The Journey

“I hope it’s not a boat… I’m Black, and it’s freezing right now,” 🥶 Lindo joked as she tried to guess the surprise on their drive up to Loch Lomond Lake, Scotland...in November...with the forecast of snow. Joel laughed mostly because Lindo had accidentally guessed exactly what he had planned.

To throw her off the scent, Joel told Lindo that he brought his camera equipment to film some 'raw footage' for Fantasy Football...on their anniversary 🎥🏈 ....The level of annoyance on Lindo’s face? Legendary. Joel will cherish that forever!

Fast-forward to the lake. Joel and Lindo were on a brand-new, luxe boat ⛴️, the air was freezing 🥶, but the sun was shining! ☀️ Then Joel kindly asked Lindo to help film part of the “video.”

Camera out? Totally normal.

Suspicion level: Zero.

In this moment, Lindo was wondering WHY and HOW it came to this, dating a man who takes his league this seriously?!🏈

"Would you like a glass of Champagne? 🥂” was the cue that we are in the right spot, time to shine, Joel.

The Surprise

Right before the proposal, a rainbow appeared over the lake as Joel distracts Lindo, asking her to “check the view” for the perfect shot 📸. Meanwhile, Joel knelt on one knee, fully expecting that, like most people, she’d turn around pretty quickly.

Lindo stared at that view with such intensity of a National Geographic photographer for so long that Joel actually had to nudge her to get her to notice he was down on one knee!!!💍 Lindo finally looked back… saw him on one knee…, and instead of crying tears of joy, she BURST OUT LAUGHING!

The Moment

Lindo was shocked that she had been tricked! Eventually, she did say YES! Mission accomplished! ✅ We survived the snowy drive back home, thawed out at the spa midway, and Joel surprised Lindo with their engagement party, where they celebrated their new milestone with their close friends and family.

The boat was cold, but the rock was ice. 💍💎

The Celebration

#ToHaveandToGuard