So I guess I should give some background... some more words to keep you all in suspense, haha. It will all make more sense if I give some background to it. Explain Cory and myself to you all.
Most people questioned Cory and me as a couple when we first started dating. We are different in many ways. He is quiet, intelligent, mysterious, and shy. He is very introverted. He keeps to himself, thinks about everything he says and does, and is perfectly happy spending a Saturday night with a good book or movie, or studying on his computer. I am the complete opposite...as most of you know! :) I am loud, funny, an open book. I say how I feel, show how I feel, YELL how I feel! I am very extroverted, and I love nothing more to surround myself with friends and family. I am perfectly happy spending my Saturday night hanging out with friends singing karaoke, playing games with friends, having a movie night with friends. I love to be with people. So yah, you would think we couldn't be more opposite. Oddly, opposite is how we work. Strangely, if you look past all of that, we have a lot in common.
I think people are quick to judge a person. Never judge a book by it's cover, a day by it's morning sky, a person by their color, or a couple by their traits. I think one of the most interesting things about our relationship is how different we are when it is just us, or when we are with just our families. I have often fought with Cory because we go out and people find him rude, or ask if he doesn't like them. I will sometimes still get upset, but I have to remind myself that we are different.
So in order to understand the proposal more, to understand us more, I want to give some background. When I told Cory I was writing this, he asked me why? Why was I writing about it, he didn't do it in anyway special. That is where he is so wrong. I am not the type of girl who wants to be asked on top a mountain, on a nice trip, or at a planned place where everything is planned perfectly to the minute. That is not me. I wanted simple and from the heart. I got a simple proposal in a way but there was so much more behind it that it meant more to me than any grand gesture would have meant to another. I have always told Cory, I don't care about the ring, I just want us to be together. Hell I never wear jewelry besides my running watch! I once joked he could propose to me with a new running watch and I would be more than happy. Well, I got the watch, and a beautiful ring to go with it. He remembers the details. He listens to what I say. That is very important to me, it means the most to me.
So how we met... I am getting there people be patient :) We met at a bar. HAHA right! I know I know, you won't meet the man you are going to marry in a bar. I did heehee! I worked at a local bar and we both played on a pool league. One night I was sitting at the bar with my phone in my pocket and it kept falling out. The fourth time it fell he leaned over and suggested I put it elsewhere and he smiled. He has a really nice smile. Right Lisa DeAngelis and Ashley Gossett Merder?! We talked about his smile a lot in the next few weeks haha! I had to ask him out in the next few weeks. He later told me he never would have because he was too shy. He did all the things guys just don't really do anymore. He opened my door, pulled out my chair, ordered my dinner for me. He amazed me. He wouldn't answer his damn phone though haha. But after a few months I already knew I was in love. After two years we moved in together! And now, a few months short of 6 years, we are finally engaged. He is the first person I have ever dated that I feel 100% comfortable around. I remember when we first met I would barely eat in front of him. Most nights now I eat more than him and he probably wants that shy girl back that doesn't take down so much food! I also feel completely open telling him how I feel, what I am worried about, when he drives me absolutely crazy, etc. He is by definition a best friend and I would take nothing less in the man I want to marry. I can tell him anything and know it is safe. I feel completely safe. Every night before bed we have a cute routine. REMEMBER THIS! I say, "I love you baby." He says, "I love you too." I say, "I love you more!" He says, "Probably..." Such the romantic!
Ok. Almost there. Just one more detail.... Every Christmas my family does our celebration on Christmas Day. We come back from Cory's parents and head over to mine for dinner, gift exchanging, and spending time together. My brother Tom is known for his jokes. The past few years he has given Cory a selection of funny shirts. The one last year, "Nothing For You Whore!" with Santa pointing a finger. Cory just finds Tom hilarious. I love my family because we always have fun. Whether we are re gifting rocks (where it all started with my grandpa and aunt and mom) or giving Tom a mysterious Twinkie, or getting scratch off tickets from Santa every year and no one will fess up to who is Santa. This year, I wanted to get Tom back so I made Cory, much to his dislike, wear the shirt he got last year. My family thought it was hilarious! And though we didn't up Tom this year, the thing Tom did this year is so bad I cannot even post it on here, it was a fun thing to do. Probably not the outfit Cory had planned to wear to propose to me in though! In my defense how was I suppose to know? But hey, it makes for the perfect memory!
THE PROPOSAL! Finally. About time geez!
So we pass out all the gifts and open them one at a time so everyone can see what each other got. I was about to open my last gift when another open appeared in the wrapping paper we had wrapped all our gifts in. I looked at Cory and he told me he brought a gift from home for me to open. I was confused but hey another gift woohoo. So I open it and my nephew Jarod keeps playing with me and trying to help unwrap it. I open it up and it is a wooden block that says LOVE YOU MORE on it. I was all happy because it meant something but wondering at the same time why he was having me open this at my parents when I look up and he is getting down on one knee (in the bad santa shirt poor guy) with a ring box and he asks me to marry him. I said yes, of course, we shared some tears, and everyone clapped! He put the ring (very over sized haha) on me and then I was explained the story about how he had asked my father to lunch and asked him for his blessing and that my mom knew because she had seen the text from Cory. I was shocked my mom kept the secret! I am glad she did though, I was completely shocked and it made the whole thing perfect. What did I say about Cory earlier, he does everything old school...and I love it.
We have not picked out a date! People keep asking! Most likely if you are reading I will let you know :) Last night I was telling him who I planned for my maid of honor and who I wanted to stand up with me, etc. I joked with him that I bet he wished he hadn't asked me! I know he is glad that he did.
And there it is! Nothing extravagant but perfect in my eyes!
