Will You Marry Me...all over again?!?

 

We Jumped in with Both Feet...Again...Eight Years Later!  

 

In May, Jody and I traveled down to St. George for a weekend getaway.  I had surprised him with Brian Regan Tickets back at Christmas Time, and the Event was this weekend in May.  Jody loves Brian Regan's humor, and we were really excited to see him live at the Tuacahn Amphitheater.

We had a nice drive down to St. George.  No Screaming Children.  No "She's putting the pony toy in her mouth...She's ruining my life!"  No "I love you mommy and daddy."  It was quiet.  We missed the girls, and found that even though they weren't with us...our conversation was full of stories about them and how they make us smile.

I insisted we stop in Beaver to get a snapshot in the GiANt rocking chair.  The man taking our picture, looks so happy in the reflection.  See, everyone was having a good time. 

Southern Utah really is Beautiful.  And Greg and Irene have a lovely little house down there.  It makes it convenient and comfortable to visit. 

I offered to take pictures of Jody with the gorgeous scenery.  He wasn't interested.  :)

 



Brian Regan was funny!  We had good seats; 4th row.  I was laughing so hard. the man in front of us kept turning around and staring at me.  We had a great time! 

After the show, Jody said he wanted to show me something.  We drove up to an overlook of the city.  It was beautiful.  The weather was perfect.  Jody had packed some camping chairs in the back of the trunk.  We sat down and took in the sights.  We could see the St. George LDS Temple in the distance. 

We talked and talked, and everything felt right. 

I was wearing Jody's sweatshirt. 

Jody took my hand. 

We reminisced about when we were newlyweds.  We had little money.  But Jody was working for SkyWest at the time.  So we would fly stand-by and take short 36-hour trips to places we otherwise could never afford to go.  It was just the two of us.  And most of the time, we stayed in the cheapest motels we could find or slept in the rental car.  But it was fun.  It was a time full of adventure and learning about each other. 

While we reflected back on those times, Jody took my hand and told me, "I have learned over the years, that no matter where we are....as long as we are together, I know I will be happy." 

And I was thinking, "I feel the same way.  I feel blessed."

And then he got down on one knee.  He pulled a ring box out of his pocket.  I couldn't believe what was inside.  A replica of my original wedding ring.  It looked just like the one he put on my finger when he proposed on Halloween back in 2004.  Just like the one I was wearing in the hospital when Gracie was born in 2007.  But months later that ring was stolen.  It vanished.  And although it was just an object, I have always felt terrible and so saddened that it's gone. 

Jody had been working for months with designers to make this new ring look just like the original.  I couldn't believe it.  I was so genuinely surprised and happy at his loving gesture!!   

I was talking to a co-worker the other day.  He just married his sweetheart four months ago.  He asked me what the greatest thing is about being married for EIGHT years.  The answer is easy:  After years of marriage with Jody, I am constantly having aahh--haa moments, where I smile to myself and say,

"Wow.  I married the right man." 

                   or

"Just more proof, that my decision to marry him was the BEST decision I have ever made."

These thoughts come to me usually when Gracie and Sienna are squealing with joy during a piggy-back ride on Jody's back, or when he brings home pizza because he knows it's been a rough day and he doesn't want me to stress about cooking dinner, or when I see him dedicate hours of training because he wants to give my brother Michael a chance he's never had....a chance to get out of his wheelchair and take part in a triathlon.   

There is a great deal of uncertainty in life; curve balls and struggles that can, at times, blindside me.  But I have been blessed to have constant confirmations that he is the right choice for me. 

What a fun, thoughtful and unexpected surprise!!