I knew Chuck and I would be together forever, and I knew it was just a matter of time before he proposed but we were in no rush. I don't think there was a time I less expected it, than when he actually popped the question. I had been sick and we had just gotten back from a long car ride to go see my brother, Robby, graduate from Navy Corpsman training. I had taken a nap and was in pajamas sitting on the couch with my makeup half smeared off, watching the Real Housewives of NJ and yelling at the TV as I always do.  Out of the blue Chuck asked me how much I loved him. I told him, "Alot". He asked, "How much?" I told him, "More than anything in the world." He got down on his knee and pulled a ring out of his pocket. I started instantly crying and felt like I was dreaming. I was so surprised and excited all at the same time. I said "yes" of course and still after a few hours couldn't even register the fact that I was now engaged to my sweet honey!!

Annie and I both knew for a long time that we were going to be married. I was planning on doing it sooner, but because of buying our house, her not working while going through nursing school, and then it taking a while for her to get a job, I just could't quite afford the ring I wanted for her.

Finally, one day while she was at work I drove up to Raleigh and picked out a ring for her, remembering things she had said over the years regarding the style of ring she would like. It was going to take a few weeks to be made, and on my way back from a trip in VA I made a detour and picked it up without her knowing.

I kept trying to take her to dinner and do something romantic for the proposal, but she was sick for over a week and it was killing me trying to be so sneaky about it. I had to hide the ring and paperwork in my ammo box, lie about where I went when I picked it out and arrange for the certificate for the ring not to get mailed to me until after I popped the question.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and got the ring from my office, got down on my knee and asked her while we were both just sitting on the couch. She started crying and said "Yes" and I still don't think she could have looked any more beautiful even though she was sick. And now, I couldn't be any happier.