Thank you, friends!

Today Joel told me we were going to get the car inspected, but we needed to wait and in the meantime, we should go to the jewelers and get our rings cleaned. (And take some pictures at the park, because it was such a nice day, "and I'm wearing a nice shirt...")

However, when I entered the jewelers, with Annie in my arms, and flip flops on my feet, I was greeted by all the attendants with an applause and a "Congradulations, Melissa!" Joel just stood there staring at me with a big grin and that same twinkling look I had wondered these past few days.

Unbeknownst to me, he had written a short version of our story and entered into a contest for the "Most Romantic Couple," .............and because of all your votes, (900 I'm told) we won! They showered us with a bouquet of gorgeous flowers larger than Annie, a bottle of wine, a big gift certificate, and a weekend getaway in Charlottesville.

This year Joel and I will have known each other for ten years, since we met when I was fourteen and he was fifteen.

And he never ceases to amaze me.