Throw Back Thursday!

It feel like sooooo long ago.

Nearly 4 years later and I honestly cannot remember what it felt like to hold that little 3.5 lb bundle in my arms.  I remember being scared because she was so small, but I can't remember how the weight felt.

I miss those huge baby smiles and belly laughs.  Honestly, they are the happiest things in the entire world.  The best sound ever.

She's so big now.  I look at her every day in awe and can't believe how tall she is.  How far we've come.  How smart she is.  And how GOSH DARN STUBBORN that kid is.  LOL.

So big.  And the only time she's quiet anymore (and yes, she's taken to "camping" on the floor):

Grandpa

So, as most of you know, I met Adam because of my grandpa.

Grandpa was having lung issues in early 2014.  After numerous bouts of pneumonia, it was discovered that he had a pleural effusion and needed surgery to clean out the infection as antibiotics were not helping.  After months of being under the weather and a lung surgery at the age of 94, Grandpa was understandably in a weakened state and went to a rehab facility for a month to work on getting is strength back.

After being home from the rehab facility for only a few days, Grandpa decided to try and go get his mail, by himself, with no one at the house.  My dad had been living with him by this point for several months and they had a home health aide for several hours a day.  While Grandpa was trying to get out of the house, he tripped and fell down the front steps.  During the fall, he basically "scalped" his arms.  The wounds were pretty extensive and needed special bandages to cover them.

I was sent up to Binson's (where Grandpa INSISTED I get his bandages) armed with his written prescription.  I remember walking in and walking toward the back of the store because no one was in the front.  A woman (who I later knew as Sarah) asked what I needed, I told her, and she told me to take a number.  A man (who would later become my fiance) sitting at the desk next to her spoke up and said he could help me.  I went to his desk, explained what I needed and handed him the prescription.

I ended up being at Binson's for HOURS due to RX issues, Medicare forms needing to be filled out, and a lack of the product I needed.  During this time, Adam and I chatted while waiting for forms to come in, doctors to call back, etc.  At a certain point, I realized that Adam was fishing for info about me, so I flat out said, "Just so you know, I have a 2 year old and I'm going through a divorce."  He didn't care.  Which was unusual considering that sentence was usually the kiss of death for any conversation, lol.  Near the end of my time at Binson's, Adam asked for my number.  And for the first time in my life, I gave it.

Two days later, Adam called me and asked me out on a date.  We went out...putt-putt golf, go-karting, dinner, and HOURS of conversation.  We had that instant connection.  You know what I'm talking about?  Where you feel like you've known someone for years?  Everything was comfortable and easy and wonderful.

I told my Grandpa later about meeting Adam.  And as we got more serious, Adam met him.  Grandpa loved him.  He told me many times how good of a guy Adam was.  He was glad I found someone after everything I had been going through.  Adam and I had some pretty funny moments with Grandpa, and despite him being gone, he always seems to be with us.  We are where we are BECAUSE of him.  And while we are both sad grandpa will not be around to celebrate our marriage or engagement...we know that he knows.  And we know that he approves.

And as if he wanted me to know that, I had a wonderful dream last night.

In my dream, I was sitting at grandpa's house, in his living room, talking to him like I've done thousands of times before.  He congratulated me on our engagement.  He told me God had brought us together through his fall...one of his divine appointments.  He told me he was so happy for me and he knows that this is a perfect match...a forever match.  He told me that even though he isn't here on earth anymore that he WILL be at our wedding.  He told me he will be there for the whole thing and asked me to save him a seat up front at the ceremony.

It's hard to describe the "feelings" I felt during the dream.  I was so happy to talk to him again.  I told him how deeply I miss seeing him every day.  It was sad and joyful and wonderful all at once.  And as I am writing this post right now, I have tears streaming down my face.  I really feel like I got to "talk" to grandpa again even though I know it was only a dream.  I feel like I got the most wonderful blessing on my engagement to Adam.

I am left with a wonderful feeling of peace.  For getting a blessing I never thought I'd receive.  For being able to tell grandpa all about the last couple months.  For seeing his face light up again when he saw pictures of Madeleine.  It was all so wonderful and it all felt SO real.  You know the kind of dream I'm talking about.  So real, that it's been with me all day.

I love you grandpa.  And we miss you every day.

I will certainly save you a seat right up front at the ceremony.  This is all because of you.

THE NEW!

A new chapter.

A new start.

A new fiance!!!!!

A new family.

A new blog.


Well, it's that time.  I said in my last blog post that I didn't know what the future would hold for my blog.  And now I've decided.  A new blog...to go with everything else "new."


This past Saturday, August 22, 2015,  I had one of the most wonderful days of my life.

Madeleine woke up sometime early Saturday morning, I started to get up and Adam told me to go back to sleep, he'd get up with her.  Momma's not going to refuse that offer!  I went back to sleep and woke up at 8:00 am to my phone ringing.  I remember being in a sleepy fog and being surprised it was 8:00 am.  I had to move something off of my phone to answer it.  I answered and it was Adam.  He said "Good morning beautiful!  It's time to wake up!"  He asked if I read it and I was confused.  I said no, I had just woken up.  He told me to read it and hung up.

I turned out the light and found that this is what had been on my phone and I had moved out of my way in my rush to silence my phone's ringing:

I turned the envelope over, opened it, and found this card:

I was over the moon!  A trip to the spa for me???  I quickly realized I didn't have much time to shower and get to the spa.  So, I hopped in the shower, dried my hair, and threw on some comfy clothes and headed to the spa.

I walked in and was asked what I was there for.  I said, "Uhhh, I don't know?"  The lady smiled and got really excited!  She asked if I was Melanie and I said yes!  I filled out some forms and was told that Adam had planned a wonderful spa day for me.  They asked if I wanted to know the services I'd be receiving or if I'd like to be surprised.  Obviously I said I wanted to know.  First up, 90 min massage.  Oh it was wonderful.  Then I went back to the lounge and found these goodies.  Yes, I ate three.

Then a body wrap/facial using Moroccan Oils.  HOLY COW!  I absolutely LOVED this!  Seriously.  It was amazing.  While I was soaking in the wrap, I got a scalp massage (according to Adam the moment they said this was a part of the wrap he said book it).  Seriously, if you get the chance to try a body wrap...DO IT!  My skin is amazing.  Then it was time for a mani/pedi.  It was a sweet treat and my nails were in some serious need of a little TLC.  My feet AND hands got a paraffin wax treatment leaving them silky and smooth:

At 2:00 pm, my nails were dry and when I checked out at the main desk, I was handed this:

The ladies were so excited and wanted to open it for me in case my nails were still wet.  LOL.  I politely declined and took the card out to my car to open it.  I had been silently wondering all morning what the Ace of Hearts meant.  I had asked Adam, but he told me "nothing."  Inside the envelope, I found this:

It's kind of hard to describe my thoughts at this point.  I was shocked.  Surprised.  Excited as all get out.  Confused.  Lots of things running through my head including the fact that I'd have to go shopping looking like a hot mess.  I was wearing scrubby/comfy clothes, my hair was caked in oils & lotions from the scalp massage, and my entire body was all oily.  I remember deciding I'd go to Twelve Oaks (maybe because the card said that) and headed on my way.  Traffic was crazy and the whole way I was wondering if I'd have enough time to do lunch, dress, shoes, etc.  I got to Twelve Oaks and went into Nordstrom.  A sales assistance stopped me and asked if I was looking for anything specific.  I told her I was looking for a dress.  She asked for what occasions and I told her I didn't know.  She looked at me like I was insane.  I quickly explained why and showed her the two cards I had received from Adam.  She got SO excited!  She pulled me all around the store grabbing up dresses we both liked.  I had kind of a mini meltdown at this point because I didn't know what kind of dress to get.  Were we doing something?  Going somewhere?  Was this just a "hey, get yourself a dress you like?"  So, I ended up trying on about 8709568209483205 dresses from 4 different stores.  I also may have ended up buying 3 because I couldn't decide.

With the help of FB and text messaging, the dress and accessories were chosen by my girls.  It was a pretty unanimous decision:

I left the mall still feeling a bit anxious about my dress choices, and my "final" decision.  But I was SO glad to be on my way home to shower.  Seriously, I felt GROSS!  I got home, and upon walking in the door, I found this:

When I saw this, I immediately became overwhelmed.  I got teary eyed.  I had just had an amazing day and found there was even MORE.  All set up by this wonderful man who loves me.  I felt so loved and cherished and important.  I felt so lucky and so blessed.  Just so much all at once.  I texted Adam and told him this.

And then I opened the card and the present.

HOLY CRAP.

I got in the shower.  Took a nice long, steamy, relaxing one.  Then I got out and didn't really know what to do with myself.  I had a bit of time to kill before my "special guest" was to arrive.  I sat there wondering what was going on.  Where I was going.  Who was coming to get me.  What more was to come.

At 5:40 the doorbell rang and I went downstairs to find Teresa of Mi Amore Event Hair & Make-Up!!!  I knew her because she did our hair and makeup for my sister's wedding last year.  And she does a phenomenal job.  I seriously love her.  She sat me down and told me Adam sent her to do my hair and make-up.  And as usual, she did a GREAT job!  I can't recommend her highly enough...she'll definitely be a part of the wedding day too!

After Teresa left, I went upstairs, picked out my jewelry and got dressed to wait for my ride.

At 6:45 on the DOT, this pulled up in front of the house!

I got so excited and SWORE I was going to find Adam inside waiting for me...

But no.  The limo was empty.  I asked the limo driver where we were going and he said, "If you don't already know, I don't think I should tell you."  And away we went.  We got on I-96 and at that point, I figured we were heading downtown Detroit.  Which was ironically funny considering I had sent Adam a news article about all the events going on down there and the 100,000 people expect to attend with a note saying "Good thing we're going doing downtown tomorrow!"  HA!

We got off on Jefferson and I began to wonder if we were going to go to Joe Muer.  

The limo driver turned in like we were going to the back of the RenCen.  But then he looped around and left again.  I was confused.  Then he turned back in and we drove back around the RenCen.  He pulled up to some doors, stopped the car, opened the door for me and told me to go thru the doors.  

I walked in and Joe Muer was around the corner.  I walked into the restaurant and told the hostess I thought I was supposed to be going there.  A waiter winked and said yes, let me show you the way.  He took me around to a private dining area and I saw Adam stand up!  Ear to ear smile.  Looking so handsome as always.  He kissed me and asked if I had a good day.  I told him it was a wonderful day.  He looked at me and said "I'm not going to delay this" and he got down on one knee, took a ring box out of his pocket and opened it.  I remember being shocked.  At him.  At everything he'd done.  At the ring.  All of it.  I told him YES!  And he put the ring on my finger.  There was lots of hugging and kissing.  Gushing.  Nearly tears.  I realized at some point, there was someone there taking pictures of us.  After we pulled apart, I realized it was Jill from church.  I didn't know it was her with her camera in front of her face!

We sat down to order dinner and Adam asked me about the day.  And then told me about all of his plans.  He told me that during dinner we could text or call anyone we wanted to tell them, but when dinner was over...it was JUST US.

We had a wonderful dinner and topped it off with this delicious dessert.

Afterward, the limo picked us up, our phones were turned off, and we spent some quiet time alone to enjoy the moment.

It was a perfect day.  A fairy tale really.  I'm still in awe of everything that Adam did.  All the thought it put into giving me such a wonderful and heartfelt proposal.  He truly outdid himself.  With the day, the ring, dinner (he even incorporated Grandpa into it).  Everything.  HE is amazing.  And I love him so very much.  God truly did bless the broken road that lead me straight to him.

So, I have a fiance.  A new journey ahead.  A new blended family.  New future in-laws.  A new life.  And with that, a new blog.  If this day is any indicate of what is to come in our lives, I plan to get ready for an AMAZING journey full of love, laughter, and happiness.