I had always prayed that I would find someone to love.......my prayers were answered. Joleen is kind, thoughtful, funny, beautiful, and loyal. We share the same faith and the same goals. Not long after we started dating, I realized that Joleen and I were perfect for each other, and that this was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. After about seven months of dating, I decided to ask Joleen to be my wife.
After our trip back east in July of last year, I asked Joleen if she would like to go on an "end of the summer get-away"-- just the two of us. I had always wanted to go to a bed & breakfast, and found the perfect one, "The Old Monterey Inn", in Monterey, CA. We planned to make the trip on August 22nd, and come back on the 24th. Joleen was really excited…..and had no clue that I was planning anything special. I had bought her ring a month before, and couldn’t wait to give it to her. Now I had to think of a really great way to propose…..it took me a while, but I finally had an idea. Joleen and I have a “ritual” that we do each month on the anniversary of our first date. We call it the “Ritual of the Three Questions”. On the 29th of each month, we sort of “check in” with each other just to make sure everything is okay….. we ask each other:
Are you happy?
Is there anything I've done to make you unhappy?
Is there anything I could do to make you happier than you are right now?
I know, I know- it's
a bit hokey, but it has really helped us to keep our communication open. Anyway,
I thought this might be a good way to ask "the question". We drove up the coast, stopping off in Santa Barbara for lunch. It was
a beautiful day, and an even more beautiful drive. 
We arrived
in Monterey about 7 pm, and pulled into the driveway to this perfect
“gingerbread house”. It looked like a house right out of a Thomas Kinkade
painting. We went inside the main house and met the inn keepers. After checking
in, we were shown to our room, the "Stoneleigh". When the inn keeper
left, we sort of just stood there for a minute in awe…..we had the greatest
room we had ever seen. Just across from our door was a path that lead to an
incredible garden (click on the picture to go to their website- be sure to check
out the "garden tour" link.....this is where I proposed). That night
we went to dinner in nearby Carmel. The next morning we had a basket delivered
to our doorstep with hot chocolate, tea, and a newspaper in it. We went to
breakfast in the main dining room and met the other guests. After a gourmet
meal, we decided to go out and be tourists. This was the day I was going to
propose, so before we left, I snuck the ring from my duffle bag into my pocket.
We went to downtown Monterey and saw the shops and the aquarium, and then had
lunch. I decided it was time, and asked to go back to the inn because I was
feeling a little tired. I still wasn't sure if I was going to ask her in our
room, or in the garden.....I didn't want an audience.....I wanted it to be private
and just the two of us. As we arrived back at the inn, they were still making up
the room, so we decided to go sit in the garden. There were a couple people
milling around, so we sat at the far end of the garden and talked. Of course, I
couldn't tell you what we talked about-- the whole time I was watching to see
when the other people would leave! Finally, after about 15 minutes, we were
alone. I said to her that even though it wasn't the 29th, this would be the
perfect place to do the "Ritual of the Three Questions". I went first
and asked her the three questions. She said she was totally happy, that there
was nothing I had done to make her unhappy, and that she couldn't think of
anything I could do to make her happier than she was right then. Now it was her
turn to ask me......she asked the first question, "Are you happy?" I
told her I was never happier. "Is there anything I've done to make you
unhappy?", she asked. I said absolutely not. Then she asked me, "Is
there anything I could do to make you even happier than you are right now?"
I paused a moment, and answered....."Well, as a matter of fact there
is.....". I got up from my chair and went over to her and got down on my
knee. For a couple seconds she looked at me like-- "What are you
doing?!" Then when I took her hand in mine, and I started to get all
teary-eyed, she realized what was happening. I said,
"Joleen, I love you with all of my heart, and I want us to spend the rest of our lives together. I promise to do my best to make you as happy as you've made me. You asked if there was anything you could do to make me even happier than I am right now.....well, there is-- will you become my wife?"
Her face lit up, and she was smiling from ear to ear. She said yes! I took the ring from my pocket and placed it on her finger. We sat there for a little while longer, just holding hands and talking. It was the most perfect moment. Later that afternoon, we went down to the "Main St." of Monterey and had dinner and looked in all the shops. The next morning we decided to have breakfast in our room, and while we ate, Joleen called her mom and all her friends to tell them the good news. Soon after breakfast it was time to head home, but before we did, we stopped off to drive through "17 Mile Drive", a scenic drive along the coastline in Carmel..... then we headed home.
Check out our engagement pictures below, as well as pictures from our trip, and also the "wedding page" for information and links regarding the wedding.....
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| "The Stoneleigh" | Relaxing in our room.... | |
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| The Garden.... | More of the Garden | Lounging..... |
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| Local Scenery | ||
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| Downtown Monterey | The Pier | |
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| 17 Mile Drive.... | There really is a "Point Joe" | More of the coast |
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