My oldest friend, Delisa, got married this weekend. It was a precious ceremony, the reception was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen at my church (so gorgeous I’ve changed my mind about having the reception at some nearby gardens and will be using the fellowship hall and lawn at the church), and a good time was had by all. Congratulations and best wishes to the bride and groom!

Thirteen Fabulous Things about My Engagement

1. While I had suspected things, when it came down to it I was absolutely shocked.

2. That morning Kevin picked me up so that we could drive to Tulsa. When he was in the kitchen I heard the refrigerator door open and then he commented on something smelling bad. Immediately, my mind was elsewhere. He had mentioned before that whenever we got engaged he was going to celebrate with a Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer. It’s his favorite. I got him a six-pack (shipped from California) for Valentine’s Day. The thought came to mind that he might be putting a bottle in there and that was really the only glimmer of hope that I had throughout the day.

3. I later found out that about 3 weeks before, he had asked my dad’s permission at my cousin’s wedding. While I sat across the room talking to a relative, she noticed Dad talking to Kevin. She asked me what I thought was going on. Joking, I said, “Oh, he’s probably asking Dad’s permission to marry me.” Little did I know…

4. Back in February we finally got to go to the Melting Pot to celebrate Valentine’s Day and have our very belated anniversary dinner. An ice storm in December prevented us from going on the actual date of our first date, so we thought we’d try again. Before we went to dinner though, we went to a jewelry store. And there we found the most beautiful ring. I loved it, but wasn’t expecting anything, and we walked out of the store empty-handed. Of course, I never expected Kevin to purchase it while I was there with him. The lady said the sale ended that weekend and that the ring was the last they had, so I thought maybe he might go back the next day. Then the next day came. And so did another ice storm. Roads were bad, things were closed, and I just knew that Kevin wouldn’t be driving all the way up to north Oklahoma City to get that little thing. It made me sad, but I resigned myself to the fact that we would just have to look more. I never thought I’d get attached to a ring like that, but I loved it. Seriously, it was EXACTLY what I’d dreamed of…kinda all the rings I had ever been interested in put together.

5. He did drive up in all that mess to get the ring. Sigh. When I shared this detail with my PawPaw this weekend, he said, “Now that’s romance.” And it is, isn’t it?

6. Kevin got us tickets to see the touring production of Phantom of the Opera in Tulsa. He had them for a while, but the wheels didn’t start turning regarding a proposal until later, whenever we decided to get married a little sooner.

7. So we drove up to Tulsa. It was a really beautiful production and, oh yeah, we were on the SECOND ROW.

8. Gonna take this opportunity to tell you that Kevin was so…stinkin’…calm. All day. That threw me off more than anything. I don’t know why, but I expected that he would be a little bit nervous or something.

9. Then we drove home (to Norman, which is about 2 hours). I napped for a little while and Kevin said something like, “If I didn’t have to drive, I would just stare at you” because we’re disgusting like that.

10. We got to Norman. He’d been concerned about the weather (we were expecting rain) and had been checking with his roommate throughout the day so that we would know if we needed to change plans for our walk around campus at OU that we were going to take after dinner.

11. Dinner was very nice. We ate at Charleston’s (the place where we first really spoke while seated next to each other at a surprise party). When Kevin prayed over our meal he said something I thought was peculiar about “memorable moments.” But I just let it slide.

12. We drove to campus and parked at the Baptist Student Union. I pulled my hair back because it was starting to get really humid outside. Who am I kidding. It was miserable by the time we sat down. We wandered around the fountains and statues, just enjoying each other’s company. Finally, we made it to the South Oval, walked between a few buildings, and Kevin led me over to a bench so that I could open my present celebrating our 18th month together (June 9). He pulled a book out of the giftbag he was carrying and I recognized that it was a photobook from Shutterfly (I’d made him one a few months back). We sat there, going through the pictures that documented our entire relationship, from the beginning back in December of 2006 to the last part — me graduating from OU. On that page there was a paragraph that he asked me to read aloud.

The past 18 months have been extremely wonderful. You have been such a blessing in my life. It fills my heart with warmth as I look back on our relationship with these pictures. Your life is moving forward with amazing things coming your way. You have graduated from college, so what are you going to do now? We both know the answer to this question with you having a job. This brings to mind another question to ask…

And on the next page was a picture of the ring and “Elizabeth, will you marry me?” and then he was down on one knee with the ring, and I said yes. That moment was like a whirlwind, but it’s one I will never forget. Okay, now I think I might cry. I didn’t when it happened. But my goodness. Look what God has blessed me with.

13. I couldn’t have imagined it any better. Any sweeter, any more romantic, or perfect. I was always a “head in the clouds” kind of child, wrapped up in fairy tales, but a few awful run-ins with the opposite sex during the end of high school and my college years made me pretty bitter and cynical about relationships. A few years ago I would have been the first to tell you that it doesn’t matter who you marry, it’s all work, and no one is really good at heart. While that may be true, that doesn’t mean that God does not have a plan for you.

The response I see in people’s eyes when they hear the story of our relationship and the engagement makes everything clear: God has blessed me by putting this man in my life, this man who wants to commit to a lifetime of loving me, caring for me, our future children, our household, dealing with the problems that will inevitably come along, putting up with my stubborn moods, unintentionally sharp tongue (thank you, Johnson side of the family), and my puppy dog pouting that I will admit to using.

But in the past few days something has happened in my heart. I want to be the best wife I can be. I want to dive into the Word of God, continue growing that relationship, and in turn make my marriage one built on a firm foundation in Christ. I really can’t tell you how I feel. But I hope that I never forget the fact that this is a gift from God. If there was one thing I could tell Little Girl Me it would be that You can have your fairy tale.

Umm…I got engaged this evening! Story to follow soon.

“At a certain point my novels set. They set just as hard as that jam jar. And then I know they are finished.” - Ivy Compton-Burnett

So, there was the weekend and the weekend was big in a number of ways. First, it was an odd day at work as the lady employees (all 3 that are here currently) took off to see the newborn babe of one of the other lady co-workers. What a precious little doll. Man, I love babies. I still want piles of them.

After visiting the new mom and baby, I ran a few errands with another co-worker before she dropped me off for lunch with Kevin and his parents. They had flown in the night before and we met at Applebee’s. I had the new California Shrimp Salad and wooboy is that good. Olives, avocado, shrimp, some yummy dressing…seemed rather low-carb friendly. The only questionable bit was the dressing and there wasn’t a lot. Highly recommended. It was a nice lunch, getting to catch up with his parents, though I was quite tired from being up so late finishing the last of my Spanish the night before. After lunch, they dropped me back off at work and I finished out the rest of the day doing what I do. Which is top secret and extremely important

Once I got home, I’m not gonna lie, I made a mad dash around the house to finish cleaning up things. It looks pretty good now and I have a few piles of things to organize/recycle/donate, but that’s good. I need to dive into my closets some weekend and really give those a good going over. Kevin and his parents came over and I gave them the grand tour of my 1200 sq. ft. palace. I do love my little house. It fits me perfectly.

Then, we all hopped in the car and headed over to Charleston’s for The First Time Our Parents Met. We met my parents there. And I really don’t know what else to say except that it went spectacularly. I feel like our dads are cut from the same cloth. They are both funny fellas, raised in the South. The restaurant was a little too loud for my liking, but we were still able to do a lot of talking. And the food was great. Charleston’s is one of my favorites. It’s also the place that Kevin and I first really talked while sitting next to each other at a surprise party for a mutual friend.

The next morning I was up early (though not really early, compared to when I wake up for work), ironed my gown, and headed off to Lloyd Noble to line up. Before I knew it, we were inside the center and seated. They kept the beginning short and sweet, the way that sort of thing needs to be. After the first thousand or so names were called, it was my turn (listen for Elizabeth Johnson):

It was a pretty cool moment. Happened really fast and I was back in my seat before I really knew what happened, but man, the freedom. Really, really DONE. I will be the first to tell you that I wasn’t the best student (high school certainly did not prepare me for the challenge OU would present), but I can honestly say that I worked my tail off for my last class and was unsure up until the last moment whether or not I would pass. Well, I don’t have my grade yet, but the professor told me that I’d be passing. Thank you, God.

More about the rest of the weekend later…

Not. It’s April Fool’s Day, silly. You know what that means? I’m going to call my mom in just a few hours, giggling like a schoolgirl, and say, “You will never guess.” And for .7694 of a second, my mom will think I’m getting married. And making my mother gasp has been a good reason to wake up every morning since I was 12.

I ran across this particular “Find of the Day” at FOUND Magazine and it hit me like a ton of bricks. The meaning behind it. It says the note was found in a school chapel. I can just imagine the sermon that would have gone along with it. Wish I could have heard it.

It runs in my family to have a temper. Nothing really serious, but there are a number of my relatives who put absolutely ZERO thought into any words that come out of their mouths. I’m not saying this to be critical or to out them as inconsiderate, tactless jerks because that’s not what they are. However, I’m not saying that you can’t change certain aspects of yourself, fight your flesh, and choose not to respond to crisis (or the least little thing that goes against what you want to do) in a negative way. And I won’t say that I don’t have some family members that need to do that. I’ll admit to you that it is a struggle for me to contain my emotions and not let them take over completely. With the health issues I have dealt with lately I have felt an influx of hormones take over my body and turn me into something that’s not me. Something more like this:

(Couldn’t decide who was more evil. I channel both of them a few days out of the month.)

But this subject is so very serious. Are you going to let the world around you, the way people treat you, even something so small as rain when you want sunshine determine your behavior for the day, the month, or the rest of your life? You answer to a higher power than that of this world. So, who are you going to let control you? This has made me think a lot, and I know I’ve decided Who. But I realize that I have to make that decision over and over again, every second.

“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15

I have been tagged on a number of blogs to list quite a few different things. Today I am getting to what Cricket, Destini and Lynn tagged me to do…list 7 interesting things about myself.

1. I have hitch hiker’s thumbs. You know, the kind that bend back really far. I think they’re hereditary.

2. I have only seen The Wizard of Oz one time. It was this past Christmas at Kevin’s parents’ house. Hopefully that’ll be the only time. Maybe it’s magical when you’re little, but I was not impressed.

3. I am an early bird, but only if the temperature outside my bed is close to the one inside. It is very hard for me to get up in the mornings if I’m stepping out into a cold room. My body just won’t do it. Since I try to save energy and not run heating or air at night, this becomes a problem.

4. I’ve lost 12 lbs. recently, which is pretty awesome.

5. I think I know the words to nearly every song by Trisha Yearwood. I love her. And man, she has good hair.

6. I have very manageable hair. And lots of it. I’m kind of a hairdressers dream…or worst nightmare.

7. I have a family that rivals the one in My Big, Fat Greek Wedding. Ask Kevin. They think he’s quiet, but really, he’s just normal.

Can you match the ringtone with the person it belongs to on my phone? (This may only be fun for people who are actually in my contacts…oh well.)

1. Aaryn
2. Dad
3. Delisa
4. Kyle (younger brother)
5. Mom
6. Granny
7. Ryan (youngest brother)
8. Heather
9. Kevin
10. Mom & Dad’s house
11. GodlyGals contacts
12. Jessica & Jennifer (they are twins and just happen to have the same ringtone)

a. “Nothing Left to Lose” - Matt Kearney
b. “Lovers Who Wander” - Dion and the Belmonts
c. “Alabaster Box” - Cece Winans
d. “Good Little Girls” - Blue County
e. “Low” - Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
f. “Don’t Get Me Wrong” - The Pretenders
g. “Bop” - Dan Seals
h. “Come Back Down” - Lifehouse
i. “Sweet Caroline” - Neil Diamond
j. “You Shook Me All Night Long” - AC/DC
k. “Wildfire” - Michael Martin Murphy
l. “Even the Nights Are Better” - Air Supply

Right now I am in Clinton, North Carolina meeting a few members of Kevin’s extended family. I know, I should have some crazy story to tell you by now, but the truth is, his family is pretty great. So while I’m out here spending time in a town that looks much like the one I grew up in you should read about a time when The Pioneer Woman almost had a meltdown in front of many of her “boyfriend-but-someday-husband’s” family members. It’s hilarious. And sweet.

Here’s an excerpt:

I had no choice but to surge on, to get dressed, to face the music in all my drippy, salty glory. It was better than staying in the upstairs bathroom of his grandmother’s house all night. God forbid Marlboro Man or Tim start to think I had some kind of feminine problem, or even worse…constipation or…gasp!…diarrhea. I’d sooner move to another country and never return to my homeland than to have them think such thoughts about me.

It is 11:11 p.m. and on this day Kevin and I have been dating one year, one month, one week, and one day.

This video is pure cheese, but so am I.