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as you all know, jonathan was coming into town on wednesday.

his dad and i planned on going to pick him up that morning.

it was kalie's birthday, so i had to stop by her work and wish her well before going to the airport. because of this, his dad and i drove separate. as i was driving to the airport, his dad called me to see where i was and tell me he was there and everything and "by the way, can i drive jonathan home from the airport? i need to talk to him about something." i was bummed but i of course said yes and didn't ask questions.

we picked him up from the airport and it was so amazing.

i can't explain what it is like to hug him after not seeing him for weeks.

it makes everything so worth it. all those lonely nights and tears. that pain fizzles away right when i see him, and its like he never left!

we left the airport. i drove home, and him and his dad drove to his house to 'pick up his truck.'

so i went home and busied myself with a little Parks and Rec (so...SO funny.)

little did i know...

i knew he wanted to propose, but also knew that he was getting the ring made by a family friend of his here in utah, so i didn't think that he had the ring yet.

turns out, he went home and met Becky at his house.

this is what he was doing while i was at home, unsuspecting.

this is my favorite picture. in the whole world i think.

i can't imagine what he's thinking.

he came over and picked me up and i was just happy to see him! didnt think a thing of it when i asked him what his dad wanted to talk to him about and he just smiled

we drove around for awhile with his dad, trying to avoid his mother. see, he can't keep a secret from me, but SOMEHOW kept a secret from his mom for two whole weeks. she didnt know he was coming. so finally we drove up to snowbird to their condo. his family goes to snowbird the week of thanksgiving every year.

jon was in his dads bathroom on his dads computer iChatting with us on my computer in the kitchen when his mom walked in. we talked to him a little bit, then our connection started cutting out so he said he'd call us later.

his whole family was in the kitchen gathered together. when we hung up, his mom started introducing her friend to jon's dads side of the family. jonathan walked in and stood in our circle behind his dad. his mom talked for a little bit then looked at jonathan, looked away, hurried to look back, bent over with her hands over her mouth and screamed as if she saw a ghost!!!

then she hugged him and just cried and cried! it was so cute and such a good surprise! she said she was so confused because she was picturing jon's face on the computer and trying to comprehend seeing it in real life!

it was really fun and cute.

the rest of the day was filled with family activities and a family dinner. after we'd showered and eaten, jon asked if i wanted to go on a walk.

i was suspicious, so i asked if i should dress cute, where are we going? blahblah.

he told me i didnt need to look cute (which is why...i don't look cute)

so i didnt think it was anything special.

we walked around the cliff lodge where we were staying at snowbird. we talked about having our reception there, danced a spanish dance outside of the latin bar, and laughed and laughed.

the only thing was...he wouldn't hold my hand with his left hand.

he told me that he wanted to take us to our favorite spot.

we walked outside and walked up a little trail.

when we stopped, we had the beautiful mountains as a backdrop, along with a clear starry sky. we talked for a bit, and looked at the stars before he asked me when i was going to ask him why this is our favorite spot.

Jon: Are you going to ask me why this is our favorite spot?

A.J.: Why?

Jon: Ask me again.

A.J.: Why is this our favorite spot?

Jon: Ask me again.

A.J.: Why is this our favorite spot?

Jon: Because...this is where I asked you to marry me.

and he got down on one knee and pulled the ring box out of his left pocket and proposed.

then he sweet talked me for a little bit while trying to hold back softsoft sobs. (haha)

it was perfect.

we jumped up and down and danced around and decided we needed to document it, so we put his camera on the three picture timer and got these.

that is a happy couple.

we went up to the room and announced it to everyone there.

they were so happy, and welcomed me to the family.

then i made the phone calls. i called my grandma, my sisters, my dad..(SCARY!) and lyndsi, jessi, and kalie.
i guess proposing really takes it out of you. he's asleep 60% of the time.

(just kidding lover, you did better this vacation)

i waited until thursday to tell the rest of my family. luckily, jon got to come to our thanksgiving dinner. so i told my aunt and uncle, and all my cousins there. and they all got to meet jon! i was so happy. it was the perfect time for him to ask me. its been hard not having my family see him very much and get to know him, so this gave them something to talk about. thanksgiving was fun, and we even took family pictures with the new member of our family.

this is where he proposed. it was so beautiful.on friday, we had the chance to go to dinner and celebrate our engagement by getting our families together. (most of them)

it was really fun, lots of laughs. and frogurt after (of course!)

love this boy.  "my wife is crazy."
the draper temple.

so....when is the date?

well.

i'll explain this as simply as i can.

in december jon SHOULD find out where he is going to get stationed once he graduates school in february. we're hoping for california but it could be anywhere.

lets pretend its california.

he'll get stationed around feb 5th. thats when he'll move to california.

once he gets there into the 'fleet', he'll have a better idea of when he will be deployed.

if he gets deployed anytime within 2010, we'll probably wait until he gets home and get married right after. once he gets home from deployment, he will stay state side for AT LEAST a year before getting deployed again.

if he gets to the fleet and finds out that he wont deploy for another year, we'll probably get married in may. thats the soonest i can get married because thats when i GRADUATE! and thats when lizzie is available. and that way, we can have as much time together as possible before deployment.

so really, we can't make any decisions or arrangements until february. i will keep everyone updated. i am so happy and so excited.

i know its cliche, but i feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

i can not wait to get married and be able to move somewhere with just jon.

i know right now i can't imagine how hard it will be, but i am so excited be alone in a state somewhere having to figure out marriage as a couple.

its going to be a crazy adventure.

i am just so happy.

coming soon.

the story of the proposal.

there is no way i could be any happier.

wishful wednesday part II.

crappy day.

i wish this week would go by faster.

i wish i knew how to do my huge autocad project that is due tomorrow.

i wish i hadn't have almost hit that pole when i pulled over to get out of the way for an ambulance.

i wish i didn't accidently dye my hair multicolored. similar to a leopard.

i wish for the best. thanksgiving. EVER.

thankful for.

my car.

school/teachers.

my JOB! Hi, my name is A.J., i'm employed and i love life. ps i love horses.

my gran.

books.

clothes. even though they aren't cute anymore, i'm so grateful i could once afford clothes.

pictures.

...

....

.....

what i did tonight.

"Smells like the hospital" in Swedish. Thanks Jon.

hung out with gf2,bf2,and bf2's brother at ikea.

i'll leave some of it up to your imaginations.

i think its for the best.

<3

reasons to be cheerful, part 3...

"...is a song by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. in 1979 it reached number 3 in the UK charts. In it he lists many, including: Generosity and politeness, yellow socks, equal voting, being released from prison and a cure for smallpox.

For me, a few would be orangey-red, new york city, pets, crushes, glue, guys, parties and sharpies.

What are YOURS?"

Mine are.

1. chocolate.

2. seeing and enjoying old friends.

3. my granny.

4. dancing shamelessly for hours until completely tuckered out.

5. traveling to a NEW place.

6. the holidays.

7. new favorite songs.

8. ichatting.

9. chicken noodle soup.

10. my lovely altima. (not actually that lovely, but i treat it well and in return, it treats me well)

"Last night I went to Tomoe, a very hip Japanese place on Thompson Street. And this man and woman were on a date, and the woman says, "You're gonna LOVE this place. It is INCREDIBLE. The sushi here is totally AWESOME! But you have to try to yellowtail. IT-IS-AMAZING! AMAZING!"

And I'm thinking, this woman has just used up all of her superlatives! If it were me, I would wait until that piece of yellowtail jumped up, ran out onto Houston Street, hailed a cab to the airport, jumped on a flying fish roe, flew to the Middle East, created a lasting peace, came back, turned unto Johnny Depp, stepped over the bodies if Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson, and Matt Damon, pulled the Hope Diamond out of his pocket, popped open a magnum of Chateau d'Yquem 1929, got down on one knee and said "WILL YOU BE MY BRIDE?"

Then, and only them, would I say "You know what? THAT YELLOWTAIL IS AMAZING."

excerpts from "all the wrong people have self-esteem. an inappropriate book for young ladies* *or, frankly, anybody else."

by laurie rosenwald.

do yourself a favor and buy or at least read this.

advice.

are you looking for a couple different easy way to make me mad?

i'll help you out.

1. i absolutely LOVE being parented. i grew up without my mom, and my dad isn't one to tell me what to do. i think he may have tried once. so

if you're thinking about giving me advice i never asked for, please do.

2. known fact-i have anxiety. i have learned how to take control of it...for the most part. i no longer hyperventilate when going on vacations at least. but when i get one simple text that says "hey...i have bad news." i lose it. especially when coming from my marine. (I can't graduate. I'm getting deployed tomorrow. I actually just found out I joined for 8 years instead of four. I can't come home for Christmas) my mind. goes. NUTS.

well both of these things happened yesterday, which turned the day into something so, so great. well, boyf resolved both of these issues. turns out the bad news he had for me, was as bad as i expected, which is so annoying.

after he sent me the "I have bad news" text, it took him forever to explain what the bad news was. he had duty over thanksgiving, so he definitely can't come home. my good mood was deflated. i just left school, got in dads car, listened to demi lovato (obvious) and cried my way home. my bad mood caused tension in jon's day which only got worse. then he fell asleep before we made up which is another thing that i love. luckily, he wakes up in the night when he has to go to the bathroom (not all can be so lucky. not me. just in general.) and text me at like midnight my time. i got on ichat and we chatted the night away.

he decided to do a very good thing and give me a surprise.

wish number 1.

granted.

i wish jonathan would come home for thanksgiving.:

18 days.

wishful wednesday.

i wish jonathan would come home for thanksgiving.:

i wish i had an iphone.:

i wish i was perfect.

i wish i wasn't so gangster.

i wish new york was here. if that makes sense. i miss it so much.