We're engaged.

And I couldn't be any happier. I simply feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have found a man like Joe and am beside myself with excitement thinking about marrying him! The way he walks through life continually amazes and inspires me and walking with him just seems like the best idea ever:). Our engagement story feels like a fairy tale and it's been so fun sharing with friends and family and I can hardly believe that this is the story we get to share for years and years to come. I'll share it all in just a minute, but first, I also need to say that, just as incredible as the proposal/engagement, has been the overwhelming love and support we've been receiving from friends and family. I am so moved by the kind words and the genuine welcome I have received from Joe's family and I know that my family extends the same to Joe. Just after they got the news, this is the text I got from Joe's parents -
"Sarah! We are so very happy! We love you and look forward to years and years of memory making with you as part of our family. - Karen and Tom"
I feel so blessed and I can't think of many things more beautiful than sharing our love with everyone. A big, big thanks to everyone who has shared in our excitement! We are so incredibly grateful. Alright here's the story!!!

Joe and I are still basking in the joy of having full weekends now that he is done with grad school and we knew that we wanted to head out of town for the long Labor Day weekend to take advantage the extra day off and to soak in a little mountain air. I have to admit, although I've been a little antsy about getting engaged, I honestly didn't think that this trip would be anything more than a quick one-night getaway. Ha, earlier in the week, I even told Joe that I wasn't sure that I wanted to make the big drive - luckily Joe persuaded me to get over that - thank goodness! I sure would've missed out if I didn't go! We got on the road bright and early on Saturday morning and made our way up to South Lake Tahoe to a place called Baldwin Beach. We had incredible weather - clear skies and crystal clear Caribbean like water! We rented a couple of kayaks and started paddling to Emerald Bay - all the while marveling at the brilliant turquoisy, blue clear water. I've never seen lake water this color - if you haven't been on a kayak in Lake Tahoe - put it on your bucket list - my description doesn't do the beauty justice. In Emerald Bay there is an island called Fannette Island, so we paddled on over and pulled our kayaks on shore and hiked up to the top where there is a small stone structure that used to be a tea house back in the late 1920's. Joe and I were both poking around and after a few moments Joe said he had found a shady spot beside the stone structure with a place to sit overlooking one of the cliffs of the island. So, thinking nothing of it, I followed him. We set our stuff down and I was just starting to find a comfortable place to sit and gosh it all happened so fast! I turned to my left where Joe was and he had a box in his hand and was opening it and I think I said something lame like - "Oh my gosh, is this happening right now?" and Joe got down on one knee and well dang it, I can't remember exactly what he said, but somewhere in there he said Sarah Mariko, will you marry me? My heart was screaming Yes, Yes, YES but I'm pretty sure it took me a couple minutes to stop kissing him and actually verbalize that!!!!!! A boat down below must have seen us kissing because they started hoopin' and hollerin' at us and so I pointed to my ring and Joe yelled out "We just got engaged" and well then everyone started cheering and the boat started honking it's horn and I just kept kissing Joe and reminding myself to breathe! We spent a little bit up in the stone house just taking it all in and had a few people snap some pictures of us. Here's our first photo as an engaged couple - I love that we were adventuring when this happened and I love that it happened so fast that we didn't even have time to take off our dorky life jackets! And I love that Joe had the ring tucked into a sack on his kayak the whole way over! What a stud!


The ring with Lake Tahoe in the back - heavenly I tell ya!

Back on shore and giddy with "WE JUST GOT ENGAGED" love. One of my favorite parts of the day was our kayak back from Emerald Bay to Baldwin beach. As the island faded into the distance, we kept looking back and saying - "Hey, we just got engaged there!" And all the way back we were saying saying silly things like "Hey Fiance!" and "We're getting married!" - super original right? I guess when you're on Cloud 9 - you lose a few brain cells :).


This thing sure does sparkle!!

Us with our island - yup that's right, I'm claiming it.

Joe about to dig into a big buffalo steak. He was so cute - he told me that he was feeling super manly after proposing and needed a meal to match that. I think he's super manly no matter what he's doing!

So WAHOOO, there's the story, he did a pretty damn good job didn't he?! We're getting Married and well, cheesy as it sounds, it's true, I've never felt more sure about anything in my life - Joe is the ONE. He is the man that I want to love forever and grow old with and I've known that for quite some time now. I'm thrilled that I officially get to share it with the world now!

Stay tuned, there's bound to be a lot of love bubbling over on the blog this year!