Hi friends!

It has definitely been quite awhile since we last posted on here. But we are back with some exciting news… We’re engaged!

The question that everyone is asking… How did he do it?!

From my perspective:

First, some background information – We’ve been talking about the future for the past few years, with some hiccups here and there, but we were on the same page that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Over the holidays, Romel was approached by a company in San Francisco for work. He entertained the idea as it has been one of his goals to work abroad. We would just fantasize about how exciting it would be to start a new life together in a whole new city. A couple of weeks and many interviews later, those dreams became reality, and Romel received a job offer… I remember we went to dinner to celebrate and we just stared blankly at each other and said, “What just happened?” over and over again. After we regained consciousness, we tried to be responsible adults and talk about the pros and cons of accepting the offer and what this might mean for our relationship (although, we both knew that he should take the job!)

A few weeks later, I set up a little farewell party for him with all of his friends at 8 1/2 Restaurant & Lounge. The night before the dinner I began to be a little suspicious. If you know me well, you’ll know that I love solving mysteries – I like to pretend I’m Sherlock trying to solve a case!) Anyways, Romel was telling me to invite more of my girl friends (who he knew I would have as my bridesmaids) “because I was leaving too”. That was clue #1. On the day of the dinner, one of my best friends (who is also very good friends with Romel) texted me that she needed to talk to me right before the dinner about advice and what not. This was clue #2. My dad works both day and night shifts, and the time she wanted to hang out was during that little window that both of my parents would be home so that Romel could ask for permission. Aha! I said in my head – I’ve solved the case…

When I told Watson (Romel) of my findings, he responded that he had no idea what I was talking about and that he hadn’t even gotten a ring. This is when Romel is going to tell you that I cried…. I didn’t! Okay, maybe just a little… Can’t a girl be disappointed?! I thought I had it all figured out and then he tells me with the best lying face in the world that he doesn’t have anything prepared. I was seriously heartbroken… for about 30 minutes. Then I told myself – it’s not going to happen today but it will happen when it’s supposed to happen!

Fast forward to having coffee with my friend before the dinner. We talked about life, love, the future – everything. I was feeling much better and hopeful that things would work out eventually. We headed to the dinner and it was so heart-warming to see all of our friends there to celebrate Romel’s new adventure!

I remember Romel telling me that he wanted to do a speech to tell everyone that he was thankful for them coming out and that he was going to miss them. I told him it was a good idea. He looked so nervous now that I remember it. He kept pacing back and forth, drink in hand. I said it’s not a big deal and to just do it! He spoke to the waitress to turn down the music and then he started saying thank you to everyone for coming out, etc. I sat in the corner, munching on a chicken wing.

Then he turned to me, and started saying thank you to me for planning this dinner… And I’m like okay… Then he kept going… About the past five years… And I’m like what’s going on… Then in my head, I was like Please stop talking about me… This is so awkward… I really want to eat my chicken wing but everyone’s watching me…

That’s when he told me to come up where he was standing… and I had to put my chicken wing down. I couldn’t stop shaking and was really confused what he was going to do. Then he struggled to find something in someone’s bag… he knelt down.. pulled out a ring and I said “yes!” and the rest is history! Oh, and then the Mario Kart Love Song started playing in the background! (When Romel first sent me this song 5 years ago, I knew he was the one for me!)

Thank you to everyone who came out that night to share this special moment with us. We love you dearly!

Thanks to Jonathan for the photos!