USO Tour.

Well Jonathon is officially gone in the middle east playing for the troops.

Today marks the beginning of the longest time we have ever gone without speaking. In over three years. This is strange. And I already don't like it. I get to pick out our car while he's gone. And I love Irma :-) That would be a really good joke.

Babysitting.

I love everything about babysitting.

Irma.

I love my car.

I have discovered a new heat setting I didnt think worked.

It works wonders.

When I got home tonight I did not want to get out. Ever.

Whipped out the area heater thing. It's set at 90 so it better get cranking. We'll see its capabilities.

Exciting.

So it is super exciting making important decisions with Jonathon.

And being engaged costs a lot of money.

And I do not want to get my wisdom teeth out three days before Christmas and two days before Jonathon gets home.

And I am so very sick of the cold.

The Plans...

So our future will be fantastic because our God is so ridiculously in love with us. He has shown us his providence time and time again and confirmed his desire for our marriage numerous times through many people. We are so excited for what is in store. Plans change so frequently. So many different options and possibilities. But what I can say officially is that we will be getting married on January 23, 2010. Yes that is 6 weeks away. We will be packing up a truck and driving out to LA where we will move into our new apartment that has yet to be determined February 1. It is going to be so much fun and I get to live with a boy! The best boy ever at that. I get to be married! I don't know how people do long engagements. I am dying here with only an 8 week engagement. I would get married tomorrow if I could :) I mean... I did find a perfect dress today. That's always amazing.

Engagement.

Well, it has been forever since I have blogged. And with my recent excitement I figured there is not better time to start again. With the craziness of these past couple weeks I have officially lost my camera adapter. So I reluctantly will post the exciting story of my engagement without pictures.

Last Monday I went out to dinner with a few girlfriends and Jaime and I were going to go look at Christmas lights in Detroit. Jonathon was planning on coming home Tuesday night and I could barely contain my excitement to see him. As we ate dinner I tried my best to not rant and rave about him the entire time and I think I did pretty good. As the waiter came back with our bills to sign he handed me mine along with a letter. My heart began to race and I was physically shaking. As I unfolded the letter and read the words, “Hey Beautiful” I was floored. I read the letter and was informed that because Jonathon and I hadn’t been able to talk much the past few days he wanted to send me on a scavenger hunt. I was so anxious to finish it and it was just beginning. Jaime and I had a great time going from place to place and little did I know the hassle that went into it. I first went to Panera Bread where there were two iced green teas already purchased for Jaime and I. We were told to sit and enjoy them and get a free refill before we could go on. I have never tried to drink so fast. I cheated and poured half of mine into hers so we could leave quicker. We then were off to Barnes and Noble where I had to find a letter inside of “Crazy Love” and the new Bon Jovi book. In the first letter he made a statement about how he wished he could be there at the end but tomorrow will be awesome. Deep down I really wanted him to show up at some point but I knew his entire day and how he had this ridiculously long rehearsal and then had to go straight to sound check before his show. He had far too many details the past few days for it not to be true. But still I hoped. He then sent me to Bostons and Starbucks. The letter at Starbucks ended so nonchalantly that I was sure that it was it. I was told to sit and enjoy my time with Jaime and that my last surprise would come when I least expected it. So we left and headed home to drop off our food before we went to Detroit. My mind reeled on the way home. When I least expected it… Well, I expected it to be tonight, so I guess tomorrow is when I least expect it, which is when he’s coming in, so I guess that makes the most sense. Then he calls me. I answer with hesitation and question in my voice and he just goes off. Rehearsal was awful, the drummer is so unprofessional and they kind of got into it, he left the cable at home for his such and such pedal that he uses most frequently so he had to rig something together. Now he’s on his way to the venue and is trying to get a hold of his roommates so they can bring it since their both coming to the show but their not answering and oh Mike’s calling now and he’s pulling into the venue so he’ll call me after the show and he loves me so much. That clenched it. Jonathon was still in California and my scavenger hunt really was over. As we headed to downtown Detroit I was practically falling asleep and thinking that I cannot believe we’re just now leaving past ten and I have to work at 615 the next morning. So we ended up down by the big Christmas tree in Detroit and it was strange. No one was really there, we were just wandering around aimlessly and I thought the tree looked nice with the water all around it but was ready to leave already. A few moments later Jonathon comes walking around the tree. I freaked. We hugged; I wouldn’t let go of him. He asked me if I liked my last surprise and of course I said yes. It was so wonderful to see him a day early and he looked so handsome and all. He then proceeded to tell me he had one last surprise and said real nice things and got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. He pulled out the ring and opened up the box upside down. And I smiled a lot. I said yes. We hugged. We kissed. I was giddy. I was surprised. It was perfect. With as much as we talked about getting married I was sure I had his little plan all figured out. I was so wrong and I love that. I never thought he’d be able to surprise me. So now I am engaged to the most amazing man of God I have ever met. I get to be his wife. And being engaged is so much fun. I love wearing the ring. It is oh so perfect for me: simple, delicate, unique, mine. So that’s my story, without pictures, but perfect nonetheless. Being in love just keeps getting better and better.

....

I want to blog real bad right now.

But I don't have anything important to say.

Actually I don't even have anything unimportant to say.

Except that I have issues.

Lots of them.

And every time I think one is taken care of

four more make themselves known.

power.

"The same power that conquered the grave lives in me."

confession.

I have subconsciously closed my heart to let God fill me. Because of this, I have nothing to give anyone, ever. This will change. Now.

"Dance with me. O lover of my soul. To the song of all songs. Romance me. O lover of my

soul. To the song of all songs"

I love Rockpointe Community Church.

I long to be a part of their family.

Well Jonathon is twenty today :) And I think he is the greatest boy I have ever met. And I think us being together is the greatest. I like that he plays guitar while I read my Bible. I like that he is the most handsome man ever. And everything about me wishes I could be in California right now as he leads worship at his church for three services.

Saturday Morning.

Spinach and feta cheese scrambled eggs.

James.

The Shack.

Starbucks coffee compliments of my roommate.

New shampoo.

New hairspray.

Pandora radio playing Jesus music.

Jonathon's birthday tomorrow and I didnt even send him a card because I am a procrastinator and dates creep up on me far too quickly. It's a good thing I have a fun plan for my trip out there to make up for it :)

I never blog.

I want a church family.

I'm sick of ichat making Jonathon all pixely and strange.

I miss praying for hours.

I miss journaling pages at a time.

I love being a teacher.

I love singing to my babies even though anyone who walks by has to contain their laughter.

I am picture crazy for my babies and want to plaster their precious faces all over the classroom.

"On the night you were born" is the best book and holding Zechariah while reading it makes me cry. I love him.

Nicole is selling Norwex now and I am super excited to have a party for her because Norwex rocks. Stay tuned.

Angela is so beautiful. I love hanging out with her.

I love Eric hugs. He is such a great brother.

I miss Denise and Mike with everything I have. I might have been able to have skyped them this morning but I am a horrible horrible sister and completely forgot to tell them. Now I miss them even more.

I hope the weather clears up so Hugh and I can go on a nature walk today.

I miss the joy of the Lord because I think too much and don't pray enough anymore.

I think Jonathon is the most patient boyfriend ever.

My parents are amazing. I don't want them to move anywhere but Royal Oak.

I don't want a wedding, at all.

But when I think about the people dear to me, I get sad thinking of them not there.

I have a ridiculous desire to bake all day.

I dance to techno music to get a work out. So what?

I miss some certain people a whole lot.

I don't know why I express my life in random thoughts.

I love the "Shack" despite all of the controversy.

It has displayed God in such a beautiful beautiful way to me.

And it makes me long for him so much more.

I don't know what I would do without Jaime.

Nicole put together a handy budget for me.

I plan on being so disciplined to it because Irma might die soon :(

Irma wouldn't be living so healthily right now if Eric didn't take such good care of her.

I have to leave to babysit now and I am not ready in the least.

Silly blogging.

"I'm lost without you LORD."

"All I need is you LORD."