The Amazing Race...

Brad and I have known since the very early days of our courtship that we would one day be married. You know the saying, "when you know, you know"? Well it is very true. I think even more so when you are both in your 30's and have been married once before. So, we have talked at great length about our future together and have been very excited about it. Last night, Brad made it official with a fantastic proposal. In the spirit of the A & B Adventures we have already experienced, he made this a memorable event that he worked hard to pull off...

He had told me a few weeks ago to leave Saturday, November 13th open because we had "plans". Anyone that knows me, knows that I am planner and, okay, a bit of a control freak with my schedule. However, dating Brad has taught me that I have to hand over the reigns sometimes in regards to my calendar (ala "Surprise Sunday"). So, in order to satisfy my anal need to have SOMETHING on my calendar, I have had 11/13 marked as "Plans". All I knew was that I wouldn't know anything about it and that he had enlisted my friend Kasi to be involved.

I started my Saturday by getting my nails done and getting a relaxing pedicure. I had talked to Brad earlier that morning and I knew he was out running around very early that morning, which is rather unusual for him, so I knew he was already up to something. After the nail salon, I ran Cheyenne up to Brad's house so that she could hang out with her new playmate Samson. Then ran back home... the only information I had about the day was that Kasi was picking me up at my house at 1:30. Before I left Brad's house, he handed me two manila envelopes, one with my name on it and one with Kasi's. I was given instructions not to read mine until Kasi arrived. I was good and didn't even peek!!

Kasi (and her 2 month old son, Rush) arrived and we visited for a bit while Rush had a little lunch and then we opened the folders. My folder included a letter from Brad explaining that the day would be a "reflection of the adventure we have had together so far and of that yet to come" and that I was about to go on "sort of an amazing race adventure". He explained that I would have a total of 7 stops. At each stop I would receive a clue to the next stop and a card with a word on it. The word would have one letter that was part of a riddle. Kasi's folder included additional information about each stop (if I needed help) and "supplemental clues". (Those extra clues were quite cute!). Also inside my folder was the first clue...

"Clue #1: The Adventure Begins- Your first stop is at a location we had to rush to after viewing some BLING!! It involved the first time gathering of people cheering for cows and boomers." Well, I knew the answers... the Hyde Park Quarries!! We went and looked at rings the day of the UT vs OU game. Our Singles Group was hosting its first-ever viewing party and we were almost late because we got so involved at looking at rings! So, we jumped in the car and headed that directions We have a friend, Michelle, that works there, so I figured she would be my point of contact... and I was right!

I walked in to see Michelle waiting for me with some flowers. With the flowers, she also handed me a card that said "Mum" (also the type of flower she was handing me) and a piece of paper with my next clue.

"Clue #2: Your next stop could be considered where we went on our "first date" after you got back to Austin. It is open 24 hours." I knew the answer... Kerbey Lane Cafe!! As I explain in a previous post, Brad and I first began getting to know one another while I was on a business trip in CA. He picked me up from a very late flight and we went to Kerbey for dinner/breakfast. Off we went to Kerbey at Anderson Mill...

When we got to Kerbey, I saw our friend Kelly standing outside with flowers! I was so surprised to see her! She handed me my flowers and a card that said "Aster" plus my next clue. (I now began to realize that I would be greeted by a friend at each of these stops and that the card was not only spelling a phrase but were the name of the flowers.)

"Clue #3: Your next stop is at the location we saw our first super hero together. He was definitely not the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz." This one took me a minute... we saw "Iron Man 2" together but that was in San Antonio!! I didn't think we were driving all the way to SA. Then I realized we both were at a friend's house one night and we watched "Iron Man" there. We hadn't even started really talking yet which is why I hadn't thought of it immediately. So, we headed towards Round Rock to Laura's house!

We arrived at Laura's house and she had flowers and a card that said "Rose". She also gave me my next clue.

"Clue #4: This stop was one of our first weekend adventures. Although we are both up for challenges, this adventure required the assistance of a guide. It was not in outer space." I knew the answer... Inner Space Caverns!!! We went on a tour of the caverns. So, now we were off to Georgetown!

We arrived at Inner Space Caverns and I had NO CLUE who I was looking for. Then I saw our friends Joel and James walking towards me! Yay!!! I love these guys! Joel handed me my flowers, a card that said "Rose" and my next clue.

"Clue #5: This stop is definitely not one of our favorite places but it will always be important to us. It may just be the place where the start of A + B developed!!" I knew this one immediately... Chipotle. Neither one of us like this place at all, however, it was the lunch location for our Singles group one Sunday, so we both went to hang out with people. It is where we first "clicked".

We arrived and there wasn't anyone there that I recognized or holding flowers. Kasi and Brad traded a few anxious text messages and we learned the person was just running a tad late. This was okay because little Rush had been quite a trooper and it was time for a diaper change.

Just as Rush was all set, a truck pulled up and out popped Brandy!!! She is on staff at our church and works very closely with the Singles. We decided that I should get the clue in "the" booth where Brad and I sat. So, we ran inside and she presented me with my flowers, a card that said "Yoko Ono" and my clue. (Yes- the flowers are actually called Yoko Ono... who knew she had a flower named after her!?!)

"Clue #6: You are almost at the end of your adventure. So, I am going to make this clue a little challenging. This stop involves the nickname of what you called someone who is very smart in school and involves what you call the gesture you give someone when they make you mad. (The complete clue is two words.) A further clue is: it involves the object Tattoo used to shout out during Fantasy Island." This clue totally had me stumped. I immediately said "Nerd Bird" and knew that was a plane. However, I couldn't figure out what that meant. I had to really think this through. "Nerd Bird" is the nickname for the direct flight from San Jose, CA to Austin... I took that flight to/from my company's headquarters. OH! He picked me up at the airport after my business trip. I looked at Kasi and said, "Are we going all the way to the airport!?!" She smiled and said yes. So, we were off!!

When we arrived at the airport, the only instruction that Kasi had for me was that we were to head to Baggage Claim. As we walked through, I saw two women standing by a baggage carousel with a BRIGHT pink sign that said "Princess Amy"... well I knew they must be there for me because Brad held a sign saying the same thing the night he picked me up. The problem was, I had NO CLUE who these women were. I cautiously walked up and explained that I was Amy. They smiled but I had to ask... "how do you know Brad?" Kasi and I had all sorts of theories... they were holding the sign for the "real" person while they went to the restroom or the "real" person had to leave so they were filling in... Wrong on both counts!! Lily and Brad used to work together and were good friends. Lily lives out near the airport, so she was the perfect person to help! She handed me my flowers, a card that said "Mum" and my next clue.

"Clue #7: This is your final stop!! Do you know what the riddle is yet??? The location is where we saw a little orphan in the park". First I have to tell you, I knew this answer... but before I could say it aloud, Lily and Kasi were saddened and confused about us actually seeing a sad orphan alone in a park. We quickly were laughing again when I explained that Brad and I saw "Annie" at the Zilker Hillside Theater!!! So, we were on the road again, headed to Zilker. 

Now, if you haven't been paying attention, let me re-cap the names of the flowers... notice the first letter of each name:

Mum

Aster

Rose

Rose
Yoko-Ono

Mum

I already thought this adventure was leading this direction but I still hadn't gotten the last letter (which I knew to be "E") and I didn't know when or where I would see Brad. I quickly realized what was about to happen when Kasi and I arrived at Zilker and I could see Brad waiting for me. I was so thankful that Kasi was there to capture this moment....

After I finished crying, Brad explained that he was taking me to dinner at a favorite place of mine, Mandola's. At this point, I said goodbye to Kasi and Rush.

We went to Mandolas and had a YUMMY dinner. We each called our parents and sent various text messages to friends. It was a relaxing dinner and we had fun telling each side of the adventure. He got to hear about the fun we had and I got to hear about all the hard work and preparation he had done. 

After we ate, we decided to walk to their dessert counter for something to take home. However, as we headed that way, I glanced out on the patio and saw my friend Sally. I was surprised to see her but my initial thought was "she doesn't live far from here, she is probably here with friends". Except, I looked over and saw Kelly (from my Kerbey Lane clue) and quickly realized something... they don't know each other!!! Then I looked around and realized that a ton of our friends were at that table (most of the clue people too)!!! Brad had pulled off one last surprise that evening! I started jumping up and down and yelling like I had just won the Showcase Showdown. I ran outside and hugged everyone.

Front: Michelle & Kelly, Back: Sara, me & Brad

Front: Suzanne, Laura & Mary. Back: Braden, me, Brad & James

We got to visit with everyone and tell about the adventure. I was filled in on just how much everyone knew-- including a whole bunch of people that couldn't be there that night. My phone was going crazy with text messages and Facebook posts. It was a great way to end the evening. 

As we were leaving Mandola's Brad got a message from Joel (Inner Space Caverns clue). He and his Mom had gotten lost and never made it to the restaurant. We made arrangements to meet for a quick visit at Chili's. Joel and his mom, Darla, are very special people and very important to Brad (and now me). I couldn't bear for them to not be part of our special day!! We enjoyed a nice time with them but we slowly realized that the adrenaline of the day was leaving us and we got very tired. We said our goodbyes and Brad took me home. He helped me assemble the flowers from the day and without even realizing it, he had put together a beautiful bouquet...

We said our good-nights and I fell into bed exhausted. It had been a remarkable day. I am so touched by the love I felt today... both from Brad and everyone involved. I couldn't have asked for a better person to be with me all day than Kasi and one day, when he is older, I will tell Rush about how he was with us on that important day and thank him for being a trooper. Kasi and all of the people involved will now and forever be part of "our story" and the special way Brad proposed.

So, I can officially call Brad my fiance. Something tells me this Amazing Race has only just begun. We are sure to have more adventures and I look forward to a lifetime of surprises. He will keep me guessing, for sure. And now... time to plan a wedding!!!