When you’re house shopping together and have verbally committed to marriage and creating a forever together, popping the question and actually surprising one Ms. Single Mama is not an easy feat.
On Thursday, the night before we were going to drive Benjamin down to Athens and then spend the day working from coffee shops and golfing I asked, “Why are we going to Athens anyway?”
“I don’t know.” He said.”Why?”
His impending proposal had become a bit of a game between us.
Me trying to figure out how he would do it and John trying to avoid all conversations around the subject. On occasion I felt a bit guilty and tried to imagine being in his shoes, trying to surprise a woman with such a question – not even to mention actually asking her. But, inevitably, the girl inside me always trumped rational thought and I tried to hatch his plan.
“No reason,” I answered, “Just wondering.” But he could tell that I was on to him.
On Friday afternoon, after we’d dropped Benjamin off at his father’s we headed uptown for lunch. I had completely forgotten about the potential proposal, at mercy to my growling stomach. John found a parking spot in front of Casa Nueva and O’ Betty’s on one of Athens’ brick-lined streets. The same streets he and I had crossed countless times as Ohio University students while missing each other for years before finally meeting in Columbus. These streets and this town mean so much to both of us. But John wasn’t thinking about the streets or the town, he was thinking about pulling off a surprise.
And he did.
As I was gathering up my purse to get out of the car he leaned over, locked his eyes on mine and said, “I was wondering if you were in the market for a hairy, Irish husband?”
“You’re doing it in the car?” I screeched.
Then he pulled out a ring box and opened it with a snap that sent the ring on a spiral, deep down underneath the car seat.
“It’s under the seat!” I said.
“Oh my God. You’re kidding me,” John said as he plunged his arm underneath, searching for the ring. He found it a few seconds later and then between laughs and tears and kisses, I said “Yes.”
Without a doubt. Yes.
Yes to the man of my dreams who I never expected to find.
Yes to a man who is also my best and dearest friend, my confidant and the person who I trust with everything.
Yes to the man who my son has also completely fallen in love with.
Yes to love.
And to the sweetest man on Earth. I love you my John Bear.
[P.S. If you want to check out the ring - it's ridiculously beautiful and custom designed locally by Worthington Jewelers, see it here.]
Read the beginning, how John Bear and I met here.
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I cannot comment at this time because I cannot see my screen or keyboard due to happy, happy floods of tears blinding my face.
Congratulations!!
t
WooooooooHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Congrats you two!
Congrats to all three of you! I’m so happy to (finally) hear this news!
Sooo glad – for you and your adorable son!!
If it wouldn’t seem kinda weird, I would be jumping up and down and screaming out loud! I am so happy for you both! This is awesome news!! Wooohooooo congratulations and I wish you all the best!
OMG!!!! Congrats to the both of you!!!!! Wishing you all the best in your new life together ♥
I’m crying!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU. So perfect. Omg, I love this. Congratulations!!!
Squeeeee!!!!!
I’m sooooo happy for you guys!
If it makes you feel any better, my hubby proposed to me while we were laying in bed watching tv!
Congrats!
Congrats! I teared up just a little with happiness for you both!
I am seriously sitting here crying like a baby. I am so happy for you. Congrats!
And I just have to say that the ring is gorgeous.
Congrats, again, Alaina and John. Your story is so beautiful and hope inspiring.
Unbelievably happy for the both of you!! Congratulations!
Don’t cry! You’re all making me cry, even though I can’t even see you crying. Jeez.
Congratulations!!!!!!!!
I think your readers can all agree that we’re just so happy you never shut down your blog because we’ve all been waiting to read about this moment for such a long time!
So happy for you
Funny! I knew it was coming (you gave many hints). I got engaged in March….and your proposal sounds a lot like mine. I knew it was coming and I kept wondering when and tried not to make it too hard on him. We ended up going to Portland and he took me back to the same spot he first told me he loved me – a parking garage! It was perfect. Our wedding is next month! Have you guys set a date?
No date set… but thinking about December. Love that story! A parking garage, yes, very close to a parking spot. ; )
Congratulations Alaina and John!
What an awesome love story! So happy for all 3 of you!
YAAAAAAAAY!
I’m so happy for you both!
How exciting, it seems like the perfect moment in the car. It is a great moment to be able to tell others.
AHHHHH!!!!! BEST WISHES TO YOU! And a big Congratulations to John Bear!
(I believe the custom is to congratulate the groom as if to say, “Nice job for getting her to agree to marry you!” and you say ‘best wishes’ to the bride-to-be as a way of saying, “oh man. Good luck with that joker.”
)
I am very, very happy and excited for you!
xo,
-R.
#1, The ring is breathtaking. What a lucky lady you are to wear that on your finger FOREVER!!!
#2, Of course, CONGRATULATIONS! I’m so very happy for all 4 of you, couldn’t leave out the dog = ) I’m glad life has given you this path to live because you seem so damn happy. That’s what we need out of life, happiness and love, and you have it all! Yay!
YAY! Congratulations!
OMG!!! I got goosebumps!!!
YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!
So happy for you.. I knew it wouldn’t take long! You helped me on my road to my Mr. Right…. I knew your karma would send you on the path to yours.
Love to you both… I’m elated!
Incredible. Congratulations! I love how you were proposed to, beautiful and comical.
Three cheers to you, John Bear and Benjamin! Three cheers to a lifelong journey of happiness, laughter and love.
Congratulations!!! I love how he proposed to you. My husband proposed to me at the top of our stairs leading into the kitchen as I was bent over at the bottom looking for my missing flip-flop. Sometimes they have to do stuff like this to actually take us by surprise. Congratulations to you, John & Benjamin! I am so happy that you found each other! It is possible…
OMG! Congratulations to the three of you!!! I’m expecting my own proposal soon!
A thousand congrats!!! I die for your ring its gorgeous! And I love how its has a leaf detail on the side !! Perfect for you! Again congrats!
OMG! I am so happy for you three!!! Congrats! BTW, is it just me or does the side of the ring kind of look like a leaf. Beautiful!!!!
At long last… So happy for you both (for all three of you!)!! You rock! : )
Congrats to you both. I’m so happy for you.
Congratulations!! I am so happy for all three of you!!
I am so incredibly happy for you, John Bear, and Benjamin. Many blessings on your lives together.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to you three!
I’m officially a believer and it has taken a LONG time for me to say it and your story has so often been a “nagging” inspiration : ) So….ok, ok!! I’m a believer and I am smiling right now….smiling at a love story and the idea of marriage???? What have you guys done to me??????
CONGRATULATIONS…………
from someone so profoundly grateful for the window into your life and love for a single-mama-no-more
CONGRATULATIONS !!!! to the three of you.
I hope to one day find my Mr. Right as well.
That’s fantastic news, congratulations to you both.
I am crying like a little baby! CONGRATULATIONS! This is wonderful news. Your ring is gorgeous! I wish you three nothing but the best!
SO happy for both of you!! Congrats!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I wish you three so much happiness. I’m so excited for you.
CONGRATS!!!!!!! Gives me hope that maybe one day someone will love me and my kids perfectly!!!!!!! Girl from Chillicothe is thinking of you both!
You give hope to all us single mama’s. Congratulations
My heart is swelling with happiness for you( and Benjamin)! Thank you for giving your fellow single moms the hooe that second chances do exist and they can be just as wonderful.
Congrats!!!!!
Oh, how lovely. Congratulations.
YAAAAAY!!!! many many congratulations. You deserve such happiness and your exit from one life story into a fabulous new one will continue to inspire all us single moms out here!
AHHHHHHHH so, so, so happy for you. It gives me hope. I wish to find some one like John one day soon!
I have been waiting to read this! Congrats!!!! I was also proposed to in a car, well it was a truck..and we just celebrated 12 years..again big congrats to you all!
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww congrats!!!!! I just teared up thats got to be the cutest engagement story ever so excited for you both!
Congratulations!!!! Though I don’t often comment I do check your blog pretty regularly and I am so happy for you, John and Benjamin!!!!
BEST WISHES!!! It’s just breathtaking and inspiring. Very well deserved too. congrats!!
Congratulations!!! Beautiful ring, too. I just wanted to write and say that the detail on it looks identical to my own antique, my grandmother’s set from the 1920s. So excited for you both, and can’t wait to continue to follow your adventures:)
Congrats!! What wonderful news!!
Miss Single Mama no longer! Yay!!! Congrats to both of you what beautiful thing.
lots and lots of love to the three of you!
congratulations!!
*
CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS!!! From one single mommy to another, yayyyyyy!!!!
I came across your blog today, and I am so touched by your story and contratulations!! As a single mom myself, I wish all the single mom will have happy story like you do !!
Many many congrats! I’ve been lurking for a while now (found you through Matt’s blog) but had to post as I’m just so happy for you and adore his proposal. In fact last night I told my husband he was finally off the hook for proposing to me when we had first woken up in the morning! Best wishes for the amazing time together being engaged.
I’m happy and sad all at once. I don’t read your blog religiously, but I read it. I’ve linked to it. I remember when JohnBear came along, and now you are MOVING FORWARD with such a shared happiness that I’m green.
My John Bear is ‘Mijn’, and I see no ring in the near future and likely the farther future – and I don’t realize it often, only when I see things like this that I might actually want it. Be glad. Enjoy. He sounds like a sweet and wonderful person.
All the best.
I just did a girlie squeal! Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us and reminding those of us who are skeptics (ahem) that it is possible. I wish you both much love.
Congrats, Woman!
Wedding planning time!
I love that the ring fell under the car seat. Perfectly imperfect.
WOW!!!!! Yaaayness!!!
And to think, you were about to end the story before the pinnacle – perhaps the finale? – ever happened! Congratulations Ms. Engaged Mama! It has been a joy to watch your story unfold from scared single mama, to strong single mama, to dating single mama, to in love single mama, to now – riding off with Prince Charming into the sunset. John sounds like a wonderful man who will make a loving husband and a great stepfather for Benjamin. I am so happy for you! Thank you for letting us be a part of your happiness!
I have been reading your blog for many months…finding it while I was pregnant with my little girl and sure that I was going to be a single mom by the time she was born. While my husband and I did work things out, your blog gave (and still does) me hope and strength. I never commented before, but had to after reading this because 1. Congratulations! 2. Athens is near and dear to my heart. In fact, that is where my husband proposed and where I have so many happy memories. 3. I am guessing you got to celebrate at Casa after?? It is my all time favorite place to eat.
I am so very happy for you.
Amazing! Congrats!
Congrats to the 3 of you! One happy family! Can’t wait to hear all about the wedding details. So happy for you! The ring is oh so beautiful! Good taste John Bear
Great news! So happy for you. You deserve this big time! Many, many blessings to you.
LOVE IT!!!!! Congratulations Alaina, John Bear and Benjamin!!! xoxoxoxo All the best in the future
Congrats! Many exciting years lay ahead for your little family….
WHAT !?, I had nooooo idea. I couldn’t be more happier for the two of you. I can’t wait to hear all about it in person. The ring is absolutely beautiful! I wish you both so much happiness.
Congratulations, on your new journey together
Congrats! Best wishes to all three of you. I stumbled across your blog after googling “single parenting blogs” (because I have my own blog and wanted to see if mine was similar to other peoples’ and I’m happy to report I think I’ve carved out my own niche!) But it is so hard to get people to read it. How long did it take you to get a following? http://www.godandraisingchildrenalone.blogspot.com
Good question. I think about one year… one year of blogging consistently and actively commenting on other blogs in the single parent blogosphere. We’re all really a big family – so welcome!
CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS! I’ve loved reading your blog, but have yet to comment, until now upon hearing this wonderful news! and that ring is AMAZING!!!
Amazing … So thrilled for you and your little one!! You must continue to feel a level of pure elation and fulfillment! Congrats & best wishes!!! (hugs!!)
I don’t know if I’ve ever commented on here before, but what better time than now? CONGRATULATIONS!! After everything you’ve been through, the demons you’ve faced, you deserve this–and so does Benjamin! Seriously just so happy for you all!
HOORAY! CONGRATS! YAAAAY!!!!! <33333
@Valerie
It was perfect, it mixed the emotions….and by the way congrats Alaina I am so happy for you…
Wow! Congratulations!
I am really happy for you… – from a fan in The Philippines
“I was wondering if you were in the market for a hairy, Irish husband?” That’s the best line I think I’ve ever heard!
Congratulations, and AWESOME!
I always wished my man proposed me in an unusual way but no luck here! Your post makes me laugh and if I was proposed that way, I would have been rolling on the floor laughing
Congratulations!
Im soooo happy you finally found the man of your dreams. I am a single mom of 3 and I have yet to date anyone and Im sooooo lonely. My entire life consists of work, cooking and cleaning. I have 2 jobs , one is a professional Mon-Fri and when Im off on the weekends I wait tables for xtra cash. Its hard to do anything
GRIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://moms.alltop.com/
check this out.
It reminds me of the episode of the Office where Jim pretended several times to propose. How fun for you both. Congrats.
Congratulations….so happy for all of you!
Such great news!! Your story is very inspiring to me. Congratulations to all three of you!
Yay, so happy for you three!
Congratulations!!! And just wanted to say I think you should keep your blog title the same if it’s still a question in your mind. My thought is… once a single mama, always a single mama (as in, you will ALWAYS remember what it’s like, understand it and relate to other single mamas).
I haven’t been here in MONTHS because we’ve recently moved from Chicago to Scottsdale AZ and I was going through Twitter cleaning up today and found your twitter account and I’m like, “No way am I getting rid of Ms. Single Mama!” and I had to come over here and see what was going on, and right away I said to myself, “I wonder if they’re ENGAGED yet!?!?” and sure enough — YAAAAY!!!
So thrilled for ALL THREE OF YOU!!! You will make a beautiful Mama Bear, John Bear and Ben Bear family! Congrats! xo
I am not a single mom but I LOVE your blog. Also, I am a fellow Columbus-ian. Congratulations to both of you! The ring is absolutely gorgeous. Good job, John Bear.
Congratulations to all three of you!
I am so out of the loop! Just reading this now. Congrats to you all! Perhaps you will be the first to conduct an online wedding? We all wanna come.
You’re one lucky girl. I’m somewhat old friends with John…he found me in Athens via a web site I created. (He sat in our web design classes and learned all about what I was paying to learn for free haha…) We instantly became good friends just based on our common interests. I’m so glad he found a someone to share his life with. Seems like you two are really good together. Best wishes
OK, seriously? That totally made me cry.my.face.off.
Best wishes to you mama, and congrats to John Bear! Once again, you’ve given this single mama so much to hope for.
XO
@Jasperblu
How da heck did I miss this announcement? ::slapping forehead::
Words cannot convey how truly happy I am that you have found “The One”. Much happiness to all three of you! Yay for Love. Yay for happy endings…
xo
I am so lucky. I am madly in love with my new boyfriend. Wow. I never imagined it could be this good.
Carl Jung says– love makes one crazy. It’s true.
I will try and compose the best part of myself.
Wish me all the best
Congratulations!!! I just read this, started crying (and felt a close connection I used to eat at Casa Nueva when my cousin worked there) then texted my boyfriend to let him know your engaged, just like he knows you!! hahaha your personal story has been so empowering to all single mother’s alike. Regardless if they are currently single, in love, or at this point married. You are amazing!