Sunday was the happiest day of my life. I’m still crying every half hour when I think back to it. (If you think you see an ogre in NY, don’t worry. It’s just me. Disguised behind really puffy crying eyes.)

A few weeks ago Josh told me his co-worker got engaged and we were invited to his engagement party at the Central Park Boathouse on Sunday, April 14, at 1pm. The reason for no invitation…”we are last minute invites.” What’s the wedding registry…”we’re last minute invites, and the actual wedding is in Florida, so he insists we don’t give a gift.” But Josh “purchased” a Bloomingdales “gift card” anyway.

As I got ready in the morning Josh went out to pick up a gift bag and card. I wrote out the card when he got home and he even insisted I sign it Josh and Courtney (not Courtney and Josh).  All the details. There were no signs!

Then we were on our way. It was such a beautiful day in NYC. Low 60s, incredibly sunny. Actually as we walked to the subway I sang this song to Josh. And he just held my hand and laughed with me.

When we got to the park Josh led me in, what he said, was the direction of the boathouse. I didn’t think twice about looking up directions myself because I trust Josh with everything I do and never think twice. (Apparently, we were nowhere near the boathouse. Little did I know).  As we walked and held eachothers’ hands he pointed out some pretty cherry blossom trees at the top of the hill and asked if I wanted to take a picture there really quickly. I immediately thought about a blog photo opp, obviously. So, yes!

We climbed the hill, my heels dug into the soil, and when we reached the top we stood beneath the most beautiful flowering tree and Josh got down on his knee and proposed! He told me he wanted to be together forever, forgot the rest of his planned speech, and asked me to marry him. I gracefully responded, “Is this a joke? Are you kidding?” As he pulled the most beautiful, sparkling perfect ring out of the gift box he answered, “Is that a yes?”.  YES!!! And we cried and embraced.

Then he said he had another small surprise and led me downtown about 8 blocks. While I floated there next to him (because floating on clouds is the only way you walk 8 blocks painlessly in heels), I asked him if our parents knew. He said no, but we’d call them when we got home. While we walked, all I could think was that I would not tell them on the phone. We’d have to visit all of them today. I don’t know how we’d do it but we would. Then we walked into the restaurant, and SURPRISE! Both our families were eagerly waiting. Including his mom and sisters who flew in from the South. I cried. They cried. We all cried. Josh made a toast over champagne and we all talked about the future.

I cannot wait to be married to my best friend and love of my life. And as I write this, here I go again crying and my eyes are puffing up and I look like Shrek. But it doesn’t matter because we’re engaged. And so so so very happy. And I cant wait to share all the special moments along the way as we plan our wedding together.

Love, Courtney

P.S. Regular posting will resume next Monday. Taking the week off to come down from the clouds gracefully.