I SAID YES!

So much has happened since March 24th, my last post on this blog. I worked at a movie theater until about a week and a half ago.  I got a new job at a portrait studio.  I went to Ohio to visit my family.  I went to the beach, but not nearly enough times, if you ask me!

However, the most important thing that has happened to me since March 24th, was June 1st, when...I SAID YES!

It's a really long story, but I'll tell you about it anyways!

Ever since before the boyfriend FIANCÉ and I started dating, we knew we would eventually get married.  He didn't want to start a relationship with someone that he wasn't going to spend the rest of my life with and I had already waited a long time (like four months) for him to even agree to date me.  Yeah.  You heard that right, I made the first move!

So, we always knew we would get married someday, but the timing was never right. I'm still in school.  We never had the money.   Sometimes he would jokingly get down on one knee and ask me, but he never had a ring so I never really took it seriously.

Fast forward to when we went to visit my family in Ohio for my brother and sister's high school graduation. ZOOOOM.

My family was sitting around the backyard after we had gotten back from the racetrack.  I remember it being a really nice night.  I was taking pictures of my sister waving sparklers and we were putting smoke bombs in the fire pit to make the flames change colors.  The stars were shining above us like they do in the Ohio countryside and nothing could have been more perfect.

After a while, Daniel asked me to stand up, so without thinking, I did what he had asked.  He got down on one knee and opened a box.  At least, it sounded like a box.  It was too dark to really know for sure.

The next thing I know, I say "NO." and sit back down.  The box freaked me out.  He had asked me to marry him before, but he had never had a box with him before!   Add that to my tendency to be an introvert and what did you expect? We were inn front of my family!

So, obviously that upset him.  He sulked back into his chair.  My dad kind of chuckled and then he and my sister eventually when off to get Taco Bell.  My mom went inside the house so we could have some privacy.  When I finally got Daniel to talk to me, he was livid.  He couldn't believe that I had said no.  I couldn't blame him because I couldn't believe it myself.

He's the man of my dreams.  The man I can talk to about anything without feeling all awkward and shy and like he's going to judge me for what I think.  The man whose hugs are a little too tight, just the way I like them.  The man whose goodnight kisses linger on my lips the entire way home from his house.  How could I say no to the man who means the world to me?

When my dad came back home, Daniel and I end up inside, talking about why I said no.  I end up saying No two or three more times that night.  Even after putting on the most beautiful ring that I have ever seen.  The one that I picked out.  I wanted it so much and I never dreamed I would get it, but now that I had it, I couldn't accept it.

Keeping the ring made me feel like I would be accepting the proposal out of guilt rather that out of actual want.  I mean, I wanted it more than anything, but in the moment, I was confused and angry at myself.  I felt like I ruined the best night ever.

Eventually, he agrees to ask me again.   Another day.  Another place.  He wasn't happy about it at all though. 

Daniel would talk about it all the time, whenever we went anywhere with my family.  He would hope that we were going to somewhere "beautiful."  Then one day, he decided to take matters into his own hands and asked if we could go to Lake Erie.  We ended up at a lighthouse, which would have been perfect, but there was a portable bathroom right next to it and to make things worse, it was right next to someone's house.  Romantic buzzkill.

After that, we went to a set of waterfalls near Cleveland.  He asked me to take a walk with him, away from my family, which I agreed to.  I was taking pictures of the falls and he got down on one knee behind me, waiting for me to turn around.  That time, I SAID YES!

Our story isn't perfect, but it's perfect for us.  Do I wish I had said yes the first night?  Definitely, but I'm okay with our story not being "the way it should be."  Now, it's wedding planning time!

But first, let us take a selfie!

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Ohio Adventures: Hiking Trip #1

My mom had been talking about going hiking for a few days.  We were supposed to go the day we went shopping, but we ran out of time, so we went today. We walked through gorgeous trails through the woods (which should definitely be more colorful, but there was so much green!) We also found random things that do not belong in woods such as, a set of three little steps, a bridge (although it makes sense because there is supposed to be water) and these metal things...I don't think we ever figured out what they were. To read more about our adventure and see more pictures, direct yourself to my photography blog.

Note: I'm redirecting you because I had already told the story on that blog. It seems a little pointless to tell it twice. 

Adventure Insights

• A lot of people claim they don't like their pictures taken.  I find that a load of crap.  Also, if you take enough of them, these people will eventually give in and not care anymore.
• My parents have the best dog ever! Well, besides the licking...
• Hiking is a great way to bond with family and friends. Tons of opportunities for story time.
• Random things you wouldn't think would be there are in the middle of the woods.

Ohio Adventures: Airport Edition

My Ohio Adventures begin with my travels. I had to wake up at 5am so I could be at the airport by 6am.  My plane took departed at 7:30am.  Things went smoothly at the first airport (after security, my least favorite part).  I said goodbye to my family, cried over leaving my boyfriend for a month, promised to text, call, and write.  Then I went through the scanners and was on my way to my gate.  They started boarding the plane mere minutes once I arrived and sat on the floor due to there being no seats available. Then, I sat on a plane for four hours, until I got to Chicago.

During the flight, I listened to music, instead of watching Man On The Ledge, which was the movie they were featuring.  I WOULD have watched the movie if the sound quality was not entirely dreadful! Along with the music, I began reading Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy.  I also read magazines that the lady next to me let me borrow, which gave me wonderful ideas for my blog!

Once we were in Chicago, I sat at the gate for three hours, waiting for my next flight and read magazines that were left on the tables.  Sports Illustrated and Fortune.  I'm not into sports really, but the Fortune magazine was kind of interesting.  I learned that Shell is going to be drilling oil in Alaska (did everyone but me already know that?)  Also, when I went to the water fountain to fill my water bottle, I found a cool water bottle dispenser thing!

Finally, it was time to board my flight, which was only an hour this time.  When the plane landed, I raced down the stairs to baggage claim and jumped into my mothers arms! Then for the rest of the night, I bonded with my sister. :]

While on this adventure, I made a few observations:

Saying goodbye is the hardest part.  I was definitely bawling my eyes out when I left my family and boyfriend to go to through security.  I did not want to leave them.
Take out the stuff you might need during the flight BEFORE takeoff. I did not do this on my first flight and it was so awkward trying to get into my bags to pull out a book or something.  I didn't want to bother the people around me, but I was bored!
Why does that lady have a plant? So, while I was waiting in Chicago, there was a lady who was carrying around a plant in her bag.  Why on Earth would someone take a plant onto a plane? I have no idea!
More seating is needed. Seriously, I had to sit on the floor at both places because PEOPLE CAN'T SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER! (Okay, I prefer not to, but still. What if they are saving that seat or something? Someone else needs to do it for me!)
Why do people think it's necessary to yell into their phones? I can hear you from all the way across the airport, why can't the person on the other line?
Always volunteer to take a later flight. When you volunteer, the give you vouchers and stuff! Some guy got a $500 dollar voucher for volunteering, and he got to take the regular flight. Very cool.
Way too many people eat McDonald's. What do they think this is, America? Oh. Right.  I haven't eaten at McDonald's...since January, but I HAD to then because it was my cousin's birthday. Even then I only got ice cream and fries. McDonald's is just disgusting, but roughly 1/5 of bought it. Eww.
The planes are way too hot!  Aren't planes notorious for being freezing? I had taken two jackets, expecting the cold, but it was hot. Very hot.

 Have you had any unique travel experiences?