It isn't easy to shock, surprise and leave speechless 2nd. Lt. Denise Hauser.

That was until last week, that is.

The 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs officer's life was sent into an exhilarating whirlwind thanks to her boyfriend, Army Capt. Ric Haeussler.

The week ended with a marriage proposal, but the real story was how everything came together.

The two met at PA technical school last year in Maryland, eventually ending up in the same study group. Hauser then made the first move (playing the damsel in distress, she says with a laugh), asking Haeussler for help on a routine copy editing assignment she actually needed no help at all on.

"A relationship blossomed from there," said Hauser, a Buffalo, N.Y., native.

Despite the distance in their duty locations (Hauser at McChord Field and Haeussler at Fort Bliss, Texas) after tech school ended the two made a pact to stay together.

"We decided we'd just deal with whatever life throws at us," Hauser said.

Hauser spent the holidays meeting Haeussler's family in Florida and Georgia, and the relationship continued to progress. The Army captain purchased an engagement ring in January for Hauser but needed to find a time when the couple's schedules lined up so he could propose.

"I didn't know when or where I was going to do it," said Haeussler, a New Jersey native.

While in the midst of making those plans, it took a little deceptiveness on his part to hide the proposal from Hauser. That included being a bit standoffish when it came to talking about marriage and concocting an elaborate story - while bringing his sister into the fold to help him - in trying to get his future bride's ring size without her knowing why.

"That part was complicated, but it worked," the 33-year-old Haeussler said.

When things finally lined up, Haeussler made some calls from Texas to the 446th AW PA office to scout the location and enlist the staff to help with the proposal.

"I tried to convince him that our office wasn't the most romantic place in the world," said Col. Anna Sullivan, 446th AW PA chief.

But Haeussler was undeterred. He flew out to McChord and set the plan in motion while Hauser was out of the office. The captain positioned sticky notes at various locations in the office for Hauser to follow. At different locations he also placed items that the couple had personal connections to.

When she started embarking on the mini scavenger hunt, Hauser said she thought at first it was a part of an Easter surprise from her coworkers.

"I'm still not catching on ... I had no clue it was (Ric)," she said.

As she came across more personal items, the lieutenant started catching on - but still had no idea about a marriage proposal. At the end of the hunt there was a giant vase of flowers and Haeussler was sitting in her office chair with the ring.

"I told her that I was in town and I wanted to get married," Haeussler said with a laugh.

Reality finally set in for Hauser.

"I was in complete shock," she said. "I was speechless for like 30 seconds."

After overcoming the initial shock, Hauser finally said yes.

"It was fun to watch," Sullivan said. "They are going to be happy together."

While the couple knows they will face some logistical challenges in the next year before they are able to get married, they are willing to work through it.

"It will work out ... it's worked so far," Haeussler said.

The good news is there are several joint Army/Air Force bases across the country they could end up being stationed.

Sullivan likes their chances of making it work.

"They're public affairs officers," she said. "We're (all) good at logisitics."