The Engagement Story

Nick and Linda were engaged in 2007, and were planning on a wedding in 2008. But since we put off the wedding for a year, so we could figure some things out, we are now getting married in 2009. So if some of this story seems old, it's because it is.

Well folks, It's official, Nick and Linda are engaged!I know, it's been a long time, most of you are probably saying "finally!", but it has all been perfect timing, and I'm glad that we took matters slowly. Nevertheless, I have been hankering for about a week not only to see Nick (the last time we saw each other was at graduation, 5 months ago) but to be engaged, maybe due to the fact that my sister got engaged one month ago and wedding planning is exciting.

But the whole thing was completely a surprise for me, yes I knew it was coming, but I didn't know when or how. Nick had flown out to Idaho on Sept 29th and was staying with my sister's fiance, Alan. Then he went for a hike with my dad the next day and asked for his blessing. So almost everyone in my immediate family knew he was in town and I was completely clueless. Anytime I was talking to Nick on the phone he had to keep playing dumb like he didn't know what was going on at my house, even though after talking to everyone else in my family he already knew every part of my day. I did wonder if something was going to happen around this time because Nick and I had started dating on Oct. 1st, 4 years ago, and he did slip once and tell me he had taken work off on Monday, which I thought was very strange. I thought he might be flying out on Monday, but I never guessed he'd been in town for two days.

Well, I was talking on the phone to him on Sunday night and he was trying to make sure I was staying awake until he got to my house. Alan dropped Nick off in front of the neighbors house and when he got to my door he told me over the phone to go to the door. Then he hung up the phone and knocked on the door. Nick and I will joke like this sometimes, we'll say we're getting on a plane or walking cross country to see each other, or "ding, dong, I'm at your door, ha ha". So, I was a little confused and sort of freaked out. My whole household had suddenly gone to bed, not that I noticed, and I thought it was either too much of a coincident or there really was a crazy person out there. So, I crept up to the door, and couldn't see anyone through the glass at first because Nick was already on his knee. Well, I finally saw it was him, and opened the door. There he was on bended knee at midnight on Oct. 1, our 4th year anniversary, holding an open ring box up to me. "Linda Jo Nowaski, will you marry me?" he said. The only problem was that there was no ring in the box. I thought that he was going to do something else. I was grinning, and said "Yes!" Then he went to get the ring and put it on me, and gasped "Where's the ring?!" At first I thought it was a joke, but finally figured out it wasn't. He had lost the ring somewhere! Well, at that moment I really didn't care, because I was just glad to actually see him in the flesh after 5 months, and I was too excited that I was actually engaged. So I made him give me good long hug, and then we went ring hunting.

So there we were, getting flashlights, me wrapping up in a blanket (there was a very cold wind and I was in shorts), traipsing out looking all over mine and the neighbor's yards, looking for that lost ring, and trying to keep quiet so we didn't alert my family. We were both laughing so hard, and thought it was hilarious, but with each minute passing Nick was getting more and more nervous. He called Alan to come back, and when he got there, he found the ring in the passenger seat. Then he got down on his knee again and held out the ring and proposed again on the sidewalk. I of course said "yes", again, and the ring was put safely on my finger.

We stayed up and talked for quite a while, and the next morning my twin sisters were a little freaked out by the stranger on the couch. Jamie, my sister, made Nick and I breakfast and we ate in front of the fire. Then we surprised my grandparents with the news, and spent the rest of the day together, looking at wedding sites, seeing a movie, and going out to eat. We will keep everyone updated as we know more about the actual date and future planning. Thanks to everyone for your love and support over these last 4 years, and please keep us in your prayers for the years to come, we sure need them!!