March 21, 2019:

We were on a cruise for Spring Break. Our port of call for the day was Roatan. We started our day SUPER early in the morning; We planned to complete two scuba dives in Roatan. The driver picked us up around 6:00am local time and we had our first dive completed by around 8:30am. The two dives were THE BEST dives either of us have taken. We arrived back at the boat around 2:00pm. It was formal night. When we arrived back to our stateroom, the steward had created towel animal swans in the shape of a heart. I thought it was super cute. As with all the other days, I told Brett I wanted to take a picture of it. He insisted I take a shower and then take a picture. After all, it was formal night & I had a lot to do to get ready. What I didn't know is Brett was busy preparing the proposal as I was showering...

As I got out of the shower, wrapped in a towel, I walked out into the stateroom. Brett was no where to be found. On the bed accompanying the towel swans was a card. There were also flower petals strewn across the entire bed. As I gingerly removed the card, I noticed a ring box tucked away under the swans. I opened the card. In it was a very sweet message. At the end of the message were the words "Will you marry me?". I looked around, still no Brett. About 2 minutes later, Brett returned to the stateroom. We sat on the couch, we cried, we embraced, and I said YES! I can't wait to be your wife and spend the rest of my life with you! I finally opened the box and he slipped the ring on my finger. No big show, no drama, just Brett & I in our stateroom.

I have always been very meticulous about when and how I would propose, as a planner I tend to prepare every detail for a romantic proposal to my partner. However, after this detailed effort previous experiences have resulted in less than ideal reactions, sometimes anger, and a fiance walking out, I decided this time to do it differently. Early 2019, after our first vacation together to Colorado, I knew then that I have never dated anybody quite like Joy. Joy shows me daily, extreme devotion, love, patience, understanding, kindness, communication, and willingness to go above and beyond for anybody that is close to her. I knew I wanted to marry her, unlike past relationships, I didn't want to wait to make that known to her. We already had a cruise planned for a few months later, so I started to think that would be a good time but had no other plans. We poked around at some jewelry stores for something in the future, and at Shane Co. I selected a setting that I liked and she agreed. Though I did much more reasearch for the perfect setting; I ultimately returnrf back to the original choice at Shane Co. My mother provided me a family heirloom diamond round diamond for to me to utilize to make the ring a complete set.

As we packed and prepared for our cruise, I placed the ring box within my carry-on and prepared to spend a week with the love of my life. While at the Phoenix airport, I informed Joy to go check-in while I check out Scuba Gear, as I had Pre-Check status and would catch-up. However, the lines were so long that by the time I got to the front of the line to check our baggage, they were beyond the timeframe and would have to rebook me. After waiting on standby for one flight a nice customer service agent actually assigned me to a seat on the 3pm flight to Tampa, FL.  I arrived around 10:30pm and finally the engagement and vacation seemed to be back on track.

As we boarded the ship and made our way to our room, I mentioned to Joy that she doesn't need to unpack anything out of my backpack. I then further transitioned the ring from my carryon to my computer bag and placed it into the safe. I waited until the second formal evening, when the night before I asked the room steward to make a heart shaped towel animal for the day. When we returned from shore we saw the towels, and I had a moment where she was going to take a shower to make my move. I aligned the swans, sprinkled flower pedals, and meticlously placed the ring. Cruise staterooms are very small and I felt there wasn't a good location for me to stay without her not getting the full experience, so I left.  I returned about 15 minutes later with her in tears.  We followed that evening with formal picutres which will be seen frequently starting on our Save the Date cards.

I couldn't be more pleased that she said yes, and we are looking forward to a long future together.