The Proposal

On January 2, 2012 I met Kristal Sawatzke. She had wet hair, was wearing sweatpants, and waiting for McDonalds delivery. It was love at first sight. At the time, we were part of a short term study abroad program, but most of you know that part of the story. We hit it off over those two weeks (though our only “real conversation” happened on a 45 minute flight from Dubai to Doha) and on January 15, 2012 we said goodbye on a Dhow cruise. I told Kristal “my one regret from this trip was not spending more one on one time with you”. We promised to keep in touch and would see each other at a conference that March.

That conference never happened, as I tore my Achilles, and Kristal moved away. Away to New Zealand that is. I went to Doha and now there were 9,000 miles between us. We kept in touch, glorified pen pals really, until June 7, 2013 when I paid her a visit. We called it the “8 day first date” and it couldn’t have gone any better. When we said goodbye this time on June 14, 2013 we decided to date long distance and do anything to make it work. We did this for over a year and it had its highs and lows. Long distance is a challenge, but on August 29, 2014 it ended when Kristal arrived in Doha.

 Fast forward to this past weekend, January 17 of 2015. It was your average Saturday, nothing special at all. I had to work in the morning, Kristal had a softball game that afternoon. When I finished work I got a call from Kristal that her softball game had been canceled so we could hang out. We decided to take a walk along the Corniche (downtown waterfront in Doha), which is a perfect 5k. We walked from the start to the end, had a picnic, watched the sun set, and Kristal almost broke my camera dropping it onto the pavement- oops. As the skyline began to light up, we made our way back another 5k. Along the waterfront there are Dhow boats covered in lights to take people out for views of the skyline. I tell her we should take one out for some views, and after she protests for a bit (Skype dates, work in the morning, etc.), we get on. Just the two of us. As we cruise across the Doha skyline Kristal is snapping away with the camera. I come over to her and ask if she remembers what I had told her three years earlier. She repeats the quote to me about regrets and I tell her, “Since then I have had no regrets being with you.” I go into a string of compliments and telling her how happy I am that she is finally in Doha. Kristal begins to sense something is up and gets nervous. She focuses on the photos, and can hardly look in my direction. I tell her that she is the one, my A1 that I want to spend the rest of my life with (inside joke but it meant it was the real deal), and I ask her to marry me. I am down on one knee as she turns to me and no tears, no screams, just a simple photo. Click. She puts down the camera and reaches for the ring. I tell her she hasn’t said ANYTHING yet, and she finally says the word, “yes.” Insert enthusiasm and shock here!!!!!!

 It was nearly 3 years to the day from the first time we said goodbye. Her softball game wasn’t canceled but I had Kevin (same conspirator from the Valentine’s Day surprise) call her to say it was canceled and then he came over and set up flowers and champagne while we were out. After she said yes we walked the 4k back to the car before coming home to start skyping with friends and family. We spent about 4 hours catching up with people, hardly making a dent in who we wanted to share the news with. 

The whole experience has been surreal and we can’t begin to tell you how much we have appreciated all the messages, excitement, and support. Being away from family and friends at times like this is difficult but we are thankful to be coming to the US many times this year! As of now we are looking at a summer wedding in 2016 in the great state of Minnesota. We are so thankful to all of those who have been with us along the way. So here’s to one hell of a story and an even better future!