Our history: Derek and I first met while working for a newspaper at our community college. It most certainly was not love at first sight. I didn't like his long hair or trench coat and he thought I was an "ice queen" as he puts it. We were both so wrong! After a few months we became friends and quickly realized there was more to each other than first met the eye.

After our first date (which was not exactly official) he asked me to go out with him again the next night, and the night after that, and the night after that, and so on for a week. I couldn't figure out what was taking him so long, why didn't he just ask me to date him? I almost gave up on him, as I have never been known for my patience. I still give him a hard time because he was too nervous to actally ask me to date him, so he simply said "I guess this means we are dating now, right?"

We are two incredibly different people who have grown together over the last five years. I am so lucky to be engaged to my best friend. He has taught me how to be less judgmental, to love myself and others more, to let things go, and he has taught me the meaning of every cheesy love song ever written. To him, I say thank you for making me laugh, for challenging me, for not letting me get away with every turdy thing I want to do, for being my partner in crime, and for making my life so fulfulling. We have now been together just over five years and got engaged on 12-12-12.

Derek planned and worried about how he would finally pop the question and agonized over what ring to get me. I knew it would happen soon, so I did my research and started giving him ideas of what kind of ring I would like. He wanted to go the traditional route and pickthe ring out himself, but fortunately he knows me well enough to know that I would want some say in the ring I would wear for the rest of my life.

I ended up coming across a ring that took my breath away. I saved the picture and I told him that I found the ring of my dreams. He said if it was what I wanted, then I could that exact ring. He had the ring hand made and sized to perfection, so I knew it was coming soon.

One day, he surpised me after work. The ring had come in, and he set up an engagement treasure hunt for me! My favorite activity for us is to go geocaching, and I love hunting for "treasure!" When I got to the back door there was a note taped to it that said:

STOP

You are about to embark on a treasure hunt. Yes, I said treasure hunt. Read Below.

Rules:

1. Do not enter a room before finding the next clue.

2. Have fun. See you at the end.

Clue: Kitchen- Stop bringing these to bed.

So, I knew he was referring to my habbit of bringing water glasses to bed with me, and I looked in the kitchen cupboard. There I found the next note with a dollar taped to it. This note read:

Oh good, you found the next clue. Here's a dollar. (What good is a treasure hunt without a little treasure?) Clue: Dining room - sometimes we play a game. F*** you, spy!

In the dining room we had the board game Dominion sitting on the table. Inside there was another note that said "You found me! Look under the table in the big green purse for your treasure. Clue: Living room - we both "hunger" for a new book shelf. In the purse I found Lindt truffles.

In the Living room, I went to the book case and pulled out my copy of The Hunger Games. The note there said, "Good work, Bestie. Look above "Finn" for your prize. It's 'cause you're my princess. And yes, I want to watch it with you tonight. Deal with it. Clue - Bathroom - We need more T.P." On top of the book Finn, I found The Princess Bride. Then I headed toward the bathroom.

In the bathroom, I found an ugly Christmas sweater (which I loved!) with a reindeer wearing sunglasses. The note simply said, "You should find the best surprise upstairs."

When I went upstairs he got down on one knee and read me a proposal speech that he wrote. This is what it said, "Whitney, I'm sorry if this proposal was rather lame, but I've been thinking about treasure hunts for the past year now. I've come to realize that every day my life has been a treasure hunt with you for the past five years. Each day, good or bad, I wake up feeling like you're what I've beenlooking for my entire life. Every day with you is a little piece of treasure that i cherish more than you might suspect. I am very thankful for finding you, even if, oftentimes I don't have a clue.

I'm not really good at sappy things, or romantic things, but know that I'm trying for you because I love you more than anyone in the world. I guess this means we're engaged now, right?"

I, of course, said yes.