The Proposal Ten Months in the Making

I guess I've made you wait long enough to hear the details of Ellvin Kelvin's perfect proposal. But first, one must understand the lengths he went through to pop this question.

The first we heard about Ellvin Kelvin wanting to propose was months before our Alaskan cruise. He thought it would be incredibly special if he proposed on the ship. Originally we had planned to include Amazing Grace's parents on the cruise, but she had just started a new job and couldn't take the time off.

Ellvin Kelvin was looking for some clever ideas for a memorable proposal. He had asked us about putting the engagement ring inside a golfball because she collects golfballs. So Father Routes and I set out to find a golfball to carve open. Unfortunately, golfballs contain toxic materials inside to help them fly farther. But, on a trip to Big 5 to buy binoculars for the trip, out of nowhere we found a golfball shaped keychain that held lip balm. The ball screwed off to reveal the chapped-lip relief. It was perfect.

Mother Routes scooped out all the lip balm (and saved it in a zip-lock bag of course) and inserted a ring holder and set the ring inside. It was so perfect it was awesome. Then, on the cruise ship, we gave the ball to Ellvin Kelvin.

But alas, it was not-to-be. Ellvin Kelvin did not feel right with all of our family there and none of Amazing Grace's present. After that, time passed with still no proposal.

Then, after I learned that he and Amazing Grace were coming to California for vacation, I proposed two proposal ideas to him, each involving the golfball. The first was to pop the question while riding Soarin' Over California at Disney's California Adventure. During the scene where you fly over Palm Springs, a golfer drives a golfball directly at the riders. I told Ellvin Kelvin to mimic catching the golfball, opening it during the sunset beach scene and asking her for her hand, and then if all went according to plan, she would have said yes during the fireworks sequence. It was corny, but I thought memorable.

The second idea was too stupid to document on this blog. Something about proposing on the ski slopes on a double diamond course. Diamond... get it? Nevermind.

Well, Ellvin Kelvin almost used my idea on Soarin' Over California, but the moment didn't feel right. There were too many people and it was way too loud. So he just looked over at me and shook his head. There would be another time, but would it be soon?

Yes it would. Two days later, Ellvin Kelvin and Amazing Grace went hiking on Mt. Baldy. During the hike, Ellvin Kelvin dropped the golfball in the snow and pointed it out to Amazing Grace. She noticed that it held something inside and immediately began unscrewing it as Ellvin Kelvin dropped to his knee. The rest is history.

So we're in overdrive trying to figure out weeding details. It's on the fasttrack for this Fall, so it's very hectic right now. But everyone is very happy to have Amazing Grace join our family!


Wedding - noun. The process of removing weeds from one's garden.

Ricky