Saturday, April 21, 2012

An Engagement Story

Yesterday was our eight month anniversary.  Today is the one year anniversary of our engagement.  I thought I'd tell our story here, just because it would be fun to write it down.  So let's rewind the time to April 21, 2011, shall we?  It was Thursday evening, after school had ended and Spring Break had begun:

I was standing in my bedroom, packing my bags, getting ready to head to PA to visit Brian on my week off.  We had looked at rings in December and talked of marriage time and again, and specifically, spoke of marriage that summer.  The weeks and months were going by, and my boyfriend had little time left to propose if he wanted to leave us enough time to plan a wedding by summer's end.  To be honest, I was a bit tired of waiting, because I knew we were going to get married, and I was weary of just being "boyfriend and girlfriend".  I had thought to be engaged by then already, and by the time Spring Break rolled around, I knew that this was the moment.  If we had a week to spend together, surely he would propose then.  As I half jokingly, half seriously said to my mom, "I'm coming back from Spring Break either engaged or single!"

In the midst of my small bedroom, with clothes all around me as I planned out my outfits for a week, I heard a saxophone playing outside my window.  Completely startled, I looked up and saw my Brian.  He got me good!  He had called me just a couple of hours before to tell me he was on his way to his evening job, but he was really coming down to see me!  I fumbled with the window, which is very hard to open, and he asked me if I heard what song he was playing.  I had to admit I hadn't... I was too surprised and jittery!  He played a few bars again, and it was our song "Bless the Broken Road".  I told him to come around to the door so I could let him in, which he did, and then he told my mom and he'd be taking me for a drive.

Well, obviously, this was the time at last, and we walked to his car, which he parked on another street so I wouldn't have seen him pull up.  He drove to the parking lot in the community where I lived, and I guessed by that time that we'd be walking to our favorite bench where we had had several important talks and earnest prayers.  I hadn't grabbed a jacket before we left, and it was a bit chilly, so Brian made short work of the big moment, dropped to one knee, and pulled out a ring that was made just for me.

What a wonderful surprise engagement, because even though I knew Spring Break would bring the glad tidings, I didn't know he'd come down to meet me before I'd be looking for it.  It was wonderful to spend Spring Break engaged from the very beginning, and he saved me the drive by taking me back with him and returning me a week later.  I loved that week, because the majority of people in my world didn't know I was engaged since I was away, and it was a beautiful, sweet secret for the time, just a knowledge that only ourselves and a few people in our lives knew.

Here's a picture of us on that day, one year ago today.



Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Spring Break in NJ

Brian and I headed to my home last week for Easter.  It was my first Easter home in three years, because the last two I had headed northwest to visit Brian.  It was nice to celebrate Easter again with my family.

My mom and I labored the day before on two pies (apple and strawberry- sadly rhubarb wasn't in the stores yet).  Then on Sunday we went to my sister's.  It was really wonderful to see my nieces and nephews again.  Lindsey has entered a cuddly stage, and I was more than happy to oblige.  Emily is becoming quite the little lady, and the boys have grown these adorable tufts of hair... so cute.  I really could have kidnapped them all and taken them back here.  But alas, we have no room for them.

Easter Sunday was truly a great day... until a scare sent my mom to the ER later that night.  At about 10:30, my mom's back pains (which she thought just were back pains) became excruciating, and so we decided to head for the ER, with minds full of fears.  I guess back pains can indicate a heart attack, so I was whispering unintelligible, two or three word prayers to God the entire ride to the hospital.  "God, help!"  "Lord, heal her." Brian, bless his heart, did a great job speedily navigating my mother's vehicle on the dark streets that he is unfamiliar with.  I was too nervous and so glad he was there to drive.

As it turned out, my mom had a gall stone.  She was released several hours later after receiving pain meds, and I think we were all safely in bed by three.  She may still need surgery, but she is still going through some testing.

It was so difficult watching my mom in that much pain, but I was so thankful to be there with her and that it happened when we were home with her.  Isn't God good?

But, I'm getting a little tired of my trips home involving hospital visits.  It seems like everyone was healthy before I left.  I moved away and my first visit home was to see my dad in the hospital on the brink of triple bypass.  Then this happened with my mom.  When I say that I am tired, I merely mean that I hate watching my parents get older.  It makes me realize they will not be around forever, a thought I'd care not to think at all, but must.

This visit home hit me hard.  I'm not sure what it was- perhaps it was because my mom had to go to the ER- I really don't know, but I cried when we left.  As we were pulling away, my niece Emily was at the door, waving until she could see us no more.  When I blew a kiss, she blew one back, and I looked at her and she looked at us until our car turned the corner.  I think it is just a combination of things- feeling like I'm always missing something now- that made me lose it.  And lose it I did.  Brian held my hand and comforted me; you would have thought I was leaving home for the first time.

I love my husband dearly, and I would follow him anywhere.  He is my partner for life.  But I wouldn't be me if I didn't feel the pain of being separated from my family.

Me and my cutie nephews.  Looking at the picture, I'm not sure which one is which, though I can tell them apart in person.  I went just about weak in the knees to see them in their matching sweater vests.  
My girls are growing up too fast.
Uncle Brian was coerced into playing hopscotch. (That's my lovely sister in the background- not me.  I guess to some we can look alike at times.)
Before we left, Lindsey found Uncle Brian's shirt to be a great place to put her stickers.
They remained there throughout the drive home.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Too Cute

Today is my niece Lindsey's birthday.  She is three today.  I hadn't planned to write about her birthday, but since this just happened, I thought it was too cute to not include here.

I called my sister's house so I could speak to Lindsey and wish her a happy birthday.  My brother-in-law called her over, saying, "Aunt Courtney wants to say hi to you."  Lindsey, so precious, got on the phone and said to me, "Happy Birthday, Aunt Courtney!"

I don't think she understands how this birthday thing works yet.

Too cute.

I love my nieces and nephews dearly.  It has been hard for me to live away from them, because they are so much a part of my life.  There has been a little hole in my heart since moving away.

Here's a picture of us that was taken in the summer before I got married.  It sits now next to Lindsey's bed.

Happy Birthday, Linds!