September 2, 2017

Saturday, I worked out a Wapsi from 7am til 2pm and just before my shift ended I had a missed called and voicemail from our farm neighbor Steve Thielen, which isn't unusual, but always has me worrying it's something with our cows. I then had 2 missed calls from Dad, so I knew it was about the cows! I called Dad back and sure enough, there were some cows out that neighbor Steve had spotted from his pasture. (Just ask Abby how mad I was when I left work! haha!) So, after working all day, I drove straight to the farm to help Dad. (And of course, grumbling and cussing my two brothers Chad and Corey the whole way there as to why they couldn't just answer their damn phones and help Dad since they live so much closer to the farm then I do!) I also talked to Steve on the way up and vented to him a bit and he offered to come help when he "got home" because he was still "driving home from work".... yea right! ;) So right before I got to the farm Dad called and said I HAD to meet him at the end of Connolly's lane and jump in with him and we'd find the cows. I argued with him that that was a dumb idea, why don't I just go get another 4-wheeler to be more efficient?! No, no, no, neighbor Steve seen where the cows went, he was going to ride the back fence line and Dad and I were to go together and ride the pasture fence line and then I could jump off and go on foot if need be.... wonderful. The old man never listens to any of my ideas anyways so might as well play along! (They all did a really good job of getting me angry before all this! :) )

By this point I felt like something was weird and up, but I was also staying a little annoyed if it really was just cows out and I was about to go run after them through a corn field. So, Dad and I take off on the ranger, riding along the fence line, around the pasture and as we get back towards the farm, Dad sticks to the trail along the creek and not back to the barns.... I knew something was going on now! But little did I know what we were about to come up to! (I even sent a snapchat to some friends saying it was suspicious) As we come around the corner to the oak tree where Oscar is buried (Steve later said there was only one place to do it, right there where Oscar could we with us! ❤️) I see Steve on a horse!!!! Now if you know Steve at all, him on a horse a big deal! I recognized the horse Chazz right away and knew what was happening and started to cry. Dad then parked the ranger, I got out, Steve got off the horse and started to propose. He said he had a hard time being able to because I wouldn't stop talking long enough for him to say anything, imagine that! Ha!

As if things couldn't have been any more perfect, after I said yes, suddenly, a bunch of people come running out of the corn field!!! Steve had planned it that my family and some of my closest friends were there to witness it and capture the moment for us! It was all so incredible and I still can't believe it! For a guy I didn't think was much of a romantic person at all, he really out did himself!

I can't say thank you enough to all the people that made Saturday possible; taking pictures, video and keeping Steve calm that day! Neighbor Steve, Dad, Mom, Jamie and Tony Steinhart (especially for getting a horse there!), Staci and Steve Sperfslage (so many Steve's in this story!), Corey and Bethany Gansen, Chad and Amanda Gansen, the kids and of course, my fiancé Steve!

We can't wait until next year! #June2018 #HallOfAGoodTime #HeadOverHalls #GannyHalledOver