One Year Later.

Friday, April 30, 2010. This time last year Ryan and I were arriving in Statesboro for the Tim McGraw concert that was held at GSU. At the hotel getting ready, I had such short patience because I was rushed. Rushed because Ryan's mom called and asked if we could swing by Sweetheart Circle and take a few pictures (before our event) so she could have them for her frame. I didn't calculate that extra 15 minutes into the time I calculated to get ready and be at the event  by 6 PM, so I was not a happy camper. Little did I know that the extra 15 minutes required to go take a few pictures would lead to the biggest, happiest surprise of my life... our engagement!...

When Ryan's mom called to ask if we could run by Sweetheart Circle to take a few pictures, I agreed, but had no clue who would take the pictures. At the time, one of my best friends worked in one of the buildings on Sweetheart Circle, so I called and asked for the favor. Heather agreed, and met us there to be our photographer. She had no idea she was volunteering to photograph Ryan proposing!



The 2nd Picture
Still thought we were just taking pictures for his mom


After Heather took a couple of pics, Ryan asked her to take a "tall" shot. While she was adjusting the camera, he started moving... I thought he was just fixing his shirt and changing positions. When I turned to look at him, his hand came from his back pocket and I saw a ring box. I immediately screamed, "Ryan!," and turned around with my face in my hands... I was already crying and completely shocked!! When I turned back around, Ryan was down on one knee. He took my hand, told me how much he loved me, and said, "Will you marry me?" I, of course, said yes, and he slipped the ring on. I was sobbing, and I couldn't stop saying, "I can't believe this." 

The "tall" Picture
I turned around when I saw the ring box...



Then I turned back around...



Then I said yes...

 
When I finally turned to see Heather, she was crying, but still taking pictures. I am so glad that one of my best friends could be a part of it; I know she is, too. She took amazing pictures, caught every moment, and we are so thankful she was there!

Shocked! and saying, "I can't believe this!"

Right after I said yes, we enjoyed a night of Tim McGraw... perfect way to end the most amazing evening!



At the concert


We met and graduated together at Georgia Southern, so it was the perfect place to pop the question!

As I relive that story, it brings tears to my eyes. I never thought he would be able to surprise me... he completely shocked me!

It was the best day of my life...so far!

Happy Year Anniversary of our Engagement!!

Happy Planning!

Ryan and I have been putting it off for almost a year now, but we’re finally ready to start talking about a wedding! Our financial situation is different than most, and because we’ll be paying for every penny of our big day, we’ve been more hesitant about planning. Well, we think we’re at the point where we can start putting the time (and money) into our dream day.

We’ve always been set on an October wedding, so our goal is October 2012. We haven’t nailed down a particular date yet, but we hope to do so soon.  Eighteen months seems like it’s still so far away (especially since it’s already been a year), but it will be here before we know it. So, we’ll start a little early to make sure we have plenty of time to nail down every last detail.

So, we’ll soon be taking the time to visit several venues and hopefully begin to put the pieces together!

Let the planning begin! J (and yes, I'm sure I'll need loads of help!)

To Save or Vacation? That is the question.

Since January, Ryan and I have been little saving machines. Counting every dollar, pinching every penny. We’re both putting a set amount away per paycheck, as well as transferring anything extra over to savings that we don’t spend. Even though it is tough at times, we’ve done a really good job at sticking to it. When you have long term goals in mind, it makes it that much easier to save. We have a couple long term goals…pretty big ones. First, we plan to buy a house sometime (soon). Second, but almost as important, we have a wedding we’d like to start planning (and pay for). So, with those two things constantly on our minds (oh, and paying off debt), saving hasn’t been very hard…until now.

The arrival of clear, blue skies and beautiful, warm sunshine only means one thing for me. Vacation. It’s time to plan a vacation, specifically a beach vacation.

Dilemma. How do we justify a vacation when we’re trying to save? I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one. Ryan is completely fine saying no to a vacation right now, but I’m not. I know we’re trying to save, and I understand the bigger picture- we want a house, a wedding, and to pay off debt- but I still feel like it’s okay to go on vacation. I think we need to go on at least one vacation a year. We need to get away from work, from the stress of everyday life, from everything…just the two of us. We work our butts off, and we deserve a week-long getaway.

With Ryan I know this is a fight I’m not going to win. According to him, our next vacation is 18 months away, which would be our honeymoon. And that’s assuming we definitely get married in October 2012. Looks like I have 18 months of misery ahead. 18 months of wishing I was on the beach, soaking up the sun. Misery.

I still beg to differ, but I’m pretty sure we’re just going to continue saving and forego a beach vacation this year. Sad. He might win this battle, but I can tell you this… When we do buy a house and (finally) get married, we will most definitely be going on one vacation every year, if not more. But definitely, AT LEAST one.

March 31

This blog was intended to be written on March 31, but due to Ryan and I getting into a car accident, my day didn’t go as planned. As the saying goes, better late than never! Truth be told, the story could be told on any given day. However, March 31 holds a special significance, which is why I was holding out for that specific date…

March 31 marked my dad’s birthday. Along with celebrating another great year of life, we were celebrating even more of a milestone. March 31 marked 3 years ago that my dad woke up, his body overtaken with paralysis.

It was one of the worst days of my life, if not the worst thus far. Here is the condensed story as told on my Facebook page the week it all unfolded: “My dad got into a motorcycle accident on Good Friday, but his injuries were not life threatening. He broke several ribs, his collar bone, and had a punctured lung. He had an epidural towards the top of his back for pain. There were complications with the epidural. He had what they are calling an epidural abscess that caused staph infection on his spine from C4/C5 all the way down to T10. He woke up Monday morning paralyzed from the infection. VERY hard to believe and take in. They did a Laminectomy operation and removed 14 inches of Lamina (vertebrae) from his back, which cleared the infection. He is in critical condition in Neuro ICU at Gwinnett Medical and will be transferred tomorrow morning (Thurs) to the Shepherd Center, which is the spinal hospital.  At this point, he is considered quadriplegic. They are not sure how much of his motor skills will be recovered. He has shown great improvement in his arms, but not so much in his legs. They are not sure if he will ever walk again, but I have lots of faith and hope that he will. He is on a ventilator, but they are pretty certain that he will breathe again on his own sometime in the next week or so.”

That was written three years ago. Today, I read this and remember the pain and the hurt to hear that my dad was paralyzed. I remember the fear of not knowing what was to come. The fear of not knowing what my dad’s life would be like, and how it would impact our family. The feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. Although there are so many painful memories associated with that passage, I can also read this and smile. I read this and think of how far he has come since March 31, 2008. I think of all the obstacles he has overcome to get where he is today, and I can’t help but smile, while my eyes are clouded with tears of joy.

Let me continue this story that I started to write three years ago…

My dad spent 68 days at Shepherd Center. During his time there, my dad worked very hard to recover some of his mobility. At one point during his stay at Shepherd, he was given the opportunity to try a “push” wheelchair; from that day forward, he’s never gone back to using a power chair. Since his release from Shepherd, he’s continued to get stronger and gain more mobility. Not quite two years into his recovery, he passed a driving test, and now drives a wheelchair accessible van using hand controls. The freedom to leave the house at his convenience has made all the difference in the world. Since driving, there aren’t many days that he hasn’t been out doing something. Every day that he is able, my dad goes to the park to push a couple miles, always setting goals and timing himself. If the weather prohibits him from exercising outdoors, he’ll go to Shepherd Center where he is a member of their gym, or go to a local mall to push indoors. He never lets anything hold him back. He’s adjusted to his life so well, and with the best attitude…it just blows me away. His positive attitude and Faith in God are the two things that have really pulled him through. During his stay at Shepherd, amidst the long days of therapy and hard work, my dad found time to be a huge inspiration to all the other patients. I was told on numerous occasions by family members of other patients that my dad had the best attitude, and that he was an inspiration. To this day, he continues to be an inspiration to everyone he encounters, touching their lives in a way that few others can. He volunteers as a mentor to a middle school aged boy who lacks a father figure in his life. He is the leader of his Brotherhood group at church. He volunteers at Shepherd Center on a weekly basis…the list goes on- he never really stops.

I think about where he is today, and reflect on the journey that’s brought him here. I don’t know any way to say it other than I am so proud of him. My whole life I’ve heard my dad tell me he’s proud of me. From school, to the soccer field, to my career, my dad has always let me know what my accomplishments mean to him. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be able to tell my dad how proud I am of him? It is the most incredible feeling in the world, one that I could never explain. I am proud to be his daughter. I am proud to have such an incredible man to look up to in my life I am proud to call him my father, and I am lucky that in my father, I have a hero.  

Happy Birthday, dad! Looking forward to another year of great accomplishments and strides toward your recovery. I love you.

Time..or Lack There Of

Just wanted to let all my blogging friends know that I have not given up on blogging (already), nor have I become a lazy terd. I just haven't had the time I'd like to sit down and write. The last couple weeks have been crazy for me, and so far, this week doesn't appear to be any different. I promise I will be back soon...there is a lot I want to share, so stay tuned and check back soon. This weekend I will definitely make the time if I don't find any before then! xxoo