Easter 2018

Ok -- we're now 2 weeks out, but this year's Easter celebration was fantastic! Gary and I went to a community sunrise church service where one of the pastors at our church gave the sermon. We were surprised with how cold it was at the service and will dress warmer next year. However, the weather warmed, so the day was gorgeous, and we celebrated at my parents' house.

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You can tell in the picture that the sun was in Sam Nolan's eyes. He was such a trooper! Gary and I started a couple of traditions for Easter this year. (Hey, people have Christmas traditions.) One tradition is that we watch an Easter movie, such as "Risen", which we watched this year. The other tradition is, as a couple, that we read through the gospels each night during lent. The new traditions made the whole season so special.

I'm engaged

On 2/17/18, we made it official. Gary and I are engaged! We've been dating for quite a while and I'm excited to see how our story unfolds. Our life together has been wonderful so far and our families expected the happy news. I can't think of a better partner who is as supportive as he is. Whether it's our health (with working out and eating healthier) or our spiritual lives (both separate and as a couple), I can rely on Gary. The weekend of the proposal, we went on a trip to Chattanooga. Although I knew that we were going on the trip and that he wanted me to take something nice to wear to dinner, I had no idea that he had planned to take us on a dinner cruise on the Southern Belle, which is where he proposed. Everything was very romantic. During the cruise, there was a musician playing great music. For a few minutes, the music stopped and that's when Gary got down on one knee to propose. The musician was so kind and announced to everyone on the cruise that I had said, "Yes". "My Girl" by The Temptations played so Gary and I could slow dance. I was on cloud 9 the rest of the weekend and could not stop staring at my gorgeous ring. The trip to Chattanooga over President's Day weekend to relive the proposal is now going to be a tradition for us. I'm still elated! Definitely #happilyeverfrancis!