Cinco de Mayo

Four years ago today, I was working at Williams-Sonoma and before I left for work, Mark had packed a bag for me and left it by the door. “Don’t open it until the end of the day” he said. “Open it later this afternoon and change into what’s inside and I’ll pick you up after work.” I had been suspicious that our engagement was coming, but after opening up the bag (yes, I waited until the end of the day) and seeing a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, I was convinced we were going to some sort of sporting event. Still, my heart hoped that that day would be the day. The day he asked me to marry him.

Well, most of you know how the rest of the story goes. It started with a private sailboat ride on the Bay under a beautiful setting sun with views of the Golden Gate Bridge I had never seen before. A thoughtful photo album followed with pictures of our lives together – all the memories we had created and shared thus far – that had taken us there, under that bridge, on that night. And then he was on his knee. Up to that point, I had never felt so overjoyed and content. We celebrated with champagne and later drove home where yet another surprise was waiting. My apartment was filled with candles and rose petals and a small gift basket lay on my bed. There were 2 plane tickets inside to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. It was then I was told we were leaving on a plane the next day for a 5 day vacation.

I can’t believe that was 4 years ago. We have lived in San Francisco twice, Chicago and will now be living in Dallas in just a few short days. Jacob blessed our lives even more when he arrived in 2007 and now we have another little blessing to come in 2009 (baby girl? baby boy?) It’s amazing how life changes in just a few short years.

I like to remind myself of that night. In the midst of the packing and the moving and the physical separation Mark and I have had to endure in the last 6 weeks, I remind myself of the hopes and the dreams we had when we made that commitment to each other that night. And most importantly, how all of them have come true so far.

Happy Cinco de May everyone. Hopefully you find this day as special as we do.

Four years ago today...

St. Lucia