Wedding Dresses!!

Once I had that ring on my finger, it was go time! Three days later, my mom, Danielle, her kids and I were on the road to Utah. We all knew we wouldn't be able to find anything around town that was modest enough for the temple. I had an idea of what type of dress I wanted. I thought I was going to go for a modern, trumpet style.

We drove into Utah, had a quick BBQ with some family and then went to the University Mall to go check out Allyse's Bridal. We only had about an hour before they closed for the night so we planned on just checking out the designs and then coming back the next day to try things on. I gave the lady that worked there some designs I saw online. She asked me if I've thought of trying a specific dress because I had the perfect body type for it. I was more than willing to try any dress on :) 

"THE" dress :)

This dress had brocade all over it, extremely heavy and drop dead gorgeous! There was a good group high school girls trying on prom dresses and as I was standing in front of all the mirrors, they passed by and all gawked and said whoever my fiance was, he was one lucky man. Ok, if a bunch of strangers were saying that.. it must look pretty good! But seriously? Did we just travel all this way for me to find my dress after only trying on one other dress?! I had made appointments for the following day at other bridal boutiques, so my mom said we should keep the appointments to see if there was another dress that contended with it. I agreed, but was a little nervous I'd find another dress I loved just as much as this one.

This is the dress I had envisioned, it had it all.. but was over my budget.

The next day we get to the first appointment and my fear came true. I really liked this one dress, it had everything I ever thought I'd want in a dress. It was form fitting around my stomach, had lace, some pick ups, the back tied like I wanted, and the train was beautiful! But, it was a good $700 over what I wanted to spend on a dress.

First time putting a vale on.. THAT moment was surreal!

I was now in debate, and my head was spinning with all the options. I tried on some other really pretty dresses in the mean time, but I knew the two I was in debate over.

This dress was ALL lace! Oh my.. gorgeous!

I eventually got so overwhelmed that I just stopped trying dresses on and decided the dress for me was the second one I tried the day we got into town. I knew I was only going to wear the dress for one day, but at the same time I wanted to have that dress be special. Once we went back to
Allyse's Bridal and tried on that other dress I knew I had made the right choice. It was perfect, never thought of me in that style dress before but I was in love with it! The worker quickly put this flower hairpiece in and I was sold. No more searching :)

Who knew I'd fall in love with something with fish net!

Ridding horses = LOVE

I knew when Perm asked my dad for my hand.. and of course my dad responded with, "that's all you want? Just her hand?". So I kept telling him the element of surprise was gone, just pop the question already because everyone is suspicious. Well, he didn't like that much.

On Sunday Sept 12, my sister starts talking to me about riding horses and of course I jump on that idea. I'll go riding any time I can! I had Mondays off so we decided that would be a good day.

Perm had class Monday nights and so I knew it was only my sister and I riding. Danielle was being kind of goofy that day, I had a meeting to go to for work and while I was there she asked me what is good at this local deli that I LOVE. I quickly responded with a general description of what to get. Apparently that wasn't good enough for her. She then asked about wither tomatoes and onions were good on it. I thought that was such a stupid question, wouldn't you know if you liked those things on your sandwich!?
Finally it's time for me to head over to the Warner's house, while on the way Danielle called me telling me she won't be there on time, then five minutes later that she was on her way and to pull off the road and wait for her, another five minutes go by and she tells me to meet her at the house (like I said, she was acting goofy).
Once at the Warner's I meet up with our friend Jacky and started riding the horses. Just as we head out she starts asking me all sorts of questions about what I've been up to. Naively I start telling her how I know Perm is planning on asking me to marry him (little did I know I was on my way for him to do just that!) and how he needs to get it over with because I already know about the ring, the asking of the parents. I thought I knew it all.

Jacky with her two horses, Andy and Justin

We start down this hill and I see this white Honda accord, which I thought was totally bizarre. We are in the middle of Washoe Valley, how did someone get their car out there! I asked her why that would be and she said people like to hike out here. I happily agreed with that answer and kept riding (I was in heaven just being on a horse, so I wouldn't have cared if the world was coming to an end.. I was on a horse!)
It was only a few minutes later that my horse suddenly stops. He was spooked by something in the bushes to my right. So of course I start looking that direction as well. I see this round silver thing pointing my direction... What is that? Is all I could think! Then I see it move and I see a red dot!! I look closer and see it's my brother in law Matt. Why was he recording me and when I called his name why wouldn't he answer me!? I was pretty confused. Then I look up the trail where there was a blanket with rose petals everywhere, candles and music. It FINALLY dawned on me what was actually happening!!

Perm's hiding spot

Perm comes from behind the tree where he was hiding and has the biggest smile on his face! I didn't think I would be nervous but boy was I wrong! I felt frozen, I couldn't say or do anything. All I could do was shake. I got off the horse and next thing I know Perm is kneeling in front of me asking me to be his wife! According to my family I was like a bobble head, shaking my head yes the entire time! Once he puts the ring on(of course the one I feel in love with at Jared) I noticed my "paparazzi". Danielle had been taking pictures the whole time, Matt video taping and Jacky was there with her iPhone in one hand and the rains for the horses in the other.

Brings a smile to my face every time I think of this moment :)

Once Danielle got her pictures, they all left Perm and I alone. He takes me to the blanket and I see two glasses of sparkling cider. Then he has sandwiches for us to eat, from my favorite deli (Danielle got me on that one! Sneaky sneaky!!), my favorite chips. It was perfect! We watched the sun set over the valley and enjoyed watching the stars together. Then, last but not least he pulled out the best chocolate covered strawberries!! YUM!

The night was better than I had ever imagined it being! Perm was so proud of the fact that he surprised me... And honestly so was I.

Here's some extra pictures from the night;

They thought of everything to make it a special night for me

I had my ring!! YES!

Andy was trying to eat my rose

This the most random tree out in the middle of Washoe Valley. It made the perfect spot to be proposed to!

A special thanks to my sister, Danielle and brother in law Matt for creating one of the most incredible nights of my life :)

Marriage talk

So once Perm was home our relationship started to take off. We sat at my parents house on a Sunday night and started talking about our future. It threw me for a loop! I was so surprised that only after two weeks we would be talking about marriage.. I didn't expect it, nor did he! We talked about when our wedding date would be and if we would wait till the summer or get married during the winter. Both of us felt if we knew it was right and that it was supposed to happen then why post pone it even more?

I went home that night and quickly texted my cousin Gabrielle. I told her "well.. Perm and I just had our first official marriage talk." Then she responded quickly with, "Jordan and I have had it too..." I was shocked! Gabrielle and Jordan had been dating for about a year or so and I knew it was getting serious but I knew Gabrielle all too well and she wasn't one to hop on the marriage band waggon. So I thought she meant we've talked about it but not any details. I soon find out I'm very wrong! They were looking at getting married around the same time as well! Which blew my mind! Once we both realized what was happening we both laughed and thought of course, we are like sisters(3 months apart age wise and lived a street away most our lives) why woulndn't we get married around the same time? Heck, we will probably die around the same time too!

So that of course got my all excited. I loved the fact I was in the process of getting married but the fact that I would have my cousin by my side made it that much better :)

That Saturday I told Perm we should go look for rings, because I don't know what I really like. Plus, I didn't know what looked good on my finger. So he hesitantly said yes...little did he know what he was getting himself into! Hahaha! We decided to go to Jared, I had done some research and I really liked one of the rings I saw on their website. That day we learned about the four C's of a diamond. Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. I knew I hated the three stone look, yes Perm and I have the past, present and future thing goin for us in our relationship but I didn't want that on a ring. So I had this idea of having a center stone with little diamonds all around it. I couldn't find anything like that! Finally, the sales lady asked me the vision I had in my head. Once I told her, her eyes lite up and she went and got a ring. She told me I was a very vintage girl(uhhh...me? Seriously? Little did I know the whole vintage look would play into more than just my ring!) She put this ring on my finger and placed the center stone so I could get the full affect of what it would look like. I instantly had a huge grin on my face! Oh my gosh! It was gorgeous! (As a side note; I've always told Perm he's not allowed to pick out my ring with out me, I'm the one wearing it so I want to make sure I'm absolutely in love with it.. Thankfully he was more than ok with that!)

Perm couldn't believe we had found a ring that I was so in love with. He kept asking me, "Are you sure? This is only the first store we've been to! We need to look around". So I told him that would be fine, but I won't find one that out weights this ring. Sure enough, we went and looked around and he was the one that turned up his nose to other rings.

This all was happening while my parents were on a Scandanavian Cruise and I was happy about that. I still felt it was too soon from him coming off his mission. But at the same time I was so torn because I knew what I wanted and why wait at that point?

So a few weeks go by, he started school which stressed him out and threw him for a curve ball all on it's on. He was so used to the mission rules and schedule so when he had to change it up and focus on school it took him awhile to get adjusted. I was anxious, I liked that ring and I wanted it on my finger!

Perm coming home after two years in India..

  I was really nervous for Perm to come home from his mission. We both had changed a great deal and I dated while he was away. I knew he wasn't too keen on the idea of someone else dating his girl but I felt it was needed for me to see what else was out there. I felt if I dated and got to know other guys, when Perm came home I would know with out any doubt that he was the one for me. As for him and his thinking.. he hated that train of thought.



Some of my family to welcome him home



  As time got closer the more and more I thought of him, I realized how exceptional he was. How he can start talking to someone and make them feel they are the only thing that matters to Perm. How well he gets along with my family. How driven he is in his life, with school, his career, his family-future and present. It was clear to me at that point, if Perm would be willing to put aside the fact that I dated and look at me and who I've become we would become serious quickly.

  August second came around the corner, I was getting my hair cut and died and making sure I looked perfect for when he walked into the sea of people welcoming him home. His flight was supposed to come in at 7:30 and I was praying with all I had that it would be on time! I went to the airport with my roommate Anita Hawkins and I just remember looking down at my hands and seeing them shake! I was soo nervous to see Perm after two years! Would if he saw me and said, "Yuck! I dated HER?" We talked in an email before hand and he told me I had to shake his hand. I was soo extremely disappointed! I wanted a HUG! But I respected his wishes and was only going to give him that.

  We walk up to the area everyone was waiting and we see his family. I was also nervous for this moment. His family and I haven't ever gotten along like I had always wished. I know they didn't like the fact that I brought the church into Perm's life. Before his mission I was the closest with his little sister, who is now 14. I see her and she has BLUE hair! Oh man! So shakily I said hello to the family. They have worked for just about 12 years on getting family from India to the USA and I was able to meet them for the first time as well. We had a pretty big group there with a lot of my family wanting to welcome him home.



Perm's family





  7:30 comes and goes and no Perm.... Matt is checking on his phone to get the flight information from San Fransisco. Sure enough there are complications with the plan and they had to cancel the flight! I couldn't believe it! San Fransisco! A 3 or 4 hour drive! That little amount of land was holding me back from seeing him! We were really concerned. He didn't have a cell phone, who knew how much money he had on him, was that the last flight or would he be able to catch another one? Finally some questions were answered and we found out he was able to hop on another plane that would arrive in Reno around 11:30 or so.

 

  We head back home, heads hung low(well, at least mine was). I'm pretty sure that was one of the longest hour of my life! I tried watching TV but I mainly sat there playing through in my mind what it will be like when he sees me. How should I act? What should I say? I didn't know, and I figured I wouldn't until I saw him and that smile of his :).

  Finally the time had come, we were are all staring

Papa and Brielle lookin at the airplanes

 out of the windows looking for "his plane". The one thing I had planned was to stay in the background. I wanted his family to be the first thing he saw. I knew I wouldn't be his number one priority and I should expect to be. So I hear someone yell, "There he is!" We all looked up in anticipation and I see this tall man walking down the corridor with this HUGE smile on his face! He was here! Finally! First thing, his sister runs into his arms and all you here him say is, "Blue hair!" He has amazing hugs, did I mention this? Yeah, they are like nothing you have ever felt! He takes so much time and you can feel his compassion and sincere concern for you in that hug...thus me wanting one so bad! So he goes through and hugs his family, some friends that were there, and my family. And I'm thinking this whole time, he hasn't seen me yet, he hasn't seen me yet, when should I make myself known? Next thing I know I met his eyes, all I could do was smile. You always hear in movies people say my knees went weak. I always thought that was fake. Well, I sure was proven wrong. My knees went weak and I was speechless! I wish I could put into words this look we had. It was so intense and I know he and I both felt it. He looked at me and all I could think was everything is OK, he loves me. I wish I will always remember his face in this moment. It was the answer to all those prayers I had given throughout those two years.

Our awkward moment after the hug

  He comes up to me and the only words I could spit out was, "Hand shake or hug?" and is arms embraced me and I got that hug I had been dreaming of for so long. The next part was super awkward. Normally, before the mission, after a hug was followed by a kiss. You could tell both of us hesitated after the hug and all I could say was, "Sooo..."

  I was on a high for the rest of the night! I couldn't stop smiling. I would see him sneak a glance at me every once in awhile followed by that look and a big smile. I had butterflies, giddy and extremely happy all wrapped in one! Once Anita and I left the airport I remember turning to her and saying, "That's it, I'm done. That's all I needed." (Side note; I still get chills when I recall this night).

One of the best hugs I've recieved!

  The next week was interesting. Perm had a good friend here in town that served his mission in Nevada and was really influential in helping Perm be baptized. He was also adjusting to being home. He kept telling everyone he was going to stick to the missionary schedule... yeah, ask him how that's going now :). I had to keep telling myself to slow down. I know what I wanted, but I still wasn't sure if he had his feet on the ground yet. Thankfully we had Hot August Nights to keep us busy and we had a blast with it! Getting together with friends and having Perm re experience everything all over again. He kept saying everything was weird. So finally he got sick of using that word and switched it to "unique".



I've lived in Reno/Sparks and this is the first picture I can remember taking under the sign!

Towards the end of the week I was able to steal him away and take him on a date. First I had to keep with a little cheesy moment, before Perm left on his mission, while we were having his farewell party I pulled him off to the side and into my room. I played Colbie Caillat's "Realize" and started dancing with him. I remember how special that moment was to me, it was one memory I held onto soo tightly! I remember crying and he told me I can't do that, I need to be strong. My mom walked in on us and she later told me that was one of the most precious moments she's ever seen. So I had to make sure if we started this journey with a dance we were going to end it with one too! So I pull him in my room and start playing it. We both got these huge grins on our faces and soaked up the the moment once again. Bowers Mansion has always been one of our get aways, we take a little picnic with us and just hang out. It's always becomes one of our favorite days. Unfortunately, the weather didn't want to cooperate with us, it started hailing and we both booked it to the car for cover. It was pretty nerve wracking driving home. I couldn't see far in front of me because it was coming down so heavily. We made it to our next destination safely, the Aces ballpark.

We had some pretty good seats that game too!

Knowing Perm, I had a feeling he would love and soak up every possible moment of this experience. I sure was right! He analyzed every part of the game and atmosphere possible! It's always fun to watch him when these new experiences happen :)

The sunset was perfect, and a great end to such an amazing day!





Let's start at the beginning..



So I've gotten a lot of advice from family members to create a blog so everyone can know what is going on in our lives. Here it goes :).

I'll give a little background on Perm and I before I get into it all. We met while going to Sparks High school. I always saw him as the jokester and class clown type. I was also dating other people so Perm wasn't really on my radar. But one fateful day junior year I transferred into a yearbook class and guess who just happened to be in it? Yep, Perm would not leave me alone! I had Spanish class right before yearbook and every time I'd walk in with my Spanish book he would sit on top of my desk and ask me to speak Spanish. I refused every time! I couldn't speak all that well and didn't want to embarrass myself. Eventually, he got to me and I started seeing the guy I would end up dating.

If I don't add this part of the story I know he'll be disappointed. One thing we liked to do was play pool in the basement of my parents house with friends. So one night in May that was what we were doing. He never beat me, NEVER. So at the beginning of this game he turned to me and said, "If I beat you, you'll be my girlfriend". I laughed because he's never won against me before so it was honestly a long shot, but I agreed. Sure enough, he won (with my help) and he went screaming and running throughout the house. I just sat back and laughed.

As most know, Perm was a non-member when we started dating. He had actually gone to seminary because his friend Deseree was his ride to school. If she went, so did he. A couple of months into our relationship I was talking with him over the phone and asked him if he believed in God and how he felt about church. I told him if he wanted to get to know me he needed to get to know my church, seeing as that was a huge part of who I am. He assured me that he will go, but he won't get baptized and that Sunday he was at church with me. He saw it as a way to be with me a little bit more but my mom had another idea. She secretly got the missionaries to corner Perm and offered to teach him more through the discussions. Perm agreed, but assured me he wouldn't get baptized. Every Thursday at my parents house we all got together. I can honestly say that was one of the times in my life that I was on a spiritual high. Perm embraced the church so well and was the "Golden Investigator" as the missionaries put it. It took Perm a long time to decide to join the church. He wanted to make sure that it wasn't for me that he was making this life altering decision. Plus, he was still at home and his parents were not a fan of the idea of him becoming a member. 

He eventually pushed past all that and found that being a member was what he wanted. He got baptized Aug 19, 2006 and he assured me that even though he was getting baptized, he wasn't going on a mission. By now, I just nodded my head because both my mom and I knew he would go. He would be an amazing missionary.

About a year later, Perm decided a mission would be a good idea. I was planning on going on a mission at 21 as well. That was something I never expected to do, I just so happened to get a nice awakening when I got my Patriarchal blessing that flat out told me I was to go on a mission, and then come home, find a man and get married in the temple. I was always the type that thought I would get married young and start my family. At that point we changed our way of thinking and  both knew if we were to get married it would have to be after my mission.

Perm was called to the India Bangalore Mission on April 3, 2008. We were all pretty excited seeing as we've never really known someone to go to India. Plus it's where his dad and step mom are from. By now, Perm and I have dated for three years. The plan was for him to go out on his mission, I would wait another year for me to turn 21 and then I would go on mine. A few months before he left for his mission I found out I had hyperthyroidism and I was in bad shape. I was allergic to all the medication they gave me and had to have emergency surgery to get my thyroid removed(miserable time in my life! I was put on steroids.. ugh! I don't know how people willingly go on that stuff! I bulked up real quick! 25 lbs in two weeks!)

Anyways, six months later I put my mission papers in and got my call to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and I was to report on June 17, 2009. Two weeks before I was supposed to report to the MTC I got a phone call from my doc telling me my thyroid has grown back and I couldn't go out on my mission. So our perfect little plan was no longer anything. I was home while he was out serving a mission for the both of us now.