We're ENGAGED!!!!

On THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 Mark Janzen asked me to marry him... and I of course accepted with much enthusiasm!

Mark took me on an incredible scavenger hunt through Vancouver where he had previously taken pictures of all of our favourite spots. We went to Pottery Barn, Granville Island Market, The Mongolie Grill, the Cupcake store (of course) and ended up at Jericho Beach.

I had hoped he was going to ask me before he left for Prince Albert, and I was fairly certain he was going to because my dad blurted to me that he had gone out for breakfast with Mark. I started asking questions to friends and my mom about a possible engagement and they all somehow were able to convince me that it was going to happen in December (which Nicola said would be a very romantic time!) Anyways, I had CONVINCED myself it wouldn't happen this summer and I was quite content with a December engagement.

As we walked toward the beach, I saw two lights through some trees. I still did not clue in at this point because I remembered there was a yacht club around this beach (and I also didn't have my glasses on). We got a little bit closer and I heard music-still not clueing in. We inched closer and around the corner of trees was a beautiful path of tee-lights. The path led to 100 more tee-light candles sprinkled across the beach and two tiki torches and a blanket. On the blanket was a bottle of champagne surrounded by rose petals. While I was soaking all of this in, I hadn't yet noticed Mark was down on one knee. He was holding my favourite cupcake and placed on the cupcake was a dazzling diamond ring!

It was such a beautiful night and I realize how much God has blessed Mark and I. We have such amazing friends, family and a beautiful friendship with each other.

Thank you SHAWN, AMANDA and GRAHAM for helping Mark create such a beautiful and memorable night. Thanks NICOLA and MOM for lying to me.. it truly made the night shockingly amazing.

Most of all, thank you MARK for all of your love and for asking me to marry you. I am so excited to start this amazing journey together.

Here they are hard at work. I was so impressed

to find out they raked the area!

Here is Shawn sprinkling the rose petals

(I love how much he is enjoying this!)

Again, Shawn adding his touch to

our very special night.

Our first pictures as an engaged couple...note

my very wet eyes!