The Proposal

We have been asked many times already in the last two days how Justin proposed, and it is a really long story! So we are going to put it here with photos so you can see for yourself! 

It started the morning of January 26, when Justin called me at 5:40 a.m. He said he wanted to take me to breakfast and watch the sunrise, and how could I say no! But as he was getting off the phone so I could get ready, he said that I may want to check my email before I leave. There I found that there had been a change of plans. He had a surprise for me, but I had to find him first, and could I check on his mom, Gwenn, and his sister, Leann, at the Institute building? Maybe they could help me out. When I got there, I got my first clue, three pieces from a board game, and a cute stuffed bear dressed like a bride!

The clue was a poem/riddle that led me to the Starbucks on Stowell and Broadway. I went there, and found my best friend, Kylene (who would be with me for the rest of the time), and clue number two! I was instructed to get my favorite drink, a caramel apple spice, and complete the puzzle inside the clue. I also got more game pieces. 

Once I figured out the next clue, it read: 

"The clue is inside one of the EGGS at the DINOSAUR PARK where we drove in an AUTOMOBILE and helped the locals have a nice EASTER. We met BROTHER ABBOTT and had a wonderful time. Later, I took you on a date where we had LUNCHABLES. The GEOLOGY is very lovely here and the view is fantastic! (words in caps are the ones I had to figure out)

So we were off to Shell Beach! 

When we got there, I found my next clue! (and he was right, the view was fantastic!)

There were three Easter eggs inside one of the dinosaur eggs, so I crawled inside to get them out. 

This cute little guy decided he wanted to leave his friends and help us instead! 

Inside one egg was three more game pieces. 

Inside another were photos with words on the back of them. 

And in the last egg was a bingo-style board so I could put the next clue together. 

When I put the pieces together, the clue read "They lie at the North and South corners!" I was a little confused until I realized that almost all of the photos were pictures of the Pismo Beach pier, which was just south of us! So we were off! 

 We made the short trek to  the pier, and began our search for the next clue.

 

 Near the compas painted in the center of the pier, we found the north corner....

 

And the south corner! 

Inside were three more game pieces, and a riddle that reminded me of an experience we had at Priesker park in Santa Maria where a strange old man followed Justin around the walking track for a while. 

So we went back to Santa Maria, to Priesker park. 

In the clue I was told to look in the boat that doesn't float, so we went to the ship on the side of the pond.

 Inside the envelope I found there was a CD and my next clue: a riddle that led us to Oso Flaco Lake, ALL the way out by Guadalupe! The CD was for the ride out there, and included voice recordings from Justin and songs selected by him. 

So we went through Guadalupe and out to Oso Flaco Lake. There's not much out there!  

The clue was tacked to the back of the ranger hut.

Inside was another riddle! One of the lines was: To today's first place you must go and talk with the attendant.  The first place? We were going back to the institute! 

  

I also got three more game pieces at this stop. 

So we went back to Santa Maria, to the institute...

 Brother Abbott had clue number seven: I had to use all those game pieces now to figure out where my next clue was. 

 

The only hint I got for this one was: To get this next clue, you will have to play our favorite game of all time, SCRABBLE!

Brother Abbott had to give me a small hint when I got stuck for a moment, but I got it! The swings at Waller Park! 

So we were off to Waller Park! I had a feeling we were nearing the end, because we came here a lot together both before and after we started dating. 

 I couldn't resist the dinosaur. What can I say? I didn't know it at the time, but Justin was watching from afar. 

 Clue number eight was taped high up on the pole of the swing set. 

 It told me that the fun (and it WAS fun!) was almost finished. It told me to go to a place where he had found me one afternoon, and upon the rock I had sat on that day would be a prince. 

I thought maybe it would be Justin, but I found this instead!  

It's so cute!

Underneath it was clue number nine, which read:

"I am so glad we have made it this far. We started as something small, just knowing of each other, then we became friends. After friends we fought our feelings, but they wouldn't be denied. We started dating. And then we wondered, could this be the beginning of something more? Come with me now alone. I await your arrival nearby. It is not far and you can see it. It is a flag that you may recognize as being very familiar somehow...."

I turned around and saw my prince, in his favorite Brazilian soccer jersey. 

(The familiar flag he'd mentioned in the note!). 

 I knew what was coming, but that didn't stop me from letting out a few tears.

(Okay, a lot of tears. Happy tears!)

He was clue number ten!

 As you can imagine, emotions were running high.  

 And my prince, he got down and asked me if I would be his wife. 

I said yes, of course!!

 The ring fit perfectly! 

  

We were so happy!

 And here we are, the newly engaged couple! 

I hope you enjoyed the story! It was very sweet and I know Justin went to a lot of trouble (and a month of planning!) to put this together for me. We are grateful for those who contributed and participated to make it all possible! And also, thank you to my friend and personal photographer of that day, Kylene! Without her, none of these pictures would exist!