No, no, no...not the dance...:) My husband is returning home today!!! Finally after a very long 27 days, 17 hours, 40 minutes...he is coming HOME. :) It may not seem that long, but trust me, it was. Throughout the last 4 weeks, I have replaced toilet seats, unclogged the shower, broken the kitchen light, fixed the screen door, broken the screen door again, picked up a million pounds of dog poop, read over 20 books, watched an entire season of Lost, completed about 25 Sudoku puzzles in 4 days, and spent every night alone. At times I cried, at times I laughed at how silly I was for crying, and even found myself watching Cops at 2am once. Now that's how I knew I was starting to go crazy. ;) Chad has endured a much more busy version of the last 4 weeks. He has been working at least 8-12 hours a day with only an occasional Sunday off of work. He has been diligently working his butt off to make sure he did what he needed to do in the short time that they had him there (I say short, because they wanted to keep him longer). He has been living out of a hotel room, eating out every day (which doesn't sound bad, until you have to do it for a month), and had to spend the month after our wedding in Miami (which is where we were supposed to go for our honeymoon) with Gary, a work friend (and that, much like the eating out, doesn't sound bad until you have to do it for a month-just teasing, Gary)!
I tell you all of that to help explain how the last month has felt for us...which was....like a lifetime! But now that he is finally returning, it feels like the time passed in an instant. I definitely wouldn't want to do this again anytime soon, though! :)
I go to pick him up mid-day today...and as evidence by the earliness of this post (I've been up since 2am)...I am SOOOOOOOOO excited!!!!! I am going to spend my morning primping and fussing with my hair and my makeup and my clothes (yes, yes, I'm suuuuuuch a girl). Then I'm going to go pick him up and enjoy a much needed weekend with my sweet, sweet husband. :) Valentine's is Sunday and we have no plans yet but to relax, cook some yummy food, and then pick up Chad's sister, Alicia, later in the day from DIA. Next week will be spent running around like mad people tying up loose ends before our wedding ceremony on Friday. My Oma and Opa will be driving here from Illinois and will arrive Sunday as well. So here's to a nice, relaxing weekend before all the craziness of next week breaks loose. BUT-the great news?? We'll be in Vegas...(Let me take a minutes to explain...plane tickets to get to Miami, where we were supposed to go for our honeymoon, were getting REALLY expensive and as Chad just spent a month there...we decided to go to Vegas instead. My parents lent us the use of their awesome time-share with Westgate Resorts, and we will be staying the awesome Flamingo Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.)...for a whole week! We plan on trying to check out some cool shows, hit up the M&M factory, and spend a week really relaxing and enjoying ourselves before getting back into work and the swing of things. :)
With all of that said, I am finishing up my last episode of Lost for the morning and then I am off and rolling! See ya'll in a few days when we resurface! :)
Love,
Alyssa and Chad
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Married Life...
...so far consists of waking up, showering, getting ready, running errands, cleaning, eating, playing video games, watching the Fast and the Furious Movies in reverse order, building lots of fires, and praying my crazy eyes out! All of these things fun, but all of these things, alone.
I have been Mrs. Alyssa Duncan for 13 days, 1 hours, and 11 minutes...and only got to spend about 15 hours with my husband before he left.
But here's the thing, I'm not telling you this to make you feel sorry for me (us), or to make you think I'm not holding up, or that I don't like being married if this is how it is turning out....Because here's the TRUTH:
I LOVE being married. If there was anything in this world that I know I was meant for, it was this. He is my BEST FRIEND, the man that I love with all of my heart, my sweetheart, my dear. To try and imagine my life without him, is like trying to imagine life without my consistently beating heart. Even from 2000 miles away, he still calls me every night to tell me he's safe and that he loves me, he lets me babble away even though he's worked a 14 hour day and needs rest, and he still comforts me after I've had a bad dream.
Yes, I am counting down the days until he gets home. But I am thankful that he is staying in Miami for now (to assist Southcom). It will make his return trip easier and makes me feel more at ease about his safety. I am also thankful for such an amazing church family. We have received a plethora of prayers for his safety and his general well-being. That means the world to me.
Now the PR guy from Northcom is writing an article about Chad and what he's doing down there to assist Haiti and Southcom. He is with three other guys but they chose to write about him. I am so incredibly proud. The guy who is writing the interview sent him a list of questions to answer about what he is doing. The last question asked him if there was anything else he would like to add. His response was:
"I got married the night before I flew down here to
USSOUTHCOM and my new wife, Alyssa, has been beyond supportive and
understanding during this rough time."
After I wiped away the giant crocodile tear that rolled down my cheek in reading this, I thanked GOD for sending me a wonderful and amazing man. I am so in awe.
In conclusion, married life will be much better after he is HOME. But married life nonetheless, is incredibly fulfilling. And beautiful. So beautiful.
I have been Mrs. Alyssa Duncan for 13 days, 1 hours, and 11 minutes...and only got to spend about 15 hours with my husband before he left.
But here's the thing, I'm not telling you this to make you feel sorry for me (us), or to make you think I'm not holding up, or that I don't like being married if this is how it is turning out....Because here's the TRUTH:
I LOVE being married. If there was anything in this world that I know I was meant for, it was this. He is my BEST FRIEND, the man that I love with all of my heart, my sweetheart, my dear. To try and imagine my life without him, is like trying to imagine life without my consistently beating heart. Even from 2000 miles away, he still calls me every night to tell me he's safe and that he loves me, he lets me babble away even though he's worked a 14 hour day and needs rest, and he still comforts me after I've had a bad dream.
Yes, I am counting down the days until he gets home. But I am thankful that he is staying in Miami for now (to assist Southcom). It will make his return trip easier and makes me feel more at ease about his safety. I am also thankful for such an amazing church family. We have received a plethora of prayers for his safety and his general well-being. That means the world to me.
Now the PR guy from Northcom is writing an article about Chad and what he's doing down there to assist Haiti and Southcom. He is with three other guys but they chose to write about him. I am so incredibly proud. The guy who is writing the interview sent him a list of questions to answer about what he is doing. The last question asked him if there was anything else he would like to add. His response was:
"I got married the night before I flew down here to
USSOUTHCOM and my new wife, Alyssa, has been beyond supportive and
understanding during this rough time."
After I wiped away the giant crocodile tear that rolled down my cheek in reading this, I thanked GOD for sending me a wonderful and amazing man. I am so in awe.
In conclusion, married life will be much better after he is HOME. But married life nonetheless, is incredibly fulfilling. And beautiful. So beautiful.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Big News!!
Big news might not even be big enough to describe this one....
GIGANTIC NEWS
There, that's better.
So....here's what's up. I found out on Monday that Chad would have to go to Florida for a week for a Hurricane Preparedness Workshop next week (Jan. 18th through the 22nd). I was bummed that he'd be gone for a week, but oh well. C'est la vie. Well, on Thursday morning I find out that Chad is getting deployed....to Haiti. He has to go down to help re-establish communication in a country that has had 60% of its buildings demolished by a 7.0 earthquake...that number has risen, as well as the number of those found dead. The country is a mess, and they needed Chad (and three other awesome guys from his work) to go down there and do what they could to repair some of the damages. At first, this trip was only going to be fore 2 weeks....then it all of the sudden rose to a month. A MONTH! That meant that he would get back on the 15th of February....which as most of you know...is 4 days before our wedding. He would be exhausted, smelly, and need to relax. I was REALLY bummed, because that meant that I would lose the man that I rely so heavily on for emotional and relational support for a month. There would be little to no communication once he got to Haiti. But God spoke to my heart and said, "Child. Be still. He is going to help. He won't be in danger. Trust me. Calm your fears. I am GOD."
So I resigned myself to this fact, and got ready for a long, hard month. The next morning, I got a call from Chad. Their flight was being postponed until the next morning. He wanted to know if I wanted to go get dinner that night, so that we'd be able to spend a little more time together before he left. (Of course I wanted to!!!) So I called Blair, the girl that I work with, and asked her to switch me shifts (as I was scheduled to work that night). She agreed (which I am so thankful for) and I went into work at 10. As I was working away, I realized we may want to try and get our marriage license while he is here, as I heard that getting it by proxy is a huge pain. So I called the County Clerk and Recorder and asked what the requirements were....turns out we didn't need his SS card after all. All we needed was our id's. BUT-she also told me that once you have the license in your hands, you only have 30 days to get married, get it signed, and then get it back down to the County Clerk and Recorder. CRAP! Our wedding is scheduled for the 19th of February....which is 4 days over a month. Now, yes we could have waited until Chad got back, as he was scheduled to be back 4 days early) BUT-there was also a chance that he wouldn't be back until the day before the wedding (as he told them he HAD to be back by that day). SO-to avoid risking him not being back in time, we went down to get it yesterday AND................................
WE GOT MARRIED.
Yes, you read it right. Let me explain. Like I said, we did this to avoid risking him not being back in time. It was the only (easy) option. It also felt right. I believe God knew what He was doing in nudging us in this direction. Sooo......we took my parents, Chad's mom, and his brother down to the Country Clerk and Recorder's. (Chad was literally driving up as we had to leave to get down there on time, so he was still in work clothes....jeans and a polo....and I put on a short white dress.) We walked in, to the wrong building. We walked in, to the right building, sat down, filled out the paperwork, swore an oath that we weren't lying, gave our information, and then she gave us back a preliminary copy of our Marriage License. To allow us some privacy, she recommended we go out into the lobby and fill out the information on there, sign it, have our witnesses sign it, and then bring it back in. (Colorado is a self-solemnizing state...that means we don't have to have an officiant there, we basically married ourselves in front of God and our family.) We brought it back in, she ran it through the system, put the official seals and signatures on it, and then we were ready to go! We then went out to the lobby again and then exchanged rings under the SUPER cheesy, 80's style-drive-in-chapel-in-Vegas style arch. We kissed, and it was a done deal!
Here are the important details:
We are still having the ceremony on February 19th. We already have family coming into town, I still want to wear my dress, we already have his tux reserved, and we just still really want the WEDDING feel in a ceremony. We didn't want our legal ceremony to be IT. We are also still having our reception/barbecue party in June sometime. So I suppose, if you tilt your head and squint your eyes...we are having 3 weddings. :) That's okay! Weddings are so fun, we not make 3x as much fun! :)
I now live at Chad's house (which is really our house now). I will be here for the month that he is gone, and if he comes back early (there is a slight possibility of this-be praying), I will still live here. We are by all means, MARRIED.
I will be changing my name. I am going to go into the social security office on Tuesday (as Monday is MLK day) and begin the process. That's right. I am now MRS. ALYSSA DUNCAN. Soooo cool. :)
Anyone who doesn't read this blog, will be very confused as to why we are all of the sudden married. Sorry! It is a REALLY long story and a blog seems to be the best way to fill mass amounts of people in about a really complicated (but wonderfully blessed) event in our lives. Even if asked about what is going on, I will most likely say, go read the blog....as I can only tell the story so many times before I lose my voice....;)
Anywhoooo....that is all for now! I will keep ya'll filled in about when I hear from Chad, if he comes back early, and how things are going with February-ceremony-planning. We love you all and are very glad to have you all as a part of our lives!!
I also ask that you don't text/email/call Chad with congratulations at this time. Whereas he will be very happy to hear all of those....when he gets back would be a better time. He is in Florida and will be VERY busy these next few days, weeks...however long he is there before he heads to Haiti. So to avoid overwhelming him with your well wishes right now...I just ask that you wait until he gets back. Thanks so much for being understanding!
God bless and have a wonderful day! (Please, also, keep Chad and the trip and flights and everything in your prayers. Prayers for my sanity would be much appreciated as well!)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Wedding Website!
15 billion hours later....I am done with the wedding website! Yay!
Go check it out, and let me know what you think!.
I definitely welcome any ideas/suggestion for improvement!
http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/AlyssaPruitt&ChadDuncan
As of today....wedding invitations have all been made (and I've decided I'd love to start my own wedding invitation making business, how cool would that be??) but not mailed out yet. As long as Steph and I can get them all addressed today, they should go out tomorrow. Phew! This wedding stuff is hard work....:) I will try and post pictures soon. :)
Signing off with a Chad quote:
"Thanks for being you and thanks for being mine." 12-06-09
Go check it out, and let me know what you think!.
I definitely welcome any ideas/suggestion for improvement!
http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/AlyssaPruitt&ChadDuncan
As of today....wedding invitations have all been made (and I've decided I'd love to start my own wedding invitation making business, how cool would that be??) but not mailed out yet. As long as Steph and I can get them all addressed today, they should go out tomorrow. Phew! This wedding stuff is hard work....:) I will try and post pictures soon. :)
Signing off with a Chad quote:
"Thanks for being you and thanks for being mine." 12-06-09
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Scoop on the Big Bamboozle
Just in case you didn't know....Bamboozle=wedding in this case. :) So I've had a TON of people ask me, "When's the wedding gonna be?" "Do you know yet?" "How about now?" This is only normal, as we ARE engaged and WOULD like to get married some time in the next century or so....Of course you're all going to be curious!
We got engaged on September 7th, 2009. The wedding date started out as being sometime. :) We didn't know when we'd be able to get a house, and Chad, who has spent his life in barracks, apartments, or with roomies, really wanted to get an actual house. I totally didn't object to that! So the hunt began...a few complications came along the way, and I wasn't really sure if we'd be getting married in the next year. It was hard to find a decent house, with land, close to Peterson, kind of close to my job, with at least 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, garage, etc. We were both becoming discouraged, and then Chad finally told me if he didn't find a house soon, that we would just get an apartment and plan the wedding for some time in the summer. Out of sheer goofiness, I made up a date, March 26th, as being the date that I'd LOVE to get married by. I didn't actually think it would work out that way, but a girl can dream can't she?? :)
Well here's what happened...Chad had it set up with a friend, Braden, of his, for us to stop by Braden's house after I got off of work one night, to look at some furniture he had for us. Braden and his wife just had a baby, and they were looking to get rid of a few things to make room. Chad gave me directions before I went into work and afterward, I followed them to a little house off of Constitution and Peterson. He told me to text him when I pulled up so that he could meet me outside and usher me in, to introduce me to Braden and his family. I did just that, and he came outside, took my hand, and led me in. We got inside and I looked around. There were a few pink couches that matched the ones Michael and Donna gave us, a dining room table, and a bunch of boxes. "Well, what do you think?" He asked me.
"I think everything here will go good with what we have. "
"Well, it is ours."
"Okay, well we should look through it all."
"No, this IS ours. This is our house."
It finally began to sink in....."What???"
"It's ours. I signed for it today."
Then it fully sunk in. I couldn't think, or talk, or laugh...so I cried! Haha! I just started blubbering and crying and walking around in circles. I couldn't believe it!!! After I finally calmed down, he explained the entire story to me...how he had been going around in secret, planning this all for weeks...Michael and Donna let him borrow the trailer to move his stuff out of their storage shed, Gary helped him lift some of the heavy stuff up the stairs, Braden lent the use of his good name....:) I was so amazed! I am such a hard person to surprise (because I'm very good at reading minds ;) and I just couldn't fathom that he actually pulled this off!!! He had been telling me for weeks that my Christmas present was HUGE and I would probably get it early. Never did I imagine, this is what it would be though!
Sooooo.....long story long....we have a house now! It is JUST the right size, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2-car garage, good sized backyard, in town, and close to Peterson. Perfect!!!
Back to the wedding story....:) So because we finally have a house, we were able to start making wedding plans! Yay! We started out with sticking with my "dream date"...March 26th. But then one day, Chad asked me how I felt about getting married Valentine's Day. I thought that sounds amazing! (But then a few days later he decided it sounded too cliche, so we switched to February 13th.) Well, when we called Westgate Resorts to book our honeymoon, the only dates they ended up having open (after 3 phone calls) was the 20th-28th. That meant we had to leave on the morning of the 20th, and therefore, get married on Friday the 19th. :)
There, I said it. Chad and I are getting married on Friday, February 19th. Here's the thing, though. To keep things really small and intimate, we are only inviting family. I'd LOVE to have ALL of the friends I've ever made and all the family I've ever had there...but that requires a great deal of planning, coordination, and a REALLY big church. :) We decided that rather than finagle with all of that, we just wanted to have the closest people in our lives there, to witness the joining of our lives under God. It's not because I don't LOVE all of my amazing friends, or Chad's wonderful friends that I've heard so many great stories about. It's not that at all. We are doing this because it is going to be easy and simple. That's all. :)
BUT-here's some really good news....we DO want to include all of those people who aren't coming to the wedding in the celebrating of our marriage, so sometime in June (when the weather gets warmer), we are going to host a barbecue at the church Chad and I attend (Meridian Point Church here in Falcon, Colorado). We are going to invite ALL (and I do mean all) of our family, friends, and the very special, and important people in our lives. It is going to be a very casual, laid-back, fun-focused party to celebrate our marriage. Let me tell you, it's going to be a blast. Burgers, brats, fruit salad, great music, cake (mmmmmm!), and a knee-slappin' good time!!! :) Be watching for invites in the mail around April or so....:)
So I hope none of you are offended and I hope all of you understand.
We love you all!
Signing off with a Chad quote as always.....
"Life is better knowing WHEN I'm going to marry you. " Chad, 12/09
We got engaged on September 7th, 2009. The wedding date started out as being sometime. :) We didn't know when we'd be able to get a house, and Chad, who has spent his life in barracks, apartments, or with roomies, really wanted to get an actual house. I totally didn't object to that! So the hunt began...a few complications came along the way, and I wasn't really sure if we'd be getting married in the next year. It was hard to find a decent house, with land, close to Peterson, kind of close to my job, with at least 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, garage, etc. We were both becoming discouraged, and then Chad finally told me if he didn't find a house soon, that we would just get an apartment and plan the wedding for some time in the summer. Out of sheer goofiness, I made up a date, March 26th, as being the date that I'd LOVE to get married by. I didn't actually think it would work out that way, but a girl can dream can't she?? :)
Well here's what happened...Chad had it set up with a friend, Braden, of his, for us to stop by Braden's house after I got off of work one night, to look at some furniture he had for us. Braden and his wife just had a baby, and they were looking to get rid of a few things to make room. Chad gave me directions before I went into work and afterward, I followed them to a little house off of Constitution and Peterson. He told me to text him when I pulled up so that he could meet me outside and usher me in, to introduce me to Braden and his family. I did just that, and he came outside, took my hand, and led me in. We got inside and I looked around. There were a few pink couches that matched the ones Michael and Donna gave us, a dining room table, and a bunch of boxes. "Well, what do you think?" He asked me.
"I think everything here will go good with what we have. "
"Well, it is ours."
"Okay, well we should look through it all."
"No, this IS ours. This is our house."
It finally began to sink in....."What???"
"It's ours. I signed for it today."
Then it fully sunk in. I couldn't think, or talk, or laugh...so I cried! Haha! I just started blubbering and crying and walking around in circles. I couldn't believe it!!! After I finally calmed down, he explained the entire story to me...how he had been going around in secret, planning this all for weeks...Michael and Donna let him borrow the trailer to move his stuff out of their storage shed, Gary helped him lift some of the heavy stuff up the stairs, Braden lent the use of his good name....:) I was so amazed! I am such a hard person to surprise (because I'm very good at reading minds ;) and I just couldn't fathom that he actually pulled this off!!! He had been telling me for weeks that my Christmas present was HUGE and I would probably get it early. Never did I imagine, this is what it would be though!
Sooooo.....long story long....we have a house now! It is JUST the right size, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2-car garage, good sized backyard, in town, and close to Peterson. Perfect!!!
Back to the wedding story....:) So because we finally have a house, we were able to start making wedding plans! Yay! We started out with sticking with my "dream date"...March 26th. But then one day, Chad asked me how I felt about getting married Valentine's Day. I thought that sounds amazing! (But then a few days later he decided it sounded too cliche, so we switched to February 13th.) Well, when we called Westgate Resorts to book our honeymoon, the only dates they ended up having open (after 3 phone calls) was the 20th-28th. That meant we had to leave on the morning of the 20th, and therefore, get married on Friday the 19th. :)
There, I said it. Chad and I are getting married on Friday, February 19th. Here's the thing, though. To keep things really small and intimate, we are only inviting family. I'd LOVE to have ALL of the friends I've ever made and all the family I've ever had there...but that requires a great deal of planning, coordination, and a REALLY big church. :) We decided that rather than finagle with all of that, we just wanted to have the closest people in our lives there, to witness the joining of our lives under God. It's not because I don't LOVE all of my amazing friends, or Chad's wonderful friends that I've heard so many great stories about. It's not that at all. We are doing this because it is going to be easy and simple. That's all. :)
BUT-here's some really good news....we DO want to include all of those people who aren't coming to the wedding in the celebrating of our marriage, so sometime in June (when the weather gets warmer), we are going to host a barbecue at the church Chad and I attend (Meridian Point Church here in Falcon, Colorado). We are going to invite ALL (and I do mean all) of our family, friends, and the very special, and important people in our lives. It is going to be a very casual, laid-back, fun-focused party to celebrate our marriage. Let me tell you, it's going to be a blast. Burgers, brats, fruit salad, great music, cake (mmmmmm!), and a knee-slappin' good time!!! :) Be watching for invites in the mail around April or so....:)
So I hope none of you are offended and I hope all of you understand.
We love you all!
Signing off with a Chad quote as always.....
"Life is better knowing WHEN I'm going to marry you. " Chad, 12/09
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
First Day of the Rest of Our Lives
Tonight Chad and I took another significant step in the direction of our future by attending our first pre-marital counseling class with our pastor, Barry. The three of us had been planning on meeting before ABC's (Adult Bible Classes) for a few weeks now and this Wednesday it finally worked out. We walked in, Barry handed us each a book, and asked us what we expected out of the class. Between the two of us, our answer was to be better prepared to build a long, lasting relationship built on God and use a third-party objective observer (who would ask us questions and bring up topics that we may not have covered) to do so.
The first section of the book covered myths about marriage. For example, everything will get better once we are married and we will perfectly complete one another. Although we both agreed that the first myth (everything will get better) is one that we wish were not a myth, it is indeed one that needs to be realized and then worked through. Yes, by being married to each other our lives will be happier than if we were apart and certain aspects of marriage will fill our hearts with joy, but that does not mean that every moment of married life will be easy and/or pleasant. Some things require much more patience than others, but together with God we can and will overcome any obstacle thrown our way.
The second myth (we will complete each other) struck a very particular chord in my soul. Chad and I are very similar in so many ways, that sometimes I feel as if he is an extension of my very self. At other times, he brings just enough difference in our relationship to make me think more rationally about a situation or calm me down when I am overwhelmed. BUT-with all of that being said, as Barry kindly pointed out tonight, Chad in and of himself cannot provide and does not possess everything capable to complete me. God alone can provide what I need to fill the void in my life. Taking the step to realize and understand that is a HUGE one but a necessary one because once I have done so, I no longer have to USE Chad. Yes, I mean use him. I will have chosen to be in a relationship with him because of what I have to offer him (which I'm not entirely sure what that is yet) rather than what I need to take from him. Our relationship becomes about true love, which is putting someone's needs and desires above your own. I am whole in God, so what I have with Chad becomes all about what I can do for him and how I can use myself to enrich his life.
That was a startling and eye-opening realization to come to. But alas, I am very glad that it was pointed out to me so that on our wedding day, I can pledge my love to him with the right definition of love in my heart. The other eye-opening realization for me tonight was that by starting this class with Barry, we are taking another serious step in our relationship together. As Monica jokingly pointed out, "The cement is setting." I am now one step closer to marrying the most wonderful man on this earth, and that thought gave me the biggest, most colorful butterflies in my stomach.
As we continue to go through this class, I ask for prayers from all of those who are reading this (and any others who would like to bless us with your prayers). I pray that He guides us every step of the way towards our wedding day and forever after. I pray also that He have His hands over us as we grow together in Him, and in our separate spiritual lives. My biggest prayer for our marriage is that God will do something extraordinary through the TWO of us together that He could not accomplish with us apart. I pray that our marriage will not only benefit the two of us, but that God will find a way to use "The Duncans" to accomplish His will and further His kingdom.
Boy oh boy-if this is what came out of our first class, I can't wait to see what will come out of the rest!! :)
I'll sign off with another wonderfully sweet Chad quote:
"I'm always glad to do things for you and help you. It's a bit early, but I feel responsible for your happiness already." -Chad, 08-22-09
The first section of the book covered myths about marriage. For example, everything will get better once we are married and we will perfectly complete one another. Although we both agreed that the first myth (everything will get better) is one that we wish were not a myth, it is indeed one that needs to be realized and then worked through. Yes, by being married to each other our lives will be happier than if we were apart and certain aspects of marriage will fill our hearts with joy, but that does not mean that every moment of married life will be easy and/or pleasant. Some things require much more patience than others, but together with God we can and will overcome any obstacle thrown our way.
The second myth (we will complete each other) struck a very particular chord in my soul. Chad and I are very similar in so many ways, that sometimes I feel as if he is an extension of my very self. At other times, he brings just enough difference in our relationship to make me think more rationally about a situation or calm me down when I am overwhelmed. BUT-with all of that being said, as Barry kindly pointed out tonight, Chad in and of himself cannot provide and does not possess everything capable to complete me. God alone can provide what I need to fill the void in my life. Taking the step to realize and understand that is a HUGE one but a necessary one because once I have done so, I no longer have to USE Chad. Yes, I mean use him. I will have chosen to be in a relationship with him because of what I have to offer him (which I'm not entirely sure what that is yet) rather than what I need to take from him. Our relationship becomes about true love, which is putting someone's needs and desires above your own. I am whole in God, so what I have with Chad becomes all about what I can do for him and how I can use myself to enrich his life.
That was a startling and eye-opening realization to come to. But alas, I am very glad that it was pointed out to me so that on our wedding day, I can pledge my love to him with the right definition of love in my heart. The other eye-opening realization for me tonight was that by starting this class with Barry, we are taking another serious step in our relationship together. As Monica jokingly pointed out, "The cement is setting." I am now one step closer to marrying the most wonderful man on this earth, and that thought gave me the biggest, most colorful butterflies in my stomach.
As we continue to go through this class, I ask for prayers from all of those who are reading this (and any others who would like to bless us with your prayers). I pray that He guides us every step of the way towards our wedding day and forever after. I pray also that He have His hands over us as we grow together in Him, and in our separate spiritual lives. My biggest prayer for our marriage is that God will do something extraordinary through the TWO of us together that He could not accomplish with us apart. I pray that our marriage will not only benefit the two of us, but that God will find a way to use "The Duncans" to accomplish His will and further His kingdom.
Boy oh boy-if this is what came out of our first class, I can't wait to see what will come out of the rest!! :)
I'll sign off with another wonderfully sweet Chad quote:
"I'm always glad to do things for you and help you. It's a bit early, but I feel responsible for your happiness already." -Chad, 08-22-09
Friday, October 2, 2009
Proposal Story (Girl's Version)
I am finally posting the Proposal Story! Yayyyyy! :)
We all know that there are many ways to tell a story. But two of the most distinct ways, are a girl's way and a boy's way. This is not sexist; it is merely a statement of fact. This fact is especially present in the Proposal Story. I'm going to tell my proposal story through my eyes, which would indeed be the girl's way. I do feel obliged to include a Surgeon General's Warning (for the men that read this story) that the side effects of this story may include nausea, upset stomach, or intense gagging. I also feel obliged to warn these same men that their significant others may suffer side effects that include, but are not limited to, squealing, oohing, awwwing, giggling, tears of joy, and the desire to get engaged themselves (if they aren't already). Now that I've cleared the air, let me begin......;)
In a very complicated and round-a-bout manner, Chad managed to (mostly) surprise me with a trip to Carson City, Nevada for a 10-day vacation. I say mostly because I thought we were going mostly to just visit his Gramme and see the sights around where he grew up. (It was supposed to be a total surprise but when plugging something into the calendar on his phone one day, I accidentally came across his trip plans.) All of that aside, Chad and I left from my work on Thursday, September 3rd, in a rental car with our bags packed and our hearts ready for some nice, relaxing time away!
It took us right about 21 hours to get all the way to Gramme's house in Carson City, Nevada. Those 21 hours were filled with lots of yummy (but terribly bad for you) road-trip food, blaring rap music, MercyMe in the wee hours of the morning, eating at a casino at 3am (Venida a West Wendover), buying 5 different BlackBerry car chargers, and LOTS of winding, mountain roads! By the time we got to Gramme's, I believe we both never even wanted to see a car again! The moment we got out of the car, Gramme came hobbling out with tears in her eyes saying, "CJ, oh my boy, my CJ" over and over again. The complete adoration for her not-so-little grandson was very apparent in that moment. After she hugged him for several minutes, she came over and hugged me saying, "It's so good to finally meet you." I hugged her tiny self right back and then all three of us headed inside.
What is the first thing that any grandmother asks her grandkids after not having seen them for more than a day (in this case,about a year)?? "Are you hungry? Can I make you some food?" And can anyone who has known Chad for more than a day tell me what his response was?? "Food?? Yes, please!!" :):) That's Gramme and her CJ for you! (I politely declined Terryaki Oysters and a microwaved hot dog.) For the rest of the day, we mostly sat and caught up while Gramme sipped on her CRW from the glass I made her. :) For dinner, of course, we went to Gramme's hangout "Grandma Hattie's" and ate delicious burgers and fries.
The next day few days went very much like the first day. We ate at Grandma Hattie's several times, sat and talked for hours on end, looked at picture after picture (which caused the tears to run freely from all of our eyes), and tried on hip outfits from the 70's (that Gramme insisted that I take because no one has ever been as little as her and able to fit into her old clothes) which included but were not limited to a black and white checkered puffy sleeved dress and a mustard yellow and brown, elastic-waist, pantsuit. Gramme sent us home with woven fans, china, pictures, albums, clothes, and so much more! :)
Chad had been saying all weekend to Gramme and Donna (his step-mom) that he had plans for most of the day on Monday. I, for once, had NO idea what these plans were! (Usually I spoil all the surprises he plans for me because I have the bizarre ability to read his mind.) Donna informed us that all of her family was coming over for a barbeque on Monday night and Chad assured her that we would be done by then and be able to celebrate Labor Day with everyone. I only asked Chad that he tell me what time we needed to leave Donna's and what I should wear. His responses were "7:30am" and "dress nice" respectively. So when Monday morning rolled around, I got up at 5:30 and began my extensive beauty regimen (HAHA). [But seriously, my hair is as thick and long as horse hair, so it takes forever to dry and straighten!] At about 7:00 I walked out with hair done, makeup on, and a nice cream-colored dress on with heels. Chad was sitting at the breakfast table looking VERY handsome in dress slacks, a dress-shirt, and a tie. Donna got up and made us strawberry waffles (which were very yummy). So before we left, we enjoyed a very yummy and filling breakfast! Right after we finished breakfast though, Chad decided that where we were going, I might get a little cold and he'd rather I enjoy our day and be warm and dressed more casually than look nice and be miserable. (Which turned out to be very smart! :) So we both changed into jeans and casual shirts and then brought along sweatshirts in case we got really cold.
We ended up leaving a little closer to 8 and then stopped at Starbucks before heading up some very twisty roads. I don't tend to do well with twisting and turning roads, so I laid back and closed my eyes until we got closer to our destination. I was very surprised when we turned a corner and Chad said, "Babe, look!" Before us was the bright blue, shining waters of Lake Tahoe. It was amazing!!! [I finally knew why Lake Tahoe is Alicia's favorite place on earth!] I pulled out the camera and began snapping pictures left and right! We then drove up through some of the houses and tried (unsuccessfully) to find another of Chad's childhood homes before shopping around a little at some of the shops. We bought a deck of Tahoe cards (I collect decks of cards) and a Tahoe picture frame for the two of us, and then spent a good chunk of time just browsing. Finally, Chad announced that it was TIME. Time for what? I had no clue! :) So we hopped in the car and drove to a hotel. Yes, a hotel. The Americana Inn, to be precise. He then informed to get out of the car, put my sweatshirt on, and stay by the car until he came back.
WHHHHAAAATT?????!!! Why are we at a hotel? What's going on? My mind was going crazy! In my crazy state of mind, I took a picture of the swimming pool and the hotel sign in case maybe later they'd have some significance in the day. [Turns out, no.]
Chad finally comes back out, grinning from ear to ear, and leads me over to a bench in front of the hotel. He sits me down and tells me to just wait. For what???!! What's going on? Mass confusion was still in residence in my brain. :) Finally after about 10 minutes or so, a bus pulls up. The driver opens the door and says, "Are you the Duncans?"
I just replied, "For the most part." Haha! Who was this guy though, and how did he know who we were? We hopped on the bus and sat down for about a 7-minute ride, to what turned out to be Lake Tahoe. The bus driver kindly tells me (announces) that this particular bus carries passenegers who are taking a lunch cruise on the Tahoe Queen. Ssssaaawwweeettt! A lunch cruise? That's awesome! I look over at Chad, and he just smiles. We get off, go up to the ticket window, get our tickets punched, and then make our way down to the dock to wait for the TQ to become ready to board. Another couple on our same bus passed by us, so as Chad suggested, we took the opportunity to snag them and ask them to take our picture. :) (That way we would have at least one picture that didn't include my stretched out arm in it.) They did, and we returned the favor. Then, we sat and just waited some more. Finally, after what felt like a morning of waiting....:).....it was time to board! As each person, couple or group boarded the TQ the boat's photographer took their picture behind a life-preserver that said "Tahoe Queen" on it. After our picture was taken, we boarded the boat, and found ourselves a nice, little bench on the top level of the boat, out in the beautiful sunshine of California. (Yes, we were on the California side of Lake Tahoe.) It started to get warm while we waited, so Chad went to second level of the boat to get us something to quench our thirst, and I took off my jacket and basked in the sun. :)
The boat took off not long after that, and while the captain narrated, we took in the beautiful sights around us. The water was SO blue, the sky was SO clear, and views were stunning. I was on a beautiful lake, with the love of my life....all was right with the world! The photographer who took our pictures (who happened to look like Morgan off of Chuck) came around and asked us if we wanted to buy our picture that he had taken earlier. Those things are WAY expensive, and we had our own picture from when the couple from our bus took one for us, so I automatically started to say, "no, thanks." But then Chad pipes up with, "Yes, thank you." HUH??! I whispered to him how expensive they are, and not really worth it but he claimed that he'd like to have it anyway. He said he wanted to be able to remember this day and show our kids this picture someday and tell them a neat story. (And I'm thinking, you want to tell our kids a story of how we road on a boat at Lake Tahoe? Can't we just take them here some day?) He was adament though, and pulled out a some cash to hand to Morgan (photographer). For the rest of the day he got to carry around a nice, orange bag. :)
By that time it was 11ish, and I was hungry. (I know, surprise, surprise.) I asked Chad if he was hungry, and anyone who has known Chad for more than a day can tell me the answer to that question. :) We moseyed on down to the bottom level of the boat where the dining room was located, and oredered ourselves some lemonade and two turkey sandwiches. The waitress brings out these two, huge, roasted turkey sandwiches that looked (and tasted) amazing! We had gotten no further than our first bite though when the captain announces that we were pulling into Emerald Bay. *choke* That was Chad's reaction. Then he started eating really fast (and when I say really fast for Chad, that means warp-speed compared to how I eat). Thinking that he just really wanted to see the pretty green and blue water, I gave him the other half of my sandwich (because I knew I wouldn't be able to finish it) and hurried to eat mine as fast as he was eating his. While he waited for me to finish, he starts talking really fast, and stumbling over his words. I had no idea what he was trying to say, only that he NEVER gets like this! (Babbly.) Something funky was going on...that's for sure! ;)
I finally finished my sandwich and he quickly pays the waiter and then we bound up the stairs to the top deck. He takes the camera and starts snapping a bunch of pictures of Emerald Bay. It WAS beautiful, I'll give him that! I could have camped out on the rock in the center of the bay and been set for life. After we had gotten about half-way through the bay and headed back out, Chad suggests we go to the other side of the top level, back behind the captain's booth. (Is that what'd you'd call it? I have no clue.) There was a nice little bench that sat right in front of the railing for the back of the boat. It was very quaint, and very cozy. I started to get cold, so I suggested we put on our sweatshirts. Mine is very warm, but always has been a little difficult to zip. So I'm standing there, fiddling with the zipper on my jacket, when he says, "Now's a good a time as any." Without looking up, as I'm still messing with my sweatshirt's zipper, I say, "for what?" Then, as he kneels down on one knee, and I look up to him saying, "for this. Would you make me the happiest man in the world, and do me the honor of becoming my wife?" I stood there, hands frozen, mouth hanging wide open making a noise that sounded a lot like *silence.* I was speechless! When I finally started to talk, I was crying and making no sense at all. I think I said, "I....uh...I just can't believe....how did you...where...the ring...I....oh my gosh...babe...YES!" Smiling, he slips the ring on my finger and then gets up and just hugs me. I couldn't believe it! While he hugged me, I cried a little more and of course....stared at the ring over my shoulder. :)
Taking a teeny-tiny break from the story...I wanted to mention the story of the rings because I think it is a beautiful one! A couple months before the engagement, we had tossed the words "engaged" and "rings" a bit. We did some online browsing and looked in a few stores, but nothing caught our eyes as being "the one." (I'm very picky too...Haha! I know, you're saying to yourselves right now, NO WAY!) Also, one of the things we were trying to achieve was a matching women's set and men's wedding band. Chad remembered one day that he had one of his dad's wedding bands that was passed on to him when his dad passed away last year. Then when looking on Kay Jewelers website, he found a women's wedding set that matched that ring almost exactly. How cool!!! We went to the mall one day so that I could try the set on and as soon as I did, I knew it was "the one." It was dainty enough for my small hands, with diamonds on the side (which I really liked), and really just looked RIGHT. Chad nodded and said he would keep that in mind, even as he sent his dad's band away to be cleaned. :)
So anyway, back to the story. Amazingly enough there was no one on the end of the boat that we were on, so after he snapped a few pictures of the sparkler and my beaming face, we sat down on the bench and enjoyed a nice, relaxing trip back to the dock. I did, of course, have to call and my mom and spill the beans. :) And then, because I knew if I didn't she would, I had to post on Facebook that we had just gotten engaged!!! [Then the rest of the day was filled with both of our phones buzzing like crazy with tons of congratulations from our awesome friends and family.] (Oh, and another side note....we had the ring sized a few months back when we went in so that I could try them on, but I guess my fingers shrunk. Haha! So I had to wear the ring on my middle finger for the rest of the day because I would have been devastated if it would have fallen off on the boat, or anywhere else for that matter!) We drove back to Donna's house, as her whole family was coming over for a Labor Day celebration, grinning from ear-to-ear. I swear, you could have seen our smiles all the way across the country! (Another side-note, as I seem to have become the Queen of them....we chased a Lamborgini Gallardo down the mountain, coming back from Lake Tahoe to Carson City.)
When we got back to Donna's, I met Marcus (Chad's half-brother) and his wife and super-sweet kids and then all of Donna's kids, their spouses, and their kids. It was quite a gathering! Gramme took it upon herself to take me around to everyone and tell them that "my hand was tired because of the rock on my finger and I was now going to become her new daughter-in-law. Haha!
The next day we went to Claire's and got a plastic ring back for my ring so that I could wear it on the right finger, picked Tris up from the airport, bought awesome Western shirts, went to Applebee's in said shirts and got the world's most amazing desserts, had deep, heart-felt talks out on Donna's patio, made funny memories at Walmart, went back up to Tahoe with Marcus and family, watched this season's first football game (which of course, the Steelers won), and visited Chad's daddy at Fernley. It was an AMAZING trip, that included the best day of my life thus far, but also that went by WAY too fast! Before we knew it, we were packing the car up to start the long drive back to Colorado. We got back exahusted beyond belief, emotionally filled and then drained beyond comprehension, but nonetheless, the two happiest people in the WORLD. :)
True to my usual fashion, I will leave off with another sweet Chad-quote:
"Life is better being engaged to you." 09-13-09
We all know that there are many ways to tell a story. But two of the most distinct ways, are a girl's way and a boy's way. This is not sexist; it is merely a statement of fact. This fact is especially present in the Proposal Story. I'm going to tell my proposal story through my eyes, which would indeed be the girl's way. I do feel obliged to include a Surgeon General's Warning (for the men that read this story) that the side effects of this story may include nausea, upset stomach, or intense gagging. I also feel obliged to warn these same men that their significant others may suffer side effects that include, but are not limited to, squealing, oohing, awwwing, giggling, tears of joy, and the desire to get engaged themselves (if they aren't already). Now that I've cleared the air, let me begin......;)
In a very complicated and round-a-bout manner, Chad managed to (mostly) surprise me with a trip to Carson City, Nevada for a 10-day vacation. I say mostly because I thought we were going mostly to just visit his Gramme and see the sights around where he grew up. (It was supposed to be a total surprise but when plugging something into the calendar on his phone one day, I accidentally came across his trip plans.) All of that aside, Chad and I left from my work on Thursday, September 3rd, in a rental car with our bags packed and our hearts ready for some nice, relaxing time away!
It took us right about 21 hours to get all the way to Gramme's house in Carson City, Nevada. Those 21 hours were filled with lots of yummy (but terribly bad for you) road-trip food, blaring rap music, MercyMe in the wee hours of the morning, eating at a casino at 3am (Venida a West Wendover), buying 5 different BlackBerry car chargers, and LOTS of winding, mountain roads! By the time we got to Gramme's, I believe we both never even wanted to see a car again! The moment we got out of the car, Gramme came hobbling out with tears in her eyes saying, "CJ, oh my boy, my CJ" over and over again. The complete adoration for her not-so-little grandson was very apparent in that moment. After she hugged him for several minutes, she came over and hugged me saying, "It's so good to finally meet you." I hugged her tiny self right back and then all three of us headed inside.
What is the first thing that any grandmother asks her grandkids after not having seen them for more than a day (in this case,about a year)?? "Are you hungry? Can I make you some food?" And can anyone who has known Chad for more than a day tell me what his response was?? "Food?? Yes, please!!" :):) That's Gramme and her CJ for you! (I politely declined Terryaki Oysters and a microwaved hot dog.) For the rest of the day, we mostly sat and caught up while Gramme sipped on her CRW from the glass I made her. :) For dinner, of course, we went to Gramme's hangout "Grandma Hattie's" and ate delicious burgers and fries.
The next day few days went very much like the first day. We ate at Grandma Hattie's several times, sat and talked for hours on end, looked at picture after picture (which caused the tears to run freely from all of our eyes), and tried on hip outfits from the 70's (that Gramme insisted that I take because no one has ever been as little as her and able to fit into her old clothes) which included but were not limited to a black and white checkered puffy sleeved dress and a mustard yellow and brown, elastic-waist, pantsuit. Gramme sent us home with woven fans, china, pictures, albums, clothes, and so much more! :)
Chad had been saying all weekend to Gramme and Donna (his step-mom) that he had plans for most of the day on Monday. I, for once, had NO idea what these plans were! (Usually I spoil all the surprises he plans for me because I have the bizarre ability to read his mind.) Donna informed us that all of her family was coming over for a barbeque on Monday night and Chad assured her that we would be done by then and be able to celebrate Labor Day with everyone. I only asked Chad that he tell me what time we needed to leave Donna's and what I should wear. His responses were "7:30am" and "dress nice" respectively. So when Monday morning rolled around, I got up at 5:30 and began my extensive beauty regimen (HAHA). [But seriously, my hair is as thick and long as horse hair, so it takes forever to dry and straighten!] At about 7:00 I walked out with hair done, makeup on, and a nice cream-colored dress on with heels. Chad was sitting at the breakfast table looking VERY handsome in dress slacks, a dress-shirt, and a tie. Donna got up and made us strawberry waffles (which were very yummy). So before we left, we enjoyed a very yummy and filling breakfast! Right after we finished breakfast though, Chad decided that where we were going, I might get a little cold and he'd rather I enjoy our day and be warm and dressed more casually than look nice and be miserable. (Which turned out to be very smart! :) So we both changed into jeans and casual shirts and then brought along sweatshirts in case we got really cold.
We ended up leaving a little closer to 8 and then stopped at Starbucks before heading up some very twisty roads. I don't tend to do well with twisting and turning roads, so I laid back and closed my eyes until we got closer to our destination. I was very surprised when we turned a corner and Chad said, "Babe, look!" Before us was the bright blue, shining waters of Lake Tahoe. It was amazing!!! [I finally knew why Lake Tahoe is Alicia's favorite place on earth!] I pulled out the camera and began snapping pictures left and right! We then drove up through some of the houses and tried (unsuccessfully) to find another of Chad's childhood homes before shopping around a little at some of the shops. We bought a deck of Tahoe cards (I collect decks of cards) and a Tahoe picture frame for the two of us, and then spent a good chunk of time just browsing. Finally, Chad announced that it was TIME. Time for what? I had no clue! :) So we hopped in the car and drove to a hotel. Yes, a hotel. The Americana Inn, to be precise. He then informed to get out of the car, put my sweatshirt on, and stay by the car until he came back.
WHHHHAAAATT?????!!! Why are we at a hotel? What's going on? My mind was going crazy! In my crazy state of mind, I took a picture of the swimming pool and the hotel sign in case maybe later they'd have some significance in the day. [Turns out, no.]
Chad finally comes back out, grinning from ear to ear, and leads me over to a bench in front of the hotel. He sits me down and tells me to just wait. For what???!! What's going on? Mass confusion was still in residence in my brain. :) Finally after about 10 minutes or so, a bus pulls up. The driver opens the door and says, "Are you the Duncans?"
I just replied, "For the most part." Haha! Who was this guy though, and how did he know who we were? We hopped on the bus and sat down for about a 7-minute ride, to what turned out to be Lake Tahoe. The bus driver kindly tells me (announces) that this particular bus carries passenegers who are taking a lunch cruise on the Tahoe Queen. Ssssaaawwweeettt! A lunch cruise? That's awesome! I look over at Chad, and he just smiles. We get off, go up to the ticket window, get our tickets punched, and then make our way down to the dock to wait for the TQ to become ready to board. Another couple on our same bus passed by us, so as Chad suggested, we took the opportunity to snag them and ask them to take our picture. :) (That way we would have at least one picture that didn't include my stretched out arm in it.) They did, and we returned the favor. Then, we sat and just waited some more. Finally, after what felt like a morning of waiting....:).....it was time to board! As each person, couple or group boarded the TQ the boat's photographer took their picture behind a life-preserver that said "Tahoe Queen" on it. After our picture was taken, we boarded the boat, and found ourselves a nice, little bench on the top level of the boat, out in the beautiful sunshine of California. (Yes, we were on the California side of Lake Tahoe.) It started to get warm while we waited, so Chad went to second level of the boat to get us something to quench our thirst, and I took off my jacket and basked in the sun. :)
The boat took off not long after that, and while the captain narrated, we took in the beautiful sights around us. The water was SO blue, the sky was SO clear, and views were stunning. I was on a beautiful lake, with the love of my life....all was right with the world! The photographer who took our pictures (who happened to look like Morgan off of Chuck) came around and asked us if we wanted to buy our picture that he had taken earlier. Those things are WAY expensive, and we had our own picture from when the couple from our bus took one for us, so I automatically started to say, "no, thanks." But then Chad pipes up with, "Yes, thank you." HUH??! I whispered to him how expensive they are, and not really worth it but he claimed that he'd like to have it anyway. He said he wanted to be able to remember this day and show our kids this picture someday and tell them a neat story. (And I'm thinking, you want to tell our kids a story of how we road on a boat at Lake Tahoe? Can't we just take them here some day?) He was adament though, and pulled out a some cash to hand to Morgan (photographer). For the rest of the day he got to carry around a nice, orange bag. :)
By that time it was 11ish, and I was hungry. (I know, surprise, surprise.) I asked Chad if he was hungry, and anyone who has known Chad for more than a day can tell me the answer to that question. :) We moseyed on down to the bottom level of the boat where the dining room was located, and oredered ourselves some lemonade and two turkey sandwiches. The waitress brings out these two, huge, roasted turkey sandwiches that looked (and tasted) amazing! We had gotten no further than our first bite though when the captain announces that we were pulling into Emerald Bay. *choke* That was Chad's reaction. Then he started eating really fast (and when I say really fast for Chad, that means warp-speed compared to how I eat). Thinking that he just really wanted to see the pretty green and blue water, I gave him the other half of my sandwich (because I knew I wouldn't be able to finish it) and hurried to eat mine as fast as he was eating his. While he waited for me to finish, he starts talking really fast, and stumbling over his words. I had no idea what he was trying to say, only that he NEVER gets like this! (Babbly.) Something funky was going on...that's for sure! ;)
I finally finished my sandwich and he quickly pays the waiter and then we bound up the stairs to the top deck. He takes the camera and starts snapping a bunch of pictures of Emerald Bay. It WAS beautiful, I'll give him that! I could have camped out on the rock in the center of the bay and been set for life. After we had gotten about half-way through the bay and headed back out, Chad suggests we go to the other side of the top level, back behind the captain's booth. (Is that what'd you'd call it? I have no clue.) There was a nice little bench that sat right in front of the railing for the back of the boat. It was very quaint, and very cozy. I started to get cold, so I suggested we put on our sweatshirts. Mine is very warm, but always has been a little difficult to zip. So I'm standing there, fiddling with the zipper on my jacket, when he says, "Now's a good a time as any." Without looking up, as I'm still messing with my sweatshirt's zipper, I say, "for what?" Then, as he kneels down on one knee, and I look up to him saying, "for this. Would you make me the happiest man in the world, and do me the honor of becoming my wife?" I stood there, hands frozen, mouth hanging wide open making a noise that sounded a lot like *silence.* I was speechless! When I finally started to talk, I was crying and making no sense at all. I think I said, "I....uh...I just can't believe....how did you...where...the ring...I....oh my gosh...babe...YES!" Smiling, he slips the ring on my finger and then gets up and just hugs me. I couldn't believe it! While he hugged me, I cried a little more and of course....stared at the ring over my shoulder. :)
Taking a teeny-tiny break from the story...I wanted to mention the story of the rings because I think it is a beautiful one! A couple months before the engagement, we had tossed the words "engaged" and "rings" a bit. We did some online browsing and looked in a few stores, but nothing caught our eyes as being "the one." (I'm very picky too...Haha! I know, you're saying to yourselves right now, NO WAY!) Also, one of the things we were trying to achieve was a matching women's set and men's wedding band. Chad remembered one day that he had one of his dad's wedding bands that was passed on to him when his dad passed away last year. Then when looking on Kay Jewelers website, he found a women's wedding set that matched that ring almost exactly. How cool!!! We went to the mall one day so that I could try the set on and as soon as I did, I knew it was "the one." It was dainty enough for my small hands, with diamonds on the side (which I really liked), and really just looked RIGHT. Chad nodded and said he would keep that in mind, even as he sent his dad's band away to be cleaned. :)
So anyway, back to the story. Amazingly enough there was no one on the end of the boat that we were on, so after he snapped a few pictures of the sparkler and my beaming face, we sat down on the bench and enjoyed a nice, relaxing trip back to the dock. I did, of course, have to call and my mom and spill the beans. :) And then, because I knew if I didn't she would, I had to post on Facebook that we had just gotten engaged!!! [Then the rest of the day was filled with both of our phones buzzing like crazy with tons of congratulations from our awesome friends and family.] (Oh, and another side note....we had the ring sized a few months back when we went in so that I could try them on, but I guess my fingers shrunk. Haha! So I had to wear the ring on my middle finger for the rest of the day because I would have been devastated if it would have fallen off on the boat, or anywhere else for that matter!) We drove back to Donna's house, as her whole family was coming over for a Labor Day celebration, grinning from ear-to-ear. I swear, you could have seen our smiles all the way across the country! (Another side-note, as I seem to have become the Queen of them....we chased a Lamborgini Gallardo down the mountain, coming back from Lake Tahoe to Carson City.)
When we got back to Donna's, I met Marcus (Chad's half-brother) and his wife and super-sweet kids and then all of Donna's kids, their spouses, and their kids. It was quite a gathering! Gramme took it upon herself to take me around to everyone and tell them that "my hand was tired because of the rock on my finger and I was now going to become her new daughter-in-law. Haha!
The next day we went to Claire's and got a plastic ring back for my ring so that I could wear it on the right finger, picked Tris up from the airport, bought awesome Western shirts, went to Applebee's in said shirts and got the world's most amazing desserts, had deep, heart-felt talks out on Donna's patio, made funny memories at Walmart, went back up to Tahoe with Marcus and family, watched this season's first football game (which of course, the Steelers won), and visited Chad's daddy at Fernley. It was an AMAZING trip, that included the best day of my life thus far, but also that went by WAY too fast! Before we knew it, we were packing the car up to start the long drive back to Colorado. We got back exahusted beyond belief, emotionally filled and then drained beyond comprehension, but nonetheless, the two happiest people in the WORLD. :)
True to my usual fashion, I will leave off with another sweet Chad-quote:
"Life is better being engaged to you." 09-13-09
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