Engaged for 1 week!!!
Mood:  amorous
Hello Everyone! Tom says it's my turn to post a message, and I'm very glad to do it! This past week has been so wonderful, and we're so excited that we are now engaged and planning to get married soon!

After meeting more than 5 years ago during our first year of college at St. John's, Tom and I became great friends and soon realized we had something special and were meant to be together. On 3-18-01, he asked me to be his girlfriend, and that was the start of the many wonderful experiences that we have shared. Little did I know at the time that on that same day five years later, Tom would be asking me to be his wife!

So now let me share with you the story of Tom's proposal. He did such a terrific job of planning everything and surprising me, and I am still so amazed and impressed by all that he has done! On Saturday morning, we decided to go out for lunch at the Olive Garden which is our special tradition. When we got home, as we were opening the front door, Tom told me it was time for him to give me my anniversary presents. He said that he had 5 presents for me to represent our 5 years together. I was thinking how sweet and romantic it was, but I had no idea what was to come! He led me to the kitchen table to open my first present, and there on the table was a card. Inside the card was a personal message as well as a small wallet card entitled, "My Perfect Soulmate" which described all the qualities of a perfect soulmate. In the card there was also a slip of paper that read:

"There are five prizes hidden and this is the first, There'll be clues in the cards to tell you where to search! The second gift you'll find is where one usually dines, It's in the open and in plain view where we keep our diplomas from SJU!"

So I knew to go over to our china cabinet in the dining room where we keep our diplomas, and hidden underneath the diplomas was a small standing glass figure embroidered with a rose that read "I love you not only for who you are, but for who I am when I'm with you" There was also another card with a personal message (inside every card he wrote "3-18-01 to 3-18-06 and counting!" and a message to me), and a slip of paper that said:

"I'm happy you found me, you found me with ease, Now the third prize is hidden where you will find keys. They can't start a car nor unlock a door, But they were used for the clues, it's the TYPE they are for."
So I ran upstairs to the computer "keys" and I found a small teddy bear holding a red satin heart. There was another card with a special message and a slip of paper that read:

"You're almost finished, you're nearing the end! You've found three prizes so far, with two left to apprehend! You're already upstairs with the next prize on the same floor. It's where you keep your clothes, my suits, and much more! It's hidden in a cabinet but I can't tell you which one. Once you find it, you'll be almost done!"

So I ran into the spare bedroom where we keep our clothes, and I looked through every drawer and finally found a beautiful picture frame that included five beautiful pictures of the two of us through the years, at important events like birthdays, graduation, Christmas, New Years, etc. I was enjoying this "game" so much! Again there was a card with a special message and the following poem:

"We're almost done, you've found four prizes! I've saved the best for last, it'll be full of surprises! You can find the last prize if you can solve one more clue! I hope you can get it because I really love you!" and there were multiple math problems lettered A through E, including "year we started going out divided by month we started going out", "month we started going out multiplied by day we started going out times 10", "my age plus your current age", "number of months we've been going out minus number of months in the year", "date we started going out minus one"... He handed me a pen and I had to add and subtract them all and the final answer was "143"... this was significant because for Valentine's Day Tom gave me a stuffed bear that holds plastic roses in his hands, and he has "143" written on his paw, so we never named him and we just call him "143 Bear" and I love this bear so much and he's my favorite stuffed animal! Anyway so when I read the final answer as "143", I knew to go look for the "143 Bear" for my final gift!

I ran into the other bedroom to see "143 Bear" sitting on the bed. Next to him was a card, which I opened, and the slip of paper held a special message:

"The game is over and you have won!
You found 143 Bear but we're not done!
Look in the roses for a special gift you'll see.
Once you find it I have to ask, Will You Marry Me?"

I was so completely overwhelmed! I tried to compose myself as I looked in the plastic flaps of the roses and pulled out my beautiful ring! Tom wouldn't let me put it on yet though, he kneeled next to the bed which I was sitting on and said "Dolores, will you marry me?" I said "YES!" and it was the best moment of my whole life!

We were so happy and excited, and waited a little while before calling our family and friends to tell them the good news, that he is now my fiance! Both of our parents knew already, because Tom had told them beforehand. I'm glad everyone had kept it a secret from me!

So that is how Tom asked me to marry him... I am so impressed and touched by all the work that he went through to make our anniversary such a special day for both of us, and I look forward to the day when we become husband and wife!

Thank for you reading our story! We will be posting often to update everyone on our wedding plans!

Love,
T&D