Cory's proposal...

28th March 2009

Here are some excerpts of what I wrote a few days after Cory proposed to me. I never wanted to forget the feeling and emotions of that day. It's our special day, and our very special place.

I got back to the US on Wednesday March 25th, and what a nightmare that was... The flight from London to Texas was 2.5 hours late, and then I got to immigration, and the battle axe there gave me a hard time, and took me to an interview room, where I was quizzed solidly for 42 minutes... somehow, by the grace of God they decided to let me in....

Then on Friday evening, Cory left work and came home at lunchtime, saying that he just wanted to hang out with me, my first weekend back and all that...

We planned to go to the beach on Saturday which wasn't unusual for us so I thought nothing of it...

So, we go to the beach, and it's tipping down a storm.... but it's amazing, the waves are high and it's just beautiful....

Cory brings me to Yaquina Head lighthouse saying that he wants to show me a little cobble beach there, that has these black stones (it's a very cool beach)...

So, we wrap up and just before we get out of the truck Cory took our photo saying he wanted a "before photo"... I still didn't think anything was odd about that.... I thought he meant before we were looking like drowned rats!!!!
We get out and start walking down the steps to the beach... but he runs back to the truck saying he needs his camera... Stupid me, I still don't cop on (he was going to get the ring)!
We get to the beach, and we're walking, there is no one else there...and he tells me that he wants this to be forever, that he wants me to be his wife and he wants to spend all the tomorrows with me.....

He gets out the ring, and I can't even think of the ring, all I can think about are the words he just said and that he wants me to be his wife.... and for once in my life, the only time ever, I am unable to form any words... I am completely speechless...... A few moments later he asks me if that's a "yes" and with tears running down my face,I do all I can to just make a little nod to say yes.... He had taken me completely by surprise!

We were standing there on the beach, in the wind and the rain for a fair while before we decided that it was cold and we started walking back to the truck... I was walking on clouds, I didn't care that I was cold and soaked through to the core... I was the happiest woman alive.

When we got back to the truck Cory got out his camera and took an 'after' photo, and then finally everything started to fit into place, I finally realised that he had planned it carefully...

Well, that's the story! He was so sweet, so romantic and I was in shock for the longest time that we're actually going to get married....

Elk Cove & Kramer

The weekend before I left to go back to London we decided to do some more wine tasting, this time, just the two of us.

I had wanted to go to Elk Cove for a while, so it was a perfect time... We had to go up near there to drop some things off, so we decided to have some fun up there too...

We went to Elk Cove and Kramer, I would highly recommend them both, their wine was wonderful, and EC had stunning grounds!

Here's some pics...

More pics from Meade's weekend...

Wine tasting...

It's a Friel Sandwich... ;)

Playing bocce ball...

Lange Winery
Lincoln CityCape Meares

Alex & Tara visit...

We were so excited to have Alex and Tara come up from Salt Lake for a long weekend...

They arrived on the Thursday, so we decided to go to the Horse Brass English Pub in Portland on the way back from the airport for some dinner and drinks! I was so excited to see English beers... Weird I know, but it's crazy how different things here are... I ordered a glass of Blackthorn Cider... Classy I know! ;)

Jeff came and meet up with us for a drink... it was nice to finally meet him, and to see everyone together again.

Since it was Tara's first time here in Oregon, Alex wanted to show her Linfield college, and we had also planned to go on some cool wine tastings... The rest of the day we chilled, and played board games in the evening...



We headed to the beach on Saturday morning - Jeff and Janelle joined us too..... Firstly and importantly we had to make a stop at Kiyllos for Alex... He loves that place, so we timed it right for lunch! ;)

After that we headed to PC to the beach house we had rented... It was awesome, and perfectly located just slightly north of the dune with private beach access!

After settling in, someone (I don't remember who) had the bright idea of climbing the dune! Well, it sounded like a good idea to all of us, so we headed out (leaving Janelle behind to study).

Very shortly I realised that there was no way in the world I was going to make it up the dune... But, instead of being a spoilt sport, I kept trying... chugging along at the back over the first two little dunes.

As I approached the main dune I was feeling light headed and out of breath, my thighs were burning and I just didn't know what was going on. I had never had a problem doing things like this before. Cory came and tried to help me get all the way to the top, but there was no way, and I eventually had to stop and sit down while the rest of the group carried on to the top! I was defeated and extremely annoyed with myself.

Even on the way back to the house I was struggling to climb back over the two little dunes and I felt embarrassed. Little did I know, but it should have been a sign that something was going on with my health... Again the graves disease tried to get our attention, but we ignored it!

Saturday evening we had a great night, playing board games, chillin' in the hot tub and enjoying the group of friends... oh, and Jeff made meatball grinders... they were really good, but I had never been served such a lot of meat (and only meat) in one meal!

Well, the weekend had flown by and Alex & Tara were to leave on Sunday afternoon... We decided to drive up the coast and see some sights before their flight... it was a great afternoon, we saw Cape Meares and the light house.... Then we headed to the grand lodge for lunch before saying goodbye!It was a great weekend... It was nice to meet Alex, who had been one of Cory's closest friends since college. Tara is awesome too - they're great friends to have and fun people to hang out with!

Little did we know we'd see them in Oregon again in a couple months... ;)

Bachelor weekend... Valentines Day

We waited for what seemed like ages for our Bachelor weekend to come around... it was a great weekend...

We loaded up the truck on Friday morning, first thing and got on the road... we wanted to cram as much into the weekend as possible...

On Saturday while making breakfast I decided I was going to take a refresher lesson, it had been years and years since I had strapped into a board, I wanted to take it easy that first day... I ended up being the only person in my lesson, so it was basically a private lesson for 2.5 hours... Awesome!

By lunch time I had popped my knee and wanted to be done... I went to find Cory and the others for food and a rest! Now as I look back, this was the first time I really realised my health wasn't as it should be... I should have been able to spend all day up there on my board, but instead I was tired, my pulse was racing and I needed to take it easy!

Thankfully, everyone else decided they wanted to take it easy that day too... It was Valentines Day and we were going out for a nice dinner, so we decided to head back to our cabins and have a relaxing afternoon. I felt so guilty, even though everyone said they wanted to call it good early, I still felt like they were leaving early because of me... :( That night we went out for an awesome 'American tapas' dinner...

Feeling a little refreshed but still fairly aching and stiff Sunday was upon us, and another day on the slopes... I hoped it would be better, I didn't know why I was struggling so bad...

I decided to rent a board and boots for the day... Since I tore my ankle last fall, the set-up I had really wasn't helping, and it hurt both my knee and ankle to be strapped in...

It was much better! The board was awesome, I had more movement in my ankle and I didn't feel like I was going to damage my knee a million times over... I headed to the bunny slope to give it a try while the others did a quick run!

Yes!!! It did still feel better... So I headed up the ski lift with Cory and the others... YIKES!!!!!

I did ok, and after a couple of runs I was feeling more at ease with the board... As the runs progressed I was feeling more and more exhausted though, and my thighs burned like crazy!

The next run, as I was getting off the ski lift I don't even know what really happened, I hit some slick ice and I went down... Smacked the back of my head hard on the ice...

Right there and then I wanted to be done, I wanted to be at the bottom of the slopes, checking in my gear and heading to the truck..... but no! I was at the top of the run and still had to make it down!

Cory was awesome, he encouraged me down the slope and even though I felt bad that he wasn't able to just fly down the hill, he made me feel like he didn't mind... Like I was his priority and that we would get down there together!

Needless to say, that was my last run for the day... I decided to sit out the last run that Cory was going to make...

We checked in our things and headed back to the cabins... I was ready for a long, hot shower! I didn't know what was up with me, I wasn't that unfit... I shouldn't have had such a hard time...

As I look back now I should have realised that something was up... Graves was nagging away at me and I didn't even know it!

Fabulous weekend though and I am SO excited to snowboard a ton this winter!

Here's some pics:

Cory giving Travis some pointers...

Strapping up for the first run of the day...OUCH! My thighs burn!!!!

Too much turn in my left shoulder...

About to leave for our Valentines dinner...

Early 2009 - January beach trips

It looked so pretty, we decided to explore...Not the smartest thing we've ever done... I stepped on quick sand and found myself up to the knees and unable to get out. The more I struggled, the further I sunkCory struggled to pull me out - thankfully we both didn't end up stuck!

HAHAHA - I guess there is a valid reason for them to put these signs up! ;)

There was sand everywhere!!!! What a job it was to clean off our shoes!

We see this sign every time we go to Pacific City! It always makes me chuckle ;)

Another Pacific City beach trip...

The view from the Cape Lookout trail


Half way up the trail

beautiful views

The view from the end of the trail

At Seaside beach watching the sunset

Goofing off..