It all started 2 years ago, in the old town house complex my children and I were living in….My neighbor had been bugging me about wanting to set me up with his best friend (Chris) who’d seen me quite often out shoveling and playing with my children in our joined front yard.  I kept telling my neighbor I really was flattered with Chris’ interest but not in a position to begin a relationship with anyone.  I honestly felt like after the last long term relationship I’d been in that fell apart 2 yrs before and with having four children it probably wasn’t likely anyone would be interested to begin with. So his interest in me took me both by surprise and made me nervous about starting again and having to go through it ending.  Not a very positive outlook I know!

Anyways, a few weeks went by and my neighbor kept on me about how great this Chris guy would be for me and my children. He had a good job, was responsible, lived on his own etc….. Finally in the beginning of May I agreed to go out with him. May 16th, 2008 we went to the movies for our first date. We saw Iron Man. The movie was great, but the date was uncomfortable and felt forced (on my part).  We ended the night with my agreeing to see him again, just not sure when. I really wasn’t sure if he was the guy for me anyways. I am a hopeless romantic who thought that sparks would fly and fireworks appear when I met “the one”.  I just wasn’t feeling it.  But, my neighbor was right; Chris was a decent, genuinely good guy. I felt bad.

We continued spending short periods of time together after our first date, but it was clear from the beginning I was only looking for a friend. He was upset, but respected my wishes.  We continued on like this for a while, until one day I realized there may not have been sparks or fireworks like girls grow up thinking they’ll feel but there was something there!

Just this past Christmas everything just seemed to fall into place & I realized he is “the one”.  This is when we began thinking of getting married.

I have spent the past month or so pointing out simple design engagement rings every time we’re out. I kept thinking he was hesitating not only for financial reasons but that maybe he wasn’t sure what to buy me. After all, I will wear it for life, I should at the very least like it….

Well, my Maid of Honor spent the day at our house on Friday, May 7th. Chris had been planning our 2 nd date all week long. Seriously, it really was going to be our technical second date! I know, it’s sad.

I wasn’t feeling very well, I hadn’t slept well Thursday night and had spent all day Friday making two Mothers Day cakes. (it’s my passion-outside of being a mother) He had arranged for his Mom to babysit for us, and all day kept reminding me he was taking me to the movies. It seemed fitting that our 2 nd date was falling on the day Iron Man 2 came out, and also marking one year until our set wedding date.  He came home after work still pushing that we try to make it to the movies. I just didn’t want to go!

So at 8pm his Mom came to babysit and we left. I had decided instead of the show we’d just go up to Williams in the south end for some dessert and coffee. It was pouring rain, cold and windy. I kept telling him I would much rather be at home in bed.  He and I drove around in silence for quite some time before finally pulling into Walmart. I decided at the very least we could shop a little for socks, mascara, and look for flip flops. I had by then also decided I didn’t feel up to coffee either. So 10 pm Friday night we were in Walmart. I took another opportunity to point out family rings (I’ve wanted one for quite sometime) and they also sell engagement/wedding bands. I would never buy one there, but thought again I should point out the style I liked. Little did I know, tucked in his pocket was the beautiful ring he’d picked up from you just a few hours earlier! We walked out into the rain just before 11pm and I got into our van. I should have known something was up at this point because Chris walked around to the driver side (my side) to put our bags full of socks, mascara, flips flops and chocolate in.  He just stood there, closed the sliding door and knealt down on the puddled grass and said “Christina, can you look at me”   I didn’t know what he was trying to do and proceeded to start the van. He repeated himself to me again saying ” Just look at me please….”  So finally I did. And he held out the dark velvet book opened showing off the most perfect ring I’ve ever seen!

Now all of this happening in the Walmart parking lot was most definitely not how he’d planned it at all, but it was still the best 2 nd date I’ll ever have gone on!

I wanted to Thank You all for making it all possible with your impecable taste, Shane’s help in Chris choosing  and craftsmanship.  I couldn’t be happier! Can’t wait to see what the matching custom band will look like!

Christina & Chris