Taylor told me on Saturday morning that he was spending the afternoon with his sister and family up in Salt Lake City - little did I know he was actually preparing for the most special night of my life so far. He told me he had a fun night planned and to be ready around 5. I was thinking a movie, dinner - maybe up in SLC or Park City and I started trying to plan what to wear (naturally). I asked him what type of clothes to wear - more formal vs. casuals, heels vs. boots, etc. He was not much help. "Nice but comfortable" doesn't help much when my nice = heels and a dress and my comfortable = boots, jeans, and a sweater. Needless to say I was struggling. It was my last night with Taylor for 3 weeks and I wanted to look good. My hair and makeup was done by 4 and I sat around with my sister trying to decide what to wear for a while until my mom (who knew what was going on) gave me hints to hurry and get dressed. She finally came into my room and said, "Get dressed, dad wants to talk to you." -- Um... that made me anxious, like I was in trouble or something so I did what she asked and came down the stairs. On the dining room table there were 2 sheets of paper and a rose. And my mom with her video camera. Once I started reading I knew what was happening, naturally I started crying. I was the happiest girl alive!!!
Here is the note he left:
"The Journey"
"Once upon a time a beautiful young girl and a dashing young man met through an unusual set of circumstances. Little did they know that their humble beginnings would lead to something wonderful, even magical. In order to make their relationship complete, one final journey is required. The journey will require you to re-live the story, each special moment at a time. Your journey will take you down Memory Lane, winding and twisting, and will lead you to your heart's desire. Let your heart and mind guide you on this very special journey."
"Instructions: You will now complete a series of travels taking you all throughout Utah County. Before you leave, pack a nice dress, which you will wear later in the evening. Also, be sure to take your camera. At each location along the way take a picture of yourself and the location! Good luck."
That solved the question of what to wear, but now I had to pick two outfits. I hurried upstairs to get ready and start on my "journey."
The first location was where we first met - Orem High School. My best friend at the time, Cami, met Taylor a few days before school started. He was on student council and was helping out at school and she happened to stumble across this handsome young sophomore and thought that he'd be perfect for me. She told me all about this boy named "Taylor" and on the second day of school I was heading to lunch with Cami when I saw him. She yelled for him to come meet me - and I guess that is where it all began. To this day I remember that first look. He had a turquoise (my favorite color at the time) "American Eagle" shirt on and had long shaggy hair.
flashback: Us as sophomores
My mom, Jenn, and Bain came with me. At each location there was a hidden rock with a new clue for me.
My next clue led us to where we "became a couple." On September 10, 2005 Taylor "asked me out." We were taking a walk by Cami's house so my next rock/clue was hidden there. The rock was hidden really well so it took us awhile to find it, but we finally did!
The next rock was hidden at Cascade mini golf course where we had our first "group-type outing/date." Taylor even drew me a crossword puzzle in case I wasn't sure which one he was referring to. It included: The girl who went with us: Talyn; The boy who went with us: Ryan; and what we were doing: Golf. ((Due to some technical difficulties we didn't get pictures of this location.))
After was the location of our first kiss. On September 23, 2005 on the porch steps of Taylor's house (after our golfing outing) we kissed for the first time... So we headed to Taylor's house.
The next clue fast forwarded us to senior year when Taylor asked me to Prom in 2008. My family owns some land in Provo that has a gazebo on it and he asked me to the dance by decorating the whole gazebo with lights and having his friend kidnap me after dance and drive me up there blindfolded. When I got there he was dressed up in a tie and gave me roses and hot chocolate!
flash back: Prom 2008
The gazebo is on a winding dirt road so Taylor left the clue at the "gate" so we didn't have to drive all the way up. Since Taylor hasn't been up there for awhile he didn't know that the gate that we always went to was washed away in a storm...so he left it at the closest place to the gate he could.
Our next stop led us to "our park" aka the park across from Hillcrest Elementary. We would go there all the time. It was our little meeting spot when we wanted to talk, have picnics, or nap under a tree. We have spent a lot of time there.
(I would like to give a shout out to my sister-in-law Jenn for finding most of these clues for me thanks to her trusty flash light phone!)
The next clue was suppose to lead me to where we were reunited after Taylor's two-year mission. Bridal Veil Falls. Unfortunately the roads leading there were already all blocked off for winter storms and we could not get past. The clue there had me line up the rocks in numerical order and on the flip side of the rocks there was a phone number to call which would lead me to my final destination.
Sundance.
I got changed into my nice dress and met Taylor's dad at the entrance to Sundance where he gave me instructions of where to go.
I was led to a lobby and the worker there then led me to Taylor's location. A small private cabin room up in the mountains. Rose petals lined the stairs down to the room and finally I was able to see Taylor for the first time all day. He is amazing! He decorated the cabin room with lights and candles and also gave me 4 dozen red roses!!
He had a video camera set up so that the actual proposal could be recorded. He spoke the sweetest, most romantic words to me for about 4 minutes (thank goodness it is recorded because I can't remember what he said I was so lost in the moment) but I do remember it was the cutest and kindest thing I've ever heard. He proceeded to get on one knee (I am a crying happy mess at this point) and he asked me the question I've been dying to hear for some time now, "Bree Woolstenhulme, will you marry me?" I kind of cried/screamed/squealed a "YES!" and it was simply perfect. When he opened the box and I saw the ring for the first time I about died, it is SO UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL!!! It sparkles so much, I couldn't stop looking at it all night. He even had it engraved on the inside, "LOVE FOREVER TW&BW." - perfection.
After the proposal we had dinner - catered by Sundance. We had Caesar salad, chicken and gnocchi, and creme brulee (my favorite) and pumpkin cake. It was so yummy! We were able to tell each other our side of the engagement story and it was fun to hear all the background that went into our perfect evening. He spent so much time making the proposal perfect and he did such a great job. He even asked me to dance after we cleaned up dinner.
I love that he pays attention to detail - he used navy and mint green ribbon (two of our wedding colors) to decorate. He also brought a picture of us from his room that he put on the mantle. The little things like that make me love him so much more. He knows me so well, he knows everything I love and want. He is just so perfect for me in every way. I am so lucky and so grateful to be sharing my eternity with Taylor Bruce Wilkins. I have loved him since I was 15 and I will never stop loving him. I am so happy!
I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL MAY 4th!!! It will be the best day of my life!
158 days.
