Our engagement: January 26, 2008 :)

Matt and I went shopping last week for rings, so the proposal wasn't necessarily unexpected. We spent Friday night and Saturday with his family in South Jordan. I knew something was going on because Matt told me the ring was done, and as soon as we got to his parents house Friday night, he and his dad snuck upstairs. Saturday night he took me to dinner at Biaggis, an Italian restaurant in The Gateway downtown. It was a particularly warm night so it was fun to walk around Gateway as well. Dinner was wonderful and it was fun to just have a night out. After dinner we walked back to the car. We got back on the freeway and started heading south. We got off the freeway in Draper and started driving up to the top of the mountain where you can see all the city lights. This was significant because a couple months earlier, after spending the day in Park City and the evening with my parents, we had driven to the same place on our way home. It was there that he told me he loved me for the first time. When we arrived at the top of the mountain we stopped the car and he held me in his arms while he began the proposal. I knew at this point that it was coming and was already crying. His proposal was perfect for how our relationship is. It was so sincere and personal. He told me how he had searched for me since he got home from his mission and knew that the Lord had someone specific in mind. In the last part of it he said "I know God loves us and that he has a plan for us and wants us to be happy. I've never been happier than when I'm with you and I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?" I said yes of course and he pulled out the ring box. I was crying as he opened the box and put the ring on my finger. Then we cried and he held me. Then we talked a laughed about everything. It was perfect. Afterward we went to my mom's house to announce our official engagement. We then went to Mom and Dad Purcell's house to announce the good news there. It has been so fun to share this happy time with family. Matt has such an amazing family and I feel blessed to be becoming a part of that. Lots of pictures were taken throughout the night... here they are :)

Pictures :)

This one was taken while we were waiting to be seated at the restaurant. I love this picture cause we are just being goofy and having fun :)

This one is a little blurry, but I still love it! It seems like whenever we smile in a picture it comes out blurry! We need to take more pictures. :)

This was taken after we finished eating at Biaggis. Look how good lookin' my fiance is ;) I just have to brag a little.

This was taken at my mom and Judd's house when we were celebrating the engagement. We were "beaming!"

I love this one too! I love Matt's smile :)

He is so good to me :) I feel like the luckiest girl the world, but he says he feels that he is the luckiest guy in the world, so I guess the feeling is mutual.

This is the wonderful Purcell family I am marrying into :) From Left to right: Stacie, James, Stephanie, Stephanie, Dad, Mom, Matt, Me (Stephanie). Michael is taking the picture :)

I was pretty tired by this point, but this is another picture of us at mom and dad Purcell's.

Just the girls: Stacie, Stephanie, Stephanie (me), and Stephanie... this could and does get confusing!

This is the beautiful ring! He did a good job huh? :)

Matt and I

I'm liking this look of mine? :)


Sometimes Matt is camera shy... Steph and I snuck these ones in while he was on the phone :)