Love letter blogging

February 21st is a very special day for Abigail and I because it marks the day we began our courtship. We actually met in 2003 but it wasn't until she was about to leave for Turkey and I realized I might never see her again that I realized I had already had feelings for her and didn't want her to go all the way around the world without telling her. So we were at this party and I snuck into another room, wrote her a poem, gave it to her, and left...yeah. The sequence of events afterward is a little fuzzy but somehow we ended up chatting online while she was away so my scheme worked. I did the proper thing and actually asked her dad's permission to write her, though (yep, that's how they roll).

Naturally when she got back I also had to get her dad's permission to date her and the week of Valentine's day 2004 he actually said "no." Her parents wanted me to read two books that they felt would explain their perspective on what Christian courtship is, so I read them as promised and on February 21st Abigail and I began our relationship with our first date... a Civil War Re-Enactment Ball! Here is a picture of us below, isn't she cute and such?
I was very much outnumbered as a Rebel, BTW...

Anyway, obviously our relationship and our love has continued on and grown since then. We got the opportunity to go to some classes together at MCC which was fun, and then our paths diverged as she started on her way to being a nurse type person.

Our anniversary in 2006 was especially special, as that was the night I proposed. We took the Dolly Steamboat cruise out (well worth it just for the view let alone the food, by the way) and I proposed right there at the table. No, I didn't get down on one knee; we were on a boat and neither of us wanted the attention. The only downside is Abigail was totally expecting it, but on the other hand it was a lot of fun!

Since we got married, February 21 has been more of our inside joke and our alternative to Valentine's Day, which neither of us really believes too much in. I am thankful that Abigail's parents showed her by example to believe that romance should be all year and should not be mandated by a greeting card company. We have a new anniversary to celebrate (October 21) now, and the past two years we have done it in style. Still, I am the nostalgic type and don't wish to give up on a special day.

Unfortunately this year it fell on a day where my poor wife was exhausted and was ready to go to bed as soon as she came home from school. I had friends over for the evening and was so wrapped up in that that I forgot the day. It's possible she did too; as I said it's not a huge day for us anymore and we didn't have anything scheduled. Still I feel bad for not at least acknowledging it, and thus I am writing this blog entry. I know Abigail reads this as does Andrew...and that's about it, but I hope someone does. :-)

So, here is the titular love letter, and I don't care who else reads it!

To my favorite wife,

I love you, and I am so proud of you and the person you are. You are a beautiful, wonderful woman who adds a great deal to the world around her. Some day you're going to be a fantastic mom, too, and I can't wait to be there to see it. It is inspiring to see someone who is so in touch with what she wants for her future, and I am honored to be able to support you in at least some way in your goals.

If you're ever feeling impatient (not that it ever happens, but should it), please remember that we had to have February 21st in order to get to October 21st. That's why I still like to remember it every year; it was a good day for me.

Tentatively we're doing something Saturday after she gets out of school; we'll see how she feels I guess. She's been really tired the past two times after school that I am reserving hope until, well, Saturday. Even then it wouldn't be able to be really late since she works Sunday morning and I have to do the sound booth for church at 8 AM. Yay... fun times.

I remember that seminar the college (for nursing school) had all the spouses or whomever go to right before Block 1 where they basically explained how they next two years will suck. As in a good chuck of the first two years of our marriage... yay! We've had some stress, some tension but only during tense times. These are tense times for everyone in our country and heck, our world right now, and I bet a lot of marriages are being tested, but ours is working.

Thus, in conclusion, I love my wife very much, and some day I hope to have lots of money to buy her a very large mansion or at least a nicer car to drive her by one. I would bet all of Andrew's money she feels similarly about me. ;-)

I love you Meg!

~Scott

Yay for President's Day!

Sooo, time flies when you're (mostly) having fun! Monday was great first and foremost because I got to sleep in for a change (first day since Saturday the 7th I'd gotten to do that for various reasons). Abigail and I had breakfast together, then my dad and Susan came to my place. At that point the girls went shopping and to a movie and my dad and I hung out for a while, eventually to be joined by Andrew, then Travis. We had originally planned on going to the driving range that day, but I was sore from sledding the day before and Andrew was tired from being up all morning waiting to get a seat to see President Obama speak on Wednesday (today).

So instead, we got Weinerschnitzel for lunch (one of my favorites!) and played Rock Band. We briefly played Halo, then played Ghost Recon for the remaining time until the girls returned, and my dad and Susan left soon after that. We then ordered Pizza Hut and Travis' wife Kim joined us while we played Rock band again.

I made the mistake at that point of confessing that I had started a new band at the beginning of the day to protect the score of my own band (which is pretty decently high since Rock Band 2 allows you to play through Tour mode by yourself). I think I half offended half amused everyone, but since I did have some amatuers with me (especially my dad) I felt justified. I didn't want to worry about my score; I just wanted to have fun! It turned out to be a good thing as I got at least three Achievements that day. Go me!

I had hoped to write on Monday but alas (or not), there was no time! This weekend was a great stress reliever and a whole lot of fun. Thanks go out to all of my friends who spent time with me as well as my parents, Abigail's parents, and of course Abigail herself. Special shout out to Susan for going to the movies with Abigail, she needed a break!

Snow Day

I actually have a decent amount to write about, but one quick entry is all I have the time or energy for at the moment. It's been a busy weekend so far, and thankfully I have Monday (President's Day) off! Yay!!!

Yesterday was fun. We went to the VNSA book sale (a big annual event) out in Phoenix where I spent a surprisingly reasonable amount of money on books; my forgotten neglected love. My parents, my friend Andrew, my sister Susan, and her friend all went (although we split up upon arrival for convenience) and much fun was had. That night my in laws came over and my father in law (Al) helped me with a few household projects (such as repairing the doorbell) before my mother in law (Dianna) arrived with their Christmas present to each other: a Wii.

We played it for some time. Video game connoisseur that I am it was the first time I had ever played one and I enjoyed it immensely. They decided to leave it with me for a while since they will be busy for at least a couple of days anyway, which I had no problem with at all.

So today I went with my friends Travis and Kim and their little niece Riley so the littlest one could see snow for the first time. It was fun to do something totally random and fun for a change although I know it probably disappointed my dad that I wasn't in church today. Today is one year since my grandfather's death, but I did at least give him (my dad) the message I wouldn't be coming. I promised to say a special prayer that day, although I said it for my dad and not for my grandfather as I think my dad had meant. My dad's beliefs are definitely an amalgam of his Catholic upbringing and our current church, but I think the important thing is his heart is in the right place.

Anyway, we hit the road about 9:45 or so (after some delays not worth mentioning) and eventually stopped for the snow outside of the Pine-Strawberry area on the Pine trailhead, which was nice because it was safe. You can find the pictures on my Picasa page here: http://picasaweb.google.com/rainchaserknight. It's the new album called "Snow Day." We had a lot of fun overall and I am so glad Travis invited me. It made me realize I need to do more things like that; I used to have a lot more fun when I was random. As I've grown older I've gotten a lot more structured and afraid and that's made me a lot more unhappy. I think I need to work on that.

We stopped in Payson on the way back and saw Travis' grandparents. Considering what day it is for me that made me a little sad but I didn't say anything. I never had much of a relationship with my mom's father or any relationship with her mother (she died before my time), and my relationship with my father's parents (it being his dad in question) is similar, although I did know them better. His dad did at least get to come to my wedding before he died, which was very pleasing. When I can find a picture I will put one up under the family album on Picasa. Anyway, Abigail and Matt and Travis all still have living grand parents (Andrew too, actually) that they have a relationship with, and that's something I am jealous of. Barring something horrible my children will get to have that and I am very grateful, but sad because that's something I missed out on.

Wow, this turned out to be longer than I thought! Anyway, hope to have more time tomorrow; I have a bit more to write about. Friday was kind of interesting as well, and I've just had some things on my mind I'd like to get down here. Hope all is well with you, and that someone out there is reading this.

All the best,

-Scott