Photos that are engaging...

We finally had some time on Christmas day to take some photos. I am glad that we took them in the early afternoon because I got so sick that evening. My Love took care of me while I was sick that night. He is so sweet and cared for me even when I was sicky. :^( But we got lots of good photos and some really cute ones to boot! I love the one where we are both throwing leaves up over our heads the best.

Time for air

I have no idea when Heath and I are going to do engagement photos. Maybe Christmas. We need some nice photos that I can use in stuff. Of us. Together. I want some nice pictures of us maybe in some leaves or something. I want some photos to put up here of us so that ya'll have something to look at other than photos of my decor. By the way, the date is set for sure for February 20, 2010. We are so excited!!! Needless to say, I have been sleeping a little better these past few days. The invitations have been ordered, the photographer has been booked, and the cake supplies have been bought. My dress should be back from the cleaners this week (I am going to call today) and I should be getting in more of the decor elements this week as well. I also ordered my veil, YAY! I won't tell you about it here since Heath reads my blog too and I know he wants it to be a surprise. Maybe I should post the "secret stuff" on my other blog 'The "Other" Party Girl'. Hmmm. It's a thought. I also made the RSVP cards to go inside the invitations. By the way we will have a wedding website, but before I give ya'll the URL I wanted to try to finish our registries and add those nice pictures I was telling you about. We found a place to live and Heath just has to go in and sign the papers and pay the move-in fee and we will be able to move in February 1st. Not together obviously! I am going to work on packing this week as well. There is so much to do for a wedding. I had no idea. I am so excited about it though and am having fun with it. Heath and I just look at it as a big adventure. After all, our life together is going to be an adventure too!!! Look for those engagement photos soon!

Wedding Loveliness

Alright, I am going to spill some beans. The wedding is a winter one, so I have decided to go with a fittingly wintry theme. I am loving light, icy blue and ivory as well as some silver and gold. I am going to post some inspiration photos so that you can get an idea of the elements that are going to be used in the decorations.

Heath and I love the outdoors and nature so I loved these snow and icy looking birch branches. Mmmm, yummy! These are going to be a big part of the decor since they are nice and tall (3-4 feet) and I can do lots with them. YAY!

I am also digging these vases, which I did happen to purchase. I love thinking of how I will be able to use the things from the wedding and reception in our home. You are starting to get a sense of the color palette now, right? I don't want to much of a blue since I don't want things to look corny. I want sophistication.

Well, that's all the hint you get for now. I am going crazy with wanting a nice set of white dishes. I can't wait to start cooking for my Honey Bee!

Engaged! Ashley's side of the story...

I am engaged to Heath Higby! Here is my side of our engagement story...

It was normal, cool fall day after Thanksgiving. Heath asked if I wanted to go on a hike since he was off work and I had had a short day at the hospital. I was anxious to spend some time outside so of course I said yes. We agreed to go up to the Bronco Trailhead in the Tonto National Forest towards Seven Springs. On the way there, I convinced poor Heath that there was a cool canyon that we should try hiking only to find that it was choked with plants and was awful to hike in. It was a bad detour. After about 20 minutes of not going anywhere fast, we aborted the mission and headed back to the car and our original plan.

We got to Bronco Trailhead and started our hike in at about 2:30. We had loved hiking this trail before since it was nice, but not too pristine. It was just a plain and simple trail with lovely views and scenery. There are a couple of places where you can see the city way off to the south, some little desert meadows, and some valleys there that you would have never imaged being there. It is a beautiful hike.

The last time we hiked out here, we had come to a ridge that had been burned in the big fire a few years ago now and found an old burned up tree with a brach laying off to the side. We made ourselves a makeshift bench out of it and watched the sunset. We had returned here to enjoy another sunset and watch the cold front blow in.

Heath had his jet boil with him and made us some hot chocolate with the cute little marshmallows in it. I so appreciated it since it was starting to get coooler. It began to get darker and so I said that we should start hiking back soon since I didn't want dad to start worrying. He worrries more than mom. Heath looked a little disappointed, so I said that we could stay for a few more minutes but he considered me before himself and said that we really should go anyway.

On our way in and also on the way out, we had talked on and off about getting married. Heath had asked me about what I thought would be a cool way to be proposed to. I told him that I didn't really care ho he did it so long as it was a surprise. And I told him that he'd better have his camera! As it grew darker, the light of the moon grew brighter and added to the light that we shed on the trail with our headlamps.

As we got closer to the trailhead, we stopped to look at the city lights briefly and then continued on down the trail. All of a sudden, Heath stopped and pointed my attention to the sky. "Wow. Look at the moon," He said. I looked up and there was a giant ring around the moon. I didn't remember ever seeing anything like it before. I was amazed and stared at it for a couple of minutes before I looked back at Heath to see what he thought.

When I looked back to where he had been standing, I had to look down to find him. He had kneeled in the middle of the trail next to me and had a ring, glittering in the moonlight in his hand. I was so shocked. He asked me if I would marry him and through both tears of joy and laughter, I said yes. For the next twenty minutes I cried and then laughed and then cried and then laughed again. It had definitely been a surprise. And he remembered the camera. :^)

We took a picture of the two of us with the ring around us and the moon behind. Then we prayed together. We thanked God for bringing us together and for all that we have been blessed to learn and grow with each other in. We prayed for each other. We prayed for our kids and for our future. It was beautiful. It was the most beautiful moment in my life so far.