Who is George Bates?

For one...he is now my fiance! George asked me to marry him Monday night and I said YES!!! I've been smiling ever since and am SO excited and happy :) I knew it was coming...in fact a few weeks prior he told me that he knew he wanted to marry me. I told him I loved him and definitely liked where things were headed, but that I needed a couple weeks to make SURE that is what I wanted. I pretty much already knew, but those two weeks gave me time to digest it all and now I know that I'm ready for such a big commitment!

For the proposal he took me to a red rock canyon that has a few small waterfalls. We hiked for a couple of hours enjoying the beautiful scenery. I loved how the the budding green leaves on the trees contrasted the red rock. The canyon seemed to be glowing too because it was just before sunset.

The Beginning of the Trail

We got up to one of the waterfalls that has a small pool at the bottom...he gathered a handful of flat rocks so we could have a rock-skipping contest. As he came over to give me the rocks I gave him a big hug and he dropped all the rocks, got down on his knee, and asked me to be his wife! At first I didn't believe him because the ring he pulled out was everything I DID NOT want in my ring. And we'd gone ring shopping so I knew he knew my style, so I was confused why he was holding this yellow gold, marquise-cut, gaudy diamond ring. He just kept kneeling there waiting for my reply, so despite the ring; I looked at him, took a deep breath gave him a kiss, and said YES!

Right after we got engaged :)

I still was a little thrown off by the ring because as he put it on my finger it was about 3 sizes too big! He asked me if I liked my ring...I didn't want to lie, but if he was really serious I didn't want to hurt his feelings either. So I told him I would learn to like it and that really the ring didn't matter, it was the MAN I was marrying that really mattered. We layed down on the red rock slab looking up at the sky soaking in our beautiful surroundings and thinking about what we'd just done.

Then I said, "George don't be offended by this question, but I'm just wondering why we went ring shopping? Was it so I'd get used to the idea of wearing a ring? I mean it, it just doesn't seem like this is the same style I was showing you." His reply, "Well this ring is sort of like what you pointed out to me isn't it?" I just looked at him still confused. Then he started laughing and said, "I can't take it anymore... Liz please tell me you hate the ring and that it is NOTHING like what you wanted."

My "fake" ring

I was so relieved when I realized that it wasn't "my" ring. I started to cry as he continued to tell me that he was going to do EVERYTHING he could to make me happy. My ring wasn't quite ready yet, but that it would be soon. He wanted to propose before he left to Nebraska for two weeks (he left the next morning). Years ago he worked in a pawn shop and the ring he used was one of the "left-over" ones at the shop. It is real diamonds so he said I could make it into a necklace or something if I wanted.

Oh and I forgot that at the beginning of the hike he said he didn't have a pocket and asked if I wouldn't mind carrying a little black box. I looked at him in disbelief and told him he was breaking ALL the rules and that I couldn't carry my own ring box. But he really didn't have pockets so I carried it because I guess there really aren't rules to proposals after all. But as it turned out, that ring box was empty, and he was just doing it because he thought I'd be more comfortable as long as I had the box with me because I knew he wouldn't propose until I gave it to him. Instead I felt like I had this huge box burning a hole in my pocket that I was dying to open!

I just went to try on my "wax" ring today to make sure everything looked good...it was perfect and I can't wait to get the real one! I'll definitely post photos when I get it.

After hiking up a few small waterfalls

Our history: My brother-in-law, Joe, and sister, Sara, had been trying to set us up since 2005. But we were both a little stubborn (and dating other people at the time). He actually asked me out (indirectly) to go 4-wheeling with him when I was in Cedar City right after my nephew, Kaden’s, birth (Nov ’05). I didn’t go, but my little sister did! That was about it for a year. Then in August of 2006 I moved to Cedar City for a month to landscape my dad’s office building. George and I started dating then…but it didn’t go so well and it only lasted a couple months. We were both on the rebound from our previous serious relationships. We liked each other, but weren’t ready for another relationship just yet. I moved back to Provo to finish my degree and we occasionally talked and George would take me out when I came to Cedar City to visit family. My brother-in-law, Joe, made a generous job offer to me after graduation so I found myself back in Cedar City (with no intention of dating George again). In fact I didn't even tell him that I'd moved back to town. He happened to stop by Sara and Joe’s house and found out that I’d moved back to town. He invited me to go with his group of friends to Havasupai Falls (a beautiful vein on the south end of of the Grand Canyon). I couldn't resist an invite like that and it turned out to be a great trip. We continued to spend all summer long together...but we were nothing ever more than just friends. We even took a trip out to California together when I for sure thought he’d kiss me, but nothing! I was a little mad at him by that point, because we'd spent so much time together but hadn’t had any DTRs (talks - defining the relationship) and he hadn’t held my hand or kissed me. But finally in November after not talking to each other for 3 weeks (a minor fall out, mostly on my part) we came to terms that we liked each other (talk about stubborn!) George finally initiated the "talk" and gave me a smooch. We've been exclusive ever since. We definitely have our ups and downs, but it's mostly UP and I love how real our relationship is. It will be such an adventure being married to George and I can't wait for it to begin!

We plan on being married in the LDS Manti Temple June 7th. The reception will be held the day before up a canyon just outside of Cedar City at a place called the "Mountain Center". We will keep everyone posted...but please send your address if you would like an announcement.

I love you George!