You guys. The Arkansas Women Bloggers Conference was amazing. Or as the kids are saying, amaze balls and awesome-sauce.
Not only did I meet some seriously talented, sweet lady bloggers, I came away with crazy-good inspiration for this little space of mine and a lovely pair of Country Outfitter cowboy boots..
Oh yea…there was one more thing:
{insert squeals and gasps for breath} Engaged! As in, Thom proposed marriage in front of 75 women bloggers. I know, right?
Here’s how it went down.
Stephanie {aka The Park Wife and founder of Arkansas Women Bloggers} tells me she’s putting together a group of three bloggers that she’d like to speak about why and how they started blogging. Having heard the story of why I started mine, she thought I would fit in perfectly; would I talk to the group? Sure! Okay. Nervous much? Quite. A couple beers help with that.
Just before dinner, I’m whisked away into a room where Stephanie and Julie give me the rundown of events: in which order we’ll be speaking { Amy, myself, & Paige}and with instructions to be brief, fun, and don’t be nervous!
Amy goes first and starts to tell her story. And, in the middle, her voice starts to shake and she totally loses her concentration-I remember thinking “she must be as nervous as I am”-cool {because, you know, she’s beautiful, has a great blog, and has way more blogger friends than I do}.
So then it’s my turn. I introduce myself and name my blog. I start rambling about knowing Thom a long time ago and how we lost touch. I reminisced about thinking that the internet was this awesome tool that could find anyone so I started a blog entitled Desperately Seeking {Thom} to find him and how after six months it turned up nada so I changed the name to Desperately Seeking {Gina} and it’s been blogging and over-sharing ever since. When I came to the part about Thom finding me through my blog and how he left a comment for me, the enthralled crowd of women collectively, and loudly awed over the romantic story. At that moment I heard behind me: Thom.
“I’ve never heard so many good things said about me.”
What the what? He came to stand beside me and put his hand on my shoulder. I think he said something to the ladies as they clapped and cheered. At this point I was SO dumbfounded. I couldn’t quite grasp that he was there and for why.
“Whaaat are you doing here?”
And, then I knew. I knew why these women were cheering. I knew why there were flashes popping from cell phones and why someone was recording us on her iPhone. It suddenly occurred to me why Thom was standing there with a little white box and a huge smile on his face.
“I want to ask you something.”
More cheering. Tears flowed. I hid my face and could not believe this was happening to me-the kind of girl that these things just don’t happen to. At that moment, I felt like Julia Roberts in Notting Hill. I was just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.
And then, he asked me to marry him.
Knowing that he is my happily ever after, I said “yes-yes, I’ll marry you.”
And, that, my friends, is proof that things like this really do happen to girls like me.
I LOVE this. Of course beautiful things like this happen to you…Thom knew how to live up to your dreams…an incredibly important quality in a spouse. Congrats again. XOXO, MJ
I am so happy for you Gina! I wish I could of seen your face when it happened oh and tell Thom he could of clued me in when you all saw me at work lol. Congrats again!
What do you mean a girl like you, you my dear niece are the best girl ever never would of thought you would be where you are today and i am proud to say you are my niece and he is very lucky to have you in his life just enjoy and be happy that is all that matters.
Love you
Aunt Mur
So glad all your searching ended with us ladies getting to be a part of your special moment! It was so awesome for us and I'm getting weepy all over again. Congratulations and all the best to you and Thom!
Beautiful story for a beautiful couple. I plan to reference this in my blog post this week if you don't care. So…do I get to be your flower girl?
You've got me crying here!! So love you 🙂
Heather
Congrats Gina! It was such a beautiful proposal and so touching! Best wishes to you and Thom!
So stinkin' excited I could be a "part" of this with you and Thom! A lifetime and more of happiness!! xoxo!
Oh Gina that is an awesome story!!! I didn't know that's where the name of your blog came from. So romantic that he proposed at the blogging conference!!!!!
Yay!!! I am so very happy for the two of you…and for the rest of us because now we know we get to keep you in the family!!!! Oh and can I now call you Aunt Gina, how about Auntie G?!! Whatever, I am so stinking excited!! Love you both!!! Chrissy
That's a very beautiful ring Gina! I wish the both of you much happiness!
Thom's amazing proposal brought tears to my eyes Saturday night and reading it from your point if view had me all teary eyed again. I am so happy and excited for you and can't wait to read all about your wedding plans.
Gina, dear, while I will follow everyone's footsteps and say OF COURSE stuff like this should happen to you, I also know exactly what you mean. That was a really special moment – congratulations to you!
So, so, so thrilled for you! Wish I had been there!
how exciting! that is so wonderful! congrats and what a sweet proposal!!!
…and I just started crying again
One of the most romantic things EVER! I'm so happy for you two!
It was beautiful to be a witness to your Notting Hill moment. Congratulations and best wishes to you and Thom!
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful moment and blessed to have witnessed your "OMG" moment! Now I'm tearing up all over again. Congrats to you and Thom on your engagement and what a beautiful story.
And now I'm crying again, too! My face hurt from smiling so much during that proposal! CHEERS!:)
Words don't come, except maybe Beautiful.
What an awesome surprise, he's so sweet!!!! Congratulations friend, I'm so happy for you!
That is so sweet! Better than a Hugh Grant movie :0) Congrats!
This man so thoughtfully planned something at a time and place that he knew would be important to you. I gather that jumping up in front of 75 women is not a regular habit of his, and I love knowing the courage and thoughtfulness that he put into that special moment.
And yes, we were BESIDE ourselves and had trouble not being awkward around you the whole weekend up until that moment.
And yes, beautiful Amy's choked up moment had very little to do with nervousness.
And yes, we are all tearing up and so proud and happy for you and the life you'll have together.
Congratulations AGAIN!!
Happppppppyyyyy for youuuuuu!!!!!!
What a sweet, happy proposal, Gina!
Best wishes to you and Thom. May you have a long, happy marriage.
Can I love his post a million times?!! How sweet!!
Oh my gracious! My Hubby is sitting on the couch waatching the Razorback stuff wondering why I am crying and unable to speak. What a sweet story!!!! So happy for you. I couldn't wait to read all about it after reading about the proposal at My Heart's Desire. So PRECIOUS! Congratulations and Best Wishes!!
So happy for you! Can't wait to hear more about the upcoming plans!
Watching that proposal unfold was priceless. We are all in love with Gina and Thom.