The Proposal

Okay, so I'm way behind on my blogging, surprise surprise. But I want to get caught up and I know that there are many who want to know the story. Luckily, I have a video of the actual event (and pictures), thanks to Matt's family. So here's how it went...

Stacey, Matt's sister, was getting married in San Antonio and so I flew down to Texas for the weekend in order to meet his whole family and celebrate the nuptials. Matt had flown in the day before and the plan was that he would come get me at the airport with his parents, Kara, and Kara's daughter, Grace. I honestly didn't think that the proposal was going to happen that weekend. Matt had told me that the ring wasn't going to be finished until after we got back from Texas, considering the fact that he's a horrible liar, I believed him. If you know Matt, you understand what I mean when I mention his inability to lie, let alone do it well. I was disappointed that the ring "wouldn't be finished," but I was so thrilled to meet his family and be with him that it overshadowed the disappointment that the proposal would take place at a later date. I landed in San Antonio and as we were taxiing to the gate, Matt and I were texting, and he told me that he was at the bottom of the stairs to the baggage claim. I hurried off of the airplane and made my way to the baggage claim. As I headed down the stairs, I saw someone dressed up in a suit, holding a rose. I was pretty sure it was Matt and all I could think was that it was so sweet of him to do all of that for me. I honestly didn't think that anything else was going on. This is how it went...

I was so thrilled! It was the perfect surprise. It turns out that he had been stressed all week about the fact that he had been lying and keeping it from me. Right away, I was congratulated by his parents, Karen and Bill, and his younger sister Kara, as well as Kara's daughter Grace.  Kara was the one taking the photographs of the goings on. Thanks so much to the Stringhams for making sure that we had this event documented! I love the shots of Matt waiting, especially the one where he is watching the stairwell, you can tell exactly when it is that he first sees me coming. It was the perfect beginning to the weekend!

Thanks to Matt's sister Ashby for taking this photo! 

Proposal Album

Weekend Love and Inspiration Boards

Note: This post was written on Wednesday the 5th of January but not posted until now.

This past weekend (New Year's Eve) with Matt was definitely our best thus far. I think much of that had to do with the fact that neither of us had to stress about school or callings, instead, we just got to really enjoy each other and being together. True to form, however, we took about one picture. I know, we need to get better about that, but I have enlisted my roommate, Amber, to be our paparazzi. She was more than happy to do the job. So at least we have one for when we are here. Now we just need to find one for when we are in Provo. Matt has assured me that this coming weekend when we are in Texas, there will be numerous cameras flashing all around, so it's likely that we will make an appearance in at least a few photos. Then when we go to Oregon in February, we will be taking engagement photos so I'm sure there will be a few to choose from. Ironically, the picture of the two of us from this past weekend was taken the last day that he was with me in Rexburg.

Nothing like waiting until the last minute. I'm also not a huge fan of this picture because I look terrible in it, but something is better than nothing. It was so great to be able to spend New Year's Eve together. Definitely my best yet. We had a lot of fun cooking together and spent a lot of time talking, enjoying actually being together, and watching the first season of the TV show, "Community," which Matt had received for Christmas.

Community Cast

That show is absolutely hilarious! And no, I didn't get paid for that plug. On Saturday, we talked to Frank Hadry, the owner of Main Street Diamonds in Rexburg who had come in specially for us because they were closed, again about an engagement ring and there were two that I loved, then I left the rest to him. He went back on Monday to "exchange goods," gotta love capitalism, but he told me it may not be ready until the following Friday at the earliest. Since we would be in Texas for the wedding of his beautiful sister, Stacey to Cade Foust, we wouldn't be able to get it until the next time Matt came to Rexburg. So much for getting engaged that weekend or before. I was kind of disappointed but I know it will happen eventually. I guess I'm just not that patient. I think it's a pretty universal emotion that once you have decided to get married, you just think, "Oh my gosh, get that ring on my finger, STAT!" Not because the ring is what it's all about, but because of the commitment it symbolizes.

It was difficult when he left on Monday, but we will be in Texas together soon enough for the wedding. I'm thrilled to finally meet his family in person!

Now, I have put together a couple of inspiration boards to show the look that I am hoping to achieve.

Can you guess what my colors are?