It's happening, we are getting married!

We met at work, plain and simple. Maria's supervisor and I helped Maria to come out of her shell and we just continued talking from there. Incidentally that's the reason I call Maria "Maria" instead of Catherine (which is what she normally goes by), because that's what was on her name tag! I eventually worked up the courage to ask Maria out and was promptly shot down! However, I was unwilling to give up on her and we continued to chat each other. Eventually Maria agreed to go on a date and so began our love story.

I had thought about how to propose to Maria for an incredibly long time. Ideas like making a fake movie trailer and playing it in a local theater floated around in my head for awhile but I was getting antsy and didn't want to wait that long. I decided that proposing while we were in the Philippines would be special for both of us! Maria had no idea that I had already bought the ring (because i'm sneaky!) and I was a nervous wreck about my luggage when we were island hopping (a clue that something was up that she completely missed!). One of our island hopping adventures was in Coron where we decided to climb the 729 steps to the top of Mt. Tapyas. As you may have guessed mountains and I don't really get along, and I decided that if I could climb all those steps and get to the top then Maria and I could face anything together. So after a significant amount of time I finally made it! (Maria had gone on ahead because I was taking forever!) After I caught my breath I knelt down on one knee and popped the question. Even though I was sweaty and gross Maria said yes! After I put the ring on her trembling hand she slapped me across the face...out of love. Oh and it was also Valentines Day which was a total accident :)