I'm Back... With Big News!

My loves! I'm finally back home as of Sunday afternoon. My vacation was wonderful, but to be honest, I'm more than a little down in the dumps today. That will pass, though. I have so many stories and pictures to show you, but first... want to know what happened two Monday nights ago?

Markie and I were visiting one of our favorite places in the city: the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The building is very distinct-looking and has an observatory in each of the towers on the 45th floor. It's free to the public and you can see all of Tokyo -- totally breathtaking at night with all the buildings and street lights. We went to the observatory and while I was unsuccessfully taking the panoramic photo you see at the top of that photo, Mark told me there was something weird behind us and I should turn around. When I did, I saw him down on one knee with a ring in his hand. It sounds like such a cliche, but -- I couldn't say anything! I was so excited and I just hugged and kissed him, until he reminded me I hadn't said yes yet. It was like out of a movie - a perfect story that I'll love telling my whole life.

The TGM Building that day. 

We walked back to the hotel and I couldn't stop smiling and laughing and looking at my ring. It has a beautiful blue stone in a white gold, detailed band - it was a ring that Mark's grandma had, who gave it to his mom, who gave it to him to give to me! It fits me perfectly and I love it, and Mark, very much.

Here are some photos I took from the observatory before Mark surprised me!

Pretty awesome, huh? Japan has always been important to Mark & me, but now the place is even more special. Mark waited to ask me to marry him until we were in the window right in front of the hotel we stayed at during our last vacation. The rest of our trip was amazing - and, like I said, I can't wait to share all my stories and photos - but, I just can't help but being cheesy when people ask me what my favorite part of Tokyo was. "Getting engaged."