The Unfolding of an Engagement in 3 Parts: Part 2

Part 2
We went home that Saturday to go to the Ogden Temple to do baptisms for the dead and visit family. My mom and I were going to go to the Bridal Faire in Ogden (she planned on going to this before Bill had even asked Pops. I think she sensed something was coming...haha). And Bill hung out with his mom for the afternoon.

In the dressing room of the temple, I ran into one of my oldest and dearest of friends! It was Alyssa! We had played together practically every day from the time we were eight years old until we were eleven (And then we both moved). Oh my heart!!! It made me so happy! It had been a year or two since I had last seen her! She asked me if Bill and I were still together and how things were going in that area of my LIFE. It hit me that she was the first friend that I'd get to tell the news to! I thought it was so appropriate. :) The girl I had always grown up making silly movies and playing House and Barbies down in my basement with would get to share a little piece of this excitement with me! It kind of made me tear up after she left the dressing room. How positively neat. It can all relate back to my firm belief in everything happens for a reason. :) (Love you Lyss!)

Afterwards, Bill dropped me off at my parent's house. Dad was there to greet us with a huge smile and seemed to be walking on eggshells - not sure of how much information he could disclose (had Bill told me that he had called and talked with him?) Finally the tension was released when we briefly mentioned, "Hey, we're engaged." :)

Unfortunately, my mom's best friend Jan had passed away either that day, or the day before from gall bladder cancer (Jan is also my dad's cousin and was the gal responsible for setting my parents up in the first place. Thank you Jan! Without you, my parents may have never met, and I certainly would not be here today...and I never would have found my Bill. How differently our lives could have turned out because of the influence of one woman). I made mention to madre that I had run into Alyssa at the temple and got to tell her the great news! That kind of set my mom off into tears as she thought of her best friend growing up. It broke my heart to see my mom crying - it always does - but it was nice to have been around at that time so I could understand what my mom was feeling.

Soon thereafter, madre and I set out for the Union Station with smiles on our faces. Bridal Faires are an intense ordeal. I had barely come to the realization that I was getting married and, unlike most twelve-year-old girls, I had never planned my future wedding. I had no idea what I wanted!

Reception centers? Luncheons? Table decorations? Dresses? Photographers? Cakes? Catering? Flowers? Rings? Hair? Nails? Tanning? Dieting?

Vendors coming at you left and right can be frightening, but I made it through the chaos with the help of my momma and a cup full of Zeppe's Italian ice.

My mom and I went to lunch at The Old Grist Mill and had a little heart-to-heart. To be honest, I was more excited to be engaged now that family knew, BUT I was still scared spitless about this whole thing. Why wasn't any of this sinking in? And why wasn't I giddy like most girls seemed to be? My mom and I talked about when she got engaged to Pops and other things that helped me feel a little more comforted. It was nice to know that I wasn't alone in those particular fears I had. I know it's hard not to have those feelings of doubt, but it all essentially boils down to having faith....and everything else will mix together nicely. ;)

Mom had a Sentsy Party scheduled for that afternoon, so we needed to get back home quick. Family friends walked in, and family in general stopped by. As each of them came through the door, mom was so excited to tell everyone, "It's FINALLY official. Jess and Bill are engaged." :)

That night, Bill and I ran back up to Logan and went ring shopping. Laynette was a mutual friend who worked with us at Housing and had a second job at Fred Meyer Jeweler's. We started there to get a feel for things and start narrowing it all down to what I would like. I had never been ring shopping in my life - no previous engagements, no pseudo engagement-ring-shopping-dates-just-for-fun...here I was staring into backlit glass displays of sparkling rocks, and one would perhaps be mine! This was kind of fun...and disappointing at the same time. Laynette performed her job perfectly and was helpful in giving tips and opinions. There were just so many options. Simple rings, but not like something I could get from Claire's. Ornate, but not gaudy. Classy, but not too expensive. Ugh...I just wasn't feeling it for anything there! We spent an hour and a half searching amongst all the rings, and I was discouraged. Reverting to my "I-Hate-Shopping-Mode."

We went to Morgan Jeweler's after that, hoping for a much better experience. And that it was! We walked in, and within the first five rings I had tried on, I knew exactly what one I wanted. I was in love!

Bill put a down-payment on it. Okay, okay...this was even a bit more real. But it wasn't on my finger! And I wouldn't know when it would be. That element was to remain a surprise.

We went and grabbed Frosties after our cumbersome, but enlightening adventure, and Bill dropped me off at my apartment. All my roommates were just getting in from an Aggie basketball game and there was much excitement in the air! I had all the stuff from the Bridal Faire in my arms and then Tay asked me how my day was. Now I could tell them!

"I'm engaged!"

And much happiness ensued!!! :) This engaged business was growing on me.