Shawn and I met in 2009, in Rapid City, South Dakota. I was working as a nurse on a medical unit and he was just starting his banking career. We met though mutual friends, but as Shawn will tell you, I don't remember the first time we actually met.

As most of you know, I hated living in Rapid City and moved back to Sioux Falls to be closer to family. For some reason, Shawn and I always seemed to stay in touch. I always kept a picture framed of him and I. The picture was from my last night in Rapid City.

It wasn't until 2014, when I was living in Omaha, when Shawn and I started talking more often. He asked me to come visit him in Rapid City, which is an 8 hour drive. After my first visit we found each other making trips back and forth for Omaha to Rapid City for the next year.

In December 2015, I moved back to Rapid City to be with Shawn and see where things would go. We had an absolutely great year living together and not having to travel to see one another.

February 13 2016, Shawn proposed to me, the day before Valentines Day. I was completely surprised and confused as he would tell you. The day started pretty normal. I had gone for a run and we had planned on making Valentines Dinner at home to avoid fighting the crowds. And to be honest...Shawn makes dinner every night. We had plans to meet our friends Mindy and Jon Doom for drinks after we were done with our dinner. Shawn had come home with cupcakes (my favorite) for dessert and was going to start cooking. Really nothing out of the ordinary. I had gone downstairs to get ready for the night. Literally, could not find anything to wear and hated how I looked. After about 20 outfit changes, I came upstairs to candle light dinner with Frank Sinatra music playing. Again, still not out of the ordinary for Shawn. We had our dinner and I was excited to exchange our Valentines gifts. I had told him I wanted some new running gear. Shawn had then gone into the kitchen to get our cupcakes. He had purposefully mixed up our cupcakes to give him time to place my ring box in my cupcake box. He gave me my cupcake box, and when I opened it, there was a small box inside. My first thought was, Shawn got me earrings. So as Shawn describes it, the look on my face was confused. I had turned over to him and he was on one knee. It was the greatest surprise. I had always thought to myself, "I will know when Shawn will propose." I am the one that plans everything and keep our life organized on our planner. So kudos to Shawn of making our Valentine's Day weekend a complete surprise and beyond memorable.

We are so excited to start this next chapter or our lives.

Photos