Since we just celebrated Labor Day last weekend, I thought I would share with everyone how Collin proposed to me last year over Labor Day weekend! I have to say that it was pretty SPECTACULAR! Sadly, I do not have any documentation of the day. There seemed to be a whole bunch of people taking pictures of us and recording the moment, but when I contacted anyone of them about getting the pictures and videos, they all said they didn't have any. So, I am afraid that it is lost forever... :(
I am going to go ahead and apologize in advance for making this story feel like one giant run-on sentence, but I just do not know how I can shorten it up anymore.
Anyways... Let's get back to the important part of the story, how Collin proposed or actually, prior to Collin proposing. Now, before Collin and I began dating in February 2013, the Las Vegas valley YSA Wards had a friendly competition called "Mr. Las Vegas" (or something like that). Each ward was to pick one guy to compete in the final competition held at Palo Verde High School sometime in March or April (I don't remember when exactly they ended up having this competition...) Collin never attended the Temple View YSA Ward's Family Home Evening. NEVER. I, however, tried my best to attend every week even though it was WAY out of my comfort zone to go. THE ONE WEEK I DON'T GO... COLLIN ACTUALLY ATTENDS! The week that he attended and I didn't, was the FHE where our ward selected our candidate for the Mr. Las Vegas competition - which Collin had decided to compete for.
You can imagine my frustration after we started dating... things could have taken off a lot sooner if I would have attended! Just kidding... I really don't care... However, this was probably a blessing in disguise, because Collin disclosed some information that I probably shouldn't have heard anyways. One of the questions he was asked during this friendly competition was, "How would/are you going the propose to your future wife?". Needless to say, he revealed his entire plan of how he'd eventually be proposing to me.
After we did start dating and things gradually became more and more serious, Collin became more and more paranoid - thinking that someone may have revealed to me what he had revealed to the ward at that activity. All that I could get out of anybody was that when the question was asked, "Why should we choose you as our candidate?" he replied by saying, "Well, I have a six-pack." While he pulled out a six-pack of Cokes and set it down. Funny, right? Collin definitely has the six-pack of the Coke variety down.... I'm still waiting on those abs though.... ;) Just kidding, Collin is perfect :) Perfect for me anyways....
Nobody I talked to about that night would tell me about how he mentioned how he'd eventually propose to his future wife/me (he just didn't know it yet...).
So.... Let's get to the good part of the story. How Collin proposed to me. Over Labor Day weekend last year, Collin's family, Collin, myself, and a few friends of ours all went to Parowan, UT where Collin's parents own a small house. Going with a few friends up to Parowan each year for at least one weekend, was something Collin tried to do. Over the course of the weekend, we did everything that they usually do together while in Parowan. Attended "Off the Cuff" in Cedar City, went shooting, and ate at La Villas Mexican Restaurant. My favorite part (of course) was Saturday, August 31, a.k.a. the BIG proposal.
I had a pretty good feeling that Collin and I would be getting engaged that weekend. People were constantly lying to me and I just pretended to be oblivious. I also knew my family was coming to the barbeque on Saturday, and figured that was a little odd that they'd be joining us...
So here is what we've all been waiting for... how did Collin propose to me?
Collin's uncle Steve is a pilot. Uncle Steve and Aunt Sandy both flew down to Parowan in a small plane to assist Collin in his GRAND proposal. When Steve and Sandy arrived, Collin invited me to go for a little ride in the plane around Parowan. He was nervous. Collin thinks he is smooth.... we get into the car to go drive over to the Parowan Airport and I look right at Collin's pocket and BAM! There is a big box poking out of his pocket. Why did he put it in his right hand pocket?!?! Oh, well... I hurried and looked away, but the damage had been done... he saw that I noticed that box in his pocket. What he didn't know was that I was looking for some kind of sign or indication that he was proposing, well, I definitely found my evidence!
Upon arriving at the airport, Collin, myself, Steve, and Sandy all loaded up into the plane and began our take off. Uncle Steve then asked Collin if there is anything specific in Parowan we'd like to fly over and Collin said he'd like to fly over his Uncle Rick's barn. Here it was, I knew that any second now, we'd be officially engaged. As we became closer and closer to the barn, I could make out the words that were written out on in it. "WILL U MARRY ME". They asked me to read it to them, and I couldn't through all of my tears. Next to the barn were both of our families, waving and cheering us on. I think Uncle Steve even shed a tear.
We flew around Parowan a little longer, while we waited for our families to drive from the barn over to the airport. When just about everyone was there, we landed, got out, and then Collin got down on one knee and officially proposed! :)
We then, all headed over to his family's Parowan house for a barbeque. It had been overcast most of the day, and everyone "in the know" had been praying that we'd be able to at least get this proposal done without any rain. Just as the barbeque was beginning, the rain started pouring. I am not talking about a drizzle, I am talking about a DOWNPOUR. Everyone stuffed themselves into the tiny house and got real cozy.
The day had truly been a blast!
