Engaged!

And here comes the story... :)

My weekend off fell on Valentines Day... so I traveled by train and bus to Munich to visit Erkai. I was very excited for the "surprise date" he'd been hinting at for a few weeks. :) He met me at the bus with a rose and dark chocolate. We walked back to his apartment to leave my stuff until I went to my friends' house where I was staying. When we got to his door he told me he had a surprise for me inside, and he made me shut my eyes; when I opened them, I saw THIS:

A timeline of our relationship

He had filled his whole room with pictures of us, flowers, and candles. I thought that this was his Valentines Day surprise for me, but he told me that there was more. :)

He took me to the English Gardens in Munich, which is a giant park with a lake, walking paths, and cute bridges. When we got there, he gave me a tiny little key "for later." 

Last boyfriend-girlfriend picture

Then we walked for a while more. He talked about our relationship, we looked at the park map, we teased each other. Then he walked towards a bridge. He started to say lots of cute things, including that he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. (!!!) As we stood and looked at the stream, Erkai told me that he had put a lock for us on that very bridge. I knew what that meant...

[I LOVE the tradition in Europe that couples will put locks with their names on bridges when they get married. Sometimes it will have a wedding date as well, sometimes not. Then the couple throws the keys into the river to symbolize that there is no "going back" on that marriage. Once in Salzburg, Erkai and I had talked about "if" we got married, putting a lock on a bridge together.]

He told me to use the key he gave me to find the lock. I looked on one side of the bridge, but didn't find it. He told me to check the other side. Right away, I saw a little gold lock that looked about the right size. I was looking for a lock with our names on it, so I was shocked/excited/surprised to see THIS:

I stole a look behind me to see his reaction, and HE WAS ON ONE KNEE!!!! :)

I think I shrieked a little, maybe.

Then he didn't say anything for a second. It seemed like foreeever. Then I realized he was trying not to cry, and he hardly ever cries, so my heart was even more melted. He said a few more sweet things that I was too excited to remember and asked me to marry him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously I said yes. :)

Then he gave me a beautiful ring that he chose himself...

I'm in love with the ring. But even more with the man!

The whole weekend was filled with surprises from Erkai and God, happiness, Skype calls with family and friends, and a lot of staring at the ring. 

Telling my girls was so much fun. Stacey called them down for a "meeting," and they all thought they were in trouble. Callie picked me up at the train station and I surprised the girls with the announcement as they gathered for their "meeting." They screamed for at least five minutes, and most of them tried to hug me all at once. I felt so loved and special. It was so much fun to tell them the whole story... At the end, they were saying "we need to find guys like Erkai." Yes, girls, please do. I'm so thankful that Erkai is such an excellent example of a godly man to my girls, and I'm so excited to marry him!!!!

Stacey and Callie welcomed me home in style!

I love him! :)

Stay tuned for a wedding date/place... I didn't realize how complicated it is to have (between the two of us) SIX different countries where we've left pieces of our hearts and people we love. But wherever and whenever we get married, I can't wait to share my life with him. :)