Wedding Plans

Here are some answers to your post-proposal FAQs:

When are you going to get married?

We're thinking about November 29th, 2008. The logic: this summer = too soon, next summer = way too far away, this fall = the best option. Dale and both of his parents are teachers and Jill will be doing Teach for America in Chicago so Thanksgiving break seems like a reasonable idea. Also, this date would hold special meaning because it will be Dale’s parents’ 40^th wedding anniversary.

Where are you going to get married?

We hope to have the ceremony at First Baptist Church in Jackson, WY. We know and love Pastor Scott Iken, and we've been going there since we moved to Wyoming. Hopefully the reception will be at the Teton Science School in Kelly, WY. It's a beautiful log cabin and the food is tasty. We're thinking that our wedding in Jackson will be teeny tiny (just immediate family). However, we want to celebrate with everyone so we tentatively plan to have receptions in Jackson, Minnesota (pencil in January 1st) and Idaho.

We'll see...

Engagement Pictures

A delicious feast at the Blue Lion restaurant.
A bad picture of BEAUTIFUL rings. Top ring: white gold etched with the outline of the Tetons. Bottom ring: white gold with sparkling diamonds. I love them and their meaning. Good work Dale!
Radiating happiness.
A kiss. I love that man.

Alerting the Press

A few hours after the proposal, Dale and I called our parents and sisters and shared our big news.

Prior to asking me, Dale had called my parents to get their blessing. Apparently this phone call was on April Fool's Day, but his intentions were no joke. Upon hearing the news, my parents yelped with joy. My Mom started to cry (duh) and I imagine she did her jumping-for-joy dance. They love Dale.

Jill's response: "Hey Bro!" I thought that was cute. Jill/Al and Robin were excited and I'm so happy we got to share our joy with them.

Yesterday I got a letter from Dale's Mom that shares the sentiments his parents initially expressed on the phone. The card reads:
Dear Ann,

Jim and I were thrilled to hear of Dale's proposal to you and your accepting. We both think the world of you. I don't think Dale could have found a better person than you and we'll be proud to call you daughter-in-law. Welcome to the family! We'll look forward to hearing about any future plans.

God bless and our prayers are with you,

Barbara

I couldn't possibly feel more accepted and loved by them.

For the rest of the weekend we basked in our happiness. At the beginning of the following week, we started to tell other family members, friends, etc. I spent just about every minute of Monday and Tuesday on the phone. In addition to the overwhelming support that we have received from friends and family, I feel confident that AT&T is also thrilled about our recent engagement.

I told one of the developmentally disabled clients that I was engaged and she responded, "Yes, I would love to be your bridesmaid!" We'll see...

I feel incredibly blessed to have Dale. Furthermore, I am so blessed to have such supportive friends and family members. Thank you.

The Proposal

Saturday, April 19th, 2008: The Date of Our Engagement

On Saturday morning, Dale and I leisurely cooked a delicious breakfast complete with a diverse fruit platter (Kathy Hartley, one of my other mothers and creator of the earth's most aesthetically and palate pleasing fruit platters, would have been proud). After breakfast, we went out for coffee and basked in the surprisingly warm Wyoming sun. As I sipped on a coffee with cream, Dale suggested we walk along the banks of the Snake River and I agreed.

We got down to the river, held hands, walked and talked.

As we conversed, Dale became alarmingly sentimental and spoke about how the happiest moments of his life have taken place along the Snake River. (Dale's hometown of Twin Falls, Idaho is on the river; Pocatello, Idaho, home of Idaho State University, Dale's alma mater, is on the river; where Dale asked me on our first date and where we had our first kiss).

Then, he got down on one knee. He said heartfelt and wonderful things about me and us. I don't remember any of the words he spoke. I can only remember how he made me feel. My heart was beating faster than a hummingbird's and my body was overflowing with glee. Words cannot capture my joy.

He asked, "Will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?"

Rings appeared.

I joyfully responded, "Yes, I would love to marry you." We kissed.

A perfect proposal. If there had been an orchestra on the river banks, the music surely would have swelled.

Bone Marrow Drive

Emily Trapp recently sent this to me...

Bone Marrow Donor Drive in Honor of Kay Trapp

May 12

2:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Turtle Lake Elementary School- Shoreview, MN

Turtle Hall

I know that many of you do not live in the Twin Cities, but if you want to forward this on to parents, friends, or whomever you think would be willing to go that would be great. It is a painless process, just a cotton swab to the inside of the cheek and filling out a little paperwork. If you would like more details or directions you can check out www.marrow.org or feel to contact me. The more people that join the registry the better chance my mom and other people who may need a transplant can find a match!

Thanks ladies!

Emily

Engaged

OMG We're engaged!!