Here's a shot of us on our "engagement day". Matthew proposed on Dec. 27, 2001 while we were "home" in Colorado for Christmas. It was no secret to any of us that his holiday mission was to ask my dad for his blessing while we were there visiting... but I had absolutely NO idea that he'd already managed to pick out and purchase a ring! We spent the day hiking around the snow covered mesa near my parents home in Grand Junction. (Little did I know that as I hugged him in this photo, the ring box was just a few inches away from my heart!) Later that evening, I became the happiest (and most surprised) girl around. Because of Matthew's thoughtfulness, I was able to share this special day with my family before we went home to South Carolina, which meant a lot to me. It also only seemed fitting to get engaged in Colorado, since that is where our love story began some 3 1/2 years earlier. What a happy memory... I loved this day, and I LOVE this picture. 
