3 years ago...

 3 years ago today, this happened:

When Keane and I were invited to go to Maui with my dad and his family for Spring Break in 2008, Keane wasted no time asking my dad for permission to propose to me in paradise. 

Story goes, about a month before we left, Keane left a message for my dad in Arizona telling him he wanted to talk to him about something important and asked that he call him back. When my dad got the message, his immediate response was, "Crap, they broke up and now our trip is ruined." After sharing this message with his much smarter wife, she set him straight by explaining that he wasn't calling to tell him we had broken up, he was calling to tell him he wanted to marry me. 

My dad's response: "Oh. Good." 

Keane and my dad had their talk and my dad gave his blessing for the upcoming proposal. 

On Saint Patrick's Day, we left for Phoenix to meet up with the rest of the clan. 

Then we embarked on the long flight to Maui. 

When Keane and I woke on our second day, he said he wanted to take me hiking and find some of the famous waterfalls he had been reading about. I thought it was a great idea but also found it a bit strange that when I put on running shorts and a hat, he asked, "Aren't you going to dress up anymore than that?" I thought, for a hike? You've got to be crazy. But to oblige my mister, I threw on a pair of cut off jean shorts instead to class things up a bit.

We  stopped at Mama's Fish House first with the family for some Mai Tais and then continued the rest of the way by ourselves. 

After seeing several amazing waterfalls, I told Keane that my back was hurting and I was ready to head back but he insisted that we continue on (now I know it's because he was trying to find a place completely to ourselves). 

Soon enough, he pulled me over to a private spot off the beaten path. There was complete silence as we soaked in the beauty all around us. Then Keane started in telling me how much I meant to him and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Maybe this should have been an indicator of what was around the corner, however he has always been very open with his feelings and these were words I had heard before. I smiled and told him I loved him too. 

It wasn't until he started fishing around in his pocket that I knew something was up. He got down on one knee and took my hand. At this point, my heart dropped into my stomach. I don't really remember what he said after this- all I could focus on was the amazing ring he was holding in front of me and the fact that THIS WAS REALLY HAPPENING! It was like a dream. Everything was in slow motion and before I knew it, he was asking me, "Is that a yes?" 

YES!

I squealed, jumped up and down, caught my breath, and then cried. I had fantasized about this moment for so long and was overcome with joy.

As we made our joyful decent down the mountain, we shouted to everyone we saw, "WE JUST GOT ENGAGED!"

Keane was one relieved man that I said yes. And that he was no longer responsible for holding the ring.

We quickly called our friends and family on the drive back, informing them of the big news. My dad and his family were waiting for us at the condo with open arms and champagne to celebrate what they had known was coming for quite sometime. 

It was better than any engagement I could have ever dreamed up. We spent the rest of the vacation enjoying our new "fiance" status and taking in every moment with an abundance of love. 

and so it is.