We're Engaged!!!

I woke up this morning, and the ring is still on my finger.  Even after pinching myself, I realized I did not dream it; we’re really engaged!  I’ve been thinking and planning for this moment for as long as I’ve been thinking and planning my wedding.  My friend Claire reminded me of when we used to play wedding growing up.  We were four.  Needless to say, it’s been many years of dreaming.  I’ve known Brendan was the right person for me for quite some time.  We met 785 days ago at Butler’s welcome week for freshmen.  The event we attended together was called Playfair, and essentially, freshmen run around hugging, butt bumping, and other crazy things that are mildly embarrassing.  Most people do not meet their future significant other there.  I guess we’re the exceptions.  The best part of that memory is what Brendan was wearing – a polka dot hat, a neon shirt, striped shorts, and tube socks.  I’m glad we all know it’s what’s on the inside that counts.  Brendan’s friend Mark told him last night what a boss he must be for catching me during one of the first nights of school and asking me to be his three days later.  I’m pretty sure I was the one who sent him a text message telling him how much I like him, and I think we started dating because I sent him a facebook message saying it would be fun to change our relationship status.  Regardless, it’s ancient history now.  The past two and a half years haven’t been easy, but they’ve certainly flown by, and I couldn’t imagine my life without Brendan.  We’ve traveled the world together.  He was by my side every hour when I was in the hospital in London.  We survived being apart for eight months, and he was more loving and supportive than anyone else could have been when we found out Eric had a brain tumor in the fall.  I think my family and friends love him almost as much as I do.  Brendan is the most amazing person I’ve ever met, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my fiancé; I’m saying that because it’s true.  What’s also true is that we’re engaged.  That still feels surreal to say (or type); my friend Travis texted me and said the next time he sees me I will probably be a married woman.  First of all, when did I become a woman, and secondly, when did I become someone old enough to consider marriage?  I guess the second part happened in November.  Over Thanksgiving break, I was at Brendan’s house to celebrate with his family.  I broke the chain on a necklace he had given me for our two year anniversary in August, so we went to Macy’s to buy a new chain.  While we were there, he asked me if I would like to look at rings.  Me, being the neurotic, hopeless romantic I am, was overly enthused at the idea.  It was the first time we had ever seriously discussed getting engaged.  We walked over to the ring counter, and my heart skipped a beat.  I tried on one ring, and the man behind the counter helped me figure out my ring size, told us about diamonds, etc.  It was the only ring I tried on.  It was perfect.  Brendan must have thought so too because he went back a few days after Christmas and bought for me.  He didn’t shop around; I didn’t send him pictures or help him pick it out.  To me, the ring is the perfect symbol of what we mean to each other.  There is no other; once you know, you know.  This whole semester, I’ve been waiting for Brendan to tell me he knows.  Once we talked about it, I just knew it would be happening soon.  Since January, I’ve been dressing up on a daily basis, carrying a camera with me just in case, and other crazy things like that.  I have been anticipating being his future wife for what feels like forever.  I am crying writing this, thinking about the fact that it’s happened; I still feel so shocked.  On Wednesday night, I went to his room to watch The Office.  It’s a favorite of ours right now, and we seem to be watching it obsessively.  I fell asleep while we were watching it and didn’t wake up until the morning.  I was not wearing make-up, hadn’t showered, and had sweats on.  I looked fantastic.  I woke up to Brendan staring at me.  I asked him why he was staring, and he told me I look so beautiful when I sleep and he loves me so much.  I nodded and laughed a little, but he kept going on.  He told me how much I mean to him, how happy I make him, and he wants to make me happy for the rest of our lives.  He then pulled out THE RING.  I couldn’t believe it.  At that point, I obviously said yes, and we kissed.  It was really nice to then have the next hour to talk about everything he hadn’t been able to tell me.  I loved that it was just us.  There was no show, and I was surprised.  Plus, he must love me exactly as I am.  I love that.  We then proceeded to call (more like I proceeded to call) everyone we know for the next several hours.  I then went back to my room to get ready for class.  Yes, I did go to class.  Who knows why because I couldn’t focus on anything, but I went.  After class, at 5:15, I had my Alpha Chi candlelight.  All the Alpha Chi Omega’s stand in a circle outside our house and sing the sweetheart song.  The candle gets passed around the circle once for a lavaliere, twice for a pinning, and three times for an engagement.  When the candle got to me the third time around, I blew it out and ran inside with my big sister Katie.  We screamed for a minute, both of us shaking, and ran back outside so I could meet back up with my fiancé.  It was such an amazing moment.  We stood in the middle of the circle and danced as all my sisters sang to us.  Once the singing concluded, Brendan was requested to tell the story of how we met and got engaged.  As he was doing so he said, “This morning I didn’t get to ask Kate the right way, and would love to do so right now.”  He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him again in front of all my sisters.  It was so incredibly romantic.  After my candlelight, about 15 of our friends took us out to dinner at Fazoli’s.  I think that’s one of the best parts of getting engaged in college; there are so many people to celebrate with.  After dinner, we came back to campus for Holy Thursday mass and to ask Father Jeff if he would marry us.  He said he would.  Life feels totally complete right now, and I couldn’t be any happier.