We moved in together at the beginning of August, 1998. We weren't engaged, yet, but planned on getting married someday. One day, Levi and I were at our jeweler's because I had snapped the band on one of my rings. (I'm hard on my jewelry.) While we were dropping it off to be thickened, we did some "someday" shopping. I checked out all of the diamonds, and decided I liked the princess cuts best.

When we went back the next week to pick up my repaired ring Levi surprised me by having a saleswoman show me a loose diamond. It was princess cut, of course! He wanted to make sure I liked it before he bought it for my engagement ring. Levi still didn't ask me, though.

It took a few weeks for the ring to be ready. We drove back to the store to pick it up, and I waited in the car. Levi ran in, ran out, and asked me to marry him in the car. Of course, I said yes! It wasn't the most romantic day I ever had, but so far, it's been one of the best. That was Saturday, September 5, 1998. We told my parents later that day, and a lot of my relatives at my family's Labor Day picnic.