moment, SBE stood up, took a ring out of his pocket and told me that he didn't want me to have to live in the hypothetical anymore. He said that he wanted me to be his partner in life, for the rest of our lives. Then he asked if I would marry him.
After I mustered an "are you serious" question and fought back a small tear I managed to say "yes" out loud. At least, SBE assures me that I used my outside voice. In any case, we were engaged! We called our siblings and parents in rapid fire and shoveled a small dinner in our mouths so we could head to LDL & BML's house to have some champagne and celebrate. It was the most perfect event. 
So the adventures continue, but now I'll have a permanent adventure buddy to keep my wanderlust at bay. I really couldn't be happier to be marrying Spencer and I'm so thrilled that the rest of the Dalton's & Loflin's love him too. Next blog post might contain a combination of next steps: wedding plans, moving plans, new apartments, etc it is guaranteed to be an adventure.
Thanks for all the well wishes!
