"When you know, you know". 30 mins into our first date I knew my life was going to change. Like I had always done since I was little, I was living each day according to a plan. I was working hard to get my body and my game back in shape to go back overseas and continue working towards my goals as a pro basketball player. As we spent more and more time together I was realizing Yean was either going to come to Europe with me or my plan was going to change drastically and I was going to stay in Canada.

The day I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her was the day she said she would give everything up to follow me and work with me to reach my goals. Since that day I have changed so much as a person and developed a completely new set of goals and plans. Its not about me and making jump shots anymore... Its about the two of us and doing whats best for us while building a home and a family.

As for the proposal that was easy!!! Work my tail off to make enough money to buy a beautiful ring and take Yean to the most beautiful place that I had ever been to pop the question!

I knew nothing about rings and the price, so that was an entirely new and adventurous situation for me and my pocket book. I knew I had to make this proposal unforgettable and as fun as possible. The two of us share a love for travel and sight seeing so I knew taking her somewhere beautiful and exotic would not only set the mood but set the tone for an exciting life together.

I decided to book a 10 day secret vacation to Italy. I planned to pop the question early in the trip so that we could celebrate the rest of the vacation together. The trip was a complete surprise to her and keeping the secret was impossible. Nonetheless, I pulled it off and we had the most amazing vacation!

We spent the first day in Venice and took a train to Rome. I knew on that night in Rome I would ask her to marry me. I just didnt know where exactly... I had played ball in Italy for a year in 2004-2005 so I knew there were many places in Rome to pop the question. We ended up walking around old Rome for about an hour after a great late Italian dinner. We finally made it to the top of one of the most historical places in the world. Atop the Spanish Steps my heart was beating a million miles an hour, and I got down on one knee, and asked Yean to marry me. She took a moment... she wasnt expecting it I dont think... then she started to cry... I was thinking...ummm is she crying because she is about to break my heart or is that a good thing? Luckly it was a good thing...

I used to think that making jumpers and working out was the absolute most important thing in the world... Now with a wife to be, a new outlook on the world and a new plan, I feel like the luckiest man alive.

--Kyle