Best News Ever!

I know this will not come as a shock to anyone who reads my twitter or is friends with me on facebook... actually my myspace friends might be taken aback:

I'm ENGAGED! Yes, "finally" is the response we've gotten the most since we've told people. There are only a few of Brandon's facebook friends that genuinely seemed shocked. Um, he and I have been dating for 2 years and 5 months, and we've been talking about our future forever. Where have they been?!

It was just a matter of time, and that time came Sunday, May 9th, 2010 at sunset in beautiful Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. We escaped for the weekend because Brandon had a work trip there on Friday, May 7th. My work paid for me to go too, so it was really just a spur of the moment getaway.

First, we went to Charleston on Thursday and Friday nights:

It was a beautiful city. We had a great time walking around downtown and doing a little window shopping in the awesome stores. On Saturday morning, we got up an headed down to Hilton Head for the rest of the weekend. We stayed in the Hilton Oceanfront Resort. It was amazing!

We lounged by the pool and layed in the hammocks, listening to the ocean breeze. It was a very relaxing weekend.

On Sunday, we ventured out from the hotel and decided to go on a catamaran. Brandon wanted to pay more to go alone, rather than being on the boat that held 45 people, which was our other option. Later, we learned this was a great decision, since something happened to the other boat, and they had to turn around after less than 10 minutes of a 2.5 hour boat ride! SO glad we weren't on that one!

Our captain, Bob, took us out on the intercoastal waterway, and we saw dolphins and pretty sailboats, and huge private islands. It was an awesome tour. Right at sunset, while I was taking pictures and distracted...

Brandon got down on one knee and said he brought me out on the catamaran for another reason, besides seeing the sunset. Then, he pulled a white box out of his pocket and opened it and there was a sparkling diamond ring in his hand. He told me that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and asked me what I thought? I said YES, and he put the ring on my finger, and Captain Bob took our picture.

We are so excited to start planning our wedding! I had to leave on a work trip early Monday morning, so we will have to sit down this weekend and discuss dates. I want to get married in 2010, but Brandon's leaning toward 2011. We'll see who wins!

And lastly, here is a picture I took of my ring at work today. Sometimes I get so distracted by the shiny diamond that I lose my focus. Oh well. It's worth it. Such a beautiful ring...