Life As We Knew It

Life as we know it is completely changing. It's all coming at us really fast. But I guess that's what makes it really fun. We have been so busy this past week in preparations for getting married and setting up our new home. We have been greatly blessed with the opportunity we have to be staying where we will be staying thanks to a family friend. It's a miracle in fact. I don't know how we'd do it any other way.
So, we have been preparing the house. It's exhausting work but it is so worth it. Before and after pictures will come eventually when we're completely done. It is the cutest little house ever. It's been so fun to work on it with Beth. She's such a hard worker. I know this isn't much of a post but I just thought I would update everyone since it's been a while. But it's been a while because we have been sooo busy starting our new life and ending our old life as we knew it. It couldn't be more exciting.

I Love To See The Temple

This morning Beth and I went to the temple together for what was the first of many more times. I hadn't gone and done baptisms for the dead since before my mission so I was pretty excited about it. You see, I served my mission in the Italy Catania mission which in two weeks will no longer exist. It is being absorbed by the Rome mission for a number of reasons mainly because it's in Europe. I mention all of this because before this morning, I had never had the great opportunity and blessing of baptizing somebody. It was great to be able to share that with Beth. It makes me so excited for things to come. I loved seeing her inside of the temple and I can't wait to be kneeling across the alter from her come August 10th. Just thinking about it now puts the biggest grin on my face. I can't imagine how I'll feel then. I can't wait! I'm so glad to have finally found the woman that I will be spending the rest of my life with. I couldn't imagine it being with any other person.

Oh, we also went to a castle today. That was pretty much amazing. Now, I know I'll probably never have a castle, but it sure did make me excited about the thought of one day having a place to share with Beth. We're working on that now and hopefully by the end of the week will have that all figured out. Well, until next time.

8-10-10

Doesn't that just sound like the most wonderful day to you?  Well... it does to me!  August 10th, now less than 2 months away, is going to be the best day of my entire life.  I can't wait to kneel across from my honey in the temple. I've been reading a temple book that my momma got me a little while ago.

It's really good and I'm learning so much from it.  I love calling Brian in pure elation because I've discovered something new and exciting about the temple.  Oh I'm so excited to go.

So I am NOT a fan of receptions.  I don't want to stand in line for 3 hours and paste a fake smile on my face when really all I want to do is sit down and enjoy some of my wonderful, delicious food.  So that's what I'm going to do.  Brian and I are just going to have a dinner the night we get married.  Our sealing is in the afternoon in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple and I'm so excited!  Hopefully Jon will have his mission call by then and then my WHOLE FAMILY will be in the temple together for my sealing. It's been a goal of ours for several years and HOPEFULLY it will happen!

After the temple, there will be some pictures and stuff and then we'll go to the ballroom of the Provo City Library at Academy Square.  It is absolutely gorgeous and it will host out dinner.  The dinner is only for family. There will by a reception in Texas that his parents are throwing us, but as for Utah.... we wanted it to just be very small and intimate.  DON'T WORRY THOUGH... we plan on throwing a party at our house (wherever we end up living) for our friends to come party and celebrate with us.

So there you have it.  As Brian mentioned earlier, we are working around the clock NOW to do wedding plans so that when August 10 FINALLY rolls around, we will be as relaxed and de-stressed as possible. Oh I'm so excited!  (Oh and Brian says he's excited too!!!)

The Perfect Preview...

I may be a little bias, but I think my photographer is a miracle worker!  Brian and I had so much fun with Angela and we'd recommend her to anyone who need a good, fun and CREATIVE photographer.  She did a little preview on her blog that ya'll should check out.  When we met with her I was really impressed because she had done her research and read "our story" on our blog and really tried to get to know us.  Brian and I had joked about doing pictures in the newsroom, but when she suggested that it would be fun we decided "why not?!" Also, she came up with the orange orchard idea as well.  Oh I just can't wait to see how our bridal/groomals turn out!  I'm so glad I'll have these picture to remember our special day.  THANKS ANGELA!

8 Days A Week

This last week Beth took off of work from The Brick Oven so that we could get a lot of wedding planning done. Beth doesn't think that we got much done. She didn't cross a lot of things off of her "To-Do List". But I thought that it was a pretty successful week and that we accomplished a lot.

Things We Accomplished
According to Brian

• Invitations. Well, we at least got the first proof and would have done more if they hadn't have been closed at the end of the week. I have to admit that it is really weird to see my name on a wedding invitation. It's exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time.
  
• Cake. We met with the cake lady and decided on the 8 different cupcake flavors that we will serve at our dinner. I'm pretty excited about it. These cupcakes are absolutely amazing. I'm especially excited for the raspberry chocolate swirled one.
• Caterer. Actually, I didn't really have anything to do with this one but Beth and her mom met with her and decided on the food that we will be having at our dinner. That's a pretty big step to have down.
• Register for Gifts. This one was actually really fun. I could write an entire post about this but I will spare you all. We went to Bed, Bath & Beyond and went crazy...well, not too crazy. Mainly just the essentials. I'm not sure how I even feel about telling people what to give me for a gift but I guess it's just what you do. I'm not getting my hopes up though. We'll just see. I wish I could prioritize the list and put things that I REALLY want up top but like I said, the whole concept is pretty interesting. I'll just be grateful if anyone even gives us gifts because it's tough for everyone right now. Now all we have left to do is go register at Target.
• Ring. We got her ring re-sized. It was a little too big and now it fits much better. It was also cleaned as a process of the re-sizing just in time for our engagement pictures this Thursday.
• Haircuts. On Saturday Beth's amazing sister of many talents, Amy, gave both of us haircuts. Beth's new haircut is sooo beautiful. I'm afraid that when people get our wedding announcement they're all going to say, "How did he get her? She's way prettier than he is." Although, I don't think I'd mind that too much. Amy always does such a good job. I'm grateful that she is willing to do that for us.
• Engagement Photo Prep. Once again with the help of Amy we figured out what we will be wearing for our engagement photos. After we figured that out we went shopping to get Beth some accessories for her outfits and she got some very pretty earrings and a really sexy new hat. I can't wait to see how they turn out.
  
• Family Bonding. I know that this isn't exactly wedding planning but it did take up a lot of our time and it's always helpful to get to know the family that you're about to become a part of. On Monday we went to Beth's niece's Dance recital. That was a lot of fun, even though I had a headache. On Wednesday we went to her brother Jon's Eagle court of honor and then on Thursday we went to his graduation. I also spent all day Sunday and Monday with her family. We got a lot of non wedding things done today.

So, I think that we accomplished quite a bit this last week. Is there more to do? Of course, but I think we're pretty on top of things and that is mostly due to how organized Beth is. I love her so much for that. Come August 10th we won't be stressing out because we will have had everything done and planned months in advance. We still have plenty to do, but I know we'll be just fine.

And last but not least, we went to the Hogle Zoo, and who doesn't like the Zoo?

No one, that's who.

The Proposal Story

As most of you have heard through Facebook already, Brian and I are officially engaged.  It happened last Thursday and it all went down a little something like.... this:

Brian had been telling me for several days that he was planning a really nice date for us.  We've both been really super busy lately with school and work and he felt we deserved a nice romantic night away.  I, of course, did not disagree.  We had been ring shopping at several different places but he wanted it all to be a surprise and refused to buy anything in front of me. I knew that he had talked to my dad already too.... so.... I was fully expecting a proposal at any moment.

We started the date at a bowling alley.... ya.... not one's traditional idea of romance, but there was a reason for this.  Our first official date was at this bowling alley.  I amazed Brian that first date with my mad bowling skills....unfortunately I forgot my "A" game on this date and Brian totally dominated.  Part way through the bowling, Brian sat me down and presented me with a box and a card.  I read the card (very sweet and FOR MY EYES ONLY) which talked a little about his first impressions of me and how happy he is to have met me.  The box was one of those chocolate oranges. I don't know if ya'll understand the significance of oranges to Brian and I (see heading of blog), but basically him giving me an orange is what helped me to notice him and separate him from all my other reporters.  ANYWAYS... this chocolate orange was a very creative and meaningful gift for me.  We finished our games and moved on to the second part of the date.

And since Beth had to go to work, it's my turn (Brian) to take over with the story telling. The second part of the date was actually on the way to what Beth thought was going to be the second part of the date. We were planning on going to a nice restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City so we stopped at Beth's house so that she could change out of her shorts and into some nicer clothes. (I too had changed after bowling). After she changed I took us on a little detour up to the chapel where Beth goes to church. Once again you might be thinking why on earth would I take Beth to her chapel? Well, it has a special meaning to me. On Valentine's day we sang in her sacrament meeting the primary song "Love Is Spoken Here". When we arrived I gave her another card (handmade I might add) and another chocolate orange. The card made her cry so I'm pretty sure she liked it.

With that tender moment passed we were on our way to Salt Lake to The Copper Onion. This restaurant was amazing. The atmosphere was great and the food was even better. The best part of the restaurant however was the company. Beth and I had a great time just sitting and talking and enjoying the view of downtown Salt Lake through the large open windows. Every time I look at Beth I am reminded of how much I love her and how lucky I am to have her in my life.

After dinner, which Beth had assumed was the last activity, I nonchalantly suggested that we head to Temple Square to the Tabernacle where MOTAB was having a rehearsal. She thought that was a great idea and we were on our way. I was carrying with me a plastic bag that had been driving Beth nuts the entire evening. I had been carrying all of the gifts that I had previously given to her in this bag. She had been trying to sneak a peek the entire evening. Anyway, on the way over knowing that she was expecting me to propose after such a romantic and special evening I tried to throw her off the trail. Our conversation went a little like this.

Brian: So, I get paid tomorrow and will hopefully be able to go buy your ring.
Beth (obviously frustrated): ...Oh, that's good...

So, my plan was working to perfection. The reason we went to the choir rehearsal is because we went on our Valentine's date to Music and the Spoken Word and that was the day that I told her that I loved her for the first time. While we were there listening to the music Beth informed me that she had to go to the bathroom. (She had drank a lot of water at the restaurant.) So, we went to the visitor's center so she could go.
After we left, I sat her down on a nearby bench and told her that I had one more gift for her. I handed her one final card. Beth knew that it was the last gift and was feeling around for a bulge in the envelope. When she didn't find it she opened it up and began to read. I then pulled out one final Chocolate Orange box. Beth instantly knew something was different for the box was much lighter than the others. She opened it up and inside found a beautiful engagement ring.

She was very excited so I pulled the ring out of the box, got down on one knee, and asked her if she would marry me. Thankfully, she said yes. She was so excited. She gave me a big hug and was so excited and happy that she just stared at the ring the whole time.

This is Beth's Happy Face

She was so excited in fact that she had to ask me a little later if she had already said yes or not. She had. I couldn't stop smiling. We've never been happier. After that we headed up to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and called our parents to let them know the news. On the way down an older couple entered the elevator with us. I casually started a conversation and when they asked us how we were doing Beth couldn't help but burst out that she had just gotten engaged. She showed them the ring and she was just beaming. It made me very happy to see that. 

And that my friends, is our engagement story. We couldn't be any happier!

She Said Yes!!

Before it was unofficially official, but now it is finally officially official...I mean, it's on facebook and everything. The love of my life and my sweetheart is now finally also my fiancé. Thursday night we went on a most memorable date that ended with me down on one knee asking her if she'd marry me. She said yes. :) She even cried which was kind of what I was going for. It helps me know that I did a good job. I just wanted to gloat a little and let everyone know that I feel so very lucky to be engaged to a woman as amazing as Beth is. She makes me so very happy. I'm sure she'll want to post more about it, so I'll end the post here with a huge grin on my face. Pictures still to come.