General Conference

I am so excited for General Conference. I have been listening to talks given at previous sessions in preparations. I love how relevant and timely the counsel that is given. The Spirit is so strong as these chosen men and women of God speak of Gospel truths and principles. I am so grateful for my testimony and be spiritual fed.... And I get to do it by siting in my love sac for 8 hours. Relaxation and spiritual feasting here I come!

Spring Break

This week, Bryce has been on Spring Break and it has been great! I almost feel like I am on Spring Break except when I have to get up for work. But despite working, we have had time together every night this week.

Monday was FHE. Usually I ride solo to the activities because Bryce is studying so it was great showing up together. After we went to the mall because I wanted to get his ring size.

Tuesday was a mini date night. A few months ago, my coworker told me about Taco Bell combining forces with Doritos. Right away, I told Bryce about them and we decided we needed to experience it! So we went and I actually really liked them! The nacho cheese and sour cream combination was dynamite.

 

Side Story: I also kind of love Taco Bell because Bryce and I went there back in October right before we started dating. It was after we had gone to a corn maze with friends and I realized that maybe he was really interested.

After Taco Bell, we went to BedBath&Beyond to register for stuff. Of course, walking through the store all I can think about is "where would we put it" or "really how many pans or towels do we need?"

Wednesday was temple night. I love the temple and for the last month I have been working the mid-day shift on Saturdays so to be able to be a patron was special. Then after the session, the ward had a little get together and some people there didn't even know Bryce and I were dating let alone engaged! We were both pretty happy that we had been so under the radar.

Then tonight, we did dinner and a move. We went to Burgerville and it was kind of interesting mostly because of the people. Then we went and saw Hunger Games. It was pretty intense, much more than reading the books.

 Anyways, it has been a fun week with Bryce!

March Madness

I wish I could said the madness of this month was due to all the college basketball, but it has been of the wedding kind. Who knew wedding planning could be so stressful?! I have never really thought about my wedding or what I wanted before now so I am having to make a lot of decisions, which, by the way all, seem rather trivial compared to the actually decision to marry someone. Just trying to keep things in perspective....wedding = one day, marriage = eternity. So happy I have one decision figured out. Anyways....

Bryce and I have managed to have some fun despite all the planning. Last Friday, we went out to the coast for a day. His sister was in town and it was so nice to get away. And the weather was just perfect.

 

 We started at Cannon Beach with a picnic lunch. Of course, I managed to get sand in my "sand"wich....so gross! Then we went on a long walk. I just love the water and being in the sun! We then drove to a few other beaches that required a little walking and weren't as crowded. At one point, I considered leaving the life I know to become a beach bum! Then when I tried to take a nap on a rock, I remembered my bed and apartment and decided the relationship between me and the beach would never last.

We then found some dinner at a restaurant that was just off the main road. It was very tasty! Then we went back to Cannon Beach and did a bonfire. There is something so amazing about fire and then combining it with the beach. Can't do much better. It was a good day and much needed break from busy life.

Sparkling Diamonds

So I just love my ring! And the story with it just makes it even better. Ok, so I started looking at rings back in January. Honestly, I have never really thought about what I wanted so I didn't know what I liked. So I thought I had better start figuring it out if things were going to happen with Bryce.

Well after deciding what I liked, I went ringing shopping again in mid-February, but everything I liked was so expensive. Of course, I would like the expensive ones! So I just wanted to forget the ring because who cares about the ring if you have a great guy. Well, my friend, Adeline told me her great uncle is a jeweler in Utah and I could contact him about getting something made. I decided I would email him and at least try.

He ended up calling me the next business day! I told him what I wanted and the budget and he said it was totally possible. I sent him a few pictures of rings that I liked and then we discussed the changes. Then to add to it being amazing, he said he could have it done in less than a week! That seemed like a miracle after talking to jewelry stores in Oregon that said 6 - 8 weeks!

So up to this point, Bryce and I had not gone ring shopping together. But we had to get my ring size, so we went to the Shane Company together. Ring shopping with Bryce was hilarious! First, we told the saleslady made up stories about our courtship and why we couldn't buy anything that night even though I knew the exact ring I wanted to look at in their store. Then we were both standing with our arms crossed and I think we made the saleslady nervous because she told us to relax. HAHA!

Anyways, Bryce called the jeweler and worked everything out with him! So the ring was to arrive on Monday. I was so excited because it was being shipped to my work! There are two drop off times, 9AM and 2PM, and so when I didn't get an email about a package by 10AM, I figured I had one last chance. At 2:17PM, I got an email that I had a package! I think I skipped to the front desk and could barely contain myself. I had to lock it up in my desk so I wouldn't keep shaking it or be tempted to open it.

After work, I drove over to Bryce's to give him the package. It killed me that he got to see it and then didn't even say if it looked good, but it all worked out and glad that it was a surprise to see the ring when he proposed! Also, there is a matching wedding band with the little diamonds!

Two side notes: I swear I have never heard so many radio commercials about diamonds and rings as I did the last few weeks. And I was always with Bryce, who would kindly turn them up so I would not miss them. I swear the radio was in on it!


And now that I have the ring, I keep finding myself staring at it! It has incredible sparkle and fire - two words that are used in all advertising of diamonds...I get it now!

And this one just because it is my favorite DeBeers commercial and I remember watching it as a little girl.

The Proposal

Where to begin?! Ok, so Bryce asked if I wanted to do dinner Friday night, which we typically do, but I was just really happy to hear he had a place picked out. Sometimes I struggle to make a decision of where to eat when I am hungry. Anyways, Friday afternoon, I get a text from Bryce saying to dress up, which pretty much from that point I was completely useless at work! I wasn't sure what to wear. I really wanted a new outfit. But do I go flirty/fun or classy/nice?

After work, I went quickly to a few stores, but nothing was calling my name. I came home and found something in my closet to wear that was classy with some fun. I wore a black pencil skirt with a black skirt, a purple cardigan, blue belt, and nude heels. And the earring Bryce got me for my birthday!

So around 6:30pm, Bryce showed up at my place with two dozen red roses! I loved it. I was trying to play it cool and so put the flowers into a vase and talked about my day. Of course, all I could think about was when and how would he propose! I became suspicious of anything he said or did....haha!

We then headed to dinner at St. Jake, a French restaurant in SE Portland. It was a fun place and the food was amazing. We got tenderloin and bacon salad with bread and butter for our appetizers. So good! Then for dinner we got braised lamb shoulder and roasted trout, which were just incredible. For dessert, we got a hazelnut chocolate cake. It was good, but I did accidentally eat a coffee bean thinking it was a chocolate chip! Those things are nasty and I am pretty sure people throw away the coffee grinds for a reason.

After when we were walking to the car, Bryce told me that our friend, John, had texted him about going over to their place. We hang out with those friends a lot so nothing crazy, but I just figured they were some how in on it. So we headed over to their place and we were just talking and stuff when Bryce told me we were going to make a detour. He turned down this one road and I was trying to think of something that would be down that road. Bryce then turned around. I was really confused until he drove into the park!

**Funny story - Bryce told me later that night that you can't make a left turn at the light for the park so that is why he turned right and then turned around to get to the park. Ha! I just thought he was trying to trick me.

The George Roger City Park is right on the river front and we went there before on the Saturday after Bryce had finished his fall semester. Good day because we actually got to be together during the day because he didn't have to study! Anyways, it is a small, but nice park with great walking paths. So we walked down near the water and luckily it wasn't rainy and the moon was bright. Then Bryce was saying all these nice things. I made a few comments, but then realized I should let him go with it! It was so amazing and then he got down on one knee and asked if I would marry him. YES!

Of course, I had so many emotions in the moment. First, I got a little teary and then I was just really happy and somehow I bit my cheek during it, too! It was just such a happy moment! He then told me that he had written down his little speech for me since he knows how I like to document things. Isn't that just the most thoughtful and wonderful thing!

We then drove back to my place and started the phone calls to family and friends to share the good news!

Portland Timbers

Tonight turned into an exciting Portland experience and my second night in a row of watching soccer. Bryce got hooked up with some free tickets to the Timbers! We were six rows from the field and just a little off from center field.

 

 We got our picture with Timber Joey who carries around a huge chain saw and when the team scores he cuts a piece of wood off a huge log. I love it!

 

 For dinner, we got Timber Brats. A brat wrapped in bacon....everything is better with bacon!

The game was so fun even though it ended in a tie. I also know nothing about soccer! But hopefully I learn more because we already have tickets to the game against Real. Also, I really have to experience the Timber Army section because they sing and chant the entire game! Chants like "No Pity in the Rose City" and "When I Root, I Root for the Timbers!"