Photo Opportunity!

Karey Michelle is not only a friend, but an incredibly gifted photographer. Talk about a gem! When we were with her, it was fascinating to watch her work; she saw beauty and potential in things like light, shadows, and viewpoints...things that I am simply oblivious to.

Click here to see the engagement slideshow she put together for Dan and me. We could not be more pleased (except if my hair would have not been so wind-blown)!

Happy viewing...

http://www.kareymichelle.com/Slideshows/DanAngel/

P.S. Just kidding...I can't figure out how to get the link to link, so you will have to just cut and paste. :(

Life's a funny thing

Life is a funny thing. Or maybe I just cannot surrender to the fact that it cannot be controlled, dictated or predicted. Whatever the case may be, I never, in a million years, would I have envisioned myself engaged and planning a wedding a year ago. Dan's entrance into my life and planning our life together has completely turned over the perfectly manicured plans I had for my future. Though, I must say that I have never felt more certain about anything in my life.

So for those of you that care to hear the proposal story...

Dan and I drove to Las Vegas to visit his brother and sister-in-law (yes, some people do call it home) for the weekend. Dan picked me up in a rental car after work on Friday (2/29) and we drove to Nevada. On Saturday morning, we awoke early and while I got ready (doing my 1 hr. straighten the hair routine that I save only for special occasions), Dan prepared a lunch. Once every hair of mine was stripped of its curl, we got on our way. Dan drove us into Arizona to Hoover Dam. We drove over the dam and down the a highway that paralleled the Colorado River. I had never been to this place on the earth before and it was lovely. The desert was in bloom, so I just took in the sights as Dan navigated us to our destination.

We parked at a marina where Dan had reserved a boat. It wasn't fancy, but it was clean and allowed us to explore the river. Dan drove us as far up river as we could go, so that we could look up and see the dam from the front. Pretty majestic for a bunch of concrete. We turned around and went down river for a bit until we found a good place to anchor. Once the boat was secure (second times' a charm!), Dan served me the lunch he had prepared...a chicken salad sandwich on homemade (Dan-made) bread. Sounds pretty boring, but it was amazing. (If I haven't mentioned it, Dan is a cook and has a special knack for flavors.)

After lunch, we decided to wade out of the boat onto a rock island that had been exposed because of the low water level. It was there, while I was bending over and choosing which rocks I wanted to cart home, that Dan was getting ready. Right before we were to get back in the boat, he asked me to look at some "other" rocks. I did and there was a box that was clearly out of place among them. As I picked up the box and opened it up to find a ring, he got down on his knee and said (I can only assume) wonderful things to me. I cannot tell you what was said only because his voice was drowned out by my internal voice screaming, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING!!!!" over and over again. I did somehow catch the end where he asked if I would be his wife.

So with rock walls on both sides, the Colorado River rushing by, and not one soul around, I told Dan yes.

Words do not seem adequate to express the gratitude I feel for the blessing that Dan has been/is to me. My life is so greatly enhanced with him in it. He far exceeds any person I have ever envisioned for myself. I am so excited to be his wife.

So, yeah, life is funny, but how thankful I am that it is!

P.S. The wedding is set for July 19th. Three months and counting!