Lacey and Josh – September Finalist

By On · 41 Comments · In Most Romantic Couple Finalists, Proposals

It all started 4 years ago when I started my new job and met my fiancé, Josh. I can still remember the first time I was given the chance to wait on him at the counter and after he left I looked at my supervisor and said, “I am going to marry that man”. Little did I know it would really happen!!

Being with Josh is amazing. He is the most wonderful person you could ever meet and is so giving and caring. As I like to say he is a devoted “life-saver” as a Paramedic, Volunteer Fire Fighter and a Main Diver for the Search and Rescue Team in our area. He is constantly giving to everyone in our community and that is what made me fall head-over-heels for him.

July 9, 2011 was the day my life would change forever…

I was working at the bank till noon and then volunteering that evening at our local fair, as I do every year. Josh had asked me to come directly home after work because he had plans for us and promised to have me back in time to work at the fair. So I went home, changed and headed out the door with him. I had no idea where we were going but I did notice a small cooler in the back seat so I just assumed we were going for a nice picnic in the park in Springfield.

We puledl into the Springfield Marina where Josh proceeded to park and said he was going to go ask for directions to the park. Ha, I guessed it, a picnic in the park! Josh went inside the Marina office and was in there for a good amount of time so needless to say the wheels start turning in my mind and I no longer feel a picnic coming on.  He comes back to the Jeep and says, “Okay, let’s get changed” and I said, “YOU RENTED JET SKIS!!!!!”

Now let me back track a little here, our first date was supposed to be renting Jet Skis but the weather was not permitting that weekend we were free and we never got the chance to reschedule.  In a sense, were having what was meant to be our first date on this day and I was so excited! So now that I know what his surprise is he handed me a bathing suit he had purchased for today, a beach towel, a pair of sandals, sunglasses and even a hair tie for me. Now, do you understand what I mean when I say “he’s amazing?” We proceed to get our lesson on driving the Jet Ski and we were off buzzing around the lake for about 30 minutes before he found this very quiet, very secluded cove and shuts off the Jet Ski. As he turned around to face me he started to tell me how much he loves me and how happy he is with what we have together and how well we work as one. At this point I still had no idea what he was about to say because what we were saying to each other was nothing more than what we have discussed before and I felt as we were just having another amazing day together and sharing a moment.

As he turned back around and stated fishing around in the compartment for something that’s when I thought to myself  “No way, No way he is getting out a ring!” and  so he turned back around with the box in hand, opened it up and said, “Lacey Ann Boensel, Will You Marry Me?” Of course I said yes after I collected myself and hugged him and kissed him and I could not stop bouncing up and down and giggling and smiling!!!

In fact I’m still smiling…

And that was the best day of my life with the best man I could have ever dreamed of!

Jeremie and AJ ~ August Finalist

By On · 59 Comments · In Most Romantic Couple Finalists, Proposals

On August 13, 2011 on the brightest moon of the year with the help of my girlfriend’s favorite actor, Bruce Campbell,  I proposed in front of a sold out crowd during a question and answer session at the Donald E Stephens Area in Rosemont Illinois.

AJ  had requested a moon stone for her engagement ring.  I chose a day when all the stars aligned to ask my best friend AJ to be my wife.

You can view the actual proposal by following the link.  The proposal starts about 6 minutes into the clip.

Dixie and Nick ~ July Finalist

By On · 32 Comments · In Most Romantic Couple Finalists, Proposals

Nick asked me earlier in the week if we had anything planned for Sunday.  When I told him no, he suggested we have a picnic.  He would not tell me where or what time this picnic would take place.  He just kept saying, “you’ll see.”

Sunday morning he dropped me off after church and said he would see me later.  I stood in the drive watching him drive away and wondered, “what time is later?”

My daughter walked out of the house carrying a card and a rose.  The card said, “Picnic Time, I am a rose being given to you as a token of love.  Other roses are awaiting you.  Proceed to Route 29 Fitness at 12:00″.  When I got to Route 29 Fitness the owners Joe and Anna were standing by the door holding a card and a rose.  The card said, “This is the very spot where I asked you out and you said yes!”   Then the card said to proceed to our pew at Cantrall Church.  There were 2 roses, a card, and an open Bible.  The Bible was open to Genesis and told how God decided it was not good for man to be alone. The card said, “I truly believe with my soul that when I got on my knees and prayed for God to let me have true love and romance that our paths were set by God to intersect.”  I was then instructed to proceed to our football seats.

There were 2 roses and a card sitting in our usual seats at the school football field.  The card said, “Community life was a big thing missing in my life and being with you has brought it all back.”   I was then to proceed to the fire pit at Nick’s hunting property.

At the fire pit I was met by Nick’s friend Vince who was standing holding a card and a rose.  Nick and I had a very romantic night early in our courtship of dancing on a gorgeous fall evening next to a fire under a full moon.  The card said, “I always think of our night when I see a full moon.  I want to do that again and again and again.” Then I was instructed to proceed to our little one room school house.  He even provided directions!

When I got there, he was standing next to a picnic blanket.  There were roses, champagne, and food.  After I hugged him, he got down on one knee and proposed.  He promised to love and cherish me for the rest of our lives. I burst into tears and said “Yes!”

He then placed the most perfect diamond engagement ring on my finger! The one room school house is significant because I am a school teacher and this school house was purchased by an elderly gentleman in memory of his wife.  She had started her teaching career there.  He had gone daily and placed flowers on her desk until he died.

Nick had asked all of our children’s permission before he set his plan into motion. I know in my heart that our romance has only just begun!

Andrea and Joseph

By On · 3 Comments · In Proposals

It was Christmas Eve and Joseph and I had  slept in pretty late, which was very unusual.  He asked me to go downstairs and check on the clothes in the dryer. I walked down the stairs with no make up on and my hair was a mess. As soon as I got downstairs, I realized he was right behind me.  I turned around to see Joseph on one knee before I could even gather my thoughts.  I couldn’t keep back the tears as he asked, ” Andrea Nicole will you make me the happiest man, and be my wife.”

Before I even grabbed the ring I wrapped my arms so tightly around him and said Yes!!  As he let go of me, he put the ring on my finger saying that I would be his Princess forever.

He told me to go show my dad.  When I did, my dad told me he already knew, because a week prior Joseph had asked my dad’s permission to take my hand.

Liz and Abe

By On · 18 Comments · In Proposals

As I looked out the window, watching the snow swirl all around us, I kept wondering why we were driving to Champaign in a blizzard.  As quickly as that thought came into my head, it vanished.  I knew exactly why we were going to Champaign; were going to the watch the Illini basketball game.  One of the players, center Mike Tisdale, is a life-long friend of my brother and like a second brother to me; he’s always been part of my family.  My brother Joe got tickets for the December 12, 2010 game and we were going watch them play.

When we arrived at Assembly Hall, the attendance was down due to the blizzard but that didn’t dampen our spirits, we were ready for an exciting time.

The Illini hosted the Northern Colorado Bears and played in front of 5,157, one of the smallest crowds in history on that Sunday afternoon; the actual number of tickets sold 14,814.  The weather must of have gotten to everyone that afternoon; the Illini players had a good first half but came back in the second and let the Bears score 50 points.  Even so, Mike scored 14 points and seven rebounds getting Illinois off to a hot start.  When the game ended the Illini won 86-76, it wasn’t quite as exciting as I expected but nonetheless, they won and I had a good time.

As the Hall emptied, there were only a handful of people left, mostly close friends and relatives of the players.  We were waiting to talk to Mike in center court where people were starting to gather to take pictures.  As I walked towards them I could see my boyfriend,  Abe Christofilakos.

When I met up with him and Mike, Abe dropped to one knee and said “I want to make you the happiest you can be and make me the happiest I can be”.

Abe took out the ring and I said yes. The crowd was cheering for us as tears were streaming down my cheeks.  I was stunned.  We have been together for six years, and with my birthday just the day before, I wasn’t sure when this day was going to happen.  I hugged everyone as I wiped tears away, showing them my engagement ring.  A news reporter from the News-Gazzette was there and he interviewed both of us and wrote an article in their paper.  I found out afterwards Abe had been planning this for about a month and a half and with Mike’s help!

It was very surprising because Abe is more of a low-key guy so for him to make such a public proposal was definitely unexpected.

I always said I would not be that girl who cries, but I did.  And as it turned out, I did have an exciting time at the game that winter day.

 

Kim and Mike ~ June Finalists

By On · 8 Comments · In Most Romantic Couple Finalists, Proposals
After dating for two years and talking about getting married, Mike and I finally decided to look at rings to get an idea of what was available.  We went to Denney Jewelers on a Sunday and met John Daum.  John was very helpful in trying to help us figure out what kind of ring we were looking for.  He asked me what kind of ring I liked and I told him I was interested in a wide wedding ring,.  He then took us to a selection of wide wedding rings.  There was one ring that immediately stood out; it was absolutely beautiful and sparkling. It was a white gold band will brilliant princess cut and round diamonds on it.  I immediately fell in love with it but once I saw the price I felt it was a little over our budget.  That being said, I asked if he could get a diamond to put on the setting just to see what it would look like. The ring was breathtaking and Mike even said, “that is you.”  It was absolutely beautiful. We then proceeded to other settings and after looking at several, we finally decided on two rings that we liked. 

After going home and having a couple of days to do some research online regarding wedding sets and diamonds, it seemed that rings were just darn expensive and we were not going to find a better deal anywhere else.  All I could think about was the firs ring that I tried on at Denney’s and decided I wanted to go back and ask some questions.  It thought that maybe with one of the rings that we picked out I could go ahead and find a wedding band to make it look a little wider.  I also wanted to check to see if maybe they could design a new ring that was similar with with not as many diamonds or smaller stones, but still with the width I likes.  I went back two days later to talked with John some more.  I was impressed that we remembered me from a few days prior.  I told him I wanted to look at the rings that Mike and I had picked out again.  I asked him if I could see the white gold wide band wedding ring one more time because it was so beautiful.

John walked me over to the display case and pulled out the ring, but it was yellow gold.  I told him I could not believe it was yellow gold and that I really must have gotten caught up in all the emotion of picking out rings that I did not realize I had tried on a yellow gold one instead of a white gold.  He told me the white gold had sold the day before, but he could get a new one if need be. Unbeknownst to me, Mike had gone back the very next day to buy the ring, which is why John didn’t have one to show me! I managed to put five different ring combinations together to try and come up with a good price, but try to match what I really wanted (the first ring I had tried on.)

About a week later, Mike and I decided to meet at my house for dinner after some errands.  Just as I was getting ready to call him and let him know I was heading home, he called to tell me his car had broken down on Wabash. He had manged to get into the Ace Hardware parking lot and called a tow truck, but it wouldn’t be there for an hour.  He thought he would walk across the street to the Barrel Head.  He asked me to meet him there; we could have a drink while we were waiting for the tow truck. I said no worries as I was heading that way.

As soon as I walked into the Barrel Head, it hit me that this where Mike and I first met two years ago, kind of a blind date, if you will.  I walked up to him so excited to remember this and reminded him that this was where we first met! He said, “Really?  Oh yeah, that’s right.”

 

The bartender asked me what I would like to drink and I told her a beer, I then turned to talk to Mike and he had the wedding ring in his hand and he asked me to marry him! Not only was it a surprise to see he had a wedding ring , but that it was THE  ring I had wanted all along.  I was so shocked!  I turned to look at the bartender and there was a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice and two glasses on the bar in front of us.  I absolutely could not believe it!  His car had not really broken down, and he had planned this whole evening at the place we first met.  Mike told me that he had gone back to Denney Jewelers the VERY NEXT DAY and bought the wedding ring I wanted so badly but didn’t think we could get. He is awesome and I am so lucky to have such a thoughtful and romantic man in my life.

The Mysterious Box from Outer Space

By On · Leave a Comment · In Anniversary

Maria woke from a deep sleep with her daughter Jill shaking her and yelling, “Mommy! Mommy! There’s a box hanging from the ceiling. What is it?”

She stumbled out of bed saying, “What are you talking about?” as she followed her daughter downstairs to the living room.

Sure enough, suspended from the ceiling was a mysterious-looking box. It was about eighteen inches square and wrapped in shiny tin foil. It looked like something from outer space!

“Don’t . . . touch . . . the . . . box . . . !” They looked around at the sound of Dad’s booming voice as he repeated, “Don’t touch the box please.” By now Jill’s two sisters had also come down to the living room and Dad just looked at each of them, smiled, and said “Don’t touch the box.”

Maria walked over to him with a quizzical look on her face and whispered, “Fred, what’s going on? What’s this box?” He just looked her in the eye and said, “Under no circumstances is anyone to touch that box.”

One day passed, then another, then another until the box had been hanging from the ceiling in the living room for four days. Maria and the girls were going crazy wondering what was in it and, more importantly, who was it for? Deductive reasoning proved that no one’s birthday was coming, it certainly wasn’t Valentine’s Day or a wedding anniversary. Christmas was six months away. What could it be?

The excitement grew until finally, on the morning of the fifth day, Dad said, “I have an announcement to make . . . tonight someone in this room will open the box.”

That evening with everyone gathered in the living room, Dad reached over, took the box in his hand and carefully cut the four wires which were holding it in suspension. He handed it to Jill, asking her to unwrap the tin foil from the box. When she had completed that, he took the box from her and handed it to his next oldest daughter, Rachel, and asked her to remove the box which was taped around another package.

The suspense continuing to build, Rachel unveiled a cylindrical object that Dad took from her and handed to his oldest daughter, Becky, asking her to open it. Inside she revealed a small gift-wrapped package with a red velvet ribbon.

Fred picked up the box and handed it to Maria saying, “Happy Anniversary Sweetheart”.

“What are you talking about Fred?” she said, “This isn’t our anniversary. Our anniversary isn’t for three months!”

Fred walked over and put his arms around her, saying, “Actually dear, this IS our anniversary. Ten years ago today you walked into the little store where I was working. That’s when I first saw you and that’s when I first fell in love with you.”

Grinning from ear to ear in surprise and pleasure, Maria opened the box to find a beautiful pair of star sapphire earrings.

 

Talking Plates

By On · Leave a Comment · In Proposals

Buying an engagement ring for my girlfriend Jenna was a bit overwhelming for me since I had never bought jewelry of any type for anyone. Once accomplished I was feeling quite proud of myself until the jeweler said to me, “How do you plan to give it to her?”

“Yikes!”, I thought, “Don’t you just drop on one knee and say ‘will you marry me?’ or something like that?”

“Well, gosh, I don’t know. Any good suggestions?” I asked aloud.

What my terrific jeweler suggested to me was so much fun and surprised Jenna so well that I wish I could do it all over again! Here’s what I did:

I found a restaurant  I knew Jenna would love.  It had just the cozy atmosphere that she goes crazy over.  When we arrived I asked to be seated outdoors. We had a very nice lunch and a glass of good wine, taking our time as we enjoyed the beautiful day together.

After lunch I suggested dessert and Jenna did her “Oh no, don’t tempt me honey” thing. She was okay with me ordering something though so we asked the waitress to bring the dessert tray.

The waitress presented the huge tray with a flourish. It was filled with a large variety of desserts, but in the center of the tray was a beautifully painted ceramic plate that called out to Jenna just as I hoped it would.

Jenna reached out, pulled her hand back with a guilty look at me, then said, “Oh, what the heck! You only live once!” and picked up a chocolate torte.

As she ate her torte, the decoration of  the plate became more visible.  Suddenly she could see her name, then the words “Will You Marry Me?” carefully painted on the personalized plate. As she looked down at the plate then back up at me, I took the beautiful engagement ring out of my pocket.  Her face lit up like I’d never seen it before as she reached out to take my hand. “Yes, Yes, Yes” she laughed.

Heck I didn’t even have to ask!

 

American Girl

By On · Leave a Comment · In Birthday

On a family trip to Chicago to celebrate mom’s sixtieth birthday, she fell in love with an American Girl doll. She had always wanted a fancy doll but her parents were never able to afford one for her when she was a girl.   It was silly she said, as all her girls were grown and there were no granddaughters to pay so much for a doll.  After all, she was all grown up.

After we were back at the hotel, Dad disappeared and went back to pick out the doll Mom had admired and hid it in the car before coming back to the room.

The next day we celebrated mom’s birthday and our whole family waited in anticipation to see Mom’s reaction when she saw her dolls.  We hovered close as Dad sat smugly watching in the background. Mom slowly unwrapped the package and exclaimed with pure pleasure when she saw the beautiful dolls wrapped so delicately in the box.

Pulling one doll from its box, Mom gave it a hug and then held her out at arm’s length for further inspection. Suddenly, she pulled the doll back close to her face very quickly and then looked up at my father with such a look of surprise we couldn’t figure out what was going on! “Let us see, Mom” we all begged.

She turned the doll slowly around, the whole time looking at my father with tears in her eyes, and there around the doll’s neck was a spectacular diamond necklace, the likes of which I don’t think Mom ever thought she would own.

Mom wears that beautiful necklace every day, and every night it rests on her favorite doll.

Happy Mother’s Day

By On · Leave a Comment · In Holiday

I will never forget my first Mother’s Day . . . breakfast in bed complete with a rose in a bud vase, waited on hand and foot all day, dinner out . . . you name it I had it. Now that’s what Mother’s Day is all about, right? Wrong! That lasted about two years and then our lives became so bogged down with everyday responsibilities I just never felt I could take a whole day to pamper myself. Maybe breakfast in bed would be squeezed in, but that lasted about fifteen minutes and was accompanied by kids and dogs, all anxious to take advantage of my perceived “trapped” state tucked under the covers with a tray precariously balanced on my lap.

Two years ago, twelve years into motherhood, I had just made the usual calls to both my mom and my husband’s mother to wish them Happy Mother’s Day when the doorbell rang. I had no idea how much I had missed the big “to-do” of my own Mother’s Day until the moment I saw my husband standing at the door dressed as a delivery man and holding out an arrangement of irises, “delivery for Mrs. Stone” he said quite formally.

I reached out to take the flowers with what I’m sure can only be described as a look of shock. “Thank you young man” I replied as I accepted them, “would you like to come in for a cup of coffee? I’m afraid I don’t have any change for a tip.”

“Why, yes, thank you ma’am. I’d like that very much. Delivering flowers is much harder than most people realize you know.” Ronnie joined me in the living room as I sat the flowers on the coffee table and went to get us each a cup of coffee. When I returned, he had removed his delivery man’s cap and was gently rearranging the flowers, all three of the kids watching on with happy grins.

“Why look here! There’s something stuck down in these flowers!” he exclaimed as though surprised. At that, he dropped all pretenses and extracted a small golden box and held it in his hand, saying, “Janice, I’m afraid I’m very guilty of getting so wrapped up in everyday things that I don’t take the time to tell you what a terrific wife and mother you are. Mother’s Day slides by with barely an acknowledgement, but today I’m going to take advantage of the occasion to show you my appreciation.” He was joined by a chorus of enthusiastic “Happy Mother’s Day Mommy. We love you!” from the kids.

 

I watched as he opened the lid of the box and removed a Mother’s ring with birthstones for each of our children and slid it on my right ring finger. “Thank you sweetheart for all that you do. I apologize for not saying it often enough, but it’s always something I’m aware of. I love you very much.”

 

After years of Mother’s Day being just another day, my wonderful husband and children had just turned it into one of the most special days of my life.

 

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Last updated February 21, 2012