The Ring bought, the engagement public (whether I like it or not haha)

This week I bought the engagement ring and wedding band.  I told my Aunt Ericka that my budget was $700 and with her 50% discount she showed me some very pricey rings.  After looking at a lot of rings there was $800 ring (without the discount) that really stuck out to me.  I wanted to buy it.  When I told my aunt she agreed that the ring was pretty but informed me that if I bought that ring I might just want to pay the full price of it so I could buy the warranty to go with it ( a safety feature that wouldn't have been included if she bought the ring with her discount).  I thought about it and decided that was the one I should buy.  She was able to get me a good deal and she found me a matching wedding band to go with it for her.   She also offered to buy wedding rind as long as it would was about 50 or 60 dollars.  This whole ring shopping has been a little stressful but pretty fun at the same time. 

On Friday morning Carla texted me saying how her mom and dad need help wedding plan from members in her ward.  She told me that her parents wanted to tell people and make it more official in Georgia.  I was a little hesitant because I wanted to wait to get the ring and propose to her "right" before we let everyone know.  In the end I figured it didn't really matter in the long run and it was necessary for her parents to get the help they need.  Ericka informed me later that the ring won't come until around June 7th because it needs to be fitted for her and it will take time to ship.  Everything is working great and I am excited for this next part of my life!  August 1st here I come!

A ring

This past week like I wrote in my last post Carla surprised me throwing out the date of August 1st.  We had talked about getting married but she was unsure about what she wanted to do in the Fall.  I was telling her I wanted her to stay and she was hesistant because she wanted to be with her mom more and work at a previous job.  Then I told her that I could wait over the 7 week break and not see her but that the 7 week break plus fall semester would be to much.  I threw out the idea that I would want to get married at the end of the 7 week summer break.  She listened intently and then I had to get home for curfew.  The next day she sends me a text "We need to talk".  I was a little unsure what was on her mind.  But then we go to the lounge and we talk casually for a little bit and then she tells me how she was praying and she picked out August 1 and December 20th to get married.  She expressed how she better about August 1st.  I was a little unsure because that would mean we were dating a little less than 5 months in total including engagement.  But I knew I did want to marry her and I didn't really want to wait to all of December.  So I honestly felt pretty good about that date.  I feel like I know her past adequately and also her testimony currently and her goals (about mainly just being a mother) in the future. 

The next day we skyped her parents and we told them of our intentions.  They were happy for us and they saw it coming.  They told us how we needed to love each other.  They asked me if I was planning on finishing school after I graduated and I told them I was.  They asked us about what temple we were planning to get married in and about our honeymoon and which of my family was planning on coming.  They also asked if we had picked out housing and we told them of some options we were thinking about.  So many decisions we had talked about only a day earlier.

On Wednesday Carla, Noelle,  and two of her previous roommates.  They went to Idaho Falls to go wedding dress shopping.  Her friends had scheduled an appointment without her knowing at David's Bridal.  Then she bought a dress that Saturday.  She didn't describe it to me because she wanted it to be a surprise.

This past week we had been looking at rings online.  We planned on looking at different attributes she wanted or a picture and then telling Erika my aunt so she could buy it and then I would pay her back later.  Then on Friday we got the impression to go to the Jewelry store the next day.  We did and it was very beneficial.  She tried on a lot of different rings but there was one ring was in the clear box that had an identical copy on the other side of the box.  She clearly like that ring.  It was a 3 diamond ring with an accent of smaller diamonds.  I liked it and so did she.  I will call Erika tonight about the favor I need.

So I think I will probably give her the ring on a Thursday after we get out of the temple.  I think it would be good Noelle was there and then she could secretly take a picture when I get on one knee and propose.

Well that's my exciting  news.  I have prayed and really feel like I'm doing the right thing!  I am praying and fasting today for an additional witness (the third one) because I know how important this decision is but I think its safe to say we are getting married!

A discussion, a discussion, and an answer!

Just a few days ago I was posted how Carla and I were talking about the marriage concept and also our future.  Today she sent me a text and told me "I can't wait to see you later :) I need to talk to you about something".  Now going through my head it did occur to me that it was about the marriage issue but I definitely wasn't sure.  That night after FHE we went to the lounge and I asked her "So what did you want to talk about?"  she replied "How was your day?"  I understood that she wanted to build up to that point.  She then said "What do you think about August 1st".  I was caught a little off guard.  Everything she had previously mentioned all involved waiting till December.  I told her how happy I was and later asked how what had persuaded her.  She told me she just forgot the most unimportant thoughts (Earning money and spending time large amounts with her mother).  I just realized that if she wants me to get married and I want to get married there will be no one who will stop.  Kind of a big realizations for her  but one that makes her happy.  She told me how she wants to get married in the Atlanta temple ( which is perfectly okay with me.  Well good night but I love this church and I am glad we study about the importance of families and dating and I am glad I live that principle.

One foot after another

One foot after another.  Step by Step.  Here a little and there a little.  Short sentences that reflect the continual idea of progression.  This week marks an additional step that I have taken particularly to my romantic life.  Last week Carla and I got home from a great trip from Utah where she got to meet my family and we witnessed my brother's graduation.  It was an experience that won't be forgotten.  But then the concept on our minds were "When I am going to Georgia to meet her family?"  I had previously been talking about labor day weekend and going for the 3 day weekend.  Why did Carla and I want to travel across the country for me to meet her family.  The underlying message was simple.  We are moving to the direction of marriage.  It was on Tuesday 4/29/14 when we were talking about when would be the best time for us to go.  She and her family wanted me to come after the end of the semester and I was hoping to go earlier.  But the words marriage hadn't been spoken about it in a sense of our future relationship.  Then she just said it plainly "Can I be honest right now? Are we really talking about this because we are talking about marriage?"  I answered with a short reply of "Yes, that's why I want to go."  We described our love for each other and then we started about the details of when and how and other important details.  All I know is that you have to go with your gut feeling most of the time even if your gut is telling you an answer you might not want to here.  Its important to just go forward with faith one foot after another.

A discussion, a discussion and yet another discussion

A discussion: Where two people have a conversation on a topic often with varying view points.  This week Carla and I talked a lot about topic that we both knew would come up eventually and that is our future.  After dating for about two months we have both strong romantic feeling towards one another.  However fun this has been we know that there also comes responsibility along with it.  When this responsibility is to be enforced is based on the digression of the two in the party.  After this semester Carla will have one more semester of undergraduate studies at BYUI before she continues her  schooling.  She is currently on the winter-spring track which poses the question what is going to happen over the summer and the fall.  There are many questions to be considered based off the topics of financial, romantic, and eternal and their outcomes.  Last Sunday we prayed and fasted and the one thing I felt is don't wait till Christmas time.  Now I am not sure it that means don't do long distance for 4.5 months and wait till get married then or don't get married at Christmas times period (even if she decides to come for the fall semester).  Lately the conversation has been going along the lines of me "I love you", Carla "I love you."  Me: "I don't want you to go" She "I don't want to go either but I need to work."  I then list off many reasons of how she can be stable financially here (You can work over the 7 week summer break, I can pay for you, etc. etc.)  We finally admit that its not the money that's the issue but how she misses her mom.  I then tell her about the 7 week break and then goes back to that she needs the money.  All I know is I want her to stay and right now she putting up a 100 reasons of why she wants to leave.  I just don't know what to do.  Because I don't have a good feeling of doing dating in person for 4.5 months and then her leaving and us doing long distance for 4.5 months and then getting married.  I don't really want to wait till after the Winter semester in April time that also doesn't seem logical.  No one told me that these big decisions would have to be so hard.  I feel like she has a decision to pick me or her mom (I honestly don't think money is the issue even if she says it is).  She doesn't want me to compare it that scenario but I really feel like that's the situation presented to her.  I know this past week I have the opportunity to learn how to express my feelings and thoughts respectfully while also learning how to say "I am done talking about this tonight".

Well I want to wish all moms out there a happy Mother's Day especially mine.  The more I learn the divine role the mother has the more I appreciate mine.