The roller coaster....part one

The last 7 days have been a ride.  Last Friday, we left after Hannah's volleyball game for McLeod.  We left late and arrived there just before 1 am.  Kyle, Hannah, K'Lynn and I all grabbed a couple of hours of sleep and then off we went to Birmingham!  Why were we going?  Because our son, Ryan, was going to propose to his beautiful girlfriend Courtney.   We have grown to love her like our own daughter over the past almost 2 years.  She is everything I have prayed that God would package into the woman he would marry someday.

Saturday, we arrived in Birmingham in the afternoon.  We were able to spend the evening with Ryan, seeing where he lives, where he works, having dinner and preparing ourselves for the next day's events.  Church the next morning was like a secret service mission with Ryan's friends trying to make sure we were no where near Courtney.  We have kept this quiet so well- we couldn't blow it at the last minute!!  Lunch with Ryan, then the girls and I went to gather all the things we were going to use to set up the engagement site.  Flowers, Sparkling cider,  chocolate dipped strawberries, and an umbrella.  Why?  It was raining- had been raining all day- and the site he chose was outside.  Back to the hotel, a quick nap, and then rushing to get ready.  Out the door on time, but then we got lost on the way to the restaraunt to get the supper we ordered.  We finally found the place, with the rain building.  Just as we drove up, the text we got from Ryan was, "I need  a tarp".  What?  I don't keep one in my purse!  We jumped out of the truck with all of our gear and began to run up the hill to the pavillion.  Wait....K'Lynn says Ryan says we are going to plan B.  Wait?  I am standing in the rain with tissue wrapped roses.  I am dripping wet already!

OK...plan B.  We drove quickly to his house and set up the dinner in his living room.  We made it look beautiful!  We went to find some dinner of our own...5 Guys.  As we ate, we watched the live Twitter feed that Ryan had a friend doing of the whole scene.  Just enough detail to totally get the idea of what was happening.  I cried right there in the restaraunt...so happy for my son.  Once dinner was over, we went  to Courtney's aunt's house for a post-proposal party with lots of family and friends.  This was also the moment when we got to meet the folks I will share grandbabies with someday!  Susan and Bill are wonderful people!  This is going to be fun!

The engagement party was amazing!  They told us just how Ryan proposed.  Courtney told us that she was so proud of him for finally proposing!  One of the pictures that Ryan's friend took showed that moment perfectly- her arms raised in celebration!  Speaking of pictures....times certainly have changed.  I doubt anyone used to prepare with a photographer prior to proposing when Kyle and I got married.  Now, though...it is pretty common.  Ryan prepared very well and had his roommate in a rain poncho and hiding in the bushes with a long-range lens.  He took wonderful pictures that allowed us all totally have the experience with them, after the fact.  We celebrated with everyone and talked about the wonderful wedding that is coming in only 3 months!  Late that night we made it back to the hotel, preparing to return to real life the next day.