Mark's Proposal!

Written by Kate W on 04.05.13

Here is the story of how Mark proposed! :) It was back on February 13, the day before Valentine's Day! Thanks to Dad, Duncan, Tessa & Cindy T for the photos & videos!

Here's a video of the proposal, that Duncan took on his iPhone... It's kind of grainy, shaky & hard to hear, but it will give you an idea of how the evening happened! :) Enjoy!

I was not expecting Mark to propose that day... I was told that the Ritters were going over to the Tornatores' house to celebrate Vinny's 4th birthday (his actual birthday was one month earlier). Mrs Ritter had told me that Mark wouldn't be proposing unless all of both of our families were together. Mark told me to not expect a ring on Valentine's Day... He had even planned a "double date" with his brother Jason & Jason's wife Mandy on Valentine's Day, to throw me off the scent! (unfortunately the double date idea was just a cover!)

I knew (err... at least, thought or was told!) that my family was not going to be at the Tornatores' that night (or so I was told!), because they had "other plans" that they could not cancel... So I did not think that Mark was going to propose that night!!! I was SO surprised & shocked by it all!!!! He pulled it off perfectly!!!

(Apparently it had been "in the works" since at least Christmas & everyone knew... except me, of course!!!) That isn't entirely true though... Not "everyone" knew... My siblings weren't told until they were on the way to the Tornatores' house, because Duncan & Tessa were my "spy network" & were supposed to tell me, whenever they heard any "news" concerning the proposal! ;) That "spy network" was the worst investment I never made!!! haha! But it all worked out for the best! :) [I love surprises!!!]

I wasn't expecting him to propose til March sometime!!! They threw me off the scent so well! I wasn't suspecting it at all!!! Looking back now, I can see different "warning signs" & "accidental hints" that they were dropping at the time, but I was so oblivious to it all!!! Either that, or they are really good liars!!! haha ;)

 Mr Ritter, Bailey & Grandpa Steve
(Mom's Dad) talking while waiting for Mark, the boys
& I to arrive at the Tornatores' house

 Emma, all excited! :)

 My grandmothers
(Mom's Mom & Dad's Mom)

 My Mommy- love her!

 Grandma Sue, Nana & Esther R

 My best friend!!!
Vinny T

 Waiting for the party to start!

Mark & his brothers insisted on picking me up & driving me to the Tornatores' house that night... Mark got lost & we ended up being late... (Thus giving everyone time to get there before us!) When Mark arrived at my house, he seemed all quiet & nervous... I asked him if everything was okay & he said he was just "trying to concentrate on getting to the Tornatores' house in time!" Mhmm... Sure...

 Mark & I walking in...

I had NO idea of what was going on...

I thought we were going to Vinny's birthday party!!!
I was shocked to see my family & both
sets of grandparents there!

 I started to get suspicious, though, as the only reason that both sets of Grandparents would be there was if something big was about to happen... (we usually only see Dad's parents on major holidays during the year)

Apparently the first words out of my mouth were,

"What the heck??" HAHA!
(my signature phrase!)

 Mark starts his speech about the
importance of having a covenantal marriage...

Photo by Cindy T

 

 And gets down on one knee...

Notice my shock & surprise!!! I was SOOOOO NOT
expecting him to propose that night!!! :)

But  of course it was a pleasant surprise!!! :)

Photo by Cindy T

 He puts the ring on my finger...

Photo by Cindy T

 Hugs & smiles all around!

Photo by Cindy T

 Hugging Momma Ritter!

Photo by Cindy T

 I was SO nervous & shaking that night,

from the shock & surprise of it all!!!

 Taking photos...

 Smiles...

 Sharing a "moment" with Grandpa Steve...

 Taking photos with my grandparents
(Mom's parents)

To cover them leaving the house that night, Grandpa Steve had told me that he & Grandma were going out to dinner that night at the Pasta House & even invited me to go with them!!! I wonder what Grandpa would have said, if I had said "yes," I would go with them?!?!?! :)

My parents, Mark & I

 Talking with Mr & Mrs Ritter

Mr Ritter, me, Mark & Mrs Ritter

 Dad's parents, Mark & I

 Mark's parents, me, Mark & my parents

 Mr Tornatore, me, Mark & Mrs Tornatore-

Mrs Tornatore says she is more excited than me about our engagement! Mark says, "That's not right!" haha! But she has been looking forward to this for SOOOOO long!!! :)

After we took a bunch of photos with the parents & grandparents, the 12 of us (Mark & I, his parents, my parents, both sets of grandparents & Mr & Mrs Tornatore) went to Olive Garden (my favorite restaurant!!!) to celebrate, while the "kids" all stayed at the Tornatores' house, to celebrate Vinny's birthday with him! (like 20-something presents, cake & ice cream!) They had a blast together!!! (Although we had a lot of fun too, I wish I could have seen my "best friend" open his presents!!!) :)

 Mark & I at Olive Garden
Photo by Cindy T

 Mr & Mrs Ritter, at Olive Garden

Photo by Cindy T

That was an amazing night, I will never forget!!! :) And... I get to marry my best friend!!! :) :) :) God is SOOOOOO Faithful!!!