Tag Archives: Love

An Unexpected Visitor, Mace, and an Engagement Ring

13 Oct
“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”  ~Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally

Why, Hello Fiance

Just a typical Thursday night in July, I had come home from my summer clerkship, gone on a run with the pup, and made some dinner.  I was at court with one of the attorneys that day so I couldn’t wait to kick off my heels, and just relax.

I was planning to go to Nashville the next day after work, so I took the suitcase out of the closet and began the familiar routine of getting everything together.  After all the weekend trips, and the miles traveled, I could practically pack in my sleep.  But, as I was packing, I couldn’t help but get excited that  this would be one of the last times I’d make this trip before The Boy moved up to Cincy.

I just finished packing when one of my dearest friends from law school called saying she wanted to get together.  She had been in Africa all summer for her internship, and I could not wait to see her!  I hung up the phone and decided that I should probably pull myself together and get out of my old high school basketball shorts and my favorite t-shirt.  I knew she’d thank me :)

While I was getting ready, The Boy texted me and said he was finishing up dinner with his Dad (who was in Nashville for the week) and would call me in a bit.  I set the phone down and noticed that Caesar the Wonder Dog wasn’t sitting outside of the bathroom like he normally does when I get ready.  I looked around the apartment to make sure he wasn’t getting into trouble, and found him sitting right in front of the door with his head cocked to one side.  What a strange little dog.

I went back and continued getting ready, and was trying to figure out what to wear when I heard Caesar start barking.  At this point it was about 9pm, I wasn’t expecting anyone,  so I just assumed he was barking at the neighbors that had just moved in across the hall. I didn’t think much of it and went to find something to wear.  But then I heard a knock at my door…

OK, so again, it’s around 9pm.  I wasn’t expecting anyone and now I was a little unsure of what was going on.  I went to my room, and grabbed my phone and my keys (with my pepper spray compliments of The Boy’s Dad, since I go to school in downtown Cincy).  Looking back, I’m not real sure why it didn’t cross my mind to just not open the door if I didn’t know the person.  Instead I guess I was planning on opening it and macing them?!

Yes, I'm marrying him even though he's a Bengals fan. We all have flaws ;)

I went to the door and looked to see who it was.  Through the peep hole, I saw The Boy.  Wait…what?!?  I could not figure out why he was here.  I was going to Nashville the next day. He just texted me saying he was in Nashville with his dad…

Needless to say, I was at this point thoroughly confused, and I’m pretty sure I blacked out for a bit, ha. I slowly opened the door, paying no attention to the fact that I had just released the wild beast who was now jumping all over The Boy because he was so excited to see him.

“What are you doing here?!” I asked, still in my basketball shorts and ratty T-shirt.

He then got down on one knee, as he was trying to palm Caesar to keep him out of the way, and asked me to marry him.  Cue second blackout of the night.

I started smiling, and laughing excitedly and The Boy said that I asked, “Are you serious?!” about 4 or 5 times.  HA. I’m a little slow on the pick up some times apparently :)

And I of course said yes!

I gave him a huge hug, and could not stop smiling.  I couldn’t believe it.  I was completely surprised!  He’s way too good at surprises.  If I had to propose, I wouldn’t have been able to keep my  big mouth shut.

I finally put my keys and phone down (he had no idea I was about to mace him, ha), and looked at him and said, “But I’m all packed for Nashville.”

“Jack, we can go to Nashville this weekend if you want,” he said.  Which made us both start laughing.

I started asking questions about when he knew, how he planned it, etc. and then it dawned on me I hadn’t even looked at the ring?!

When I asked if I could see the ring, he laughed and said, “Of course you can, it’s yours you know.”

Come to find out, he had known for awhile that he wanted to ask me to marry him but waited to ask until he could go to Atlanta to ask my parents, and had gotten the ring, all without me knowing a single thing.  It meant so much to me that he took the time to talk with my parents and the ring was absolutely gorgeous.  I mean, I would’ve married him if he gave me a paperclip people, but The Boy does good work.  And it is so special since he picked it out.  Boy’s got taste.  He’s a keeper.

I texted my friend, who was at this point probably wondering what had happened to me, and we headed to meet her.  I ran into the place she was at where he boyfriend (now fiance) told me she had just gone to the bathroom.  I ran in, and The Boy still makes fun of me for the girlish shrieks he heard from the bathroom when we both saw each other.  He said everyone in the place turned to look in our direction.  Ha.

I lived out of my suitcase that weekend, but I didn’t mind one bit.

In the months since, The Boy has moved up to Cincy, we’ve both started school, and tried to work on wedding planning in between.  We’re still figuring out catering, the honeymoon destination and colors, but I do know that one year from today, I get to marry my best friend. October 13, 2012 can’t come soon enough.

Live. Dream. Love. and Smiling at the Future

19 Mar

“The purpose of life is not to be happy.
It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate,
to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Earlier this month a beautiful friend, Chelsea Smith or as I knew her in college, Chelsea Swab, sent me a blogger award. It was the “You’re Going Places” award. Upon receiving it,  you are supposed to say where you want to be in 10 years. Now honestly, I’ve never been about these blogger awards but this one intrigued me and made the planner in me go nuts. There really should be some sort of rehab for planners and to-do list makers like me. “Hello my name is Jaye and I plan.” To which everyone sitting in creaky metal chairs would reply, “Hello Jaye.”

From Le Love's blog 3/18

My plans used to be a compilation of things to “do.”  What’s odd is that although my list still has some things to do, it focuses more on what or who I want to be. People are always evolving and so, as I have learned, are to-do lists.

10 years from now, sure there are things I want to do…have a couple more marathons under my belt (hopefully from different countries), learn another language, continue to succeed in a job that I love and since I’ll be almost 35, maybe I’ll have some rugrats running around (eek), but what about who I want to be.

I want to keep learning, listening and laughing. I want to be more understanding, more compassionate. I want to keep dreaming and help others achieve their dreams. I want to encourage, challenge and love those around me better than I do now. I want to do things I’m afraid of to make me more fearless and brave. I want to struggle so that I can become a stronger person. I want to try new things and meet new people but never forget where I came from and always honor that.

Like the quote says above, I want to live well. I want my life to mean something, I want to make an impact. I want to find out what it really means to live beautifully which to me doesn’t mean that everything is perfect and in it’s place, but that I always seek to find the beauty and joy around me in places, people, things and situations so matter how messy it is on the outside.

10 years ago

Proverbs 31:25 “Strength and dignity are her clothing. And she smiles at the future.” I have no idea where I’ll be in 10 years, but I welcome it. Bring it on because I’m going to smile at the future no matter what it brings.

When you get a second, stop by Chelsea’s blog, The Adventures of Mrs. Smith. She has mouth-watering Menu Monday’s and I love her inspiring thoughts for the day.  She is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet and I have so enjoyed reading her blog since we don’t see each other very much which I hope to remedy soon.

Some people say social networking takes away something from friendships because you aren’t sitting in front of them. I respectfully disagree. I think reading, connecting and sharing everyday makes those personal connections stronger when  you do meet. You connect over similar passions, attitudes and a way of going about life than merely experiences. Another thing I hope in 10 years is to continue to connect with these fabulous people.

Where do you want to be in 10 years?

Have a great weekend everyone! I am headed to Atlanta to run the ING Half Marathon and to hang out with the family. Wish me luck!

Lessons in love

15 Feb

“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” – Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Photo by Amelia Kay Photography

Valentine’s Day is over so you’re probably thinking this post is a little late. It is. I debated writing this post because I by no means am an expert on the subject, I am merely a student. I have learned a lot this past year. One of the things I’ve learned about is love. Not just love of a significant other but love of everyone who enters your life. Each one is significant in their own way, be it family, friends, someone you’ve just met or those halfway across the world that you may never know.

I never really thought that much about what love meant. I had a great picture of it from my parents. I was blessed to have two parents who loved each other and loved all of us, their four rowdy kids. I didn’t have to wonder what love was because I saw what it was everyday. But this past year, I saw people around me do some really ugly things to others in the name of “love” and something didn’t sit right. When girlfriends would talk to me about this I would simply respond, “Well that’s not true love,” as if I knew what I was talking about. I didn’t but I knew that if that’s what love was, I didn’t want it. If it was selfish, hurtful and self-serving, no thanks I can live without. It really made me think about love and those I loved. Was I being selfish? No one is perfect, I understand that. I’m sure I’ve done stupid things to those I love but shouldn’t we expect more? Shouldn’t we strive for more and to love those around us better everyday? I knew what love wasn’t but did I know what it was?

So as the snow falls to the ground here in Nashvegas and I get a break from a hectic Monday after a weekend where love has been on everyone’s mind, I thought I’d put in my two cents on what love is to me.

Love is…
Understanding
Genuine
Always Patient
Giving yourself fully to someone but never losing yourself
Interested
A compliment
A touch
Listening and Learning about others
Laughing
Always encouraging and challenging others to be the best person they can possibly be
Kind
Slow to anger and quick to forgive
Being there
Sharing your passions, fears, dreams and hopes for the future
Truth
Always extending a helping hand
A look
Willing to say you’re wrong and I’m sorry
Respect
Delighting in others and their success
Excitement
What keeps you up at night
Open
Inclusive
Putting others ahead of yourself
Trust
Passion
What still gives you butterflies
Friendship
Letting those around you be themselves
Strong
Constantly growing
Fun
Never giving up
What makes you smile at the beginning of each day

It’s just a simple list. I’m thinking maybe I’ll update it as I learn more because I feel I am only at the tip of the iceberg. What would you add to the list?

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