Engagement story!

So...where to start. I'd had the ring for quite some time and Lydia knew it. This created a bit of a predicament. I wanted to surprise her. She'd always wanted an October wedding, which meant I needed to ask in enough time for her to plan, and it wasn't until this past October her dad had finally been ok with the idea. All that on top of the fact she was living 600 miles away and I only got to see her once a month/every other month gave me a narrow window to do the deed.
This left me with two options; my Christmas visit, or Valentines Day. And on top of that, I needed time to officially ask her dad's permission without her knowing. That last factor pretty much left Christmas.
I had an issue, though. Lydia is smart, and she suspected. This was going to take some planning.
As fortune had it, she wound up having to work the day after I got to Mississippi. And her dad was semi-free. So, I took advantage of the opportunity and obtained his blessing quietly. I'm still not sure if anyone was aware of our brief conversation. I had been helping Lydia's eldest brother install a game I got him for Christmas, and while we were waiting on the game to install, I slipped downstairs, cornered my future father-in-law, apologized for the informality, but explained my need for stealth. He granted his blessing and gave me a hug. Lydia came home from work and didn't suspect a thing. She did later ask if I had found a chance to ask him, but I feigned ignorance.
The actual asking was simple. She didn't want it to be extravagant or draw a lot of attention to her. Something nice and quiet was all she wanted.
I had the perfect plan. We were going to visit my extended family in Oklahoma, and on the way, there was a nice overlook with a beautiful view I planned on stopping at.
Mother nature had other plans. It was pouring rain when we got to that point in our journey. The question would have to wait.
We had a good time visiting my family. Lydia got to cause chaos with Cousin Beth, and really seemed to fit in well with everyone.
We left, and I had an issue. The overlook I had planned to use was only accessible from one side of I-40 - The West bound side.
So I had to improvise. A quick Googling showed that none of her favorite restaurants were along our route, or near any feasible alternate route, and time was running out.
So, I was evil and unromantic. I made her choose. Told her we should stop somewhere "nicer" for lunch, her pick. I had partially given up on secrecy. I kept hinting it needed to be somewhere nicer. She didn't catch on. She chose a Ci-Ci's pizza in Arkansas.
We got to lunch and filled our plates. I had the ring in my pocket, and waited for an opportune moment.
We had fun chatting, as always. We playfully picked on each other and just had fun. At one point, she lovingly informed me that I was working on getting myself into trouble.
This was it. As unromantic as it may sound, it was "us;" goofy, spontaneous, and last minute. Oh, and done right, quiet and unobtrusive, just like she wanted.
I asked her if there was anything I could do to get myself out of trouble. She told me, smile on her face, "probably not." With a deft move of my hand, I slipped the jewelry box out of my pocket and held it between us. Her face paused in that moment, and she started grinning from ear-ear and turned bright red.
I was almost at a loss for words. The realization that I had actually managed to pleasantly surprise her, I quietly asked, "Lydia, you're an amazing woman, and I love you...will you marry me?"
She started nodding, smile still radiantly stuck on her face, before she managed to quietly say, "Yes."
She slipped off the promise ring I had given her before she moved so many months ago, and I slipped the diamond onto her hand.
We just snuggled in our booth then, holding hands and talking. At one point she asked me if I had actually asked her dad for his blessing (not that it changed her answer, she just didn't realize I had done it) and we got dessert and headed out.
As soon as we got in my car, out came the cell phones, changing relationship statuses on Facebook. We then headed back to Mississippi and her family. We spent New Year's with her grandma in the southern part of the state.
I have to close with this tidbit, though. Lydia is NOT a very ego-centric girl. While she's very people-friendly, she's not one to flaunt herself. So I have to tease her. We were at a bookstore near her house a day after she got engaged. We were checking out, and the cashier asked Lydia if she'd had a good Christmas. Without pause, Lydi replied, "Oh yes," and almost shoved her left hand in the poor girl's face. I was totally shocked; so was Lydia when she realized what she'd done, and we both shared a good laugh.
Anyway, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.