I'm.......ENGAGED!

The proposal unfolds!

Hi yall,

Steve here. I'm new to this blogging thing so please excuse the dork factor. As you all obviously know, Dena is a wonderful, wonderful woman and as soon as I came to that realization I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. As I often tell her, there is something about her personality that truely makes me want to be a better man and that is a very unique quality to posess.

I quickly fell in love with Dena for all of the reasons that you all surely see. She is a wonderful friend. She has an amazing sense of humor and an even more amazing smile. She is kind. She is very spiritual and loves the gospel. She is so very beautiful.....I could go on and on.

I knew I wanted to marry Dena early on, I guess when you know....you know. We had been talking about it for a month or so and we both knew that it was what we wanted. Details aside, here is a quick story about the day I asked her to marry me. I hope you enjoy and once again, please excuse the dork factor. I can't help it. It's in my genetic makeup.

I had been planning on asking Dena to marry me for about a month before I popped the question. I was wrestling with the decision about how to ask her and couldn't decide if I should do it in a personal, romantic way with just the two of us or a silly and playful way with the possibilty of a touch of embarrassment. Because of our never ending joking around and playfulness that has become a big part of our relationship, I chose the latter.

I decided to propose in a place where she would never see it coming. Since we had been already been talking about getting married I really wanted it to be a surprise. I also had picked up her ring about a week earlier and I desperately needed to get it out of my hands and onto her finger where it belonged. I was so nervous about actually asking her that I broke the little black box that the ring came in because I kept opening and closing it during the week I had it before I proposed!

The day that I decided was "the day" I phoned her principal at Lone Peak Elementary and ran my idea by her to make sure that it wouldn't cause too much of a distraction. She was thrilled and couldn't wait to help me carry out my plan. I arrived at the school towards the end of the day and headed straight for the principals office. I can say with all honestly that it was the first time I've ever been in a principals office for a good reason. It was a refreshing change.

I needed Dena out of her classroom for a few minutes so the principal agreed to make up some story to get her out. The assistant principal walked me around the back of the school while the principal retrieved Dena from her class and took her down to the office. I only had a few minutes until Dena would return so I had to act quickly.

As I walked into her classroom all of her kids were watching a movie. I walked to the front of the room and announced that I needed their help with something. They all looked at me like I was some kind of dork until I told them who I was. "Hey you guys, my name is Steve and I'm Miss Biornstads boyfriend." A couple of the boys started in with the catcalls which was kind of funny but they quieted down when I told them that I wanted them to help me ask her to marry me!

I told them I would even pay them off with a treat if they would help me. I then gave each of them one of those large diamond shaped candy ringpops and told them all to put it on their fingers and to be very obvious about having them when Miss B came back to the room. They thought it was a fantastic idea, I think mostly because they got treats out of the deal.

After passing the rings out I hid in a room just outside of Dena's classroom so that I could see and hear what was going on. When Dena and the principal returned I think Dena was a bit oblivious to the fact that all of her kids had rings on. I think that was due to the fact that her boss and her bosses assistant were in the room as well.

When I couldn't take the anticipation any longer I openend the door and walked into the room. When Dena first saw me holding two dozen red roses at the back of her class she flashed me a look that said "I'm going to get in trouble!!!" I think it was then that she finally noticed that all of the kids were sucking on diamond rings. As she walked to the back of the room to meet me I told her that since everyone else in the room had a ring I didn't want her to feel left out and that I too had a ring for her.

At that instant she finally knew what was going on and when I could see that on her face I handed her the two dozen roses, told her how much I loved her and how much she meant the world to me and then I got down on one knee and asked her if she would marry me. It took her about 10 long seconds to respond and I finally had to shake her hand and say..."um Dena?" She was smiling the whole time at me as I nervously awaited the "yes" that I had hoped was coming. Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, she said yes!!! I think it was the most nervous I've ever been! When Dena said yes all the kids erupted in cheers and Dena grabbed me and hugged me as I got up. I love this woman so very much!

So, there it is. My attempt at being spontaneous and silly. I look forward to doing everything in my power to make Dena the happiest woman in the world and I can say with all honesty that I am the luckiest man in the world! I also look forward to getting to know each of you alot better. I know it's difficult living so far away from each other but Dena loves each and every one of you and always has so many positive things to say about you all. If you are half as wonderful as she says you are then I will surely be a lucky son and brother-in-law. Again, I look forward to getting to know all of you much better in the next few months! Enjoy the pictures!

I'm alive!

Just an FYI. I am alive. I have just been really busy!!! My camera got stolen in HB, when I went to Cali, but I will post the pictures that I managed to save onto my computer. I am loving life teaching 6th grade and I look forward to going off track in November! I plan on seeing Shane, Whitney and Koll over Thanksgiving. I am swamped at work, as I HAVE to finish my report cards by tomorrow, and I haven't even started! YIKES........Well besides multiple incidents of bullying in my class room, I am the student government advisor which is more work that I hadn't anticipated. This year work has been very involved. I plan on trying to blog on Sundays. It's good to have goals right? But since I don't have a digital camera, I'm afraid you will all have to wait for current pics of my life!