Do you like to know?

I woke up early this morning and laid in bed just talking with Al. We got on the subject of his tattoo and he revealed to me that the real reason for getting it wasn't what I thought.

In fact it represents a close-call experience the two of them shared in Iraq. While I wasn't upset about the tattoo and in fact, I'm grateful there is an even more legitimate reason he got it, it really got me thinking.

I didn't know he had this dangerous experience while he was over there. He chose not to tell me "for my own good." And I get that. But I am torn a bit...

I've always been someone who wants all the details. I want to know what I'm getting into. I want to be fully educated and blatantly aware. But, I don't think I feel the same about this.

In fact, I'm glad he didn't tell me while he was over there. He probably would have gotten out half the story before getting disconnected, leaving the rest to my mind to conjure. Or he would have told me on the day of an exam or big speech and I would have been less focused. Either way, he made the right decision.

At least for the current circumstances he did. But, it leaves me wondering... Do you want to know?

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Christmas Rewind

After three straight days of celebration I am worn out!

We've had lots of family, friends, gifts, food, games, fun and love...

And BOY am I wiped!

I don't have much to share about Christmas itself. We had a great time with my family and I am really blessed to have Al here with me.

We still have his family Christmas this week and we'll probably just spend the New Years weekend out at the farm with them. Should be another great time.

I am back to blogging (for real) this week, but I am headed to bed early to catch up on sleep missed from the exciting weekend.

Stay tuned this week for:

My response to the DADT commentary

A letter to my sister

Engagement Party recap

AND...a sneak peek at our engagement photos

(I've got the first batch, but we're waiting until they're all in before we select and post.)

Happy Monday, ya'll!

Merry Christmas!

{I am a guest blogger today at iFROG, thanks to LaDonna. Check me out!}

Other then that MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Shoe Spectacular: Winter Solstice

So, my lovely friend, Ashley asked for some help with cold-weather shoes since she has little experience and will be moving in the near future to a place MUCH colder.

This got me thinking that a shoe spectacular featuring great cold-weather boots and shoes would be a fun thing to post.

Some are more fashionable, some are more practical, but all are good quality and all of them are really warm - a total necessity for Minnesotans and cold-weather residents alike!

I hope you enjoy!

Timberland Earthkeepers - found at Zappos

Kodiak Chestnut Mukluks - from Mukluk.com (Minnesota-based company)

Columbia Bugaboot Omni-Tech - at Columbia.com

Trapper Mid-Hi Boots - from Minnetonka Moccasin (another great Minnesota company!)

Whirlwind

I spent most of the day Monday in a tail-spin, while studying for my LAST final and trying not to worry about Al and his incoming flight. We were supposed to get 6 more inches of snow and projected flight delays as a result.

In fact, his flight was delayed about 2 hours. But when he got to Denver for his layover, he was put on the list for an earlier flight. I was worried that I would head into my final not really knowing when his flight would get it and that it would be hard to concentrate.

Luckily, I got a text from him 10 minutes before my exam saying he got on the earlier flight and would be in 2 hours BEFORE his original flight time (4 hours before the delayed time!)

I was so happy!

The last couple of days have been really nice. Just spending time together wrapping Christmas gifts and running around town for dinners and drinks with friends. He was even a good sport when I dragged him shopping for a few nice shirts for himself (which he absolutely HATES!)

Today we have engagement photos with some good friends of mine.

I had this idea to do a city-girl/country-boy theme.

The session today will be the city side and we'll take some photos in St. Paul near my school and the Governors mansion. There are tons of great churches, buildings and architecture that will provide a great backdrop and if we do some nighttime photos, with everything lit up for Christmas, it should produce some wonderful results.

In the spring, we'll get Al in ACU's and head out to the farm to do the country-boy half of the session. Maybe some tractor shots and great Minnesota-countryside views as our backdrop. Either way, the fierce and fantastic Brandi will help with this part. (Yes, this is me asking...)

I'm off to pick our outfits for the shots, and run a bunch of errands before our session tonight.

{I haven't forgotten about my previous post on DADT and all of your wonderful input. I will still put together a post in response and to provide my stand on the issue, but I would like to wait until after the holiday. I just think it's more appropriate to leave politics behind when it comes to family and friends.}

This Guy...

Is coming in from Texas tonight!

Yep, he's a hick. But he's MY hick.

And as stupid as his new tattoo might be, I still can't wait to throw my arms around that man and smother him with kisses.

DADT: Your thoughts?

So, I don't have a lot of time...One more final on Monday.

But in lieu of today's decision by President Obama to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, I wanted to open my blog up for a free-speak on the topic.

I'm curious as to the general consensus on DADT, the repeal of it, and how this will affect the military. I'll leave this up for a couple days for everyone to give their opinion and then I will tell ya'll what I think/feel about it.

I have a few rules:

1) Be polite, respectful and appropriate. I will NOT tolerate disrespectful or rude comments. I will delete anything you say that attacks someone or is downright rude.

2) That said, I will NOT delete any other comments. I want this to be a "safe area" to speak on the topic. Whether I disagree or agree, I want to know what you have to say.

3) Please limit your discussion to DADT. I don't want to get too political on the topic, and hope we can come at this from a place of friendship with educated, respectful thoughts so we can all better understand each other.

Discuss.

I've got a little time...

To say HI to my blog-lovers.

Although, I'm not sure there is anything major to say.

I've got a final this afternoon, which I feel OK about. I studied with a group yesterday and that helped (it usually doesn't work for me, but this one did.)

Then I'll have ONE final left, on Monday, and I'm already making progress on studying for it.

I've also got a small list of things to do before Al gets here (also Monday).

But perhaps the most exciting part of my weekend will be Saturday.

I'm going over to my parents house to try on my wedding dress.

Yes, I bought a dress.

I've had it for over a week and haven't tried it on. I pulled it out of the box, but otherwise I haven't even really looked at it. Assuming it fits, it's "the one" so I'm not too worried.

I'm that girl who has a dress before I even have a wedding date.

Oh well, I have my priorities, I guess.

Did I mention it was less then $300?

Yeah, I'm super-proud of that.

And it leaves more money for a nice pair of wedding shoes.

Like these:

(found here, although I'd probably buy them at Macy's)

They're delicious, huh?

We {heart} It Wednesday

I would rather be in any of the following places...

Follow the Light

It's there, at the end of the tunnel. It's so close.

I have an exam tomorrow, another Friday and my final exam on Monday.

I'm trucking along, slowly but surely.

Thanks for your patience, my blog-loves. I promise I will be back to blogging as soon as I can.

In the meantime, I give you a video of the Meterodome (our pro-football stadium) collapsing from the weight of all the snow from the storm! You may have seen this already, since I know it made National news, but I still think it's pretty incredible. ENJOY!