The Proposal
How did he propose!? This was the most asked question on stories this week when I shared a wedding question box on Instagram. Russ teases me that I don’t even know which month he proposed, let alone the exact date. I do remember the moment and I think that matters most.
Russ originally planned to propose when we were in Italy last summer. I’m sure it would have been beautiful. The photo above is the balcony of our room in Rome. I’m a big believer that things work out the way they’re meant to. I didn’t know when it would happen, but I did go to the nail salon with my Mom before our trip. Ya know, just in case. The proposal in Dallas last summer was perfect. I’m secretly happy that the original plan did not pan out. You’ll have to ask Russ for the details, but it’s my understanding that the ring was not ready in time for the trip to Italy. My passport also was set to expire within 6 months and the departure date got pushed back two days because of it. Completely my fault, by the way.
Russ had the ring less than 24 hours before he asked me to marry him. He is the kind of guy who wants you to open your birthday gift as soon as it arrives in the mail, even if your birthday is still 60 days away. On a Saturday morning (thank you Russ for being on brand), at his place, he got down on one knee and asked me the question I’ve long wondered if I would ever hear. I can’t for the life of me remember the exact words he said in that moment. I know he stated my full name, Angeline Holub. He did get down on one knee which Sweetie (our dog) was very excited about! Usually when either of us kneel down to her level it means she’s getting a treat. She thought the ring box had something in it for her. Sweetie has been my roommate and BFF since I rescued her in 2021. The thought of Russ asking for my hand in marriage without Sweetie present just doesn’t seem as special to me. She’s part of our pack and I was so happy that she was there to witness the most special moment of my life. Seeing her trying to understand what the heck was going on also made me snap out of my state of shock that this was indeed happening and smile.
I’ve always assumed that I will be a bride who will bawl her eyes out during the wedding, unable to recite my vows. It’s difficult to explain the feeling, but every time I think of forever with Russ I get teary-eyed. I think it stems from a feeling of gratitude. Gratitude towards an answered prayer. A feeling of relief and disbelief that somehow a girl from Pflugerville and a guy from Vancouver would cross paths at just the right time. I did not cry when he proposed UNTIL he asked if I recognized the ring box. It turns out that my Mom and Dad had offered to let Russ use the box that my Mom’s ring came in. I now keep my ring in that box when I’m not wearing it. I’m a very sentimental person and this special part of the proposal made the whole thing even more perfect to me than it already was.
To the single girls out there who read my blog: do not settle. Ever. Never ever. Your time will come, all in God’s timing and you will be even more excited to have found your happily ever after. Good things come to those who wait and let me tell ya, I waited. 35 long years.
Xx,
Angeline