Planning and story time

Wedding planning sucks.

Seriously, I don't understand how some people do this for a JOB.  I like looking at pictures of pretty weddings, but when it comes down to it, all I really want is to be married to the love of my life and have some pretty/goofy pictures to show our children someday.

(I'd also like to dance with my friends and family, but most churches don't allow dancing and I don't want the ceremony and reception in different places so that's a snag.)

We've picked colors, the date and our officiant....and that's about it.  I'm pretty sure I know where we'll end up having the ceremony, I'm just holding off making it official until we talk to them to see if they allow dancing.  It probably won't change anything either way, but it'll make me feel better I guess.

OH!  I have picked one more teensy wedding detail....MY DRESS!!  I did some googling and found a wedding dress consignment shop in Portland.  I'll put a shameless plug here because they were FANTASTIC and the staff were so helpful in helping me find my perfect dress and imagine dress' potential post-alteration (I'm not saying my dress needs to be altered, but some of the other dresses I tried on definitely would have needed some major work to get them to fit my vision).  Brides for a Cause (http://bridesforacause.com/) is a consignment shop that receives used and new dresses from individuals, designers and stores.  They house them in this huge (well, it wasn't that huge) warehouse like store and sell them for a steal!  (I think my dress retails for at least 4x what I paid for it.)  Proceeds go to a charity that grants wedding wishes for couples with terminal illnesses.  What a heart melter!

Anyways, I went to this store with Stephens mom and little sister, Rachel on Sunday.  Honestly, I didn't think I would find anything that day, but I wanted to at least start looking.  When I got to the store I was so overwhelmed I didn't think I'd find even one dress to try on!  Rachel and Gail convinced me to pick a couple out and try them on.  I was AMAZED that I liked them so much more on my body than on the rack!  It ended up being a really tough decision, and I was debating between 3 dresses.  I couldn't choose, it was so difficult...then one of the sales ladies mentioned that I could add a little bling to one of the dresses...and I fell in love.  I knew that sparkle was what the dress was missing and adding that would make it absolutely perfect.  I tried the dress on again with my hair down instead of up.  I almost cried.  I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that this dress is sheer perfection, and was probably made just for me.  It's everything I didn't know I wanted.  In fact, I HATED this dress on the rack.  I didn't want to try it on at all.  I'm so glad I did!

I wish I could post you a picture of the dress, but I've deleted them all from my phone and computer.  I'm just too tempted to show Stephen, even though I do really want it to be a surprise.  I showed him one picture of a dress I tried on and DEFINITELY didn't pick and boy am I glad I didn't pick that one.  He didn't seem impressed even though it was probably the most *impressive and *traditional dress I tried on that day.  It also was not me.  But it's not the one I got so that's Okay.

I'm rambling again.  I should go.  BUT I just want to share one more little story.  Yesterday I got to go home for a bit because one of my clients cancelled.  I went to the store, got my nails done and then went home to drop stuff off before going back for my last client.  Cue ominous music.  The wind had blown my door open.  Bootsie was sitting pretty on the couch as if to say "I'm not going out there again!" but Linus was nowhere to be found.  I ran around outside calling for him for a good 10 minutes before dashing back to work.  I was distraught and 2 minutes down the road when Stephen called to ask if I had let Linus out because he'd found him shivering in the trees.  What are the odds?   This man found my cat before I had even told him he was missing!  I love it!  Then, I got home later that evening to find my dishes washed (I'd complained the night before that I wasn't looking forward to having to do the dishes after work) and the garbage taken out.  I love this man.  He knows the way to my heart.

Ok, signing off for real now.  Ta-ta lovers.

The Flooding of Molly's Apartment

Ok.  So, a while ago I mentioned flooding...and then I got carried away telling the engagement story and didn't really have room in my post to address the water issue.  I'm pretty tired and bored right now, but it isn't really an appropriate time to go to bed so I'll write to you friends instead.  (I know you're out there reading this, my page-views have SOARED recently, thanks!)

I guess it was two Friday's ago.  The Friday after we got engaged.  Stephen and I were pretty pumped, and he was in a mr-fix-it mood.  He came over as soon as I got home from work and insisted that we run to Home Depot to get the bulbs to fix my light that's been out basically since I moved in.  Wow, what a guy.  He then proceeded to fix all the little things that I hadn't noticed were annoying until they were no longer present.  He repaired my fence, installed my fence birds, took out the window AC and even took care of the stink bug infestation we found under the AC.

Then we decided to look at the hot water heater.  This was a big mistake.  He basically bumped the pipe where it connected to the wall and the whole thing came off, spewing water everywhere.   After a moment of shock, I called my landlady who came down to try to locate the water shut off.  Apparently no one really knew where the shut off was for my house.  We tried to plug the pipe with fingers, towels and an old cork, but nothing worked.  Meanwhile my floor was rapidly getting covered by more and more water.  Luckily I regained my brain quick enough to move the boxes of Christmas presents from my family out of the flood.  I had to rescue poor Linus from the bathroom where he'd hidden in an attempt to avoid the water.

We opened all the doors and tried to bail water out that way until the shut off could be located.  We called Stephen's dad to come help us and even then it was a good 30 minutes before we finally turned off the water to the entire property, and then eventually located the water shut off 2-feet underground with no mechanism to actually turn it off.  Wow.

Clean up was kind of miserable.  We used a giant fan to dry things out.  We used a million towels to sop up water and wring it out elsewhere.  The rug was beyond soaked.  BUT.  I look at this as a blessing in disguise.  Stephen's dad fixed the pipe connecting the water heater to the wall.  The old work was crumbly and was going to break at some time anyways (at least it happened while all of us were home and not while I was at work or something).  He also fabricated a water shut off so that we can turn off the water should a similar situation arise.  Also, I figure if Stephen and I can get through that ordeal, we can probably get through anything.

Man I love this man.  He's pretty swell.  I'm also so fortunate to have been so readily taken in by his family.  I stayed at their house for 2 days until the glue set and we could turn my heat and water back on.

Engagement & Flooding

So, I kind of left you guys hanging with the promise of an engagement story.  Sorry.  Things got REALLY busy towards the end of the week and I’m only now finding the time to sit down and write it all out!  (You’re probably also wondering about the second half of my title, I’ll get there in due time.)

So, I told you the story about Monday’s adventure to Jared's.  Wow, looking back I really applaud Stephen for not ruining the surprise then and there!

That evening, Stephen told me that the reason he had called me at work that afternoon was because he was trying to surprise me with a special dinner at Multnomah Falls.  (I never mentioned it on this blog, but Multnomah Falls is one of the reasons I fell in love with Oregon.  It's just so beautiful.  Well, as beautiful as it is in the Spring, it's even more beautiful half frozen in the Fall/Winter.)  I usually work til 4 on Tuesdays, but the idea of going to the falls was tempting enough that I worked on finding someone to cover my last client.  Boy, am I glad that I did!

I got stuck in traffic on my way home, and arrived at my house at the time that I had told Stephen that I would be ready to leave by.  I wasn’t sure what to expect from the evening, but dressed warmly (but elegantly) in preparation of hiking the falls.

We got to the Falls with just enough time to walk up to the bridge (which I was OK with since it was a lot colder than I anticipated and I would have frozen if we’d hiked much further).  We took some pictures, said some cheesy things about how beautiful it was and went to the lodge for dinner.  

I had called ahead for a reservation, but it really wasn’t necessary.  We were probably the only two customers in the Lodge.  We sat down and as I hung my coat on the back of my chair Stephen pulled something out of his jacket pocket.  "You always say I don't write to you enough...so here.”  (I will note here that he was wearing a bizarre rain jacket under his nice pea coat.  He had commented about it in the car, but I hadn’t really paid attention to the fact that the jacket was out of place…more on the jacket later…)

Stephen handed me a folded up letter, warning me not to skip ahead and to read it form the beginning (he knows me all too well).  I started reading the letter with a sense of puzzlement and excitement.  I won’t publish the letter on here, but it basically started off with him writing about how much he’d enjoyed our time getting to know each other, that he cared for me very much, etc. etc. etc.

Halfway through the letter he pulled a small box out of his jacket and placed it on the table.  My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to focus on reading the letter instead of the ominous box on the table.  Let’s just say the letter got delightfully mushy and  showcased many of the things I love about this man.  He quoted Proverbs 31, noting that he had found that excellent wife.  I was really having trouble reading at this point.  Throughout my reading of the letter Stephen had been silent, and silent he remained.  The letter ended with the million dollar question.  Will you marry me?

I looked up, hardly believing what I was reading.  I looked Stephen dead in the eye and quietly asked if he was for serious.  I opened the box and saw a ring.  Stephen just kind of looked at me, waiting for a reply.  Of course it was a hundred times “yes!”

Afterwards I couldn’t really believe this was all real.  I was speechless for a good twenty minutes; though I did manage to call my family and Karen to share my news.  Even now, almost a week later i can’t believe it.  I know people are concerned that this was fast; after all we only dated for < 2 months.  I guess it’s true what they say though—when you know, you know.  We both feel as if we’ve known each other forever.  Never in my life have I been so sure of a decision.  I knew that God brought me across the country for a reason, and Stephen was that reason.  

Oh yeah, about the jacket.  I guess it was the only jacket he had that would properly conceal the ring/box.  

Well, peace out folks.  I guess the flooding story will have to wait for another day.  This post is getting too long for my liking.  

He's a keeper

Hey friends.  I have an announcement for you.

I'M ENGAGED!

Yes, you saw the facebook post correctly; yes, you read that right.  The girl who swore she'd become an old maid with 20 cats found a man who loves her--not in spite--but because of all her quirks.

This only happened last night and I'm still kind of blown away.  He totally blind-sided me and I didn't see it coming (if you know me, you know how hard it is to surprise me.  Somehow this man manages to surprise and amaze me every day.).

So, don't you worry, the full story and details will be up soon.  I want to tell my parents the details before I blast them over the internet though.  :)  I can share one short story though, to explain why I am not wearing my ring right now...

So, Monday night Stephen and I go to Sushi Land.  This is the restaurant we went to on our first date so it holds a special place in my heart (and I assume his).  It's not a fancy place, but we love it.  As we're driving up he casually asks if I want to look at rings at Jarods just for funsies.  Of course I said yes.  I've always wanted to shop for things I can't afford while convincing the sales person that I can afford it.  We went in and I tried on a bunch of rings and the sales man tried to convince us to get a ring right then.  "Ha ha ha.  Just kidding, we're looking for funsies!"  We went back to his house, hung out then went our separate ways for bed.  I couldn't stop thinking about one ring though, and had to look it up at like 3 am because I didn't want to forget which one I liked (you know, just in case).  I screen shotted the ring and texted it to Stephen "In case you want to remember the ring. ;)"

Well, it turns out he'd had my ring for a week already (the rose gold one posted on facebook).  We had both fallen in love with the one I tried on that night though.  So...long story short, he's returning the original ring today and getting the one we picked out "just for funsies".  So don't be alarmed when you see a different ring in all the other pictures.  He did good, he just didn't anticipate us falling in love with a completely different style ring.  He could have given me a twist tie ring for all I care; I'm just excited to start this journey with the man I love.