4 years in the making

Andy and I are officially engaged. I am very happy and giggly, and excited, and and...too many emotions really. In some ways I don't understand what difference being married will make. We have been together for 4 years, lived together for a little over 2 of those years. He is part of my life. Everyday I figure him into my plans and he effects and affects almost every decision I make. How can being married change any of that? It is just a piece of paper right? All my married friends say differently. There is nothing they can point to, to say "see that there, that is how it is different," but somehow things change. Not for the worse, they just change.

Honestly, we decided back in May or April we were going to get married, but at the time our friends Kate and Jeremy were planning a wedding of their own and we didn't want to interfer with their special time. While it has been fun telling people, it was sort of anticlimatic. Our parents although very happy for us, seem to have a ton of questions. My mom is concerned about money because she is on strike and only has $150 coming in a week. Andy's parents wanted to make sure he wasn't giving up on his police officer goals and that I was staying in school. I don't know what I expected...maybe more tears, hugs, and champgne. We got hugs and congratulations, but it wasn't the hallmark sappy greeting card moment I was expecting.

***Engagement Story***

We bought the ring on Saturday together. The ring is beautiful and I cannot wait to wear it. Currently it is getting sized and the diamond is being put in. That's right, a diamond. I was anti-diamond going into the whole thing. I love pearls and was set on getting a pearl ring. After talking to the woman about pearls I decided that maybe a pearl ring, while beautiful would not be the way to go. Pearls can get damaged very easily and it is not good to wear them everyday. So I was looking at sapphires which apparently were the original engagement stone. Who knew. I found a few settings I liked, but wasn't feeling great about them. I was about ready to settle for a setting that we were going to put a green sapphire in and just on a fluke I asked to see what a teeny tiny diamond would look like in there. It was wondeful and I knew I wanted that ring.

The actual proposal was definitly my style. Since we weren't going to get the ring that day, Andy and I went to Target and bought a huge fakey looking ring. He then took me to see the flamingos at the zoo where he proposed. It wasn't a down on one knee moment (I asked that he not embarrass me). He just sort of leaned in and asked if I would marry him and I said "Of course, will you marry me?" He said yes, and then we walked through the rest of the zoo. No fuss no muss.

***End of Engagement Story***

So that is it for now. Tomorrow I have to fax in a reservation form for our reception site. If we get it, I will let people know. In general I will let people know the plan...once we have set up things for sure. We have a pretty good and big idea of what we want to do, so here is hoping (fingers crossed) it works out. We hope to have a website set up soon for general information. My mom wants to put an announcement in the Highline times (the local Burien newspaper). I have given myself a month off from planning because I know once I get into the swing of things I am going to plan this wedding to death. I apologize now if I turn into a bridezilla (I think I may have the capability of being one).