we're getting married

We talked about the day we would get engaged for years, and as many of you may know Abi is quite the perfectionist. She had worked on the ring's design for more than a year, she had planned the exact outfit she would be wearing for the engagement, ensured that her nails would be done, and tested out numerous hairstyles. However, my plans have a tendency to include chaos. The mission: create an unforgettable day that we would be able to tell our kids about. The outcome: a ten hour adventure stumbling around our new home, Rhode Island - and what better time to get on one knee than hour nine of said adventure. In hour one, I walked the dog and lost a war against three hornets. In hour two, we parked the car in Newport and awaited the ferry with coffees in hand. In hour three, we sat in the wind and rain as our ferry arrived on Block Island. Hours four and five consisted of a bike ride up a Category One climb with Abi on a bike incapable of shifting its gears. This ride consisted of two stops, one so that we could buy shorts to throw under Abi's skirt, and the second to breathe for a moment (stress - again very windy and rainy and hilly), and for Abi to remind herself that a diamond would be on her finger by the time we left Block Island. Fast forward, after a beautiful lunch, one bottle of Rose, and some sightseeing at the Bluffs we began the trek back to the mainland. Two items of concern came into effect for myself in hour seven - the increasingly heavy rain and my poor time management. Two came into effect for Abi as well - the absence of a diamond on her finger and the expanding lion's mane that had grown on her head as a result of the rain and wind and hills. The final test came around hours eight and nine - the hike on to the cliffs at Fort Wetherhill in Jamestown, where I would finally get to ask Abigail Downs to be my wife. After six years of change and growth - we had spent a day to match it. The chaos and kid-ish fun were the perfect lead in to the moment we had both looked forward to for so long. While Abi tried to plan out the perfect look to create the perfect pictures, I find that the imperfect and windblown outcome was much more reflective of our relationship and I would have it no other way, Abi clearly concurs - she had her hand out and ready before I ever finished asking the question. We look forward to you all joining us in the next grand adventure, and invite you to enjoy our happy chaos.