My
I spent the whole weekend at my parents’ house because we lost my Uncle last Thursday night. I wanted to be there for my mom and spend time with my family. My dad and I were talking on Friday and I casually asked him, “Has Stephen talked to you at all about proposing?” He started laughing and said, “Noooooooo.” I could tell he was lying. I told him, “I think he’s going to propose while we’re in Idyllwild next weekend but I don’t want to get my hopes up.” He replied, “Don’t get your hopes up.” I was left confused. I was trying to get something out of my dad but I wasn’t very successful.
Yesterday morning I spoke to my fiancé on the phone and he told me he was going to make me dinner so he wanted to know what time I’d be home. I told him I’d try and be there around 5. He didn’t tell me what he was making for dinner though. He wanted it to be a surprise. This was nothing out of the ordinary though. He loves to cook so I didn’t think anything of it.
Right before I left my parents’ house my dad and I took my dog out for a walk. I had changed out of my church clothes into my workout gear so I could be comfortable for the walk and for the long drive back to Palm Desert. I stopped for a coffee at Ryan Bros Coffee, where my fiancé and I actually met. I even took a photo of the wall of mugs because he made me my own mug last year for our 1 year anniversary and I was reminiscing. Little did I know that mug was would play a huge roll in our proposal in a little less than two hours.
I called my fiancé when I was about thirty minutes away so he knew when to start dinner. Or so I thought that was why I was calling him. When I pulled into our garage, I saw this by the door.
Take a candle…But leave the lights off
I was confused and at the same time I was thinking, “Oh my gosh! Is he doing this NOW?!” I tried opening the door but it was locked and I didn’t have a key. I called him and told him I was locked out. He said, “Do you want to come through the garage, babe?” I told him I was in the garage and he said, “Hold on a sec.” I heard him run down the stairs, unlock the door and then run back up. I opened the door and there were candles going all the way up the stairs and I heard our song playing. I started shaking.
Every couple of steps there was a note with locks, keys and pennies attached. For those of you that don't know, I am obsessed with locks and keys. Also, he put the key charm on the card representing his birth and the lock charm on the card representing my birth. I always tell him he holds the key to my lock. I didn’t notice until later but the reverse sides of all the note cards were chevron. He knows me so well. Each penny had an important date. The year he was born, the year I was born, the year I graduated college, the year he graduated college, the year we met and the last one was this year for our engagement. He later told me he chose six pennies because of the saying "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue...and a sixpence in her shoe." Brides wore a sixpence in their left shoe on their wedding day as a good luck charm for their special day and to bless their marriage with wealth and prosperity. Stephen told me I could wear the six pennies he found for me on our wedding day. I just thought that was so thoughtful. For him to seek out pennies from those six years and then to drill them and add them to each card, I'm speechless.
A boy was born...
...And so was a girl
They walked the same path...
...But it did not connect them
The reason the cards say “They walked to same path…” “But it did not connect them…” is because we both graduated from the same university but we didn’t meet until a couple years later.
Years later they met...
When I reached the top of the stairs I saw my anniversary mug sitting on our dining room table. He had placed the tissue inside to make it look like coffee with whipped cream. I mean, c’mon! He went through every little detail and I absolutely love it! The last card said “Open but stay here”.
Years later still...Open...But stay here
I looked up and he was walking out from the bedroom. He gestured at me to open what was in the mug. That was where I found my ring. I was still shaking, by the way. I’m pretty sure I asked him, “What are you doing?” out of nervousness. He got down on one knee in front of me and he said, “Heather Nichole Saldaña, will you marry me?” I said, “Of course” and he placed the ring on my finger.
We hugged for a long time. Then he stood up and we kissed and then we hugged again and I started crying. “Gravity” from Sara Bareilles started playing and that was the first song we ever danced to so it really got to me.
My fiancé has been telling me for months that he wanted everything to be perfect, including the place. He wanted me to have a nice story to tell people for many years to come on how he proposed. I would tell him, “You can propose on our couch while we’re watching Netflix and I would always think the moment was perfect.” He never believed me. I told him I didn’t want a huge crowd. I didn’t want people staring at us. I really don’t like to draw attention to myself so the way he did it, in the privacy of our own home, was so beyond perfect for me.
I went ahead and Face-Timed my parents right away. They were both so excited but my dad was a little sad too. He said, “You’re my only daughter…” and then my mom chimed in and said, “but we’ll take granddaughters!!!” We laughed and I told her to calm down a little bit. I told my dad he should have made sure I got a little dressed up and he said, “If I would have said something, you would have known and I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.” I’m glad he didn’t say anything though.
I Face-Timed my brother right after and he laughed and said, “Yeah, I know. Dad told me the other day.” So I guess they all knew the whole weekend while I was there and they were able to hold it inside. I'm pretty proud of them.
We spoke to my future mother-in-law and she said, “FINALLY! Welcome to the family!” And my future father-in-law said, “I’ve always wanted a daughter and now I get one.” And then he said “I can’t wait for more grandbabies!” and Stephen told him he was going to have to wait a little while longer.
We Face-Timed Stephen’s best friend’s wife. His best friend wasn’t home from work yet so she said she’d have him call Stephen when he got home. He ended up calling him on the Xbox, which I didn’t even know you could do.
I called my good friend in Indiana because he always made me promise that he wouldn’t find out on Twitter or my blog. I also Face-Timed my best friend in Boston.
Once all of our close friends and family knew then my fiancé and I started posting the news on our social media. As soon I posted the photo of my ring my phone went crazy. I had so many friends texting me and commenting on Facebook and Instagram. So many kind words, especially from my friend, Sabrina. She was the one I texted the night I met Stephen and I told her he was the one.
These are the texts I sent my friend after my first date with Stephen.When you know, youjust know.
After we told everyone our news, we sat down and enjoyed a very nice dinner. Stephen made me enchilada chicken and beans and we put them on tostadas. We also shared a bottle of wine.
The whole night was perfect. My ring is stunning. And now I get to marry the man of my dreams. I am so grateful to God for creating him and keeping him safe until it was time for us to meet. I always thought I would get married in my early twenties but God knew better. He knew He had this wonderful man waiting for me and I am so glad I never settled.
I love you, Stephen, and I can’t wait to be your wife!
