erik and kari

We're Engaged! Our Story:

This story has many dips and dives that we would like to share with you. Where do we start?

On August 19, Erik boarded a plane in Greenville, SC to Indianapolis to go to "talk" with Marvin and Diane (Kari's parents). They had their suspicions about what he was coming to Indiana for, but they indulged him. Kari had no idea that any of this was happening. After four years of dating and several visits to their homes, Erik was arriving with a different purpose. After a great meal of grilled salmon and potato salad, Erik pulled up a seat and asked them for their permission for Kari's hand in marriage. They said yes (the first yes!). Erik then asked if they would come with him and help pick out the diamond.

On August 20, (four years after Erik and Kari were introduced at the Statesboro Super Wal-mart), Erik, Marvin, and Diane set out in search of the perfect diamond and setting. At the first stop, The Shane Co., they found many settings, but most importantly the .79 carats (they were both were born in 1979) that Kari now wears today. He didn't purchase the diamond that day, and boarded a plane back to Greenville. When he landed he drove up I-85 to see Kari. She still had no idea where he had been. (It was opening weekend for the residence halls. No housing professional has any idea about what's going on in the real world!)

On August 26, Erik drove to Atlanta to visit the closest Shane. Co with a misson to buy a setting and diamond. Once in Atlanta, Erik found the perfect setting and a .79 diamond. After visiting six jewelers, he was ready to make his purchase! After ordering the ring, he went back on his decision, and decided to order the original diamond from Indy. On September 3, Fed-Ex delivered Erik's future to his doorstep. It stayed in a sport jacket pocket for the next month and a half! (Such patience.)

On Saturday, October 15, Kari had an RA conference from 12-5 p.m. However, she was having so much fun with her staff at dinner and ice cream that she didn't get home until 6:30! In fact, her RAs had been joking with her about getting engaged, and how to say yes. Kari and Erik have a trip planned back to Statesboro the next weekend, so Kari was thinking the engagement might happen then. "Kari, you could be engaged in a week!" was even a comment from an RA!

Kari got back at 6:30, and Erik was chomping at the bit to go on a bike ride and a kite flight. They talked to some residents and RAs, and then headed off. "The sun sets in 17 minutes!" said Erik, as he grabbed the kite. They rode around campus and down to an open field, where Erik stopped and wanted to fly the kite. Kari commented how there was no wind, but Erik insisted. This was the kite that Erik bought for Kari for graduation, and the last time it was flown was during graduation weekend at Edisto Beach, SC, with Kari's parents.

Kari held the string, and Erik fumbled to get the string connected to the kite, about 50 feet away. Kari said "What are you doing? Do you need help?" After no answer from Erik, she started wondering if he was connecting a ring to the kite! Finally, Erik put the kite in the air, and told Kari to start running. However, she saw a ring spiraling down the string. "What is that? Are you serious?"(The details get a little fuzzy after this point!) "Kari, I can't wait any longer." He asked ... she said yes ... "Do you like the ring? There's more." Erik pulled out the real ring from his pocket ... a perfect fit! The ring that slid down the string was a $9.99 decoy from Target. Kari's first question was "What did my parents say?" Erik sat back and said, "That's another story ... "