And so begins happily ever after

OH the joys of planning a wedding.

Can I just say, I want it to just happen now?  I'm having a hard time being patient!  I found my dress (which was stressing me out the most) and Neal actually WANTS to be involved!  That makes me so stinkin' happy!  The funny part is he didn't realize how much he wanted to be included until he wasn't being included in decisions.  Things changed after that :)

I am so excited.  I can't really even put it into words.  Neal has become my best friend, and my confidant.  I am so grateful for him and his willingness to put up with my silly weaknesses (such as getting so tired that I start crying a babbling about something that really doesn't even matter....he then laughs at me in a loving way and tells me I need to go to bed).

Here's to May 13, 2011!  (PS.  Hope to see everyone at the reception!  Invitations/announcements coming soon!)

Wedding bells are ringing!

It's been a bit since I posted!  My how time flies!  Finals and such went well, but they definintly kept me busy!  Anyone who keeps up with me on Facebook knew that I spent a week writing four papers due in four different classes, for a total of thirty-one pages due in two days.  Apparently, my teachers did NOT get together and chat.

Anyway, on to the more exciting news......NEAL AND I ARE ENGAGED! 

About two months ago, I asked Neal if he wanted to put a "limit" on how much we could spend on Christmas presents for each other.  He VERY promptly said "no."  So I smiled and agreed, but I had a feeling I knew what I was getting for Christmas.  So, days dragged on, and Neal kept teasing me about a ring.  On the 23rd, we went to the Denver Zoo Lights.  He kept trying to get me alone, but I kept refusing!  I wanted to see all the lights!  Finally, he tricked me into going to the downstairs portion of the polar bear exhibit (to see if we could see any polar bears....in the water....at 8:30 at night...when its pitch black...everyone's allowed their blonde moments!)  There was another couple down there, but Neal convinced me to stick around until they left.  I turned to him and as I was wondering why he kept trying to get me alone, he kept fiddling with his pocket and then was holding something behind his back.  As I tried to move to see what it was, he pulled out an absolutely beautiful ring and said, "So...do you kinda, maybe, wanna be my wife?"

(Now, precursor to this:  When he asked me to be his girlfriend, we were standing out by his Jeep, and he gave me a small kiss and said, "So....do you kinda, maybe, wanna be my girlfriend?"  This was after seven days straight of going out and hanging out...and on my birthday :) AW I know)

Anyway, the first words that came out of my mouth were "ARE YOU SERIOUS?"  Neal looked at me with a rather quizzical look and sarcastically replied: "No, I'm totally joking."  I then proceeded to jump around like crazy (Neal swears I was four feet in the air) and babble incessantly.

So, there you have it.  We're engaged.  We'll be gettin' hitched in May, and enjoying every minute of the journey :)

To see the ring go to: http://www.shanore.com/popup_image_blank.php?image=14L75WED_L.jpg&name=Emerald+And+Diamond+Set+Ladies+Claddagh+ring

Princess!

Ok. CUTEST thing happened last week.

Neal and I were going to a formal dance in Fort Collins. I got all dressed up in one of my old prom dresses (which thankfully fit....) and Neal got dressed up in a suit, and we went out to eat and to the dance. I wanted a princess night, and Neal humored me :)

We went to eat at Chili's. After I finished eating, I got up to use the restroom. On my way back, I was stopped by a couple with a young girl. The mom looked at me and said "we're sorry to interrupt, but we were wondering if you were a princess!" Laughing to myself, I looked at the little girl (whose name was Logan and she was four years old) and said, "why yes! Yes I am!" She then proceeded to ask me where my crown was. It was so much fun!!!

We then went to the dance, where we partied it up (almost a little too hard....I think Fort Collins FD LOVES us now! Too much "fog" in the gym). We learned how to waltz and danced until about 10:45 pm. It was wonderfully fun, and amazing to see everyone all dressed up and lookin' snazzy!

TEMPLE!

OHkay. So, the explaination to my continuous temple posts.

NO, Neal and I are not engaged.

However, I had a dream last night that I went to the temple for my endowment. OH GOODNESS! I have had this drive and longing and excitement building in me all day! It's all I've been able to think about! It's ridiculous!!!!!

Oh :) I'm so excited! Patience. It's a difficult thing right now :) It's something I've been waiting for, for a very long time. The day is within sight (although, I don't know exactly what day it will be...) and it is making me more "anxious excited" than ever before!

Luckily, I get to at least be on the grounds tomorrow. Yay!

My mom laughed at me when I told her though. Her comment was "what's funny is that it will probably be NOTHING like you've imagined".

Don't care! Still excited!

Everyday, you save my life.

Let me start this one out by saying, "poor Neal." Poor kid puts up with A LOT. Especially this last month.

I go through these points in time where I feel like nothing I do is good enough, and that it never will be. I go into fits of tears, and everything and anything that is said that I think is critisim gets blown out of proportion (even if that wasn't the intent).

So, Neal, being the wonderful man that he is, is doing his very best to attempt to help me see myself in a positive light. Bless his heart.

But, his persistence combined with a reminder that there is a reason we have a Savior, is paying off. And for that, I am grateful.

On a different note....

We went on a date to the Candlelight on Friday night. Neal humored me and got dressed up in a suit because I wanted SO badly to dress up in one of my formal dresses. Not only did he do that, but he suprised me with a red rose. Now, this may not seem like much, but I have NEVER received a single flower from a person I was in the process of dating. This absolutely made my night!

He's a good man, and he's good to me. I never show him as much gratitude as I should. He keeps me sane and shows me unconditional love (even if it's tough love...like forcing me to do my school work or fill out job applications when I want to procrastinate).

<3

Is tú mo ghrá

Yup. That's right. I just spoke Gaelic ;)

The past two weeks have been rough. Getting out of the "you're perfect and I'm totally infatuated with you" to "wow...you have downfalls...and we don't always get along..." is difficult. Quite actually. Luckily, and sometimes unfortunately, Neal and I are both pretty stubborn. We're learning how to work together, compromise, and most importantly, communicate. It'll be an interesting road, definitely with many downfalls and apologies, but I'm quite excited!

Now, this week has been quite the adventure. We got to go see Celtic Women on Sunday (hence the Gaelic title). It was a fantastic concert, and well worth the money spent for tickets. It was a revitalizing, refreshing wind to start off my week.

Monday, I found out I got a B on my Bio test. Miracle.

Tuesday, Rockies game. BASICALLY amazing. Way fun, and always a good American experience :) We ALMOST won, too.

Wednesday, I got new jeans (woo-hoo!) and went to dinner with my family, whom I love, very very much. They're insane.

Today, blah. All I have to say.

Tomorrow, Neal and I are going on a date. SO excited :) We're going out to dinner and then going to the activity at Bishop's to watch a movie. Absolutely wonderful!

Here's to a good week!

<3

Wakeboarding!!!

So, I'm very grateful for Neal. One major reason is that he makes me get out of my little comfort bubble, even when I don't want to.

We went wake boarding last week. I was pretty sure I would suck hard-core because the first and only time I went, well, I sucked. Luckily, I have a very patient boyfriend who has a friend who has a boom (sp?) for his boat. It was CAKE after that, and I have SO much fun!!!!! The water was perfect, the lake was amazing, and I got up and STAYED up like four times after learning first on the boom!!

Now I'm quite addicted, and I keep pushing him to go :)