Sorry, I’ve been M.I.A. :( But I’m ENGAGED!! :)

Way to go, Alyse!! You haven’t blogged in over a week. :( However, I do have my reasons.. And maybe I’ll make this a little long to make up for it! :) Bear with me..

About two years ago, I thought I had my mind made up. I was to be single for the rest of my life. And it wasn’t that I felt there was no hope for anyone loving me (there wasn’t much hope, but there was at least some). It was more like my own choice. Past relationships and watching ones that had been ruined within my extended family throughout my life, had made its impact. It wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t worth the constant thinking about someone – the kind that stops you from getting school work done, or anything else for that matter. It wasn’t worth the over-analyzing of little remarks. It wasn’t worth the bad. And to me, it wasn’t worth the good.

I remember telling my parents I was never going to get married. And I remember them outright laughing at me, too. Of course, marriage had always been something I wanted when I was a little girl. But things had changed. And circumstances led me to believe I was to dedicate my life to other things. And I was finally feeling content with that.

But then, what do you know? Dylan had to come and screw everything up! In February of 2008, I was a sophomore in college. On one pleasant Thursday evening, I was helping lead worship at SU’s weekly Campus Crusade for Christ meeting. As the team and I were practicing before people got there, I distinctly remember this guy walking around the auditorium, stopping suddenly, and staring at me for a solid minute. I don’t know if I thought anything about it at the time, other than, “Um.. Would you quit staring at me!”

A couple weeks later, I was mingling with a group of people at Cru. That same guy, Dylan, was to my left. And we had never met. I took initiative, sticking my hand out rather quickly, and probably awkwardly.. “Hi! I’m Alyse!” Bahahah, I almost cringe with embarrassment thinking back on it. Hopefully, I’m just over-analyzing like I always do. :) Dylan reciprocated very kindly, “Hi, I’m Dylan!” AND he had a good, firm handshake – a good sign. :)

The next few months were full of chats on AIM until 3AM.. I know, I know.. Lame. But so much fun! Dylan also stuck by me when I was being stalked by the ICOC (cult alert!! – a story way too long for this blog..) and some 30-year-old “student” at SU. Crap, did I just write that in my blog??!! Anyway, I’d like to think our story is quite the unusual one. :) After three months of friendship, Dylan and I sat in my room, watching To Kill a Mockingbird (my FAVE movie of all time!). As the credits began rolling though, Dylan became visibly nervous – anxiously playing with the corner of my pillow. This was “THE talk.” As I explained in an earlier post, Dylan would be graduating in 5 days, I’d be leaving for Sharon in a week, and Dylan would soon be making a big move to Manhattan and launching his career with CSC. The obvious answer seemed to be, “No..” But we decided we’d both pray about it, and ask our close friends, and families to help us make this decision. And, TUH-DAH!! We’ve been dating for nearly a year and a half.

Man, this is getting LONG. But hey, even if you guys have given up reading by this point, I’m having fun! :)

K, SO.. On Tuesday, Dylan picked me up from campus and began driving back to my apartment. Right before you make a right onto Slocum Drive to park, you can also make a left to get the mail. I asked Dylan to take a left so I could do just that. And although he said “Okay,” he immediately made a right. My reaction?? “HELLO?!?! I JUST asked you to make a LEFT!” Of course, I couldn’t be too upset – Dylan’s was all smiles.. “It’s a good day for a walk,” he said with a smirk. Mind you, the weather SUCKED on Tuesday!! As I got out of the car and began walking to the mailbox, Dylan convincingly said, “Hey! Did someone do something to our tree?? I think someone did something to our tree!!” (Flashback to last year: I was in the next apartment block over, and there was this beautiful cherry blossom tree right outside my window. One day, I decided we must carve our initials in said tree.. Hence, it is OUR tree. K, fast forward!) My first thought – “WHO did something to our tree, and WHY and HOW?! I’ll KILL ‘em!!” Second thought.. “OMG.. This is it?!?! There’s a ring tucked in one of our initials..” I walked toward the tree, looking specifically for a ring. And I didn’t see one.. I’m not sure how, in the span of literally 5 seconds, I could have had so many different thoughts! It took me another second or two to realize the “MARRY ME?” carved above our initials.. And then what I remember thinking was – “We’ve been talking about this for so long.. And now, this is IT. No, seriously. THIS is IT!! OMG..” When I turned around, Dylan was on his knee. (Good boy!) With a crack of his sweet voice, he asked me again, “Will you marry me?” And then.. Romantically.. My knees gave out, and I fell on all the little crab-apple thingys that squish so pleasantly under your feet and get all over your jeans. I remember holding his face in my hand (although, I could totally be making that up – it was such a whirlwind!) and saying.. “Yes” and sobbing for foreverrrrr. My ring is BEAUTIFUL. It’s so shiny and sparkly and great, and somehow, I’m still shocked every time I see it after not looking at it for a few minutes. :) I then asked, “Wait! Did you ask my dad??” – “Yes, like two weeks ago! I was waiting until the ring came in this morning to ask you!” My third thought: “HOW on EARTH will I be able to study for my COM Law exam tomorrow?!?!” Fourth thought: Who cares! I’m getting married!! :)

And so, bloggers. That is my post for today. And probably the week. I am loved. And happy. And content. And ENGAGED. OMG. :) And because every post is better with pictures, here is my ring! And our tree!