Filling my passport with family, travel and bliss

New Year’s has a special place in my heart. 

Not only is it the beginning of a new year and the opportunity for a fresh start, it also marks the third anniversary of when my “then boyfriend” asked me a very important question.

Chicken or fish?

Red or white?

Window or aisle?

Grant it, these are all important questions (and if you must know, it’s chicken, red & window), but this particular question had much more significance and actually made me squeal and sob all at the same time!

And I didn’t see it coming!

We had been dating for 9 months and decided to spend New Year’s at the Mission Inn in Riverside.  If you haven’t been there, do yourself a favor & visit this spectacular inn during the Christmas season at least once.  Sparkly, pretty lights cover the grounds creating a magical wonderland!

For New Year’s Eve, Crispin made reservations at a beautiful restaurant called Mario’s Place located across the street from the inn.

Good friends of ours met us there to ring in 2010 with fabulous food and dancing.  I was curious why his friends brought all of their camera and video equipment though.

“They must really want to capture the festivities of the New Year”, I thought.

Still clueless…

During our 4 course meal, Crispin kept excusing himself to use the bathroom.  I felt bad thinking that the food was wreaking havoc on his stomach, but each time he came back, he seemed fine and quite happy.

Before getting our dessert, he asked our server if we could move to a table closer to the dance floor.  We were in a quieter area of the restaurant which I didn’t mind, but the waiter was happy to oblige and moved us right over by the dance floor.

After enjoying our dessert, we all hit the dance floor in our party hats and danced the night away up until the big countdown.

“3…2…1…Happy New Year!”

” Auld Lang Syne” played in the background as couples kissed and danced in the new year.

Toward the end of the song, the deejay interrupted and said, “I’d like to make an announcement.  This is also a very special night for a very special couple…”

I looked at my husband.

“OH…MY…GOSH…a lucky girl is getting proposed to tonight!”

I excitedly scanned the room trying to spot someone on their knee, when C turned to me, took my hands and said, “You make me so happy.”

I thought…how sweet.

Still no clue!!!

Then in front of complete strangers on a crowded dance floor, the man of my dreams proceeded to get down on one knee and pulled out a little box.

It then dawned on me…OMG…that lucky girl is me!!!

“Jennifer, I love you.  Will you marry me?”

Tears of bliss proceeded to gush out of my eyes along with squeals, laughter, sobs…and who knows what else.  C put the ring on my finger, and I kept saying between sobs, “Oh my gosh…oh my gosh…oh my gosh!!!”

After I calmed down a little, C looked at me…”So is that a yes?”

“Of course it is!!”

We embraced each other for what seemed like forever.  It was such a magical evening…one I will never forget.

Everything finally made sense.  His friends were there not only to join us but also to document “the moment”.  C kept excusing himself NOT to use the bathroom, but to arrange things with the deejay.  And he wanted us to be close to the dance floor so his friends would have easier access to the camera & video equipment.

“Congratulations” by total strangers flooded our table, dance floor and even in the ladies restroom as I attempted to fix my makeup.

After about 15 minutes of celebrating with my fiancé, I thought…I need to call my parents!

Before calling, C said, “I already asked your parents for their blessing.”

So they knew all along!!!  Hmmm…time to play along.

“Hi Mom, Happy New Year!”

“Hi honey, Happy New Year!  Are you enjoying your evening?”

“Yeh, it’s ok.  So, is there something you want to talk about?”

“I don’t know…is there?!”

“I…DON’T…KNOW…IS…THERE?”

 Well I just couldn’t keep it in any longer.

“I’M ENGAGED!  And you knew all along!”

We both erupted in laughter & tears.

My mom said, “Well, it’s a good thing I have laryngitis and almost no voice or else I may have spilled the beans!”

My dad then joined in on the celebration on the phone and revealed that C asked for their blessing back in early December, but he didn’t reveal when or where he would pop the question.  But they had an idea it would be on New Year’s.  After we hung up, my parents proceeded to celebrate with hot chocolate while my fiancé and I continued to celebrate throughout the night.

Reliving the memorable start to 2010 puts that goofy grin on my face all over again, and I don’t want to wipe it off!!!

It was a magical evening filled with so much happiness, love, excitement, joy…BLISS.

3 years later as we counted down to 2013, I asked Crispin if he would marry me all over again…he said yes.

Lucky girl  🙂

May your 2013 be filled with bliss!