Dear Abazias,

The story of my engagement is one that I nor anyone else could ever forget.

When I was a mere 17 years old, I found the girl who I believed to be my soulmate. I met Grace school during our lunch break. After speaking with her for only minutes, I become drawn to warm personality and deep brown eyes. We dated for a few months and were together for ever minute--that is--until the 13th day of June that year. Seven months into our relationship, Grace's father, a member of Special Forces in the United States Army, was relocated to a base in Europe shortly before Desert Storm came about. When she left I would be unable to speak with her because her family's location was to be kept secret.

As hard as it was, we agreed to go our separate ways and see others. BUT--we told each other that if we ever met up again and we weren't married, we would marry each other.

Fast forward exactly 12 years 47 days. I had been working as a Professional Baseball Umpire (my childhood dream) for 7 years now. I was traveling all over the country working baseball games on a nightly basis in the 'not so glamorous' Minor Leagues of baseball while making near-poverty wages. And then came that day...

I woke up on a Tuesday morning in Bakersfield, CA. I never liked getting out in this town so I almost never did. I generally sat around in my hotel all day to avoid the scorching heat. I typically ordered food into the hotel and only left when it was time to go to the game. That day was different though. I felt compelled to get out of my room so I decided to go downtown for lunch. I spotted a little diner that caught my eye. I parked, got out of the car, and there it was. I didn't even notice it before I parked. There was an army recruiting stand set up just a few feet away from the entrace to the diner. A quick glance from a young lady with deep brown eyes and a flash of her smile from the soldier sitting behind the table was all it took. It was Grace.

I approached her as I said, "Excuse me, do I know you?" She start crying in disbelief and gave me the best hug of my life. She said she was about to go on lunch break so I invited her to eat at the diner with me. We caught up on things and quickly found out we were both still single. I had a baseball game to umpire that night so I offered her a free ticket which she gladly accepted.

That night I told the General Manager of the ballpark my story and told him I wanted to ask Grace to marry me that night. The GM just said, "Tell me how you want to do it and I will make it happen."

That night, during the seventh inning stretch, we didn't sing 'Take Me Out To The Ball Game'. We sang her favorite song, 'Hey Jude', by the Beatles. Grace was then called down onto the field where I knelt down on home plate and proposed. She cryed and said she couldn't believe I remembered our promise to each other and was glad I did. The rest, as they say, is history. We are now enjoying a wonderful marriage back in our home town of Olathe, a suburb Kansas City, MO.

My high school sweet heart, Don, and I are both down to earth, easy-going people. For us, the best kind of date is just spending quality time together since we are both so busy with work and school. However, the past few weeks have been super busy and any time we have had together has pretty much consisted of hurried meals on our laps between meetings and classes. When Don and I sat down to plan our Valentine's Day together, the situation looked pretty dismal. I would be returning from one graduate school interview on Saturday, leaving to attend a scientific conference on Thursday, putting in a long day in the lab on Valentine's day, and in between the two of us, we has hours of classes and work to contend with. We decided that Monday night, February 12th, would be our special evening to celebrate finally getting to spend some time together.
We decided on going out to Ristorante Sandolo, an Italian place that provides gondola rides after the meal. We arrived at the resort and were in awe of the chic decoration and sophisticated style, and the steel drum jazz quartet playing in the hall. I should have known something was up when Don offered to get us a bottle of wine, something we almost never do when we go out, but I was too enthralled with the fact that we were even getting to share a meal together to notice. Our dinner was flawless and delicious and afterwards, we went for a stroll outside through the gardens. We sat down by a fire pit, and after talking about the little events of our day, Don suddenly turned to me and said that he wanted to give me a Valentine's day present. With any hesitation, he go off the bench, got down on one knee and said "Liz, I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" He pulled out the ring and all I can say is that it was amazingly more beautiful that I could have imagined. Now I had already started crying and the most I could do in response was squeak out a yes. When I finally did stop crying, I was so excited that I jumped up and shouted to the entire patio of strangers our good news.
The proposal may not have been fancy, or original or tear jerking, but it was just the two of us, simply sitting together on a bench in the firelight, and it was perfect for me.

The happy couple met doing what they both do so well, Networking.

Michael was volunteering for Restaurants After Hours at the Tulsa Aquarium with the Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce (MTCC) through the Hospitality Committee. His duties included greeting people as they came in and directing them to various booths. He noticed Jennifer when she came in and thought she was a very good-looking woman. He greeted her, gave her a name badge and sent her on her way. After his shift was over he started milling around. He noticed the good-looking woman looking bored and a little lost. He approached and asked if she was having a good time and had she seen the rest of the Aquarium. She had not. Would she mind joining him as he went to some booths at the other end? She would love to. They walked down the main corridor straight to the other end. As they looked at some of the displays they talked about business and networked. Michael introduced her to several people and after insuring she was involved in a conversation with some good networkers, he excused himself and went to get ice cream and watch the Sharks. As he was watching the Sharks and eating his ice cream, he felt someone join him. She said not a word, just stood next to him and his heart leapt. He was puzzled that the group had let her go so quickly, but pleased that she had joined him. They spent the next hour getting to know each other and looking at the exhibits. They watched as everyone left and still they walked and talked through the Aquarium. As things had wound down, it was time to leave. Michael was meeting some friends at Fifth Night in Utica Square and despite being an hour late already, asked Jennifer to join them if she was able. Jennifer said she would try.

After meeting his friends and settling in with the crowd, Michael kept an eye out for Jennifer as he socialized. Twenty minutes after Fifth Night had ended and most people had cleared out, Jennifer still had not shown up. Michael was getting ready to leave and was helping gather up the group’s stuff, when one of the girls told him someone behind him was looking at him. He turned around and again his heart leapt as he saw Jennifer right behind him. He went over and greeted her with a hug, then introduced her to the remaining friends. He walked Jennifer back to her car and they talked for an hour or more before Michael asked her out for the following weekend. Since then they have not been away from each other for more than a few days.

During their two years of dating they have both been involved in Philbrook’s Art after Five, Southeast Tulsa Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Hospitality Committee with MTCC , and Tulsa Tips. They have helped each other to grow their businesses as well as themselves. They have also spent a lot of time with their mutual friends and each other’s family.

After Michael had decided to ask Jennifer to marry him, he had to find a time and place to do so. He tried a romantic weekend out of town, a weekend at the lake, and several other plans, but something always interfered with the timing or opportunity. After talking to Lydia, his older and wiser sister, he determined that it was the question that mattered most, not where or when. So he decided that he would just arrange for a romantic dinner at Rick’s Café Americana where they had celebrated their first anniversary. Before he could bring the subject up, they drove by the restaurant and Jennifer reminded him that that was where they had celebrated their first Anniversary. She said they should go there again sometime. (God does provide in his time, when things are right.) Michael said “how about this Saturday?” Jennifer said that would be great.

The Evening went well. They arrived on time and were seated at the same table they had shared the last time they had been there. They even had the same waiter, Craig, a friend of Michael’s. They ordered appetizers and drinks. While eating appetizers, Lydia called to inform them they were coming into town and needed help unloading some furniture at Mom and Dad’s house. Michael asked Jennifer about going there after dinner and she agreed to do so. Just another evening. Dinner was presented and as usual was great. The Owner Rick, another friend of Michael’s, came out and socialized for a while during dinner. Michael was trying very hard not to show how excited he was and signal what was coming. After Rick left and dinner was cleared, Michael got out the ring box. The box was wide for a ring box as it also had the band in it. As he held out the box Michael told Jennifer that he wanted to let her know how much having her in his life had meant to him and he hoped that she would be with him forever. He wanted her to look upon these as a symbol of his love and intentions and to take them in the spirit in which they were being offered. As he handed the box to Jennifer he knew by the bemused expression on her face that he had been successful in leading her to believe that the box held earrings. When Jennifer opened the box and realization of its contents was just registering, Michael asked her “Will you marry me?” Jennifer said “Yes. Yes, I will.” With a pleased and surprised smile, she leaned over and gave him a kiss. Rick and Craig came out and congratulated them, giving them a dessert and some champagne to celebrate.

After they left, they went to Michael’s parent’s house to help unload furniture. They arrived right as the moving truck arrived. After helping move most of the furniture into the house, the family (Lydia, Valerie, Kent, Lyndon, Bob and Marthanelle {mom and dad}) went into the Dining room for a break. Valerie, ever observant, looking at the ring on Jennifer’s finger, asked if there was anything they ought to know about. Congratulations and Its about times filled the air. The family was as ecstatic about the upcoming nuptials as we are.

Ever since I first asked out my girlfriend, I’ve devoted my being to ensure that she is treated like a princess and nothing less. I’ve had glass slippers delivered to her at work, and even drove to her house at 3AM to leave a Playschool princess crown and brightly colored roses on top of her car. She’s my life.

We were best friends for two years, studying together, watching movies together, hanging out together; we were inseparable. From the time I asked her out I knew that this was the girl I would marry.

My whole life I waited for someone worth waiting for. She was worth every second spent alone on a Friday night; every awkward outing with friends as the third or fifth wheel. She was my first girlfriend; first kiss; first “I Love You”. She’s my entire world embodied in a physique of a goddess.

Six months ago, I began preparations to ask her to marry me. Her favorite place on this earth is New York. She’s always been a bit of a city girl. Maybe it’s the fast paced lifestyle that surrounds her in New York that makes her untamable spirit feel free, or maybe it’s the lights and the fact that the city never sleeps that excites her inner being. Either way, her first love is the city. I resolved to propose in Shakespeare’s Garden, which is a small 4 acre garden within the boundaries of Central Park. It’s beautiful in the springtime - the third weekend in April is when I’m asking her to be mine for the rest of eternity.

I’m not simply vacationing with her to New York and proposing on a carriage ride through Central Park. That would be, to put it lightly, a cliché. Mine is a weekend affair. I have never given her a dozen red roses. She’s received a single long stemmed rose hand delivered by myself on many occasions, but never a dozen. Friday morning, April twentieth, she will wake up to a room filled with rose petals, and in front of her will be a dozen long stemmed red roses. Along with the roses will be a card with a hand written poem, requesting her presence of accompaniment on an outing with me. I will have her bags packed with all necessities needed, and we will embark on an odyssey, unbeknownst to her our final destination. Upon arriving at the airport, we will fly from IAH to JFK, where we will connect via helicopter and fly to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. After exiting the chopper, I will have a Mercedes S550 waiting with a chauffeur to take us to Central Park. We’ll walk hand in hand through the park, and finally in a secluded area of the garden, I will bend down on one knee, and ask her to be my eternal love.

Staying true to form, I will treat her like the princess she is for the weekend. I have arranged Broadway tickets to Les Miserables, her favorite play. I’ve booked a suite in the Fitzpatrick Hotel on Lexington Avenue, and will treat her to a shopping spree at Bloomingdale’s one block down. We will kiss on the top of the Empire State Building, and her eyes will dance in the moonlight in Times Square.

Ultimately, I want my darling to know that she is the most adored girl in the world, and that my love for her is as undying as that great city.

Hello, I am Nick Grodzicki from Aiken, SC. And this is my engagement story.

I was in a relationship for almost four years, and marriage was the farthest thing from my mind. I was working and a girl came in for a job interview...and wow, I never though love at first sight was real, but I found out that it was. She was hired soon after, but I found out she was in a relationship and I was still in my Four year prison. Sarah (the new girl I fell in love with) and I became friends, the kind of friend you only have at work. One day she got sick at work and so to be nice I wen to th store and got her some strawberry iceceam, turns out she doesnt even like that kind but ate it to be nice. Anyway, I over heard her talking to one of my co-workers in the back about me..so of coarse I snooped. To make a long story short we bother ended our long relationships and go together. Like I said, marriage was the furthest thing from my mind, until Sarah came along, From the moment I saw her I knew she was "it." So only after three months of being together I decided I was going to ask her to marry me. She expected it around Christmas time, so I thought I would really surprise her. The night before I did it I went to Wal-mart and found two identical pumpkins and bought one of them ( it was two days before Halloween). That night i cut a hole in the bottom of my pumpkin and cleaned it out and screwed her engagement ring to the stem on a little string. The next day I told her we should go and pick out a pumpkin to carve, so went up to the store, and I picked out the matching one that I bought the day before. Once we got home I pulled the "special pumpkin" out of the back of my car rather than the one we just bought. We went inside and stated to carve the pumpkin, we cut the top of the pumpkin and I told her to take the top off, and when she did she saw her ring, at the point I was already on one knee. She began to cry. You know...I was so nervous the whole week before and up to that point. but as soon I as i saw her face when she saw the ring, all my nerves went away becasue I knew that this was right. Well long story short she said yes and we had never been happier. I never expected to not only get married , but not so fast, and so young. We were married this past June, and I found out on Christmas day that we are expecting our first little one. We both have been working and saving all of our money for the baby, so im not going to be able to spoil the woman of my dreams for Valentines day, that is why I am hoping to win this contest. Sarah deserves everything in the world, I only wish I could give it to her. I am a young 23 year old "fresh out of college" and am so excited for our long life together. Whether I win this contest or not I love teling our story because it always brings a tear to my eye because I know I am the luckiest guy in the world and am so thankful.
thanks so much for reading my story and I hope to hear good news from you in the future.
Thanks
Nick Grodzicki