Finally I get a text that she has landed. The knots start turning. I might get sick. I turn to the left and give a thumbs up to Rachael to inform her as Cassidy has landed. Then more waiting... tick tock tick tock. I check my watch 5, 10, 20 times. Finally I look up and see her, beautiful as always. Her purple luggage trailing behind her, and the smile that melts hearts, including mine. On this night I decide to return the favor.
I embrace Cassidy with a hug and a kiss. My left pocket has my cell phone, my keys and twenty-six cents in change but my right pocket has what she has been waiting months, maybe even years, for. I ask her how her flight was and told her I hope it is the last trip that we take separately. The next couple seconds are a blur. People walking around us, camera flashing, Cassidy crying. She even told me she hated me (about twenty times). Long overdue, I finally got down on one knee and asked the best person in my life for her hand in marriage.
After over five years of dating, we are no long boyfriend and girlfriend. In a couple of years we will be husband and wife. Typing that felt surreal, but then again so does this whole newly engaged experience.
If this blog is how you are finding out that Cassidy and I are now engaged, please don't take it personally. I tried to reach many close friends and family and even all of them were hard to reach in such a short period of time. In the ever changing world of Social Media, we wanted to make sure we told enough people, but knew if we told too many people that Facebook and Twitter would find out before we got the chance to tell our closest friends and family.
In speaking for Cassidy and myself, it is incredible to see how many people truly care about us, both individually and as a couple. We can't wait to begin planning a wedding and celebrate with all of you. God has blessed us with friends and family that have supported us through the best and worst of times.
My mom recently told me that I might have to lose some friends before I have a wedding so that I can afford to have everyone there. Somehow, I see that as a good problem to have. The amount of people I have met over the years and continued to stay in touch with is a blessing I cherish every day.
Thanks for all the kind words, each and every one of you reading this has helped in one way or another to get both Cassidy and I here today. For that, we will be forever grateful.
I love you all, and hope to talk to you soon,
-Jared-
P.S. There will be more pictures to come, but here is a sneak peak!
