Thursday, December 11, 2008

One Post a Day for a Month, Check!

I did it! I really did it. I've always wondered if I could really blog everyday. Questioning my own stick-to-it-tive-ness. And I'm glad I made the commitment and completed it. I don't know if I'll continue this habit. I am so tired by the time I find time to type that I'm worried my posts will get more and more uninteresting and nonsensical. :) 


I spent a couple hours getting the latest order of clips finished and ready for delivery. While I work I usually listen to my stations on Pandora. And today I was listening to Christmas music sung in the stylings of artists like Michael Buble, Tony Bennet, Josh Groban, and old big band/jazz/Americana type Christmas songs. I love listening to these types of songs, because it reminds me of Seattle. The Christmas versions remind me of Christmas in Seattle. And Christmas in Seattle has a very special place in my heart. 

Mark and I met in a Cantonese class at BYU, and somehow we found out that our families only lived 20 mins away from each other in Seattle. So we decided to book the same flights going home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, because traveling is much nicer when you have someone to talk too. The three years following that, we dated on and off and on and off and on, but every Christmas we were always together. It just worked out that way. So we have lots of wonderful memories of Christmases and New Years, exploring together places in Seattle area we haven't been to in years and showing each other our old haunts. Going home for Christmas, where we were free from homework and in between semesters at BYU, that we felt like we were going away on vacation together. But at the end of the day we'd go back to our parents houses! :) 
So Christmas time always reminds me of when Mark and I were dating. 

Fast forward to our third Christmas together. We just survived a summer of separation, when Mark went to Japan for study abroad, and we both came away from that experience learning that we didn't want to be with anyone else. 

On Christmas morning, my family opened presents except me. All my gifts, that were there the night before, were gone. I knew Mark was up to something, but how did he manage to take all my gifts, and what stunt was he trying to pull? I was getting agitated that he called and acted like nothing was up when I knew he was behind it, and he wouldn't tell me when he would be coming over later. So, decided to go take a shower, and just expected not to see him till later that evening cause he was being so wishy washy about the exact time. I got out of the shower and I could hear him talking in the living room. Just great! He came over without giving me time to really get ready! I wasn't happy about that. I had to put my pajamas back on because I couldn't run to my room from the bathroom without him seeing me in just a towel. But as soon as I opened the door, my sister had a camcorder in my face, and I could see Mark and his sister in the living room dressed like Santa and an elf. Then Santa Mark calls me over to come sit on his lap and proceeds to ask me if I've been a good girl this year. Oh my gosh... Then he pulls out a sack with all my presents, and I open them up one by one. They were all the gifts from my family to me. Then Santa says he's got a gift from Mark to deliver. Its a white box with a red bow, and I open it to find a shiny lump coal. Coal in it's diamond stage that is! 
Yep, Santa proposed to me. Sorry Mrs. Clause, move over. 


I could tell Mark was nervous, but he pulled the whole thing off so well, I had no way of knowing how he was going to do it. I knew he was going to propose sometime around Christmas, because I had worked with the jeweler to design the ring a month back. I just had no idea the extent of Mark's plans and costuming. :)

And that is why Christmas has a very special place in my heart.

Oh yeah, and I said yes. 

12 comments:

Johnson Family said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Johnson Family said...

What a fun story about your engagement. Mark sure did surprise you!
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas in Japan this year. We miss you here in Virginia.

JJ said...

Wow, what a perfect story!

ricka said...

Fun story! And congrats on achieving your goal.

soybeanlover said...

That is such a cute story!

Anonymous said...

Ahh, the memories. That was a great step back in time! Can you believe so much has happened since those good old days. We need to have another Kensington Reunion!

123 checkoutourfamily said...

I never knew your engagement story. How cute is that! I love how it revolved around Christmas time since that is when ya'll really got to be together. Thanks for sharing!

I'm impressed with your posting continuously. Amazing!

Lynn said...

aww so cute! gotta love that story.

Singapore Girl said...

Very sweet and romantic. I have the music of "月亮代表我的心" playing in the background while reading this story and it really adds to the mood. Have a wonderful Christmas this year and more Christmases to come, with sweet reminisces too.

the Dao's said...

Your vivid writing really conveys the emotional ride of dating. I felt like I just witnessed your engagement! And can't help but say CONGRATULATIONS again! (And Merry Christmas, too)

KA said...

You guys are so amazing. What a fun story. How come some people seem to have all the talent and all the fun?! It is so great to see what you've been up to. We miss you here and have had fun hanging out at your place with the Beck's. Keep us posted and remember VA misses you!!!

KA said...

Beverly!
You guys are awesome. I love your story! I don't know how you keep up so well on blogging with three kids! You are an awesome woman. Tell Mark hello! Miss you guys!