Brad and Kirsten: June 2010

So many people have been asking me exactly how he proposed...it's quite the story and a long one as well! (or at least I make it long because I have to tell every little detail!) ;) So forewarning, this note may be long!

Sunday, June 27 started off with Brad and I going to Disneyland to renew my annual pass, which would have expired the next day on my birthday. We went into California Adventure, ate lunch, walked around and were going to go on the roller coaster but the line was a little long. So Brad suggested we just leave because he figured Disneyland would be just as crowded or even more crowded than California Adventure. I agreed to leave since we could come back any time with our passes. But in the back of my mind I thought, "What are we going to do for the rest of the day?!" Since I thought Disneyland was an all day thing.

He started driving west (towards Anaheim/Fullerton area) and Brad's house is east of Disneyland so I was a little confused but just figured we were going for a drive since we had nothing else planned for the day (or so I thought!). He went to Marie Callendar's to buy two pies (you're probably wondering why I'm adding this little detail in, but you'll see, it all comes together). His reasoning for buying the pies when I asked, was for the guys at his station for helping with his Uncle John (which of course I believed, being so clueless). We then ended up on Commonwealth and Euclid and passed by the Fullerton Airport and I noticed Orange County Fire Authority Air Operations. And I remembered OCFA has a station at the Fullerton Airport for their search and rescue helicopters. So I jokingly said to Brad, "Hey can we get a tour of the helicopters?!" As I was saying that he pulled into the parking lot, and I looked at him & said, "Wait! I was totally kidding!" and he responded, "No, let's tour it, I know some of the firemen who work here from my department." He grabbed one of the pies before heading in and it all made sense, he had this tour planned and bought the pie to thank them for giving me a tour. During the tour he kept saying, "it's her birthday tomorrow, she's interested in helicopters so I thought we'd tour." Of course I believe everything because I've been saying for years I want to fly in one before I die, it's on the bucket list! :)

OCFA doesn't give helicopter rides due to liability, which I completely understood. I was still excited to see the inside and hear about them. After that we left and again I thought we were just heading home. He pulls around to the other side of the airport and we stop at a private helicopter hanger and I looked at him with a confused look and he told me he figures while we're here we'd tour a private helicopter to see the difference between search and rescue and a private one. My response "oh cool!" hahaha CLUELESS!

He then brings in the 2nd pie with him (you know...the pies that are for the guys at his station on Monday..yeaaah right!) He had all of this planned. We toured the hanger and the pilot said "Well you want to go for a ride?" I nervously responded "Sure!"

We ended up going over Disneyland (which is so weird to see from above!) We flew over Angels stadium and the game was just ending so that was really awesome, we flew over the Honda Center. The pilot asked if we wanted to go by my house...and I said "sure I'm only a couple miles south of the Angels stadium" and then Brad was like "Let's go by my house first which is north of Angels stadium then we'll head south, see her house, then the beach." Made more sense to me!

We fly over Brad's house and I'm so busy taking pictures and trying to find his house, etc. Well we hovered for a good minute kind of going in circles...we were SO low, it was amazing! Well finally the pilot says to me, "Kirsten, what does that sign say on the house?" And I said it out loud without even questioning, "Will you marry me?" and I looked at Brad and he had the ring out and I said "Yessss!!" I was speechless after that! The pilot got so low for me to take a photo of the huge banner! (pictures to come). I was so overwhelmed...first time in a helicopter AND a proposal?!?! It's a little hard to get really excited, scream, and jump up and down in a helicopter but inside my mind that's what I was doing!!! We kissed and held hands the rest of the time. I don't quite even remember the rest of the ride, or maybe because I couldn't stop staring at the rock on my finger and was not interested in anything we were flying over!! We flew towards Huntington Beach and right along the coast...we got so low to the water, it was seriously breathtaking.

We headed back to the airport and landed and I cannot even explain the feelings, emotions, thoughts. I just remember the pilot helping me out of the helicopter and taking my left hand to help me out and he said "damn that's a nice ring!" I felt a little queezy probably because of butterflies, being in a helicopter, etc. Brad told me we were going to go back to his house, change clothes and meet our families for dinner. I thought, "Good! Because I'm in shorts and t-shirt which was for disneyland haha" We went to the gas station to get water and I had to call my family to tell them the news...Brad wouldn't let me because he wanted me to tell them in person. I was DYING to tell someone. I almost told the checker at the gas station, I just had to say "I'm engaged!!" haha big dork.

We pulled up to Brad's house and I thought it was strange he didn't pull into the garage but assumed because we were just running in to change clothes. But he didn't even open the garage...we NEVER enter through the front door, always the garage door. And I was going to leave my purse in the car since we were coming right back. He told me to just take it. I kinda then assumed our families were in the house, not meeting us at the restaurant. So we finally open the front door and to my complete surprise his (now ours) house was FILLED with family, friends, relatives, neighbors. Every one who means the world to us. They said "SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" right when we walked in. My reaction was "Happy birthday???? what?! I just got engaged, my birthday is tomorrow..." Well Brad sent out surprise birthday party invitations to everyone...so everyone thought they were there for a birthday party...no one knew he was proposing! (Besides our families because he came over to my house last Thursday to ask my Dad if he could propose...such a gentleman!) So it was a huge surprise for them too!! After they said "Surprise! Happy Birthday!" Brad's mom said "So what did you guys do today?" And at that point I realized no one knew he proposed! And Brad said to them, "WE GOT ENGAGED!!" It was amazing, I can't wait to post the video of all this!

I can't believe all he went through to pull this off!! What a stud!!! The birthday/engagement party was amazing. They had the taco man there, margarita machine, balloons, cake, flowers. I had absolutely NO idea of any of this. I'm still in awe!

I am truly blessed by all the love. I can't even find the words to describe how I feel. Forget cloud 9, I'm on cloud 91981098176261. It will be a birthday I'll never forget! I am so excited to marry the man of my dreams. Brad and I met my freshman year of high school and built a strong friendship through high school and started dating in May of my senior year. Our friendship continues to strengthen on a daily basis. I can't imagine life without him, and now I don't have to :) Our strong foundation built on love, friendship, faith, & trust will carry us through the rest of our lives together. It's going to take a little time for me to remember to say "fiance" after calling Brad my boyfriend for 6 years!

Thank you to everyone who made this day beyond special, we are so blessed. Time to start planning!!! :)

"Be a best friend, tell the truth, overuse 'I love you', go to work, do your best, don't out smart your common sense, never let your praying knees get lazy, and LOVE LIKE CRAZY."-Lee Brice