FIRST ATTEMPT

I knew I wanted to propose the night before we left for our Labor Day camping trip and had everything ready for the BIG evening.  The day before the BIG day, Wendy comes home and tells me she has a last minute appointment at the Apple store and would be home late.  I'm thinking "Oh great!! Well, maybe she'll get home in time for us to share a moment before having to pack for our trip" On her way home, Wendy calls and was justifiably upset and says "the Apple store did not have the battery that was promised and I'll be home soon!".  I think to myself well, I don't want to ask her to marry me when she is upset, so I'll ask her in the morning before we leave for our trip.

SECOND ATTEMPT

Wendy arrives home and lets me know that she has a last minute dentist appointment in Mooresville in the morning and we need to make a stop before we get out of town. "OK..OK" I'm thinking, "I'll find a nice quite area beside the water, in the mountains and it will be soo romantic... yeah that's it.. that will be perfect!"

THIRD ATTEMPT

With the ring in my pocket, we make it to the dentist, then complete the 3 hour drive, and arrive in Hot Springs. We need to unload the truck and set everything up, so I thought let's get this behind us and then we'll walk down to the water's edge and I'll ask her. So with everything set up, the moment has arrived.... we hold hands and walk down to the water.. my heart starts to beat a little faster.  Just as we are looking at the water and the beautiful mountains...Wendy says... "I need to go to the bathroom, I'll be right back"  "YOU'VE GOT TO ME KIDDING ME" I'm laughing inside...On her way back our friends start to pull onto the campsite.  "Well.. I guess it's not gonna happen this weekend, I'll go back to the original plan when we get back home, let's enjoy the weekend"

FINALLY

Once we get back I make the plans to pop the question on the upcoming Friday night.. I have everything ready... it's go time... YEP.. you guessed it... Thursday night, Wendy comes home and says the Apple store has rescheduled her appointment for Friday night.... "Stupid Apple store!" I think to myself... well we decide to go the Cheesecake Factory while we wait for the Apple store to fix her phone. We had a nice time at dinner and finally made it home... I asked her into the living room and got down on one knee...."Wendy, this is where our life together started 8 years ago and I can't imagine my life without you in it... Wendy Schoolcraft, will you marry me?" AND SHE SAID YES!!