Happy 16th Engagement Annoucement Anniversary!!

What is this you ask? And why aren't I wishing every one a Happy St. Patty's Day?

Well because St. Patrick's Day to me is the anniversary of when my husband and I announced our engagement to the world or at least to our families.

(it always cracks me up to type or write engagement/engaged because it reminds me of the quote I read years ago that says "Ever notice that the word engaged has the word GAG right in the middle of it?" Ha! So true. )

He actually asked me to marry him on March 8th but it seems like I'm always forgetting that until St. Patty's rolls around. And then everything clicks into place.

I remember sitting on the couch late into the evening of March 8th watching, what else? Sesame Street. He was holding me in his arms and he said "What would you say if I asked you to marry me?" (We had been dating for around three months at this time) I just sat there stunned. I guess I was quiet for too long because he then started in with "I don't mean tomorrow or anything..." I don't remember if I looked at him or not but I said "I would say yes."

We went out looking at rings but didn't say anything to our families because I had a brother who was getting married on March 13th and I didn't want to steal any of the spotlight away from him.

I even had a good friend who I hadn't see for a while call me up and ask me if I wanted to go out during this time. Thankfully I had the excuse of my brother's wedding to fall back on.

So March 17th rolls around. I have a dinner with Ty and my parents all set up so that we can talk to them. And after dinner I have invited all of my family over for ice cream and cake to celebrate St. Patty's day *wink wink*. Which you may think is strange but in my family, not so much.

During dinner before we could tell my parents and talk with them my baby brother came in to visit with mom and dad and he wouldn't leave!! I got so stressed out by that I got my very first cold sore.

After dinner and everyone's arrival for said refreshments we waited until the family was all together in the living room. My dad was in his recliner with mom standing close by and the room was packed with probably a good 20 or so people (with 7 siblings and 25 nieces and nephews at the time this was totally normal). My grandma Louise was sitting on the couch across the room from me. Grandma was a great seamstress and she'd made some wedding dresses during her time.

So I looked at grandma and started talking to her. I said "Hey grandma? What would you think about making my wedding dress?' My grandma gasped as did everyone else. I believe that the air was sucked out out of the room. My grandma started laughing and my dad came up out of the recliner with a "What???" And then everyone was laughing and congratulating us.

To my surprise Ty pulled a ring out of his pocket and put it on my hand. A beautiful solitaire diamond with a gold band. We had looked at rings but I didn't know we had bought one. We then had to explain to my mom and dad why we hadn't talked with them before hand (thanks little bro). After hugs and congratulations all around we left to go and break the news to his parents and his younger brothers.

We got engaged (Ha! there's that gag again) on March 8th, announced it on the 17th and were married four months later on July 10th, 1993 in the Jordan River Temple.

So to my hub. Happy 16th Engagement Announcement Day!! I love you!