A Storybook Proposal

Mr. Brooch's proposal was something straight out of a storybook...

(Please pardon the length of this post, I just didn't want to leave out any of the juicy details!)

He took me out of state to pop the big question, but not to just any state. A place where my father and my grandmother grew up. A place I hold dear to my heart... Tennessee. I visited a lot when I was young to see family and (more often) to go to University of Tennessee football games.

Mr. Brooch, on the other hand, went to Tennessee for a different reason. His family has been attending the International Storytelling Festival in historic Jonesborough every year since 1991. As a part of their family tradition, they stayed in the Hawley Bed & Breakfast, which just so happens to be Tennessee's oldest building in Tennessee's oldest town.

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Lodging at the Hawley B&B is kind of a big deal because not just anyone can stay there. It's located at the top of a hill, literally overlooking historic Jonesborough. The town is hardly big enough to sleep the thousands that flock there for the festival, so staying at the Hawley House is a privelage.

The owner, Marcy, is the most adorable woman I think I've ever met, and her B&B is the most cozy and inviting one I've ever been to. It has all the fixings of a great Southern escape, with a wraparound porch, antique furniture, and believe it or not, there's even a train track right out front!

When I got there, I was really impressed! Mr. Brooch hit the nail on the head. This place was every bit of everything I love, and just when I thought I had seen it all, he escorted me to the "Butterfly Cottage."

A Place With My Name Written All Over It

Let me pause there and just say that I'm a butterfly freak. I know there's a lot of girls running around with a claim to love butterflies and a tattoo to prove it (something I do not have), but I truly do heart the deliciate creatures. Anyone who knows me, knows this so staying in the Butterfly Cottage was heaven!!!

The one bedroom was the most quaint house I'd ever been in!! It had a cute kitchen, beautiful mismatched furniture, butterfly touches everywhere, and a bed that made you want to dive right in!

Spoiling the Surprise, Almost!

Our first night there, Mr. Brooch and I spent a few hours lounging on the front porch of the main house. It was really nice, and I wanted him to open a card I bought for him a few days before. I offered to go get it from the cottage in his bag, but he asserted, "No, you can't go up there!" I could tell he was hiding something and I have to admit, I got really curious. At that point, I insisted.

Reluctantly, Mr. Brooch let me go, but I know he was praying to God that I didn't snoop. The thing is, I didn't have to. As soon as I pulled out his bag and unzipped the side pocket, I saw it - the ring box!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I could not believe my eyes!!!!

I didn't know what to do! I wanted to call my mom or call my best friend (someone!), but I had no time. I had to get back to Mr. Brooch and wipe the smile (and shock) off my face fast! So I grabbed the card and headed back to him. (In case you're wondering, I did not look inside the box!)

The rest of the evening, I was an emotional mess. I kept starring at Mr. Brooch with teary eyes and he didn't know what was wrong! I didn't want to let the cat out of the bag, so I just played the must-be-that-time-of-month card. I kept telling him, "I'm so happy. This is all so nice. I love it here."

The Signs Kept Coming, But I Didn't See Them

The first words out of Mr. Brooch's mouth the next morning were, "October third two thousand and ten!" He said it with such excitement and pride, and I was thinking, what's the big deal? After his shower, he ironed a nice button-down shirt and he shaved. He kept asking if he looked alright and I was like, "It's 7am on a Saturday morning. Are you kidding?"

He really tried to persuade me to dress up too. He said, "This breakfast is kind of a big deal you might want to put something nice on." I had one nice outfit for the weekend and I was saving it for church that Sunday. I told him I wanted to be comfortable. (dumb! dumb! dumb me!)

Breakfast was in the main house and it was sooooo good. We had my favorite, which is eggs benedict, and fruit, and oversized muffins. I was trying to remain pretty inconspicious because I wanted to make a good impression. I figured if I was quiet the owner and the other guests would like me, and I could come back next year.

After Breakfast, Everyone Told A Story:  Mr. Brooch's Was About A Surprise

Everyone's a storyteller in Jonesborough, so there were a lot of great tales and good laughs going around the table! Then, out of nowhere, Mr. Brooch said, "I have a story to tell." I had no idea what he was about to say, but I got really nervous. Why was he drawing attention to us? Ugh!

He turned to me and said, "On Monday, when you thought I left your house and went home, I went to your father's house." That was it ladies and gentlemen!!! That was the missing piece! All the signs had been there, but I knew he wasn't going to ask without my father's consent, and there you had it. He talked to my dad :)

Mr. Brooch Got Down On One Knee

Nervous as he could be, Mr. Brooch scooted his chair back and got down on one knee. I could see his mother and sister because they were sitting behind him, and I'll never forget the look on their faces. Their eyes were filled with tears and it was sheer excitement, shock, love, hope, nervousness, all rolled into one.

He started to sing... "There will never come a day. When you'll ever hear me say. That I want or need to be without youuuuuu... "

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

I grabbed my heart and fell forward. I couldn't believe it! I couldn't hold the tears back. I couldn't think. I could just feel my heart racing a mile a minute. The ring was so gorgeous! I leaned over and gave him the biggest hug!

I wish I remembered exactly what he said, but I don't. What I do remember is the look in his eyes, and it was the look of a determined and honest man! There was no question in my mind the answer was yes, but apparently, I was speechless (probably for the first and last time in my entire life)!

While I was hugging him, he said, "You didn't say anything! Is that a yes??"

"Yes," I said!

Everyone at the table was in tears! They were so overjoyed for us! Mr. Brooch's father was hilarious too! He jumped up afterward and said, "I need to get my camera!" He ran upstairs and then right back downstairs, "I can't find my camera!"

Luckily, Mr. Brooch's sister had hers handy. She snapped a few pictures and we spent the rest of the morning talking about how Mr. Brooch planned the elaborate surprise.

He told us that it had been his intention to propose on stage (in front of hundreds of people!!!) under one of the storytelling tents. He said as nervous as he was singing, he's was glad that didn't work out! 

I called everyone in my phonebook that morning and posted a picture of the ring on facebook. One of my cousins in Tennessee made the cutest remark. She said, "Bet you never thought it'd happen in Tennessee!" I could just hear her Southern draw!

For the rest of the day, I humed the song he sang and starred at my ring finger. It was magical :)

How did your fiance propose?

*all pictures not credited were taken be me or my FSIL*