So I thought over this for a long time trying to figure out the best way to do it. I’ve had Crystal thinking that I’m going to wait on the ring until February or so and that I am buying her a bunch of little things for Christmas, which I am. So here is the plan.

While Crystal is visiting me for Christmas Eve, her family is going to plant all of the gifts that I have already given them a week before. When Crystal opens the door to her house, there will be rose pedals going up her stairs and leading to her stocking. In the stocking is an envelope that says “Crystal Elizabeth Alred – Christmas 2005”. Inside the envelope is a card telling her that her gifts are already there waiting on her and that she must figure out the clues to find them. It is a scavenger hunt!

The clues have different gifts waiting such as a necklace, bracelet, earrings, and perfume. All of them get a bit nicer to make her think she isn’t getting anything else (a ring). The final clue leads to a gift underneath the Christmas tree. Inside the box is a professionally printed, hardbound book that I put together with Apple’s iPhoto. On the cover it says “You and Me – 2005”. On the front page it says “1 Corinthians 13”. Each page has a different verse from that chapter (Love is patient, love is kind…) and has various photos of us. The last few pages say:

“The greatest of these is…”

“Love”

“Crystal Elizabeth Alred, I Love You…”

As she flips the page, the last page says, “Will you marry me?”

That is when I hit my knee and show her the ring!

So now I just have to ask for her parents’ blessing and see if they will help me plant these clues & gifts!

To see the pages of the book, click here!

Whew…what a ring!!! She had picked the style out a few months back and was sized at 5 3/4, so I went ahead and bought that exact ring in that exact size. Sounds like a safe move, right? Well…it may not be. Lately she has been saying that she believes she is a 6. Ugh…and I already got the ring! There isn’t a big difference between 5 3/4 and a 6 so I am going to wait until I give it to her for her to decide whether or not to change the size. May be a bad move, but I don’t want to risk getting it scratched or messed up before she even sees it! I’m sure she’ll shove it on to get it to fit anyway. HA

The diamond is beautiful. I could have gotten a larger diamond with less clarity, but everyone has one of those. I ended up getting her the clearest, most perfect diamond I could find in the size I could afford. I’m happy with the decision as this thing shoots out all kinds of fire. I hope she feels the same! 🙂 For anyone looking to buy diamonds, I have to tout bluenile.com. Their prices and service can’t be beat. I looked around at many different stores and even checked with vendors at America’s Mart in Georgia. Nobody could match Blue Nile’s prices! So I was able to get a better diamond for the same price as a smaller/less quality one anywhere else.

The ring came from Jared’s. It’s a very unique style with channel set diamonds on the side. I can’t wait to see this baby on her finger!

Some things fell into place over the past month to make all of this possible. First, I was able to double the limit on one of my credit cards. I was then able to un-secure another credit card to release $500 extra. Next, I had asked for just money for Christmas, so I asked my mom & mamaw for my “present” early so I could put it towards the ring. Then, out of the blue, my papaw sold my old Honda which gave me an extra $1000 and meant I didn’t have to use any of my credit cards!

Ever since buying the ring 2 weeks ago, I have looked at it every day. It’ll soon be on her finger 3 hours away where I will only get to see it on the weekends, so I want to look at it while I can! Hopefully by next year I’ll have the rest of my life to see it everyday. 🙂

Welcome to the blog of Crystal and Shane! Crystal doesn’t even know I’m making this, so it will be one of her surprises this Christmas! These next few posts will show you what all has happened in December leading up to her big surprise(s). Enjoy!!!