How he proposed...

Hello all!

Kelsi Here. The most frequent question that has been asked after we tell that we have finally gotten engaged is... 'Well, how did he do it?!' He was so incredibly romantic and sweet I want to tell it to everyone, but for those of you that don't know and are curious as to how he decided to propose, I am going to tell you all! So, here goes...

Every year, my whole family goes camping up north on the the Pend Orielle River. It is such a beautiful place where, in many areas, the river runs through a canyon. It is a perfect place for romance, but I have never thought of it in that way. Anyway, in certain areas of the river, there are cliffs you can jump off, and some rocks protruding out of the water . There is one, in particular, that we have named 'jump-off rock' and it is around the river bend from where we were are camping.

It all begins with everyone on the campsite basically knowing that Mike was going to propose. I was sitting on the beach with my pregnant sister and see Mike going onto a neighbors boat to go 'jump off the rock' with them. I was kind of thinking that it was a little weird because he was going with kids that were 10 years younger than him. But, I thought, 'whatever, they are the Kienbaum boys. Oh well.' The other thing that I thought was a little weird was that Lindsey, my youngest sister, was going with them and carrying a floral bag I had never seen before, along with her purse. I kind of shoved all that out of my head simply because, I was trying to read my text book on Behavior Analysis and Learning that was so dry, I kept getting distracted by everything. After I was on a roll with my book and had read a whopping 3 pages in a row, After Mike had left Crystal, my pregnant sister, told me we were going to go on a family boat ride to watch Dad waterski. I did not want to go in any way, but usually when Crystal says I have to go, then that means there is no choice and I have to go. I ended up being okay with it because I was allowed to bring my doggies.

So, we are all on the boat and I keep thinking to myself that Dad is really going to have a hard time water skiing while A) he is driving the boat and B) the wake is so big (because of so many people on the boat). As we are turning the river bend I see jump off rock with a man standing on top fully dressed. I say to my mom 'it looks like that guy is fully dressed on top of the rock' then I say 'it looks like he is in a suit.' My mom just mumbles, 'Yea, you're right. Weird.' then, I realize that it is Mike on top of that rock and my stomach lurch's and I suddenly knew exactly what is going on.

I can't stop smiling while I write this. He was just so sly. I have never known this man that I love to be so sneaky.

Anywho, I look at Mike and he looks at me and I laugh a little, because he is wearing his best suit in the middle of the wilderness and his keens (watershoes). He looks so handsome and so silly at the same time! My dad backs up the boat to drop me off onto the rock and with Mike's help. I narrowly escape falling into the water fully clothes, and climb to the top of the rock.

Once we were at the top, Mike takes my hand and tells me that he loves me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me. He tells me he would be honored if I would marry him and be his wife. Then he took out a little black velvety box, opens it, gets down on one knee, and says softly, 'Will you marry me?' I said immediately, 'Of course!' he slides the ring onto my finger and we kiss and hug and all in wonderful in the world!

As I reminisce, I can't help but smile and know that we are going to be so wonderful together.

Thanks for listening to my romantic story.

-Kelsi