On Good Friday, my girlfriend Julie Anne and I went on the Easter egg hunt of our lives in the backyard of my parents’ house.

Many of you might know Julie Anne White as our amazing reporter here at Blue Ribbon News. In fact, we met for the first time in person at the Founder’s Day event at Harry Myers Park two years ago, and started dating just a little over a year later in August.

Joining us in the egg hunt was my parents, Julie Anne’s parents, my brother Preston and his wife Victoria. The grand prize of the hunt was a special egg which included a bonus prize of $50 plus an additional candy-filled egg inside. Victoria decorated this special egg herself, and let me tell you, with all its sparkles and glitter there was no question it was indeed the special egg. She went above and beyond to make this egg look perfect for the occasion, and I couldn’t be more grateful for her.

I helped my dad hide the 90+ eggs in the backyard, and hid the special egg myself in one of the flower pots on the back porch. I must have hid it very well, because she had to dig carefully around in it for a bit before she finally found it. Unbeknownst to Julie Anne, this special egg was meant for her to find, for I had written a little note on the $50 bill found inside – “Question for you, Julie Anne…” After she read it, I got down on one knee, took the engagement ring out of my pocket and proposed. And she said yes!

Actually, she said “Oh my gosh” about 50 times as I fumbled with my words trying to say something about how much I loved her, and how us being able to make it through her three-month semester abroad in Europe and all of the other times she was away at school in Arkansas only further proved that we were meant to spend the rest of our lives together. I finally came to the question I had hinted about on the $50 – “Will you marry me?” I was so nervous and excited in that moment, I’m just glad I remembered to ask. And after she said yes, I almost put the ring on the wrong hand because my own hands were shaking so much. Victoria caught the whole thing on video, which has since been shared on Facebook.

Keeping the whole proposal a secret from Julie Anne was probably the toughest part, as she can be very perceptive and difficult to surprise. It was a team effort between me, her parents, my parents, and Preston and Victoria. We all had her thinking the egg hunt was just a fun family tradition my parents did every year.

In case you’re wondering, all of us but Julie Anne knew the egg’s location. It took a bit of improvising to steer her in the right direction while making it look like we all wanted to be the one to find the special egg. Apparently we’re all decent actors because she told me afterwards she hadn’t suspected a thing.

Being engaged – it feels so surreal! I feel like just the other day I was at someone else’s wedding, watching them exchange their vows, and now it will be our turn to do that! I’m just so thankful for all the blessings God has provided me that have led to this moment.

You are my life, my love, my angel sent from Heaven, Julie Anne, and I can’t wait to marry you.Read more at:www.marieaustralia.com/orange-formal-dresses