some anniversaries

I was very distracted being the big, European-traveler that I was this Christmas, and didn't get a chance to blog about 2 very important anniversaries that happened over Christmas break!

First things first, Nathan has now been home from his mission for 2 years. He's been home longer than he was gone. It seems crazy, but it also seems like he never actually left. Which doesn't make much sense. But it's the way it is!

I remember that day so well. He came home the Tuesday before Christmas break, and I was, of course, working. I was super mad I couldn't be at the airport to greet him, but at the same time, I was a crazy wreck, so maybe it was for the best, haha. One of my favorite pictures from the airport is one of Amanda showing Nathan the crazy texts I was sending. They were things like, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHV VFKLGJ GJLKDSkj iowt9(#4543!! I am pooping my pants!!!!" And other things of that nature.

I'm glad he got to spend a few hours with his family before I swooped in and stole him for good. I actually wasn't supposed to come out until Thursday. Those were the only days I was allowed to take off. But after I saw those pictures and knew he was home, I couldn't stand it. I requested a substitute and had to pay for her to come, but it was worth it. I was nervous to ask if I could come early though. That is so silly to think about now. Nathan still wasn't released, so I asked Amanda to ask him (so middle school) if he would be okay with me coming tomorrow instead of Thursday. Of course he was okay with it!!

He finally got to call me a few hours later and we talked as if no time had passed. I woke up at the crack of dawn the next morning and drove the 5 hours to see him. We met alone, at a park, with no cameras and no one around. I'm so glad we did that. It's such a special moment for us.

The picture on the left is the first picture of us together after 2 years! The one on the right is us in the same spot just a few months ago. I tried to find just the first picture by itself, but I couldn't. So you get the side-by-side.

Things moved quickly once he was home. I spent 2 days with his family. Then I drove to be with mine for 2 days. Then back with his for 3 days. Then he came back with me to be with my family for another 3. We had a few silly arguments and a lot of talks as we sorted out who we were now as a couple again. It was weird at first, and then fell right back in step as if nothing had changed. It was awesome.

We spent New Years in Arizona with my family. That's the second anniversary to celebrate! OUR ENGAGEMENT!!!!! 

At almost 1am on New Years day, Nathan got down on one knee. When it was just he and I in the living room. So personal, so private, and so perfect. I never wanted a big, over-the-top proposal. I had told Nathan that a million times. I didn't want people there and I didn't want anything cheesy. So that moment for us was perfect. We knew we were getting married. Everyone else knew we were getting married. They'd pretty much known for 4 years. I knew he was going to propose sometime soon. (Although he did surprise me because I thought he would propose at midnight and when he didn't, I just figured it would be another day. Sneaky git). This wasn't some big shocking event. It was a perfect moment 5 years in the making. All the tears and frustrations and endless waiting to have this boy be completely and officially mine led to this moment. All the pain I had felt with him gone for those 2 years melted away when I got to say "yes" and know that he was going to be mine forever. We had spent three years together, and two years apart and I knew without any doubt that he was who I wanted to be with forever. The simplicity of the moment testified that to me even more. We didn't need some huge, fancy gesture. All we needed was us.

So happy homecoming and engagement anniversary to us!

They are only 11 days apart, and I am not ashamed :)