In Which We Celebrate

I was first awakened yesterday morning by a tenant rushing around getting ready for class. It's new for us to have someone living directly above our room. I sense those noise-canceling headphones becoming key in our future. :) I guess Phoebe thought the stirring above was a signal for us to begin our day, too, because it wasn't long until she had two little paws up on the side of the bed, tail wagging feverishly to see if it was time for me to be interested in getting up to play. 

So I got up and ready and we headed to the dog-sitters'. Yes. The dog-sitters got dog-sitters. We've been having Sean and Sarah hang out with Phoebe in the rare moments that we need to be completely gone for a while, but yesterday was a very busy day for them, so we elected to ask some friends if they'd mind watching her for us. THANK YOU, Wayne and Shari, for filling in. She had the best time with you!

We wanted to start our day over at WBCL, visiting the very place where Ryan proposed. It was such fun to be there again and to get to see the people I worked with every day for four years. We grabbed a couple of selfies while we were there. 

Here we are right in front of the studio where Ryan proposed!

And a front-of-the-building selfie, in which I look disproportionately monstrous next to Ryan. LOL!! 

Like I told you yesterday, our first plan for lunch was thwarted by the permanent closing of the restaurant. I think we ended up on plan C or D - and that took us to B. Antonio's Pizza. We had the place nearly to ourselves and had the NICEST server! Food was delicious!

(Sorry my halo is so bright there!) 

We picked up Phoebe on our way back home and then I think all three of us collapsed and took a nap for a couple of hours!

We ended up rescheduling our pictures for next week (rain), but we did scoot to the post office to see if my Bible study had been delivered. And on the way back, we saw a beautiful rainbow!

My Bible study had indeed arrived, and I was eager to dive right in!

And before the night was over, our guest list grew by one. We're playing aunt and uncle for a day or so!

(She's pretty excited about the dog-dog.) 

And that's how we celebrated nine years of engagement! Oh! And we enjoyed this beautiful gift of nine yellow roses from Wayne, Shari, and Phoebe!

Nine Years Ago...

 

I love reminiscing about the day Ryan proposed. And today marks the last time that memory will ever be in the single digits. 

We intentionally took the day off work and are looking forward to celebrating together, although our plans do seem to be rapidly unraveling. (We planned to go back to the restaurant where we had lunch that day, but alas, it has permanently closed. We picked a second choice, and it's - of course! - closed on Mondays. We plan to have our annual pictures taken today, but of course there is a huge chance of rain, so that may also get canceled. But it's okay! The point is...we get to be together.)

I'm sure many of you know parts - or maybe all - of this story, but indulge me, will you?

I knew our relationship was moving toward marriage. It was one of the things I most appreciated about the way Ryan dated me. He didn't make me guess his intentions for the future. He declared them openly, and that allowed me to fully embrace the season and not spend all my time wondering.

Having said that, I had no idea he planned to propose that day. I didn't even know he had the day off work! I just knew I was driving to Fort Wayne for a regular day at the radio station. As far as I knew, he was driving to Kokomo to work in treat patients. 

I went to work that day with horribly frizzy hair, because I hadn't yet been introduced to ceramic straighteners. I didn't have a stitch of makeup on my face when I arrived, because I'd run out of time to apply makeup in the interest of continuing to fight the (losing) battle against the frizz. I also didn't have nail polish on because...well...see the aforementioned hair fight. 

When I look back from the perspective of knowledge, I see all the things my coworkers did and said to throw me off the trail of the huge surprise ahead. I should have questioned so much. Some of their lies, in hindsight, were really not all that believable. But I trusted all of them way more than I should have, so I just followed blindly. 

I polished my nails at my desk and slapped on some makeup before the show began. I took my carefully scripted show notes into the studio and began to talk (apparently far too long) about the joy of frappes.

I still remember in vivid detail scrambling in my mind to try to figure out where Lynne was going with the show when she deviated with the script after she asked me to share about my favorite memory. I did what she asked and then returned the question to her. I sat to hear her answer, but she started veering. Lynne and I had developed the closest thing to mind-reading I could imagine two on-air personalities sharing, so I usually could follow her, even if I had no idea where she was going. But not that day. I remember thinking, Stay with her. Don't allow any dead air. Just keep talking. You'll figure it out.

But before I could figure it out, the door to the studio opened - none too quietly, I might add, which is a BIG no-no for live radio. I looked up to see who could possibly be busting in past the bright "ON AIR" sign...and there was my Ryan!

I've never scrambled so fast and so hard for words. Lynne narrated the entire adventure for our listeners, and I only heard every few words. I remember saying a surprised "Hi!" to Ryan as he walked briskly to my side of the studio. When I saw his flushed face, and heard Lynne introduce him as my boyfriend (something I'd planned to talk about for the first time on the air that day), the realization hit me. He was there to propose. RIGHT THEN.

I rolled my chair to the side to make room for him to kneel beside me, and he was already down one knee. I adjusted the microphone in front of him, and that was when I realized everyone from the whole station had crowded around every available window to watch.

This was real.

He was proposing, and I didn't want to miss a thing.

I was too surprised to cry - which is pretty surprised! I listened and smiled and shook my head in bewilderment and said yes before he officially asked the question. I said yes again after he asked. 

He slid a ring on my finger and later presented me with a gold rose that stands in a vase filled with coffee beans. (Perfection. And it still sits in our office!)

The station threw a party for us after the show, and I'm fairly certain I did NO work the rest of the day. 

So here we are, nine years later, still smiling and celebrating the beauty of the beginning that came about that day. 

Ryan, thank you for choosing me and choosing the perfect proposal. Thank you for keeping every promise you made that day and for celebrating with me today!

And thank you for crawling down the hallway at the station so I didn't see you. :) 

I love you, Ryan!

Sunday Sentiments

 

Today I stand in between celebrating yesterday's marriage milestone (106 months) and tomorrow's love-story milestone (9 years since Ryan proposed).

Okay, first of all, can we stop to talk about how absolutely insane it is that tomorrow launches us into the last of all those single digits? How is this possible?

This weekend, we moved in not one, but two tenants at WillowBridge, so the entire weekend was saturated with all the nuts and bolts associated with settling in new people. We barely had time to think or breathe, and I lived in fear we'd miss that monthiversary entirely.

It probably does go down in history as one of our most lackluster monthiversaries in celebration. We had new tenants, familiar tenants, co-workers...and so much to accomplish. Ryan and I grabbed two selfies to mark the day. The first one was at lunch when he looked terrified and I looked bedraggled. Both were legitimate ways to mark the day, but neither spoke highly of our love for each other. (It's neither terrified nor bedraggled.) We tried to redo later in the day during smoothies, but I fear we didn't look much better.

But as I told Ryan multiple times this weekend, I couldn't do this without him. I wouldn't want to do this without him. He really is the best teammate ever.

And I loved it that even in the middle of the crazy, I was able to tell one of our tenants what a monthiversary was and why they mean so much to me. I wanted him to understand the importance of celebrating the marriage God has entrusted to us.

So that was our yesterday. 

Tomorrow, we hope, will be a bit more polished. It's at least a bit more planned - if all goes according to plan, that is. 

Tomorrow we celebrate a day that surprised me in all the best ways. A day when I said yes to a life I couldn't even begin to imagine. I guarantee you neither of us imagined we'd be here nine years later, overseeing this building and working together in a field neither of us had ever even heard of before. 

When he proposed, Ryan said, "I want to enjoy life with you - whatever that looks like and wherever it is - I don't care. I just want to be with you." 

Back then we were living right in the middle of all our families in the communities where we grew up. Nine years later, we're 100 miles away, in the little Amish town where Clydesdales pull the combines. Back then we each owned a home and were working our way into our chosen fields of physical therapy and radio. Nine years later, we're living in an apartment and working together in social work. We have the same car, but we've added an RV. 

We might not recognize our lives from where we were nine years ago, but I am grateful Ryan has kept every promise he made in his proposal. 

I love you, Ryan! I love you on the bedraggled days and the beautiful ones, too! Let's never stop celebrating! 

The Saturday Six

 

One.

I don't have a link to whatever original article this was, but as I read a post about fireplaces this week, I happened upon this picture, and oh my goodness! Isn't this the most unique fireplace? I think it's pretty fabulous!!!

Two.

If you need to take your s'more game to the next level this fall, here are a ton of suggestions. Some of these were brand new to me!  

Three.

I shared my fall bucket list this week, and it included all the fun things I want to do. But if your home had a fall bucket list...it might look a little more like this! Here are a few ideas of things you may want to do to prep your home for fall (if you haven't already thought of them)!

Four.

I have not personally tried this remedy, but I have personally had those cute little decorative pumpkins rot right inside my house in the middle of my decor. If the remedy works, it could save you a whole lotta mess!

Five.

I've seen these Christmas tree collars (boxes that go around the base of the tree) on Instagram before, and I think they are so cute! Are you team tree skirt or tree box? I've always had the skirts and I like them, but they do drag easily everywhere (cough, cough, looking at you, Rosie the Robot Vacuum!). I think these are pretty classy. Hey, Ryan! Need a new project? 

Six.

I always find these seasonal cooking posts so fascinating! I learn a lot! (Don't read if you're hungry!)

Fall Fun!

 Happy October, friends! I do love the start of a new month, even though this one his hitting the ground running, work-wise!

Ryan and I had yesterday off, and we had the most beautiful respite! We marked two items off our fall bucket list in one day...we saw some sunflowers AND rode one of the bike trails. It was the perfect day for both. We were able to go in the middle of the day and had both the sunflower field and the trails nearly to ourselves!

The sunflowers in this field last year were super tall and full. This year they're much closer to the ground, but they're no less beautiful!

After we finished exploring the field, we headed out on our bike ride. We ended up riding twelve miles, and I'm sure I'll be feeling it today! :) 

We had the BEST time!

It was the best sort of day, followed by a great walk with Phoebe!

Fall Bucket List

We have a few days off this fall...and I probably have bigger dreams than free hours. What is it about fall, anyway, that conjures up these ideas of doing extra things just for fun? It's always been that way. 

Do you make fall bucket lists? Do you like going to do all the fall things? (And if it's a yes, let me guess: you're probably a pumpkin spice fan too, aren't you? Ahhh, that's unfair. I'm a fall list-maker, but not a pumpkin-spice lover.)

But as we sit here in the middle of our weekend, I wanted to think about things we hope to do. It may not be an exhaustive list, but here are a few of our ideas:

1. Watch our beloved meadow slowly morph into fall. 

It's starting. I've seen some of the first hints of changing leaves. It was so beautiful last fall, and apparently I didn't fully photograph said beauty! I can't wait to see this year's repeat performance. 

2. Take a bike ride on the trails.

We are actually hoping to do this today, and I know all the colors won't be in full force yet, but I am looking forward to being outside, enjoying the pretty weather!

3. Visit the sunflower fields. 

I thought they didn't plant them this year, but it turns out they did...just a bit later! I don't think the sunflowers are as tall and full this year as they were last year, but they're in full bloom!

4. Visit a corn maze/pumpkin patch.

We haven't done this every single year we've been married, but we've visit one several of the years, and I really love going. This is what makes fall...fall!

5. Fire pit night!

I'm hoping we can have one of these here at WillowBridge - but also on our next camping trip! We've enjoyed several this summer on camping trips, but there's nothing like a true fall fire pit night!

6. Take a drive or kayak trip to enjoy some fall foliage.

Or both!!! :) One of these years, I want to do a proper east coast fall foliage trip, but for now, I'll be content to see some pretty trees from the road or water!

7. Take a nighttime walk in sweatshirts around town.

Ryan and I don't often take nighttime walks, but I always like to do one in each season. A crisp fall night in town with the smell of fire pits and grilling still lingering in the air? Oh yes please. 

8. Chili...and all the fall foods.

I do love some of the foods of fall, like a good pot of chili on a rainy day. We've already done it once, but I'll take more. :) 

9. Hiking!

I love hiking anytime of year, but I especially love it in the fall when it's usually not so buggy - and definitely not so hot. 

10. A good fall dessert.

I used to wait for fall to get apple pie chai at the coffee shop at IWU. I've been told they don't have it this year, which is heartbreaking, even though I'm too far away. Ryan and I have also historically loved the huge apple dumplings at Cracker Barrel. (We only made the mistake of ordering one for each of us the first time. Then we shared!) But I don't know the perfect fall dessert to get here. I'm still on the hunt!! But something warm and apple-y or maple spicy would be perfect!