Monthly Archives: May 2012

A year ago – I said yes.

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Last year, I didn’t post about my engagement because things were all levels of crazy around here… and writing wasn’t high on my priority list. But, this year, things are a little less chaotic, so here it goes… in Christian’s words:

Planning the engagement was tricky for me, I spent several months trying to find the perfect moment to surprise Megan and catch her off guard. I’d plan something and I’d end up having to work late, I’d plan something else and find out we had other plans. I finally made the decision to propose after Memorial Day weekend – nothing was going to get in my way. Megan didn’t understand why I would want that Tuesday off, but I managed to take it off anyways. Megan’s Dad, Karl, had also recently moved about 45 minutes away, meaning I had to talk Megan into making a quick trip up there the weekend before so I could get the address for the big day. She had absolutely no idea what I was planning.

The day of the proposal: While Megan was at work, I put my plans into action – with stops at the flower shop, the craft store (for luminary supplies) and a quick apartment cleaning, the stage was set. After lunch with my family I drove to Lakewood to ask Karl for his blessing. I asked, he said yes, and we spent the rest of the time talking war movies. From there I made the quick, 45 minute, jaunt to Cathy’s (Megan’s Mom’s) house to also ask her blessing. After a few minutes of talking, I asked her too. She gave us her blessing and then it was off to finalize the top-secret preparations.

I swung by Megan’s apartment to grab Charlie. After Charles was safe in my possession I ran home and set the scene. I lit the candles in the luminaries, sprinkled the rose petals on the floor and put out her bouquet. Once I was sure everything was in place I called her to see where she was on her drive home – being very careful not to alert her of my plans. She was almost there!

Megan has a garage door opener to my house, and she usually came in through the garage. I took the batteries out over the weekend, meaning she’d have to walk around and come in the front door. The plan worked like a charm. She rang the front door bell and finally attempted to open the already unlocked door. She took one look around and asked me what was going on with a big smile on her face. I tried to explain what I was doing as she continued, to repeatedly, ask what was going on. Megan turned bright red as I got down on one knee, told her she meant the world to me and that I wouldn’t want to spend my life with anyone else, and proposed. She said YES!

We called all of our family to share the news. After everyone was officially in the know I took her to J. Alexander’s to celebrate – it was one of our very first official dates and one of our favorite restaurants (fire grilled artichokes anyone?). 

Some pictures of the day, compliments of my iPhone:

Christian (and his helper Charlie) waiting for me to walk in!

Aww, pretty flowers. How romantic!

Check out the red cheeks!

The ring – so perfect!

Do I garden?

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Let’s just start with the dream – the dream to have a yard that doesn’t look like a four year old wielded her black thumb and populated all the flower beds with spiky leaved weeds. It doesn’t sounds so difficult, right? I just want a yard that looks nice — nothing crazy, but generally attractive.

I started a couple months ago trimming back all the plants that needed to be hacked off at the roots, clearing all the dead crap (consider this an official term) out of the flower beds and overall cleaning things up. It looked good, or about as good as dead/hibernating plants and dirt can look. Plus it was easy peasy – no bugs, no new weed growth, no nothing. As it’s warmed up I’ve held on to the dream with garden-gloved, clenched fists. But each day I step in to tackle the seeming insurmountable amount of yard work outside my door, I’m confronted with a trial that pushes me to want to surrender the whole project on the spot.

Trial 1: Spiders. Guys, I’m terrified of spiders. When I say terrified, I don’t know if you can get the full body shaking, crying, anxiety inducing fear that fills me each time I see one of those satan spawned creatures. I’m pulling weeds and one of those little heathens comes racing toward me in an all out war to protect its home. Usually they meet the pointy end of my shovel and their war is quickly settled… but up in to that point it’s ALL fear.

Trial 2: Cat poop. I have a dog. I pick up dog poop. But, here’s the thing, it’s MY dog’s poop. I don’t have a cat and therefore do not want to pick up cat poop. When I go to plant my flowers only to find that the dirt in my planter isn’t clumpy after all… that those clumps are actually string after string of cat poop. That I stuck my [bare] hand in. Then, I’m not a fan.

Trial 3: Power Tools. I may or may not have sliced my finger up something fierce while trying to chop up a hedge with some electric clipper. So, I’m bleeding… and it hurts. I prefer not to break myself. (Note: I did not slice myself up with the sander… but it’s the only picture I have of a power tool in use. If a sander even counts as a power tool.)

Trial 4: Threat of more bugs. As if Trial 1 isn’t enough… and that my fear of spiders is really a fear of all bugs (exceptions: honey bees, rolly pollies and lady bugs), there are always threats of more bugs. Most recently Christian has assured me that our tomato plants will be covered in tomato bugs that are not only disgusting, but resemble the MASSIVE caterpillars we saw in Dominica this spring. Shiver.

So, from now on, here’s the plan. I’m ripping out (er, Christian is ripping out – see Trial 1) the stupid bush where I cut my hand. From there, I don’t know. Plant some flowers after the cat poop is removed by me? Or Christian? And then, who knows? Maybe I’ll embrace it or give it up all together?

Confessions.

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1.) I don’t like root beer. It’s just not for me. Once in a while Christian will bring one home from lunch out – lurking in an unsuspecting soda cup – and I’ll find the misfortune to take a big gulp. Yuck.

2.) Breakfast is BY FAR my least favorite meal of the day. Too sweet for this gal.

3.) I’m scared of heights. Standing near the edge, jumping from high places and just generally being un-naturally high in altitude scares the pants off of me. I had to scoot up a rock on my butt and muster all that I had just to stand up for this picture. It doesn’t look high, but it drops on all sides. Shiver.

4.) I’ve read every single Nicholas Sparks book. A great friend got me started when he gave me “A Walk to Remember” as a birthday present in high school (knowing full well I had an indecent obsession with the movie). Little did he know I’d go on to read each and every one of the books ‘ol Mr. Sparks had written over the next eight years.

5.) I’m shamefully addicted to Sister Wives. Typically, I shun ridiculous reality television, but come on…  a Mormon dude with three four wives, 400 kids and all sorts of crazy shenanigans that ran away from Utah!?! Um, hello, fascination.

May Day.

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It’s May, it’s May, it’s May. Granted the weather around here has felt May-ish since mid-March… but who cares. It’s MAY. May is such a great month, it signals the ends of school, the start of summer, the end of snow/cold, the start of glorious weather and good times.

In honor of May I’m going to try participating in the ‘ol photo a day challenge. Here’s the scoop:

 

Please join the fun if you want or follow along on Instagram @meganstecker! Off to a good start with Day 1: Peace!

Me, sans make-up at the end of the day.