6,593' and more

ENGAGED!!!!!

8-6-2013

Elevation: 6,593'

     A day following our engagement, I thought that I would fill in the internet world of our secret and the story behind it. :) Being asked on top of a mountain was absolutely amazing and what I've dreamed of. But I should start from the beginning. 

**Warning: If you can't handle mushy stories, then just scroll through the pictures and you'll be good haha. 

So this past Monday morning, Kevin picked me up at my apartment surprising me with a camping trip. Of course I wanted to go!! If you know me, you know I love being outdoors every chance I get. And thank God I have a man who loves doing that with me. So some quick packing on my part, a quick trip to REI for some essentials and off we were to East Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains. Camping that day in the Elkmont campground in the Smokies, we spent the waning hours of the day taking a short hike along "Millionaire Lane," eating dinner and sitting around a fire. Sleeping stiff and uncomfortable that night..we need sleeping pads haha..our next day began early for lack of sleep.

We packed up quickly, refreshed ourselves a bit, then headed for the Alum Cave Trail head to begin our journey for the day. Weather is a fickle woman and she couldn't decide on her mood for the day so we walked in clouds and sun throughout the day's trip. 

        Forgetting his hiking boots, Kevin trekked up the mountain in his Chacos- crazy dude. Along the way we saw some beautiful sites and took the chance to snack on wild blueberries and blackberries.

      A three hour hike up the mountain brought us to the famous Mt. LeConte Lodge, Elevation 6,593 feet. After having a bag lunch purchased at the lodge dining room, we went to see the view from the dining room balcony-or at least what we could see. By then, the infamous smoke of the mountains had rested upon the peak's summit. You couldn't see anything past the cabins in the area. Unbeknownst to me, my boyfriend was anxiously awaiting the perfect time to propose. This was it, all his nerves and excitement was for this day, this moment in our relationship. I had briefly turned around facing the open air of the summit for the exact split second that he needed; he bent down on one knee with a cream colored box. Surprised, elated and in complete shock, I stood there looking down at him and all I could was say "No....no...no way..." Literally, I said that; I just couldn't believe it was happening!! My poor boyfriend trying to fit in the question between my babbling... When I was able to collect myself, however, he told me that he was incredibly lucky to have me, if I would marry him and that he wanted to spend the rest of our lives climbing mountains together. I was on the verge of tears...of course... I SAID YES!! And thank goodness too, because just as he was asking me for my hand, we could hear people inside the dining room cheering for us- they had noticed the event taking place outside, hahaha. A lady who worked for the lodge came out to take out a picture and told us that she was going to put this moment up on the lodge's blog that she kept. She let us have our moment, and my fiance and I kissed and hugged and I stared at my amazing ring. :)

 

     I couldn't believe it; I was and am engaged! We went inside to ask a lodger if she would take a few pictures for us; she kindly obliged. As you can see above ^^ my fiance is cheesing it hard core and I know both of us couldn't be happier. In the company of complete strangers, we celebrated. On the summit of Mt LeConte, we celebrated in God's great nature. This day couldn't have been more perfect. Descending the mountain did nothing to minimize our mood for the day. We would still be on cloud 9 for the rest of the trip. I pretty much skipped down the mountain with my hand out hoping that all who past would see it. Throwing our gear into the Jeep, we walked down to the creek by the trail head to cool our feet off and of course snap this picture...

      This is our story, not all the details are here but none the less I hope you enjoyed it. I couldn't be any more happier with this man I now call my fiance. Our trip was amazing and had an even better ending! Thank you to the ones who knew about this and kept the secret and thank you everyone for all the congratulations I have received. :) This has been an amazing week thus far!!

**The link to the LeConte blog: http://www.highonleconte.com/daily-posts.html
Search for the 08/07/2013 entry.