Janeal: After doing our initial ring shopping in Carmel, we agreed that I was going to have to pick out my own and likely without Paul. So I started shopping when I had some free time. I also had to try to figure out what styles I liked. I've never had something specific in my mind, but I've always liked more unique, statement jewelry. Mom joined me one Saturday afternoon to visit a local jeweler. I specifically asked to see the rose gold pieces he had. After trying several on, I came back to one that had a rose hinted diamond in it. When I found out it was absolutely an option to customize it and build some leafy vines onto it as a wedding band, I was sold. At the end I learned the guy's name was Paul.

Paul: It was really hard to plan a surprise engagement, given that she knew I wanted to get engaged as soon as she was ready and that we were only going to be together two weekends in April (and it's not like I was going to wait to mid-April!). I worked with her mom and family to plan out the surprise - the girls would be with me that weekend, so they would need to be watched, and I thought it'd be nice for a family celebration afterwards since I figured Janeal would like that. The girls were able to help with some of the decorations, and were "in" on the secret ... as well as a special "butterfly box" present. I started planning a couple weeks ahead of time...

Janeal: I brought Paul the ring when I took the train down to Oregon in the first weekend of April. I had also told him earlier that I would be ready for engagement in April. I also had reserved my wedding venue (which meant I knew the date) and I had my wedding dress already. All that to say, it was almost impossible to surprise me. But Paul did a really good job at it still since he knew it was what I wanted. Since I had taken the train to Oregon and didn't have a car, I was able to ride up to Bellingham with Paul and the girls. That weekend was the first weekend for the girls to be in Bellingham. One event we had planned awhile ago was a ceremony to celebrate the end of winter quarter for me. I had told Paul I wanted to "dropkick" my textbook into the ocean. I also a specific song I wanted playing as a did it. I knew we were going to celebrate this on Saturday, but I wasn't sure the exact details and I didn't feel like pressing him too hard in case there was more we were doing than just that. I did learn however that we were going to the water to do the dropkick thing and then coming back home. Okay, I thought, I won't worry about dressing up yet...

The sun came out and we ended up at the ocean where we had already been once before. Paul even brought a speaker for the dropkick music request I had made. I actually had used a digital textbook that quarter, so I used a loaf of bread for my "textbook." Paul videoed me doing the full on ceremony and had even brought two confetti tubes for us to explode.

After that, we did a little dancing. I was having fun and sorta wondering if he was going to ask me the question. A bit into dancing, he said he had something for me and hadn't wrapped it.... hm... he went to his bag and pulled out...earrings! Okay.

At this point I was torn between thinking that this was the actual perfect moment to propose but trying to not dwell on that to avoid disappointment in case he was planning to do it later.

We kept dancing. I was turned away from his bag now. He said he had forgotten something and went back to his bag. I decided to not turn around and watch. When he came back, he was holding the ring box and I knew. The moment I had hoped for so long had arrived. I screamed and hugged him and cried and thanked the Lord out loud for answering my prayer and giving me a husband after my long years of waiting.

Yes, Paul, yes!!! I love you. I want to be your wife for the rest of my life!

Paul: Even though we both knew that we wanted to get engaged, I was still really excited to be engaged, and cried with her as we thanked the Lord for His faithfulness and provision and answer to prayers... and was also looking forward to the further surprises with the family party :) I love you, Janeal, and am so excited to be your husband and for you to be my wife!

P&J

Wedding Day

5:00 PM–6:00 PM

5:00 PM–6:00 PM

Ceremony

6:00 PM–8:00 PM

6:00 PM–8:00 PM

Reception