Just a note to say...

Hand written cards and notes are things that I can't throw away. I have small tubs filled with them, and have them labeled, "cards from family," and "cards from friends."

When I was a reporter I saved every notecard I received from readers. In the journalism business you rarely get kudos, and acknowledgment from readers is especially rare, unless they are complaining. I kept them in my desk, and whenever I was having a hard day I would pull one out to read. Those notes always lifted me a little, and reminded me why I really did love what I was doing.

Recently I have received two special notecards. One was a congratulations on our engagement from a friend at church. It was very unexpected, and so sweet to receive.

The other one was delivered in December. It was a hand-written card expressing thanks from someone at church who was moved by the Christmas program I helped organize.

I have always loved the written word, and I especially enjoy a hand-written note in the mail. Emails are fine, text messages have become necessary for me, a phone call is preferable for a longer conversation, but the hand-written card still has a special place in my world.

Engaged

It was just a few days before my birthday in October, on a weekend, and Sean and Lilly were acting a little funny and whispering and giggly most of the day, and the next.  I figured it was some kind of birthday secret.

Chuck and I had already been to choose this ring. (The picture makes it look yellow, but it's white gold.) I spotted it at an estate sale, but the estate sale where we found it was for only one weekend. I knew it was the ring for me the moment I saw it, and it is from the 1930s. It has a matching band with channel set diamonds, and a little lock that locks the engagement ring and band together. I plan to get them soldered together prior to the wedding. I absolutely love this ring. I saw it in the glass display case from pretty far away, and couldn't stop looking at it. I tried it on and it fit my finger almost perfectly-- something that never happens. We looked at a few of the others, but none of them compared to this one. I couldn't wait to have it, but I was happy when Chuck put it in his pocket and didn't mention it again.

I really wanted a surprise proposal. I had put the ring out of my mind. I didn't even know where it was. So, I was convinced the kids' giddiness was about a birthday gift or event for me. They brought in some roses and gave them to me just before dinner. Then we all sat down to dinner and Chuck got out of his chair and got down on one knee and proposed.

It was a beautiful moment. I loved the way he involved each of the kids in it. Sean was so overcome with emotion, and so happy, he was laughing and crying at the same time. Of course I was a little overwhelmed, and Chuck was also emotional, and we were all sort of laughing and amused by Sean's reaction.

I figured we would be engaged for a while before we started planning for a wedding, but when I brought up the "when" a week or so after the engagement, he said June sounded good. So we quickly started to plan, and we met with our pastor, and started a pre-marriage conversation that includes day-of ceremony planning as well as some pre-marital counseling type things. And that has become my favorite part of the planning. But the other stuff is really fun, too.

I had a few friends with me the day I made a final decision on my dress. Gwen, another mom at the school, went with me for the first fitting appointment at a place on 6th Avenue in Tacoma, and then she and Shane were with me the day I went to David's Bridal and was about 90-95% sure on a Vera Wang dress. But I wanted to go one more place, so we all went to a dress shop in Puyallup called Something Blue, and Kristina met us there. I tried on several there, and they were all pretty, but I still really loved the Vera Wang dress. So we went to David's Bridal that day and I tried it on again and made the final decision to order it.

I've been all over Etsy and Pinterest gathering ideas. I ordered a veil, but will wait until it arrives to make a decision on how or if I will wear it. I've ordered a pair of shoes, but they are really reasonably priced, so I might resell them and choose a different pair if they don't work out for me.

We've been to one bakery for cake tasting so far, and we just made the final decision on the reception venue. I'm on the way to having all of the colors decided, but still working on some of the reception details.

It's going to be a fun ride to June, and then we'll have a honeymoon, and as soon as we're back we'll have a summer packed full of activities and events.