November 09: Thanksgiving and Hunting

Our November is summed up by two words…hunting and Thanksgiving!

Doug went on his annual 10-day hunting trip with the guys, on the hunt for a buck and doe…this year the weather did not cooperate, and there will not be a fresh supply of venison in our freezer.  But, he still had a great time outdoors and hanging with the guys.

Thanksgiving was in St. Louis this year, and all of Doug’s family were in town.  We had Thanksgiving at his sister Racheal’s new house and had a delicious meal…minus the turkey…long story and I am afraid Doug still may feel it is too soon to joke about yet…let’s just say it was a turkey fryer malfunction.  I told him he has a year to master it before next Thanksgiving.

While Doug’s parents were in town for the holiday, we had dinner at the restaurant where we will have the rehearsal dinner…appropriately named Mother In Law House on Historic Main Street St. Charles. http://www.historicstcharles.com/visitors.aspx and http://www.motherinlawhouse.com/

And, lastly over Thanksgiving weekend, our golden Griffey developed a hot spot that led us to an unexpected trip to the vet…this is the first one he has had in his almost 9 years…and we are still working to treat it so it will heal.  Poor guy he is a bit miserable.

Overall, we had a great November and are now in full Christmas mode!

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Engagement Pics

In October, we went to a local park during the peak of the leaves changing, and our sister-in-law, Erica Powers, took our engagement photos.  We have had a gorgeous fall, with several days of beautiful weather…(despite two weeks of straight rain).  The pictures turned out great.  As we were viewing them for the first time, I started to cry…and, Doug (looking all concerned) asked me what was wrong…I told him I was crying because we look so happy in the photos and Erica really captured that.  He said, “well we are that happy.”  And, that is why I love him!  :)

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The Proposal

We were engaged on September 6, 2009.  It was Labor Day weekend and Doug had planned a “date day” for Sunday.  He said he wanted to do some St. Louis touristy stuff, since he really had not had a chance to explore the city.  He mentioned going to the St. Louis Arch…I was a bit “not too crazy” about going since I dont like confined spaces…but said I would go since it was important for him.

Well…we got down to the Riverfront and were walking around and stopped under the Arch…Doug asked me if I thought it was the center spot..I said I think so…and he says…well, then this is the spot, and before I understood what he was saying…he was down on one knee holding a ring and said “Jaime…Will you marry me?”.  I was surprised and happy and of course said YES!

We both were a bit emotional (happy tears and laughing), and since it was a holiday weekend, many people were at the Arch grounds and started taking our picture…as it was happening.  And, if you know Doug well, it is a bit unlike him to do something like this in front of a large crowd.  But, it was just perfect…and even more perfect for the reason he choose the St. Louis Arch.

Coming home from a work trip a few months before, he said he was crossing the river from IL and seen the Arch in the distance and had an epifany…he said the feeling of “being home” came over him.  He felt then that St. Louis was now his home and moving here was the right choice and this is where he belongs, because he met and fell in love with me.  So sweet! More happy tears!

It was a very special moment and special day…we then celebrated with cocktails and creme brulee at Morgan Street Brewery, then headed to Main Street St. Charles for dinner at Little Hills Winery.  Then came home and toasted with wine by the fireplace.

He proposes at the Arch.

He proposes at the Arch.

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How We Met

We met on a blind date, set up by our families through a church group they belonged to…we joke that it was a triple whammy…blind date, our families, through church…we were both thinking “sure, like this is going to work out”.  Well, apparently our families, and God knew best, because here we are a year later planning a wedding.

Our first date was on May 31, 2008, we went to Shamois McDaniels for dinner, where I ordered a Blue Moon…and I will never forget the look on Doug’s face.  I think I impressed him, he was thinking I was going to order some frozen girlie drink.  We then headed to a church picnic at a neighboring parish, Immaculate Conception at Dardenne…irionic enough, Doug was the ring bearer at his cousin Ken’s wedding at that same church many years ago.  We always say that our meeting was blessed by God from the start.  After the church picnic, we ended the night at Blue Sky, a local bar and grill.

We went out on a few more dates…then that turned into weekly dates, then more and more we were spending time together.  It was such an easy and natural progression, and just seemed right.  I think it was several months into dating that we both started thinking….this is the one.

We thank God every day for His knowing the plan for us, even before we did.  When my mom sent me an email at work one day, explaining that her friend Linda had someone she wanted me to meet, I had no idea the significance of that email.  Linda, Doug’s cousin (even though you are not officially his cousin, you will always be family to us) listened to God’s calling and forever we will be grateful.

One of the things that stands out from our first date, was when Doug arrived at my place…Griffey, my golden retriever, greeted him at the door…excited someone new was there.  Doug said…what a good looking dog.  Little did we know that it would be his dog too one day.  He also said…this would be a good hunting dog.  I laughed and was thinking…this lazy dog is no hunting dog!  Needless to say, Doug loves Griffey and has never attempted to take him hunting!

We feel very blessed to have found each other.  Never underestimate the power of prayer, God’s calling and plans, and never ignore emails from your mother when she sends you a boy’s phone number! 

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