Reading is Fun!

I used to be the girl who read ALL the time!  I was never without a book.  I did the "Book-It" challenges from Pizza Hut and the summer library reading challenges.  I am not sure when that ended but, I am ready to put some reading back into my life. 

I read about eight books this year and that was good for me considering the fact, I was probably reading one book a year before that.  There were some books I couldn't put down and there were some that I actually did.  This year I am going to challenge myself to keep reading those books because sometimes they actually get better.  I just have to make it past the first however many pages.... Blech!By doing this, at least I can tell a person why I absolutely hated a book or that it had a really slow beginning.

I think reading will really compliment my lifestyle. It will get my brain working again and step up my vocabulary game.  It will be something to do when I am "bored."  (You know those first world problems we always have.)  When the spring is here it will be nice to sit on my porch or in my backyard and read while my dogs play outside. 

I am doing Courtney's 15,000 pages challenge and Kate's "Read Your Name" Challenge. I am challenging myself to finish books I start. I encourage others to do the same!

I Love Your Relationship

I have had a few people lately tell me much they love my relationship.  They see the way we act around each other and how it seems effortless. I hear people say that we are just a fun couple. I am glad that that is what people see from my relationship.  I like the fact that people aren't necessarily annoyed when we come around.  (At least I hope not.)

This was a journey to get here.  We have been put through the "ringer" by others and we have  put ourselves through it as well.  There were times where we couldn't stand being around ourselves.  We have had our phase of fighting, jealousy, stupidity, and everything else you hear a relationship goes through.  I think we just wanted to get it all over with before we got into the more serious aspect of our relationship.

In the beginning, I could not open up to Lucas the way he could to me.  I had so many trust issues, I just couldn't do it. I could not reveal to him everything I was because I felt like he wouldn't like me anymore.  I was never really "fake".  I just tried to not show him everything.  It still scares me to think we are going to be living together and I really can't hide anything from him then.  I don't hide anything right now but, it just seems like I still have the chance to since we do not live together.

Being completely open and honest in a relationship is something you grow up hearing.  You know it is true because it makes sense.  However, until you live it, you don't realize how much it really does make a difference.  It wasn't until my grandmother died in August of 2009 that I truly bared my soul to Lucas. I had cried in front of him before but,  it was simply a few tears and that is all I would allow him to see. One day I finally balled my eyes out.  I mean, there was sobbing and I had the ugly cry face on.  (You know the ugly cry face you try to hide from the world.) First, I hid my face and I ran to the bathroom.  I was so embarrassed I had broken down in front of him and I wanted to hide.  He just stood at the door broken hearted because there was nothing he could do to help me.  He offered me his shirt to wipe my tears.  I made a joke that I would blow my nose in it and he said he didn't care.  (I know it's pretty disgusting but,  it was a sweet gesture to just try to do anything to help.) I laughed.  I then cried on his shoulder and in those moments I knew that I didn't have to hide anything anymore because he loved me even during my ugly cry.

From that moment on I knew it was us against the world.  He loved me for me and how could I not  love someone like that.  (This happened about a week after we had decided to become "official".)  It was one of the worst weeks in my life and it as if God knew this was the person I had to have standing next to me to help me get through it.

But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you that you love, well, that's just fabulous. - Carrie, Sex and the City

November 27, 2011

This is the date that Lucas got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.  My fiance is not the most romantic guy.  It is something I have learned and I am working on not asking him to be (at least not so often). =)  (I am also documenting this because we kind of forgot the exact date we became official.  It was a pretty rough time for me and so we decided we would say August 12th.)

It was just a random point in the day.  We were going to take the beasts (my dogs) to a friend's house so they could play with their dogs.  He went to the store and got the ring and when he got back he told me to close my eyes.  When I opened them he was on one knee and he asked me to marry him.  It was very exciting! (He thought that I wanted the ring so that I could look at it all the time but, I look at it more of a "stay away from me" ring.  It is also something I can look at and be reminded of him all the time.)

Lucas then had dinner with my mom the following Thursday while I was away in Chicago.  She was very excited to hear the news and welcomes Lucas with open arms.  She is also upset that I did not show her the ring before I left.  (I blame it on Lucas for not having the dinner earlier.) 

Lucas' dad gave me a kiss on the forehead (which I think are the sweetest kisses) when he saw me and his brother and sister are very welcoming of me.  Even some of his extended family seemed happy.  (I have only met them once before.) 

Everyone has so much advice to give and it gets tiring but, I know that most of the time it comes from a good place. We have faced some adversity throughout this relationship and I am sure we will continue to do so but, I am glad that we have faced it together because it has solidified us.  I am glad that no matter what I face he will be beside me.  We may make some mistakes along the way but, I know we will be fine.