Favorite Photo of Us

Today (er uhm I mean yesterday's) topic in the blog hop is to post your favorite photo of you and your man. Well here is Bill and me at my first formal ball with him. We weren't engaged yet, but were both pretty sure that this was "it." It was my first taste of true military formalities. I was a little nervous attending, but I remember Bill easing right through it. I believe this was the end of October/early November 2002. We used it as our formal engagement photo after the fact since we didn't really have time to get real ones.

Favorite Wedding Day Memory in the Blog Hop World

So today's topic in the blog hop is to tell your favorite wedding day memory. Well the whole day was pretty memorable so I'll just tell a few highlights!

It was a very stormy spring day in Indiana. Anyone from there knows what stormy days in Indiana when it starts to get warm means: thunderstorms and tornados. Yes, that's just what God ordered for our wedding day. It was pouring rain when I got to the little country church. Everyone was worried about my hair and such and I was just laughing since the weather was so bad. I knew Bill would show up no matter what so I figured who cares about my hair and makeup. He's the only one who is going to see it. LOL.

I remember that moment when he first saw me and that look on his face. I don't think I'll ever forget that smile. He caught a glimpse of me out of the corner of his eye since he was up in the front of the church with the wedding photographer getting photos taken of him and the best man. That's probably my favorite "moment."

Coming in a close second is when we stole away right after the ceremony and went to a little ice cream stand for an icecream cone (just US) before going to the reception. It's a little tiny place. I got vanilla because I didn't want to get chocolate on my white wedding dress. :) Bill got vanilla dipped in chocolate. The girl at the window made a comment that our cone choices matched our clothes.

And one more close second is the rainbow that came out after the ceremony. It had been a rotten storm, but when we emerged from the church as Mr and Mrs. there was a wonderful ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds and as we approached the reception site after our cones, we saw the rainbow reminding us that God keeps his promises just as we intend to keep our vows. It was actually a pretty powerful moment.

The Engagement: Another Installment in Blog Hop Land

So you want to know how the good man came to ask for my hand. Well as luck would have it, it wasn't a surprise to me at all. Too bad for the fine officer who went out of his way to drive 3.5 hours to purchase the perfect diamond ring from my aunt and another 3.5 hours to ask my parents for permission. Can I get an awwwwwww?
It's really kind of funny since it really explains how much of a small town girl I am!

It was January 2003. My friend Sarah and I had gone on a Caribbean cruise to Mexico and my boyfriend went on a mission to get a diamond ring to propose with. He actually drove from Greenwood, IN to Evansville, IN to buy the ring from my aunt who managed a jewelry store there. He went and found the ring and then drove from Evansville to Hillsboro to ask for my parents' permission. Here is where the surprise got all messed up. When Bill drove up to the house, my mom was on the phone with my "Aunt" Valerie. She made mention to Val that she had to go since she looked at the window and saw Bill walking up to the door. Valerie knew I was on the cruise and asked my mom "Why is Bill there?" My mom answered, "I am not positive, but I have a guess." Then they hung up. End of conversation.

So Bill comes in and waits around for my dad to show up from work and then suffers through my uncle coming to visit and he's not able to ask until he's gone. Talk about torture! And my uncle is a talker so I'm sure Bill was sweating by the time this was all said and done. Anyway, he finally gets his mission accomplished and a thumbs up from the 'rents and heads back to Indianapolis with the ring in his pocket.

The next day Sarah and I got back from our cruise and I returned to work. After work that evening, my best friend Amy called and asked me why I didn't call to tell her that I was engaged. Her mom found out at a Pampered Chef party. I told her that I wasn't engaged and wondered where she got that story. Well, Aunt Val was invited to Amy's cousin Lana's Pampered Chef party and Amy's mom was there. Val told everyon that I got engaged and about how Bill had asked my parents.

So the cat was out of the bag and I am not a patient person, so I flat out asked Bill where the ring was. (I know, I know. That wasn't super nice of me.) But anyway, he comes over and we go to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. He doesn't ask. So we go back to my place and we start watching American Idol (It was the first season) and he gets down on one knee during a commercial break and asks. SO NOT ROMANTIC. But I got a lovely ring! :) After he knew that I knew about the ring, he had cooked up a plan to ask me at work, but I pretty much told him NOT to do it in front of a lot of people so it's a LOT my fault that it wasn't romantic.

So there you have it. Exciting? Not really.