It's nothing fancy or elaborate... Jeffery asked Tiffany to marry him in their driveway. 

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Earlier this summer Jeff went to Chappius Jewelers in Faribault and worked with them to design an engagement ring for Tiffany.  He kept this secret to himself and no one had any idea he was planning this.  He had hoped to ask Tiffany to marry him on the annual Wieskus Vacation up north, not realizing it would take a while for designing a custom ring to be made.  It took some time, and it came back not quite right and was sent back to get reworked. They finally called Jeff to let him know her ring was ready Monday, September 17th but he was already on the way to Porterhouse for a date night with Tiffany. Although he thought that would have been the perfect night, he didn't have enough time to make it from his work in Plymouth to Faribault and then back to Lakeville.  So Jeffery picked up the ring the day before the Tornado hit their home on September 20th. 

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With all of the chaos they had been dealing with after the Tornado, and a lot of unforeseen expenses now, there really wasn't a good time for Jeffery to pop the question.  He hid the ring in his hunting gear because he knew she'd NEVER find it there... and he waited. 

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Jeff wasn't sure when the right time would be now.  They had so many unexpected things to deal with after the Tornado and it was an extremely stressful and overwhelming time for both of them. One night Tiffany had a dream that she woke up in tears from.  She was going to see a show with her Dad.  He was waiting at the bottom of the stairs at a theater with flowers for her. Tiffany's father John, had passed away in 2004, so she was so excited to see him and was trying so hard to understand what he was saying to her but she couldn't make it out.  She just knew they were going to see a show together and she just wanted to spend time with him. Of course Tiffany was wearing dance clothes in this dream and told her Dad she'd be right back because she needed to get ready for the show. Her Dad went in to the theater to take their seats and wait for her as she went and changed clothes.  She struggled to get back to the theater doors.  She realized the show had begun and was racing to get in.  The attendants at the door said the show has already begun and she couldn't go in.  She asked over and over but they would not let her in...

and then she woke up. 

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The Tornado stress had really hit Tiffany hard and she was really down and feeling depressed after having that dream.  Instead of holding it all in like she many times does... she opened up and talked with Jeff.  She explained everything she was feeling over the last few weeks and how she didn't understand what that dream meant, but it really shook her up.  Jeff told her, "I think I know what it means, your Dad is trying to tell you something."  Jeff said... "Is it more important to be getting ready for the show... or to be at the show?"  Maybe your Dad wants you to slow down so you don't miss something? Jeff understands how Tiffany gets really busy and consumed in everything she does and wasn't sure with dance team, studio, work, and dealing with the Tornado stress if he was going to find that right time to ask her to marry him... and maybe John was trying to tell them both something.

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Wednesday, October 24th Tiff text Jeff and let him know she'd be coming home early that night and made some time so they could work on insurance stuff together.  She'd been at dance team every night for the past few weeks so he was excited that she took the night off for them.  Jeff decided that it was time.  He text her "You see that moonrise?"  on his way home from work, so Tiffany went outside.  She gazed at the huge full moon as it came over the horizon, and Jeff pulled in the driveway. He went inside the house quickly and then came right back out.  As they discussed  the possibility of going out somewhere to get dinner, staring at the spectacular full moon,   Jeff said, "I have something for you."  as he presented her with a small black gift bag.  Tiffany was shocked and thought he was giving her a little gift or something to cheer her up because the past few weeks she had been so down. She was so surprised with his thoughtfulness she didn't even realize the bag said Chappius Jewelers on it.  As she started to unwrap the small box that was inside the bag, she asked "What is this?" Then realizing the gift was from a jewelry store, and now thinking he had gotten her a charm or something for her Pandora bracelet. Jeff said to her, "I had something made for you."  Tiffany still had no idea what was happening.  She unwrapped the box, opened it and immediately put her hands to her face in shock when she realized it was an engagement ring.  She said, "Is this for real?" She started to cry and hugged Jeff the hardest she's ever hugged him, and then he began to cry.  As they held each other in their driveway crying together, Jeff asked Tiffany if she would marry him, and she said YES!

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Jeff said, "I know this isn't a fancy elaborate proposal story you can tell your friends" but that didn't matter to Tiffany.  They were in front of their home, after going through so much together already, and it was perfect. "If we can make it through a Tornado, we can make it through anything" they both agreed. Tiffany told Jeff she was happy she decided it was more important to "be at the show" that night and that what he had said to her the week before really resonated with her.  It's a great lesson in life... to realize to be present in what is going on around you.  There are amazing things right in front of you, even through the toughest of times, you just have to stop for a minute and make the time to take it all in.

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