Another Explanation/ Guess WHAT!?

Hello?... Is anyone still out there? Because I am so sorry... again... for not posting. But I have some explanations that I think/hope you can forgive me on. I think Pictures will tell the story.








I'm Engaged! You are looking at the Future MRS. MANLY! With the name to instill fear in all future children's friends and boyfriends. I am so so so happy and have been so busy wrapping my head around everything.

So how he proposed?
Cody asked me to take a half day off of work on November 1st, 2012. I honestly didnt think anything of it and thought he just wanted to take me to brunch or something random. But then I had to wake up at the break of dawn and was told to wear my warmest clothes... Okay? After an hour drive at 6 am, we are in the middle of an almost empty parking lot. And then I see it... The hot air balloon truck pull up... Mr. Manly was taking me on a surprise hot air balloon ride to watch the sunrise of Georgia. I was ecstatic... and then... we hear... "I am sorry.. but because of hurricane Sandy... it is too dangerous to go in these conditions"... Naturally bummed, I was completely fine with just the thought of it. But then Mr. Manly starts stressing out! We were in the car driving off and I had no idea why he was panicking. He tells me that he still wants to watch the sunrise and then it was like a cartoon lightbulb hit him.
His parents house was not far off, and they have a beautiful home with a private two story dock on the lake. On the dock, we watched the sunrise while being completely comfortable and happy in the other's company. I begin taking pictures of the sunrise on the lake when I hear Mr. Manly say my name. I turn around and there he is, on one knee, with a beautiful and stunning ring in his hand. I was completely shocked and had absolutely NO idea. Of course I said yes, and it has been the single, best decision of my life. I can not wait to be this man's wife. He makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world and I am so in love with him :)

And that is how it happened. But I am making it a goal, as well as Mr. Manly pushing me to keep this goal, to write more. Blogging is my me time and I need to spend more time with all of you! So YAY! Let's get ready for wedding planning all!!

How I Came to Fall In Love... Again (part2)

 

Thank You to all the wonderful comments on yesterday's post. It overjoys me that I have the most awesome readers. So I last left off on where I started feeling there was something more there between Cody and I after a VERY long and slow start. What began as growing feelings soon evolved into the most beautiful intimacy. I believe that many of us shy away from the word intimacy because most people refer to is as just physical intimacy and sex. But it is so so so much more than that. Today I am referring only to the emotional intimacy that began to take place.
For so long, I had a wall up. I was afraid to show who I really was, I was afraid to tell him and let him see the worst and darkest parts about myself. To let him know things that I swore to myself I would never tell anyone. I began to show him who I really was, bring up those topics about myself and things I was ashamed of, and to show and tell him of all my faults and shortcomings that I was aware of. When you begin to give yourself to someone, you cant just give them the good parts. You have to give them the good and the bad. I love Cody because of all his wonderful strengths AND his weaknesses as a person. Now please don't confuse this with me thinking of him as weak in any nature, areas where I am weak, he is strong, and visa versa.
When we begin to fully live, think, and speak freely with another individual while they do the same - the most wonderful things can happen. And when the combined of those two connect, something beautiful and rare is sparked. I began to feel the like the only thing I wanted to do was to make him happy. I wanted to give him the world and began to literally freak out and worry about him all the time. What was happening to me? Then I knew.. that just the thought of a life without him was unbearable to think of. I was happy before him, but he made my life so much happier. I had loved before him, but he showed me how to love on incredibly more levels than I ever thought possible... and before I knew it, I was in love. Completely, hopelessly, and crazy in love with him.
I knew - and know - that this is the man I want to start a life with. He is the one I want to come home to every day, he is the one I want to be a wife to. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that he will be the most incredible father. And I can not wait to spend the rest of my life with this man.

So how did I fully fall in love... again?  I began to love myself and make myself happy, I built a solid foundation of friendship that had all the things that were most important to me - Respect, communication, laughter, service, and understanding. I allowed myself time to heal and time to freely let feelings come, and not force anything. I let him into my heart, and see the best and worst parts of me. I let him open up freely - and embraced the best and worst sides of him. I acknowledge that there is truly nothing I would want to change about who he is (Aside from always leaving every drawer open and the toilet seat up) - and with that, love just came. So easily. This how I came to fall in love again. And it is has been the best thing that has ever happened to me.

How I Came to Fall In Love... Again (part1)

I want to share a story with you so you can get to know me a little better and get a recap of what I have been going through the past year...
As many of you know, the past couple of years have been up and down in the love department. I came out of a 14 year on-again, off-again friendship/relationship with someone who was my best friend. I really thought that was going to be it, but something just didn't feel right. No matter how much I loved him as a person and wanted to make it work, it just didnt. And something like that shouldn't be so hard, and in the end - we just couldnt be what the other needed. Leaving that relationship was the hardest thing I had to do, but one of the best decisions I came to terms with. For me and him both.

I truly had anxiety over the countless questions women ask themselves... Will I find someone again that I'm attracted to and makes me happy? Will I have to settle the next go around? Will I have to wait until I am old until the right one comes along?
I would almost have panic attacks wondering what the right thing to do was. But the moment I just let it be, and focused on myself... I was blessed with the best thing to ever happen to me.
While in my "I'm only doing the 'Me' thing" phase... I happened to meet Cody. I honestly thought about standing him up on our first date because I honestly just wasn't looking for anything and really wanted to be alone in my self loathing and self focusing. But the prompting of free pasta won me over.
What I had planned on being a quick 1-hour early-evening date turned into talking and laughing until the restaurant closed. What the heck? This guy was completely ruining my plan of selfishness. But my heart wasnt ready and he respected that. He waited while we got to know each other better and slowly grew feelings for the other. He showed me how to be a better friend, exemplified patience, and taught me and allowed me to be myself again and to just laugh at life. For the first time in a long time, I could bring up subjects without being embarassed. I could act like I was 12 at wal-mart and then a classy woman at dinner. He allowed me my versatility as a woman and as a person. And he embraced it.
He treated me with the highest regard. Respected me, listened to me, and most of all - made me laugh. Alot. This was when I began to feel that there really could be something more here.

This is the first part of my love-life recap! Hope you guys come back for tomorrow's part 2!!

Explanations

HELLLLOOOO All my long lost loves... It has been far too long since I have written, updated, and been present on this little blog here... I know, I know... You hear it all the time. But I am making a Fall Resolution to get better at my pet project and hobby and getting updated on all of yall's happenings as well. Where have I been? Well here is a quick picture explanation. And if you want an apology gift, read til the end.

What exactly do I have to update you on?

Well for starters, Love - as it should be, life, family, friends, California, Bithdays, travel, concerts, bacheloretteness, photography, and much much more. I hope that I can get in all of yall's good graces again and pique your interest with a upcoming "sorry" giveaway.

*If you read this far, let me know of some items you all would like to win!

Talk to you all soon!

-Linz