A trip down memory lane

This weekend was the first anniversary of Cory's marriage proposal to me, so we decided it would be fun to head to the coast and visit the places that made our engagement so memorable and so very special.

We headed out of Mac early and as we were driving all the memories of a year ago came flooding back. I kept seeing the "swamp lantern' flowers all over the place (also called Western Skunk Cabbage because of it's foul smell). I hadn't seen them since the day of our proposal and it really reminded me of that day.

I had no idea what Cory had planned. I had only returned to Oregon mid-week and we were both excited to get to the beach, even though it was foul weather. It was raining hard, gusty and really cold, it was so powerful and it made the beach come alive - it was still beautiful. We stopped at many look out points along the way and I remember Cory asking me if I wanted to stop at Agate Beach. I was kind of excited to get to the lighthouse so I said "ummm, no"... little did I know that was where he originally had planned to pop the question. Whoooops!

So, we get to the lighthouse and it's raining and windy but we bundled up warm and got ready to face the weather. Right before we got out Cory said he wanted to take a 'before' photo. I laughed saying it was probably a good idea since we'd be looking like drowned rats afterwards. I even remember saying that Cory has a "cheeky" look on his face in the before photo.
Little did I know what he had in store for me.

We hopped out of the truck and started to the stairs for the cobble beach. Cory said he wanted to run back and get his camera so I walked on slowly - little did I know that his camera was already firmly in his pocket and he was going back to get my beautiful ring.

He caught up and we headed down the steps to the beach. I'd never been there before but I instantly loved it, even in the rain. The dark charcoal coloured cobbles were just amazing, and they made the most unique sound as the water crashed up on them.
We kept walking up the beach, it was cold and wet but we were having fun. They Cory starts talking, serious talking... I didn't notice at this point that he had taken the box out of his pocket and was starting to open it. Then he stopped me walking, right next to this large rock on the beach. It was there that he proposed and gave me my beautiful engagement ring.

I stood there, shocked, cold, wet and for once in my life I was completely speechless. I couldn't talk, I was just quiet and smiling and crying and hugging him. He had to actually ask me if it was a "Yes" and I some how managed to nod and mutter out my response. After putting the ring on me and savouring a few moments we got really cold and wet. We were the only ones on the beach that day, it couldn't have been more perfect. I wouldn't change it one little bit, not even the weather!

We got back to the truck and as we sat down Cory said "now for the 'after' photo" and it was then I understood. It wasn't because we would be cold and wet, it was our real engagement photos.
After calling (and trying to call) several people to tell them the news we headed to rogue for something to eat and to dry off...

So this weekend we did a similar thing. We went to Rogue for lunch and walked around a little then we went back up to the lighthouse and walked down on the cobble beach. It was a sunny day and it was a minus-tide, so naturally it was a lot busier than a year ago. But it was still special. We got to look around the tide pools for a little bit before we walked down the beach to 'Our rock'.
It was a really fun day and I am so glad we were able to get back down there. It's crazy what can happen in just a year, but I'm excited to see what the next 12 months brings our way!

Here's some pics from this weekend: