The Unusual Proposal

For Scott and I, our engagement has been more of a process than an event. I have had people say, “Well, how did he pop the question?” That’s a great question, actually. One that Scott and I have tried to figure out ourselves!

It all started back in August, during my visit to Sioux Falls. We were sitting around his house, relaxing, when out of the blue Scott asked me, “You would marry me, right?” And, of course, I said yes. I mean, here was my Husband List in human form. How could I turn that down? I have dated enough of the wrong kind of guy for me to know that Scott was the one I wanted to be with for the rest of my life. And if you know either one of us, that’s no shock to you.

The marriage discussions progressed through September. We started thinking of potential wedding timing. At first we thought of October of 2010, then moved it to May. Eventually our ideas for May started to unravel. About three weeks ago, Scott and I set a new date: April 17th, 2010. We began to set plans in stone. I told my supervisor of my impending engagement, since this would mean I am moving back to the Midwest soon. Last week, it was announced that I would receive my third position at the bank this year. When I went to the VP’s office to be briefed on my new responsibilities, the first words out of his mouth were, “Congratulations.” Uh oh, if he knew, the whole office knew. Scott and I weren’t even officially engaged, and soon everyone where I work would know I was getting married. Yet our friends and most of Scott’s family had no idea what was going on. Somehow, it didn’t seem fair. Scott and I discussed the dilemma… do we wait until we see each other next to make the engagement “official” or do something about it now?

It didn’t take me long to find out Scott’s decision. I received a message from him giving me instructions to check my Facebook account. When I logged on, there was a request from Scott for us to change our relationship status to “Engaged.”

Of course, I accepted.

Yes friends. You read that right. I pretty much got engaged on Facebook. I am happy this is all out in the open, but I do regret the fact Scott’s sisters Amy and Natalie found out about our plans this way, as well as the fact it robbed Scott of a more romantic proposal. I suspect he will present my ring to me in a more formal manner when I see him next at Christmas.

But really, can you say that you have a proposal as creative as mine? Doubt it! Anyway friends, how did you pop the big question, or how was the big question popped for you? Also, I started a wedding planning blog. If you want a link to it, respond to this post. I chose my wedding gown Saturday, but I don’t want Scott to see it, so this link will be shared stealthily. I will also make you promise not to tell him, cause you know, if you do, I might have to kill you.

Pray For Us

First off, I  want to apologize for not keeping up with my bargain and making November a NaBloWriMo. Last weekend I went to Indiana for my friend Racheal’s wedding, and last week was very… eventful. I have a lot of big changes I am preparing for, and I want to let you all in on them now.

First of all, Scott has decided he is changing the seminary he attends next year. I fully support this decision. Recently, the seminary laid off five teachers, and it dawned on Scott that his education would be even more lacking due to the limited resources being stretched even leaner. His seminary is small, and he thinks if profs are teaching more classes, that the class quality will be greatly reduced. He has decided the education he is obtaining from Sioux Falls Seminary is not as biblically conservative as he likes, and would prefer something doctrinally deeper. What does this mean for us? Business as usual. Scott will not be moving from South Dakota. He has a house and has no intentions of leaving. Instead, he will pursue his Master of Divinity degree via distance education. He has narrowed down his schooling choices to the Master’s Seminary in California, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. To our delight, both of these schools will provide a good, conservative, quality education, and both have lower tuition rates. Seminary cheaper? Yes, please!

Secondly… Scott and I are engaged. We set a wedding date of April 17th, 2010. I plan to move to South Dakota in February.  Moving across the country again will be hard, but it will be wonderful to be closer to family and friends in Iowa for a few years before Scott enters formal ministry. I still can’t believe I am going to be a pastor’s wife. It is an almost frightening prospect, yet it is exhilirating. I can’t wait to be Scott’s wife. Yet, leaving Utah will be very hard. I am having  good time with wedding planning already.  I am researching locations to have our reception,  compiling a guest list, and yesterday I chose my wedding dress! I was excited to find the gown of my dreams. Please pray for us, as we prepare for our marriage and ministry together.

 

Meet Evie

So, this is my new roommate. Her name is Evie.

Yes, my new roommate is a cat. In fact, she is a cat I am not supposed to have. (I know, please don’t remind me.)

Every morning, Evie would wait outside my door before work. Every morning, I would stoop and pet her and be late for work. It seemed as if she had a home before, because she appeared to be well cared for, and friendly with people. Within a few days, I discovered she had been thrown out of the home of one of my neighbors when they discovered their lease did not allow pets. I happen to have the same lease. I hated the thought of that poor, sweet cat just being dumped, and not being given a new home.

Two weeks ago, it was snowing outside. I was sick. My roommate Shea and her friend Ashley walked in the door, and discovered the cat huddling underneath a truck. Evie would come to both of them and allow them to pet her and play with her. They knew she was friendly. I knew her history, that she had been an indoor cat until very recently… and I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her out in the snow. My roommate Emily has wanted a cat, and Evie was friendly, and there.. so we brought her in. Evie has adapted to her new home quickly. She is very “talkative” and affectionate. She sleeps on my bed with me and is friendly with others. Evie has even earned her keep with already catching two mice. This morning, I received a text message from our manager telling us that Evie had to go. I pleaded with her to give us a week to find her somewhere else to go. I have had my friend Jenni offer to take her until I move again (which would be February). I have to check with Scott’s family to see if we can eventually have her after we are married, since Scott’s parents own the house he lives in. (Wait, did I just say that? Okay, I’ll be honest. We have a wedding coming soon. As if none of you hadn’t already figured it out.)

So this is where I need your help.

I want to find a foster home for her, or a permanent home, until I can make arrangements to keep her myself.

Any takers? Seriously, I will fly her to you.

Kidnapping Fail

I really like having Scott around, and I hate it one of us has to leave. But right now, its not possible for us to be together all the time. Long distance. That’s how we roll. So everytime I see him, we hatch plots to keep the other around. This time, I was done playing… I actually tried to keep him here. I decided to use Facebook to gather some kidnapping suggestions from friends.

One friend suggested I shave Scott’s beard. As you can see in the picture below, my man is hairy.

Scott is part werewolf

 My friend theorized that Scott could not bear the shame of a beardless chin, and would be forced to stay at least as long as it took to grow back in his beard.  This was a good plan, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It would be too much like trying to shave Aslan’s mane… it’s pretty much against all that is fair and good.

Back to the drawing board…

I had one friend suggest to steal his clothes. I hid them, but not well enough, because he found them. When Scott went back to re-packing his clothing, a piece of Brocka’s western home decor caught my eye. A solution came to mind! In fact, why hadn’t I thought of it sooner?

That’s right. I literally lassoed my man.

But he had such a sad look on his face, I couldn’t let him stay like that…

Who can resist those blue eyes?

So now he is back in Sioux Falls. Of course.

I miss you, baby…

Just Get Me The Mixer

I love Kitchen Aid Stand Mixers. Love them. Especially in red. When Scott and I were wandering around the mall, he found out just how much I love them.

I mean, seriously, have you ever seen a kitchen appliance make anyone look so happy?

Wouldn’t you say that this would be a wonderful gift for me? My birthday is coming up on December 8th. Christmas is December 25th. Maybe you should get me one for my wedding!

 Um, hi Scott! Don’t worry, I will let you decide if there is a wedding or not. Cause seriously, after finding out what a crazy woman I am, I wouldn’t blame you if you decided against attaching yourself to me for the rest of our lives.

Scott Meets IKEA

While Scott was visiting me in Utah, I decided to take him to a store he had never been to: IKEA.  We all know I have an interesting love affair with this store, and now it was Scott’s turn to experience its wonders.

As we wandered through the store, Scott and I discussed how we wanted our home to look one day. Neither one of us are into postmodern Scandinavian design, but he did  like some of IKEA’s more classic peices. We sat on every sofa that looked comfortable and even some that did not. We both found a kitchen style, sofas, and bookshelves that didn’t want us to go screaming for the hills. Eventually, Scott and I stumbled upon an area that sold nothing but desk chairs. Scott chose one of the strangest looking ones to see how it supported his imposing frame. WordPress isn’t letting me insert photos from the computer I am on, so click here and here for a taste of how he liked it. I guess you could caption both of the pictures, “Ooh, springy!”

Not long after that, I was distracted by candles and baskets being sold at low, low prices, and Scott had to practically drag me out of the store. I managed not to buy anything other than lingonberry jam, which is practically a rule that I have to purchase it. In the checkout line, Scott mused that there was an IKEA in Minneapolis, and once he was in the market for new furniture, maybe the two of us could go shopping.

IKEA? I think you have a new convert… and Scott and I have a bright future.

 

Good Natured Mischief

After Scott grew bored  with examining the grounds, we moved closer to the inner gate of the Salt Lake Temple. Since neither one of us are LDS, we cannot enter the Temple. Still, Scott wanted a closer look. He approached one of the missionaries, where we were informed that we could walk up to the doorways and look at the carved crevices of building. Score!

So here we are, getting that “closer look”….

Good luck stormin' the Temple, Scott!

Again, remember… we had permission.

Oh, no! He's trying to go in!

Hey, is that Scott down there?

 After our goofing around, I just had to go back and examine an olive tree. Yeah. I know. Me and my landscape photography, right? Poor Scott.  You can view that photo here, as well of one of Scott by some lovely fall foliage here. After all that walking and Temple-storming, Scott and I were hungry, so we went to my favorite restaurant, Tucci’s, for a late lunch, and rested up for our trip to IKEA the next day.

Scott Does Temple Square

So, on Scott’s first full day here in Salt Lake City, we made a visit to Temple Square. To say we had a good time would be an understatement. We went on a tour with a couple of missionary sisters, and Scott was very impressed with the huge pipe organ in the Tabernacle.

After our sweet pipe organ action, we wandered a bit around the grounds of Temple Square.

Eventually, we got tired of fountains and wandered more, where I shot some fall colors.

Scott grew bored with me taking pictures of random trees, and decided he wanted a closer view of the Temple, which is when we created some good natured mischief… that you will get to see. Tomorrow.

All Saints Day

Happy All Saints Day, world.

This holiday is virtually unknown to people. Because of this particular Roman Catholic mass, the holiday we all know as Halloween exists.

On Saturday, I took the bus with to go see my friends Peter and Leslie. On that bus I was with Elvis, The Cheshire Cat, and a Rastafarian. I also ran into a guy who had danced in a musical with Patrick Swayze, but he wasn’t in costume. Seriously though people, he was crazy enough that he should have been. So lets just say…. Halloween brings on a very colorful public transportation experience.

To be honest… I am not a huge fan of Halloween. Instead, I choose to celebrate Reformation Day. This was the day that brought forth the Protestant Reformation in Germany that eventually spread to the rest of Europe. Luther nailed his 95 Theses, a list of grievances against the Roman Catholic Church, that brought forth sweeping reform in Europe. The Bible was translated into common vernacular. The way man understood the Bible changed. With the Word of God in their own hands, people no longer relied on clergy to tell them what Scripture meant. They understood that Christ was their true Great High Priest, and they needed none other to go between them and God. Because of this Reformation, people began to embrace these five principles: Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus,  Sola Scriptura, and Sola Deo Gloria.

People were freed from the bondage of legalism, sin and death by faith in Christ.

You can read Luther’s 95 Theses here and the cry of the Reformers, the Five Solas, here.

Something to Look Forward To

So, in the last two weeks, I haven’t blogged much, have I? Again. I want to apologize for that. I do have a valid excuse though, outside of lethargy! My itteh bitteh red Lenovo, dubbed Lenny, has been acting up on me. With my vast knowledge of electronic expertise (which is basically… zero) I have determined my dear netbook needs a new adaptor. I will soon be on the hunt for one so I can be blogging more regularly again. So here is a quick rundown of whats been going on in my life to hold you over until I am able to post a few other updates.

I did manage to complete every item on my List of Seven and the basket/bookshelf concept is working fabulously for my harder-to-store clothing items. Also, with my new extra hangers, I have less clothing on the floor and more in my closet.  We did get a rental car, and it did cost us an arm and a leg, but… oh well, right? We had wheels!

Second, Scott had a good time out here in Salt Lake City. (Well, at least from what I can tell he did!) Since he was only here for two and half days which in terms of length equals exactly not long enough, we hit some of Salt Lake City’s main attractions, ate at my favorite restaurant, and I took Scott to experience IKEA for the first time. Perhaps he was not as enchanted with IKEA as I am, but I know he found certain items fascinating, if not useful. Pictures from this trip are forthcoming.

I have a new “roommate” in my apartment. Her name is Evie. If you are my facebook friend, perhaps you know a little bit about her. No, this roommate isn’t the same one who replaced Angela. This roommate is much smaller than the rest of us. And again, details will be coming soon!

Next week, I am traveling to Indiana to be in my friend Racheal’s wedding. I am excited to possibly see the Notre Dame campus and actually be in Chicago for the first time in, oh, thirteen years.  I also will be enduring the bad side of time change. Rach’s wedding is early on November 7th, so I will be waking up at 5 am Eastern Time to get my hair done.  I am currently in Mountain Time, which is two hours behind Eastern Time… yeah, you do the math. I will be waking up at my body’s equivalent of 3 AM. I might be the first non-alchohol consumption related undead bridesmaid in the history of Indiana. Oy.

Lastly, I have an exciting month for November on my blog. I have decided I will do NaBloWriMo instead of NaNoWriMo. I thought they both occurred in the same month, but suprise! They don’t. NaBloWriMo actually happens in October, but hello, I am a little late for that, aren’t I?  so I will participate in NaBloWriMo at the same time of NaNoWriMo to honor the spirit of NaNoWriMo… are you getting that? In so many words, I will try to blog every single day in November. Remember when I did that in May? Well, lets see if I can do it again.  Friends, I need some topic ideas. I will probably resurrect What in the World? and tell some some stories, but what kind of things do you want to know about my history? Lets really make me work NaBloWriMo!