Jonny and Janet Sitting in a Tree

Jonny asked me to help propose to Janet awhile back. He told me to find a park with some secluded walk ways where they could have some privacy. The task was fairly daunting since all of the parks I knew about were the ones that everyone ran around the perimeter... not very secluded... not very romantic. I also did not have a super amount of extra time since I was working 80ish hours a week. But this was important to Jon. And I am so happy he chose me to be a part of one of the most important days in his life. I had to find the perfect place.

Luckily, I had some help. Sunday the 19th of June... exactly 6 days before the proposal was to take place... my roommate, Merrilee, and my outdoorsy friend, Sierra, head to Memorial Grove Park in Salt Lake City. It was right near the capital and past the Temple a little. It was raining a little that day but I think it made it look that much more beautiful. We took pictures to send to Jonny so that he would know what to expect.

Meditation Chapel

When we found this alter, we knew it was the perfect spot. I had planned for Jon and Janet to walk through the main part of the park... past all of the cool statues and memorials to those who had fought for our country. I wanted to then lead them to this alter, where behind it lay two secluded pathways. Perfect for me to write what he wanted on the sidewalk as it lead to the point where I wanted the proposal to happen.

This is the view they would see after she said yes and they stopped kissing.

Gorgeous? no?

We were so pleased with ourselves. We found the perfect spot.




Fast forward to PROPOSAL DAY!
July 25, 2011

After some editing and condensing, Jonny and I finally figured out the perfect words to write on the sidewalk. He had planned to also be singing a song to her on my guitar.

Jon and Janet were on their way up to spend the weekend with me. I texted Jon to tell him that I had to go to work for a bit to cover a shift right before they were to arrive at my house around 1pm. I was really at the park writing all this on the sidewalk behind the alter... and getting pretty sunburned in the process.

"It began with messages sent across the country"

"Each message"

"Each phone call"


"Each visit"

"Brought us closer together, all the while reminding us how far apart we really are"

"We fell in love despite the distance"

"Janet"

"My love for you grows daily"

"And will continue to grow forever"

"I love you more than anything in the world"

"I can't imagine life without you"

"As I get down on one knee"

We expected them to come through between 1:30 and 2:00. So Merrilee and I were waiting at the point of proposal protecting it from bikers, joggers and dogs. I tried to get everyone to go up the other path... but I wasn't 100% successful. I almost body checked 3 girls because they were ignoring my body language. One jogger said that it was "inspirational."

We heard a guitar playing... we looked down to where our path started and couldn't see Jonny or Janet anywhere. Then I realized that it was coming from above us. They were on the upper level of the path! I jumped up. Not knowing exactly where to hide and wanting to tell them they needed to go start at the bottom... but I was suppose to be at WORK!!!

They caught me doing a little jig.

I told them to go down the other path and start at the bottom as I was jumping into the bushes to 'hide'