The perfect night--Engaged!

It was the perfect night--Christian and Madeline are engaged!, but let's not get ahead of the story.

Christian and Madeline Ihrig first started dating in high school.  It was young puppy dog love.  There was an instant connection.  Thy dated for a while but being young eventually went their separate ways.  After Madeline returned from her mission the two of them connected up again and immediately they were back together.  The two of them have been dating exclusively since.  Several months back they began discussing marriage.  They began picking potential dates.  The dates kept creeping sooner and sooner, settling on October 8th of this year (Fall break at the 'U').  Now all they needed was a proposal.

Madeline loves watching soccer.  Her father and her have a special love of the game and the two of them have shared countless hours cheering, supporting (often crying) and celebrating with their favorite teams.  Locally, they love our own Salt Lake Real Futbol Club.  Some months ago we were all brainstorming ideas with Christian of how he could propose and Hunter (who is also obsessed with soccer) threw out the idea of getting engaged at a Real soccer game.  Christian loved the idea.  Soon after we learned that Sandra’s brother was next door neighbors with the daughter of the owner of Salt Lake Real.  Through that connection he began to set things in motion.  Now that he had the idea, Christian’s main concern was keeping everything a secret until he could propose.

A few weeks later during a weekend getaway at a cabin rental at Sundance over Memorial Day (to which we invited Madeline to join us) we were all around the fire pit one evening and I innocently threw out the idea of our two families getting together—kind of a get to know each other’s family event.  I then said, “Doesn’t your family loves soccer?  Why don’t we go to a game together?  It would be a perfect casual event to blend our families”.  Madeline seemed genuinely thrilled at the idea.  A few days later while Madeline was at school, Christian went over to the Ihrig’s and under the guise of “Hey Henry, could you come out and help me with my car", he then he asked him for his blessing and intention to ask Madeline to marry him.  Henry immediately brought Christian inside where he spilled the exciting news to Tatiana (who I assume immediately began crying with elation and hugged her future son-n-law).  He then shared his general plan for proposing and how he wanted to keep it a secret.

Although, not yet engaged, the two of them had already purchased their rings, planned the wedding venue & reception, purchased their honeymoon tickets and started the invitations—She was just waiting to be asked!  One week before the big game Christian went to pick up the rings and to his horror he didn’t like her ring.  It didn’t turn out anything like the photo they had given them to custom make for her.  With no time to start over he had to improvise.  He bought a cool antiqued inexpensive ring that looked somewhat similar to the style she wanted, temporarily filling in until a new ring could be chosen.

We purchased tickets and Christian continued to correspond with Real setting up the moment.  There were all sorts of ideas being passed back and forth, but Christian was adamant that he wanted to do it on the field.  To keep it cloaked is secrecy they decided to make it like he spontaneously won a contest.  So the plan was to go to a specific booth at a specific time and order a Salt Lake Real soccer license plate thing, they in turn they would announce that he was the 300th customer and won a chance to go down onto the field at the end of the game and meet the players.  At which time he would then be allowed to go out onto the field and propose.

Several hours before the game our two families met at Cafe Rio and ate and mingled then drove over to the stadium.  On the way to the gate Christian noticed the metal detectors and concerned that the ring in his pocket would trigger an alarm and draw Madeline's attention he quickly gave it to me as to not be discovered.  Not sure what I was supposed to do with it so I pawned it off on Madison telling her to just put it on till we get through security.  Madi replied, “this ring is super small and I have thin fingers” (having to put it on her smallest pinky finger), “this will never fit her!”  My heart dropped at the implications of another ring problem.  Once through, Madi gave me back his ring and then took off her own thin silver ring with a small inlayed white stone and said, “He should give her this one, it’s way nicer and would fit her finger—but he is going to owe me, that’s real silver!”  Grateful, I gave them both to Christian and explained the situation.

Our tickets were in the general admission support section on the far south side of the stadium.  This is where the Ihrig's always sit.  It is where the rowdy fans sit and there is a lot of energy there.  They always watch from the very top row.  Having arrived early, all twelve of us spanned the back center row.  Christian was lost for what seemed like forever ‘doing reconnaissance’, meanwhile the game started.  Not five minutes into the game and Ashton began to incessantly chirp in my ear, “I want Almonds, I want Almonds...!”  Last game we went to we discovered the nut booth, where they make candied almonds, pecans and cashews.  I got the cashews, to which Hunter informed me I got the wrong kind, “you always get the almonds, they are the best”.  So Ashton has been waiting to come back and get the ‘right ones’ this time.  We all enjoyed the game eating candied almonds and cold bottle of waters.  It was Real Salt Lake verse the Portland Timbers (apparently they are huge rivals) and also one of Madeline’s other favorite teams.  It was an intense game, a lot of fouling and heated feelings.  It was a good game.

With about ten minutes left of the game, Christian suddenly ‘remembered’ that he wanted to order a custom Real Salt Lake license plate thing and needed to get there before the game ended and asked Madeline if she wanted to come with him (luckily she did).  The two of them disappeared and the game went on.  We were trailing 1-2.  With the two of them gone we were on pins and needles.  We weren’t sure how it was all going to play out.  Where they would be coming out and if it was even going to work?!  I asked Henry if she knew he was proposing tonight.  He said, “She doesn’t have a clue, however at this point she’s been hoping and anticipating at everything they do”.  With a minute or two left in the game we tied it back up 2-2.  Then Hillary Ihrig exclaimed, "there they are!" pointing down at the players tunnel, we all watched as the two of them emerged and were escorted behind the players bench.  We are all going crazy with excitement.  It’s really going to happen!  The game ended, still tied.  The crowds start making their way to the exits.  We head down to the bottom row seats near the edge of the field.  Slowly the players and officials come off the field and we see Christian and Madeline walking out to the center of the field.  They are holding hands.  They stop in the center circle and Christian drops to one knee.  Then suddenly he springs up off the ground and they embrace spinning in circles and kissing and hugging and staring into each others eyes.  Although thousands were watched and cheering from the stands for that one brief moment in time only the two of them existed.  Meanwhile, we were all beside ourselves—cheering and hollering and crying, seriously, one of the best moments of my life.  As the stadium began shutting down the lights they walked back off the field.  We found them and all hugged and cried and smiled and made them pose for photos and kiss and pose and kiss some more!

Happiness is family and our family just got a whole lot larger and happier.