The Countdown...

Ok, so as most of you know, I teach math and so obviously I am really into numbers. So I have officially started a "wedding day countdown". It may not be so much as a countdown to the wedding as it is a countdown to Andrew and I finally being together. Even though he just left for Oregon in August, we really did not get to see each other much over the summer due to our busy schedules. So really we haven't spent much time together since June! Anyways, the countdown is now 86 days...

Most of the wedding plans are complete. I hope we have everything in line. I need to confirm with my wedding coordinators (my mom and my sisters!) to make sure everything is ready to go. I don't feel like I have done much except make the final decision on everything. (I kind of like it that way!) Since the wedding seems to be mostly taken care of, for now, the next big task for us is to find a place to live up north and for me to get a job! So if anyone knows anyone who works at a high school in the Portland or Vancouver area, please let me know!! I know many of you have asked how you can help with the wedding, really, we could just use your prayers. We (Andrew and I) both know that this is where God wants us and that this is the right time. With that said, we are very confident that He will work out all the details and that He will provide for us exactly what we need. How peaceful to know that we have a God that loves us that much and we can completely trust Him. What a relief!!!

The Proposal

I am sure all of you are curious about how he popped the question. So here is it...

We were over in Santa Cruz visiting grandma Wilson and decided to take a day trip to Monterey. He had told me before we left to wear something cute because he wanted to take some picture before he left. I sort of had an idea that he was going to do it but he was so calm and cool and wasn't nervous at all so I didn't think he was going to do it. Plus, he had said other things to make it sound like he was going to do it at a later date. So it never crossed my mind as we were on our way to Monterey. We started by going to the warft and walking around there (again, he was calm and cool this whole time). I told Andrew that I wanted to go to this one small beach near Pacific Grove, but he had already planned to go there. We headed that way and arrived at the small beach. It has these rocks that when the tide is out you can walk all the way out and sit on them. But the tide looked like it was coming in so we decided not to chance it. (Little did I know that Andrew's original plan was now thrown out the window, he wanted to propose on the rocks). We walked around on the rocks for a while, took a few pictures. Finally, we sat down on a couple of rock and he told me that he wanted to read me something before he left. He had written down ten things that he loved about me. It was very sweet. I started to cry and was getting nervous because I thought this was it. But after he finished saying the ten things he just sat there and said, "I just wanted you to know that." I was thinking..."ok...now what??" (He had me going.) Then Andew thought it would be fun to have a hermit crab race. It was something he had done with his dad when he was younger and thought it would be fun. Of course, my competitive side came out and I just HAD to get the best hermit crab out there. I thought there was some special features of a really fast crab. I looked hi and low for the best and all I could find was hundreds of crabs just sitting there. Finally, Andrew said he found a good one over by him and that I should just use that one. So I decided I would just use the one he found and hope it was a good one. We got our crabs and knelt down by a flat rock. Anderw told me to put my crab down then he would put his down. I placed my hermit crab on the rock and when Andrew put his crab down he placed the ring on my hermit crab. I was shocked!!! I could not believe it! I think Andrew had to ask me two or three times before I finally replied. Not that I had to think about it, I was just in complete shock. It was very original and so cute! I loved it!! So that's how the story goes...

Engagement Pictures

Here are a few engagement pictures that my amazing sister-in-law took before Andrew left for school. Thanks Amy!!

Wedding Plans

So as I have said, I am not that great at writing, but I am going to give this a shot. I was given the suggestion to start a blog to keep people updated on the wedding and then on our lives up North once we move. I have no idea how many people will even look at this but whatever!!

So the date is set, the place is chosen, the dress is purchased...things are coming along great! Thanks to the help of my many wedding coordinators, I have had the easy job of just making the final decision on everything. I really appreciate all the hard work that my mom, my sister, and my sister-in-law have done on the event. I am so blessed to have them in my life and so talented! As you can see things are going well. Only 95 days left....

Now that wedding plans are almost complete, the next task is to start thinking about our life after the wedding. I will be moving up North to be with my new husband (that's kind of weird to say!). He will be attending seminary at Multnomah Bible College and Lord willing I will get a job teaching. So my next thing on the "To Do" list is get my teaching license for either Oregon or Washington and look for a job. We have also sort of started looking at apartments online. We both know that this is what God wants for us and where God wants us, so we are not worried and know that He will work out all the details.

I am very excited about all that it is going on but I think I am most excited about joining my best friend to share life together. I feel very blessed to be marrying such an amazing man of God.

- Anna