The Proposal

March 11, 2010 became the new best day of my life :)

So here's the story:
Zach and I headed down to Florida to join up with his parents for a spring break vacation. I was a little bummed because it was forecasted to rain all day Thursday and Friday while we were there. I tried to convince his family that it would be better not to go Disney World during the rain, but no one seemed to think it would be a big deal to go in the rain (which was weird because usually me and Mrs. Heathman hate being cold and wet). Oh well. So we gear ourselves up with poncho's and umbrella's to brave the weather on Thursday. We ended up covering three parks (Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom in one day!) I think that may be some sort of record! By the time we hit Magic Kingdom, I admit I was sort of getting a little tired of all the rain. I had been waiting for the Magic Kingdom fireworks because that is my most favorite thing at Disney. It's the firework show over Cinderella's Castle synchonized to music about wishes coming true combined with all the romantic Disney songs...it's so girly...i LOVE it!!! I told Zach it was ok this year if we skipped the fireworks completely because everyone was soaking wet and I knew I was the one who really wanted to see them (or so I thought!) Well long story short, we ended up staying for the fireworks. Me and Zach decided to go on one last ride while his parents went to find a good spot to watch the fireworks. (Really they were talking with the Disney photographer as to what was going to be happening). We meet up with his parents at the spot we watch the fireworks at every year. It's right outside the Rose Garden right in front of the caste. It's pretty perfect. I try to get my camera working to take pictures of the firework show. As I'm totally oblivious as to what's going on, Zach is getting the ring ready. Zach suggests we get a picture taken like we did last year. Of course I love pictures of the castle, so I totally agree. As we're posing for the picture, Zach starts taking. (I, of course, wonder why he's picking this particular time to start saying this because this poor photographer is trying to take a picture!)He then tells me that his biggest wish was this: he gets down on one knee with the ring and says that I'm the most important thing in his life, I inspire him to be a better man. He can't imagine spending the rest of his life with anyone else other than me. Would I make him the happiest man on earth by marrying him. (It was a blur, I can't remember what else he said). This was all in front of the castle lit up for the night. I cannot tell you how excited and suprised I was! Of course I said YES!!! (And yes, I was crying. I sort of turn to mush with romantic things). This was the happiest moment of my life. It felt like a dream. I had to keep looking at the ring to make sure this was real. (The ring is gorgeous! He picked it out himself and I could not have imagined anything more perfect!) After he proposed, the firework show started. It was the most romantic thing ever. People we didn't even know began cheering. It was so magical!

It's been two weeks, and I still have a hard time believing this is real. I cannot believe I am actually marrying my best friend. I never imagined finding someone so perfect for me. Zach is strong in the areas I am weakest in. He brings out the best in me. He makes me want be better than I am. He is someone I trust completely. I remember wondering about this time in my life since I was a little girl: Who am I going to marry? Will it be as romantic as I hoped it would be? Would I be scared about the decision to spend the rest of my life with someone? It's amazing to finally know for sure who my future husband is, and how God orchestrated everything together in His perfect timing, from the moment we met to this very moment. I am not fearful for the future. I have no doubts that Zach is the man for me. The idea of waking up next to him for the rest of my life brings me more happiness than I can express. I have found the one, or rather he has found me. I cannot imagine how my life would be without him in it. I love him so much. It's amazing to think that I love him as much as I am able to at this very moment, but that love will continue to grow. I will love him even more than I do right now :)

Say It Again

The thing about love
Is I never saw it coming
It kinda crept up and took me by suprise
And now there's a voice inside my heart that's got me wondering
Is this true, I want to hear it one more time.

Move in a little closer
Take it to a whisper
Just a little louder

Say it again for me
Cuz I love the way it feels when you're telling me that I'm
The only one that blows your mind
Say it again for me
It's like the whole world stops to listen
When you tell me you're in love
Say it again

The thing about you is you know just how to get me
You talk about us like there's no end in sight
The thing about me is that I really want to let you
Open that door and walk into my life

And it feels like it's the first time
That anyone ever brought the sun without the rain
And never in my whole life
Have I heard words as beautiful as when you say my name.

Say it again for me...


I totally love this song :) I only ask because I love to hear you say it :D

Ode to Ye Bus #2

Ode to the Plymouth Rd #2 Bus:
You and I had an understanding. I would seek you out in the early hours and you would lead me to place I was meant to go. It was a glorious, beautiful relationship. You were so dependable and true. Time seemed to fly when I was with you. Then you dashed my hopes. You left me in the cold wondering where you had gone. I sought you out near and far, but to no avail. I was lost without you. I no longer knew the way I should go.
Plymouth #2 Bus, why did you have to split into three routes without telling me? How was I to know that 2 routes did indeed lead to my destination, but that I would mistakenly embark on the wrong one? How was I supposed to know this error would force me to wait in cold, blustery conditions until ANOTHER bus came for me? How was I supposed to know that a 15min bus ride could take over an hour and half? O Plymouth #2 bus, we had such a great thing, but now I am forced to use another. You are responsible for my bitter disappointment and regret.

I have had unfortunate luck with vehicles lately. Apparently I hit a skunk last week, and the smell WILL NOT go away!!!! My poor, stinky car!

Things I like lately:
Me and Zach hung out with Vanessa and Matt and it was CRAZY fun!!!! I really like them together...I mean really. I think they're pretty much perfect.
I got to totally suprise Zach by telling him I'm going to Florida with him :) (He thought I couldn't go)
My dad has nicknamed Gia from the Bachelor Chewie because of her crazy long hair, and calls Vienna Salamander because he thinks she has salamander eyes.

Things I don't like lately:
My stinky, smelly skunk car.
Patients that make me want to cry because their situation is so sad.
And of course, not seeing Zach for two weeks :(

Set Fire to the Third Bar

So I guess it has been longer than I realized since I last posted. Not much has changed though. Still working, still school...Kristen has informed me that Shell has Traverse City Cappucino. We were obsessed with it during our Fresh Food days at Grand Valley. So this is defintely on the list of things to check out. I can't wait until winter is over...I hate the cold, the dark days that seem to stretch on forever, I like sunshine, and birds chirping and coming home from work when it's still light out! I love being outside! Maybe this winter the weather just closely parallels how I'm feeling...this season in my life that I dislike so much, that just seems to drag by. It's like that song by Snow Patrol...I'm miles away from where you are, I lay down on the cold ground, I pray that something picks me up, and sets me down in your warm arms. To copy from Zach's post (I think he'll be ok with that!) We always seems to fight when we're apart? We never do when we're together, it's like finally coming home when I am with him, it feels so perfect. But when we're apart we argue over the stupidist things...seriously, it's ridiculous. It's just getting worse :( We both hate this situation, and I especially take it out on him...which makes no sense at all! Can't wait till this season of our relationship passes.

Things I like about today:
Dinner with Vanessa.
Watching the Bachelor.
Listening to seriously good music and reading between classes.
Figuring out that I can get to class via the bus system without getting lost!
Talking with Zach about happy things :) I love these conversations so much!!!

Think I don't like about today:
A "day off" from work entails 8+ hours of class.
Not having Zach here to share everyday details of life with.
The stupid rain/snow stuff that made my hair look like a drowned rat!

This and That

So I have two days off of work after a crazy weekend :) Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is my holiday to work so I won't be able to spend it with my family. However, I have so much to be thankful for including the fact that I have a job. My goal is to make tomorrow as pleasant as possible for my patients. I'm sure they hate the fact that they are spending the holiday on the hospital.

So Kristen came home yesterday. We watched So You Think You Can Dance. I'm not that impressed with this season to be honest. Got up this morning, did some TurboKick, picked up my dress from the tailor for Amanda's wedding, discovered the necklace I needed for the dress is missing, did the dreaded pre-Thanksgiving Day chores, and went shopping with Kristen. Not too exciting. Oh yeah, and worked on my paper...ugh.

Things that I like about this week:
I tried a Mocha Frappe from McDonald's and it tastes wonderful! Paul had me try it and it is just as good as Starbucks, if not better.
I got two days in a row off work to get things done.
I started my Christmas shopping.
Amanda's wedding is Friday and I am so EXCITED for her!
Zach is coming down for the weekend :)
The Christmas season is about to officially begin.
I saw New Moon with some girls from Bible Study :)
Had a sort-of argument with Zach that ended up turning into a really good conversation about a lot of things we needed to talk about.

Bittersweet

I had another wonderful weekend with Zach. He actually suprised me Thursday morning by calling me and telling me to look downstairs where he left a beautiful bouquet of roses on the front porch. He was supposed to come down Friday night, but came a day early totally suprising me :) I love the time I get to spend with him, though it always goes by too quickly. All to soon, we're saying goodbye yet again. I am ready for the time when I don't have to stand on the sidewalk waving goodbye as I watch the man I love drive away. Lately, I'm missing him all the time. Not just in waves, knowing that I'll see him again in a few weeks. But it's a constant feeling, a feeling that a part of me is truly missing. I'm so happy to have him in my life, even if this period in our relationship isn't so fun right now. Kinda bittersweet, I guess. I know I'll probably look back and smile at the way I got so excited to see him and the anticipation of spending the weekend with him. He understands me in a way no one else could. And the fact that he still loves me when sometimes I act completely crazy...yes, I can be completely irrational and emotional sometimes, hard to believe, I know! ;)

Things I am happy about:
I have started the final paper in one of my classes.
I have the next three days off to get homework, Christmas shopping, and other errands done.
Zach is going to be inducted in the Men's GVSU Waterpolo Hall of Fame! (I am so proud of you!)
I love my Maybelline lip gloss that's not all goopy like most are.
I have Bible study with the girls tonight. Makes me look foward to Wednesdays.
I bought the Winter candle from White Barn...thanks to Mrs. Heathman who got me ADDICTED
to this one. I think I have her to blame for the Pumpkin Spice one too! lol
I got to see my sister last week.

Things I am bummed about:
I haven't seen Vanessa in far too long! I need my bestie!
I have to write a final paper! lol
Not getting to see Zach this weekend.

The Plague

So I had to work the weekend while feeling absolutely terrible! Twelve hours on your feet is pretty tough thing to handle when you just feel like curling up into a ball and sleeping. I tried wearing a mask for most of Saturday but then on Sunday it just too difficult to breathe with a mask on too. So I wheeled my COW (Computer On Wheels) around with my own bottle of hand sanitizer and then preceded to disinfect every surface I touched. I felt pretty silly...but o well, better safe than sorry in spreading the "plague". Thankfully, my coworkers are wonderful and made the day a lot better :) So I came home, my wonderful mom made me some chicken noodle soup, and then proceded to sleep, and sleep, and sleep. I feel much better now:)

Things I like about today:
Vick's Puffs are the best invention for sickies like me! I will never go back to regular Kleenex
again!
I got to sleep in. (Probably way later than I should have)
I got an A- on my first graduate school paper.
I finished my sepsis module in under 3 hours.
I got to talk to Zach for the first time in three days.
I lit my candle and began the Christmas season by updating my Christmas playlist...i MUST get
the new Chris Tomlin Christmas CD!