Both of us had already experienced a bad relationship, and recently filed for our own divorces. She was a single mom, working part-time and wanting to go back to school to eventually become a Geologist. I didn't know where I'd be in a year or so, and was in no way prepared to be a successful Step-dad. So, marriage wasn't a usual topic or priority for us. We both realized early on that what we had together was very special, and then we later came to realize that we could have the kind of marriage which we both dreamed of before.

I remember one night, where I visited with Venise at her work as I regularly do, I wanted to give her the flowers I just bought…and felt such a strong but good urge to ask her to marry me. I did not propose that night because I didn't have a ring. I did however tell her about what almost happened; we both smiled at each other and laughed a little. Then she very sweetly told me that I can if I want to, anytime, even without a ring. It was such wonderful news and it made me so happy.

Since she knew it could and would happen sooner or later, the only thing left to do was get the ring and surprise her with it. Lucky me, she has great taste and communicates well. All I had to do was order the one she picked out and then wait for it to come in the mail. Funny thing, she started to get very excited and tried to guess when/where it would happen. One time she almost started to plan it for me, so I told her that it'd happen when she least expected it.

I received the ring in the mail on February 2nd, 2018 and proposed the next day in the early afternoon. That morning, with ring in hand, flowers came to mind again. On the way to see my love, I went to the closest grocery store and immediately saw the perfect flower arrangement.

In the weeks leading up to the proposal I had been online searching for my perfect ring. I texted a screenshot of it to him so he'd know exactly which one, and even circled the picture on my phone several times so he'd know for sure which one. I trust him; but I had to be sure, he was sure, that I was sure. I thought a lot about how I wanted him to propose. I imagined us at one of our favorite restaurants, or maybe somewhere in Balboa Park, just something very romantic. I told him that I began to expect it anytime he'd suggest an activity, and that it would be very tough to surprise me.

On the day of the proposal, my Grandma stopped by to visit and plan a trip to Los Angeles to go dress shopping the following weekend. During a phone conversation with my Aunt Cory about wedding plans, she asked if Jesse had proposed yet. To her question I confidently replied "no; but I know he will". I even told my Grandma that every day I am expecting him to propose, and so he could not surprise me. Fifteen minutes later my Grandma left for home, and Jesse was on his way to pick me up and drop me off at work. As I was upstairs getting ready for work, and talking to my Mom about our plans for the evening after work, Jesse entered the upstairs hallway where we were.

When he came up the stairs with those pretty flowers, I had no other thought than my Muffin being a sweetheart as usual. As I was admiring the vase, which I soon realized was a pitcher, I heard my Mom gasp and she took a step back. Then, Jesse told me to look at the gold handle. In my head, I yelled "oh my god the ring is here somewhere!”. As I looked at the handle, I saw the ring hanging by a golden ribbon from one of the flowers. Jesse got down on one knee to ask me to marry him, and all I could do was put my face on my hand and cry. After what probably seemed like an eternity had passed by, Jesse asked "yes???". Overcome with wonderful emotion, all I could manage to do was cry some more, and I nodded my head yes.

He surprised me. I didn't expect it at all to happen that way, and I love that it did.