• For most of my life I only really liked guys born in January or July. I’ve had a number of close run-ins with May men, but they were all flukes. Well, if we’re being honest (which I’m in the business of around here), COLOSSAL mistakes that should have been avoided at all costs. But then I met Kevin (a February baby) and now everything is wonderful.

• According to Heather, I examine every bite of a hamburger before I eat it. I guess this is true, but let me explain. I decide where to take my next bite based on where I think will be the least likely to cause a mess (no Carl’s Junior drippage for me, thank you). Think of eating a hamburger (or a sandwich or burrito or any number of hand-held foods) as a very Jenga experience. And now that I have said that I think it may say a lot about my mild OCD and control issues. Ahem.

He emails me things like this:

My name is Kevin Crumpler, and I approve this message!

While I was home visiting my mom and dad for Labor Day, he was at my house with some friends watching the OU Sooners beat the pants off Chattanooga (not anything special, but still). And on the floor, he found my plan for the wedding.

Oh, you didn’t hear? I’m getting married!
Next year!
If you want, I can flaunt the things you can get your
Lizzy dear!

(English degree being of some use in my life after college — check.)

1. Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker CGX5 - I am sold on having a timer on my coffee maker.
2. KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, Onyx Black - It’s not a wedding registry until you have a KitchenAid mixer on it.
3. Bodum Glass Teapot - There is something about being able to see the tea brewing in the pot. I think these things are gorgeous.
4. Molcajete = GUACAMOLE!
5. “Fiesta” Dinnerware in Scarlet - This stuff is so pretty. Planning on using it as our casual dining ware.
6. Cuisinart “SmartPower Duet” Chrome Blender/Food Processor - I need one that doesn’t leak out my Avocado Soup.
7. Glass Mixing Bowls, Set of 10 - Again, I just love the clear glass and being able to see what you’re making.
8. Zeroll Ice Cream Scoop - Have you seen these things in action? They are amazing. I will use it to scoop my low-carb ice cream
9. Shun Classic Kitchen Shears - Mine gave out a while back and I was trying to put off buying new ones, in anticipation of my wedding shower, but I just couldn’t. So I’m using cheapies again. I give them a couple of months, tops.
10. Glass Domed Cake Plate - Seeing a trend here? I like to be able to enjoy the beauty of the food I make.
11. Tarnow Trifle Bowl - And, umm…yeah. Again. I can’t think of a trifle though without thinking of the episode of Friends when Rachel makes one.
12. Williams-Sonoma Casual Pitcher - I’ll make lemonade in this puppy. Sugar-free, most likely. But lemonade, still.
13. Anniversary Bundt® Pan - Kevin! I’ll make you a Bundt!

Every week Bossy does a Ten-Word Tuesday. Today she asked her readers to describe their first day of college. Here’s mine:

Hallmark card from Mom in backpack. Bawling in poli/sci class.

I wasn’t exactly bawling, but the tears I’d been holding back since Mom and Dad walked out of my room on the Friday before started bubbling up again. I can’t help it. I’m an emotional person. My first crying session was when they left me and between then and my first class the only crying I’d done was in the shower. Where my new roommate, Heather, couldn’t see or hear me. Was I sad to be at college? No. Did I miss my parents that much already? Not that much, I assure you. I had blanket with me and really, that was enough. But I’m that kinda girl. Big steps in my life are HUGE for me. Never been one to handle change very well, even if it’s the kind of change that I know will bring tremendous, wonderful things.

Maybe if someone had told me that my future husband was in a room less than 100 yards away from me (one floor down and just one wing over), I might have been a bit more enthused about the whole thing.

What have I been up to? Working hard on our wedding website!! Don’t have everything quite ready, but you are welcome to head on over and take a gander at what gave me a decent sized migraine on Saturday.

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…

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.