It was April 11, 2009, the night before Easter and Kyle and I were headed up to Kansas City for the evening to see my parents. The next day we planned to head to Abilene, KS to spend Easter with our close family friends, Paul and Joann Hettenbach.
Kyle had the idea to get dressed up for a date-night in KC at our favorite restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory. Since it's almost a 2 hour drive from Pittsburg, Kyle told me just to wear comfy clothes and we'd stop by "the apartment" in Overland Park to change before dinner. <<"the apartment" being the place I lived at my time at JCCC. My parents had just done renovations and were trying to sell the place at this point>> Once we arrived, we got gussied up and headed to dinner!
After a wonderful dinner, Kyle told me that we should stop by the apartment to get comfy again before heading to my parents' house. We got back to the apartment building and headed up the stairs to my front door. As we walked up, I noticed 3 rose petals leading inside. I started "freaking out" a little bit, constantly asking, "what is this, WHAT IS THIS??" Kyle slowly pushed the door, opening to the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Much to my surprise, the apartment had been decorated with rose petals sprinkled all over the floor and mantles, and tea light candles illuminating the entire room. By this point, I couldn't believe what was happening. I think I just stood there frozen in my footsteps. Kyle basically had to drag me into the dining room to show me the real surprise. The table was decorated with a beautiul white table cloth sprinkled with rose petals and lit with candles. On one side of the table there was a beautifully framed picture of the two of us, and on the other side was a Wedding Photo Album (for me to complete!) In the center of the table was a dozen beautiful pink roses, and ring box.
Kyle then spoke some of the most beautiful words I've ever heard, and then nealt down on one knee and asked, "Jessica, will you marry me?" I, of course, SAID YES!!
As it turned out, Kyle had come to KC the weekend before to ask my parents for their blessing. He told me he was "working with his grandpa." I should have known something was up!! :-) He brought all of the things he wanted the apartment decorated with, and showed my parents how to set it all up. While we were at dinner, my parents came and decorated the entire apartment just as Kyle wanted. It was truly perfect.
Jessica and Kyle