Engagement story

It all started on a cold rainy night in England, where I asked Donna Blaisdell to be my girlfriend. From that point on the Lord began to knit our hearts more and more together. (We'll one day tell the entire story, but as for now we are just going to tell the engagement portion of this grand tale.) About a month and a half later I told her that it was my intention to eventually marry her.
Flashing forward to the end of that semester, I gave her my ring as a "statement of intention" and it was at that point that we both knew that we were going to one day marry each other, and that is where this story picks up. Starting with the amazing Aaron's portion, followed by the mega beauty/super foxy Donna's.

Aaron's Portion

On December 15th, my love left England, taking with her both my ring and my heart. Thoughts were flowing through my mind, about how excited I was, but at that point I was also nervous. My parents had spent the evening talking with her, and I was afraid that they would for whatever reason not like her. But on the train to the airport, we talked about how she was the one I was planning to marry, and they surprisingly responded with joy. They said that they liked her, and that they could see how much I loved her and so they said that they supported me in this.
I was in Germany through Christmas, and I tried to figure out how and when to find the time to talk to her (there's about a 9 hour difference between California and Germany) but somehow we were able to talk every day, and soon after I moved in with my sister and her husband in Georgia.
It was there that I was faced with the fear that because we could only communicate via skype, we would slowly grow apart. But instead the exact opposite happened. We fell more in love with each other, and I wanted more and more to marry her. So around Valentine's day, I began to search for the perfect ring. The one that I could afford and at the same time would be beautiful, and I found it at Friedman's Jeweler's. So after much prayer, and searching, I bought the ring. But I was now faced with the task of figuring out how I was going to propose to her, and also what it is I would say when it came to asking her Father for her hand.
Now Donna knew that I was planning to propose, but I wanted the when and where to be a surprise, so I told her that I wanted to wait to propose until she came to visit in June, and I also got her mom to help me in this facade. Meanwhile she helped me figure out places to propose.
Finally after being apart for 3 months I finally arrived in Santee, to see my beautiful babe. And with that came the stress that came in the form of her dad. I knew that he knew that I wanted to ask him, but at the same time, I was unsure how it was that he was going to respond, so in my mind I was trying to answer all the questions that he may even possibly ask me, because Donna's hand/his blessing was something that was important to me.
So that Sunday I took him out for coffee, and on the way there we talked small talk, but I was FREAKING OUT on the inside. So we went to starbucks, and he asked me why I had taken him out. So I told him that I was in love with Donna, and that I wanted her hand in marriage. His response surprised me, because instead of an interrogation he just said "Yes. I have spent the last 20 years trying to figure out what I was going to say to the man who asked me this, but I don't feel that I need to tell you this stuff. It's obvious that you love my daughter, and you make her happy, and so I give you my blessing." It was at that point that it felt like a weight was lifted off me, I was at this point free to propose to Donna and I knew when and where I was going to do it.
On Wednesday March 19th 2008, I took Donna out for a "dress date" we dressed up nice and I took her out to Olive Garden. After that we went to Balboa park to walk around. It was Donna's favorite park, filled with nice gardens and various other paths and stuff. When we got there Donna began to explain to me all the amazing things about the area, and why it is that she loved the place, and what everything is. But, to be honest, at this time I didn't really pay attention to anything that she was saying. All I was thinking was, where can I propose to Donna? Where would it be nice? Finally we went to the Organ Pavillion, and it was there that we went on the stage and I decided that that would be the place. So as Donna was about to walk away, I grabbed her hand and said "Wait a second." I then took her other hand and said "Ever since that day in Rome... I mean in the laundry room where we were talking about Rome, I knew that I wanted you to be my bride, and ever since that day I have been trying to think of what I would say when this moment came. But to be honest at this point my mind is going blank. I love you Donna, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." I then got on one knee and then said "So I guess what I am trying to say is, Donna Mae Blaisdell will you marry me?" Donna at this point was smiling from ear to ear and she said "Yes!" So I put the ring on her finger, and we kissed for the first time as fiances. We then walked hand and hand together around in the area, smiling and talking about how we are now officially engaged. Donna called her mom and told her, and then after Donna went to the bathroom, we went back to her house and her mom took pictures.

The Real Story from Donna
so starting from when i left england...
i was a mess that day what with dorm cleaning and meeting his family for the first time and the graduation there was a lot going on in my brain. but the thought that my mind was obsessing over was that "i am leaving aaron tonight and trusting that this is what god wants for us and that He will watch over this relationship while we are apart." you always hear about bible college romances and how they last for a season, then are over a few weeks after the semester ends. i didn't want that i loved him and i knew very early on that he was the man i wanted to marry. so before i left while we stood outside in the freezing cold he gave me his ring and told be that it stood for 3 things our purity in this relationship, a reminder of his love for me, and a "statement of intention". early the next morning we said goodbye and amidst tears and hugs and kisses. when we were waiting for the train i told my friend lauren about the ring and she told me she knew it was from god this relationship, because we fit together like puzzle pieces. when i got home i missed him so much and all i wanted to do was talk to him on skype but i had work and school to get back to so we struggled to find time to talk to each other. when he moved to georgia it was easier and we would talk for hours. learning everything about one another. we talked about marriage and what we wanted for our future and i knew when he was looking for rings. i thought i knew he was going to propose when he came out in the spring but between him and my mom they had me convinced that he would wait till that june. so when he came out i knew he was asking my dad for my hand in marriage and that he was incredibly nervous about it. we prayed about it before he went to talk to him and i knew it would go well. when we were at my college group that night he told me and my friends how it went and it was all good news! and as far as i knew that was the only progress in that area that would be going on while he was here. we wanted to go in a fancy date where we dressed up and went out to eat some where nice so we did that wednesday and it was fun. i thought at the beginning of the night that he might propose that evening so when i realized my purity ring was not on my hand i asked him if when we go back i should could pu tit on. he said sure and so in my mind if i would be wearing my ring, then that meant he didn't plan on putting another one on there and therefore no proposal that night. not that i was upset, because i just figured it would happen this summer. so we went home and i grabbed my jacket and ring before heading off to Balboa park my favorite place in all of san diego. it's filled with great museums and gardens and the buildings are so cool. so we were walking around and i was talking the whole time telling aaron about different times i had been to the park, and different places that had stories attached to them for me. when we got to the organ pavilion i was telling him how people get married here all the time and how beautiful it was so we walked down the aisle towards the stage and we got up there and i was still taking about who knows what now when he stopped me as i was about to go off to the next place. that's when i knew. i looked at his face and i saw what he was thinking before he said a word and i knew this was the moment i had been waiting for since i left england. he started talking and all i could think was " he's asking me to marry him. I'm gong to be his fiance after this moment." i only caught the first part of what he said about how when we were in the laundry room talking about rome and how we weren't going to go then he knew i was the one god had for him and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. then he got down on one knee and asked me. it was perfect perfect man perfect time perfect place all before God. we prayed afterwards that God would be the center of our relations ship, and dedicated it once again to Him. then we walked into the light so i could see the ring better; it was gorgeous. after that we walked around some more and i pointed out more buildings, and we talked a lot, not sure if aaron remembers any of what i told him about the park so we will have to go there again sometime but i'm ok with that.

this is our story so far it's still being written by God and it will be the greatest adventure we could ever take part in. we can only imagine how great it will be to serve the Lord together and to carry out his work as a team. he made us for each other and we will complement one another in ways we never could have imagined. it's better to let God be our story teller and to enjoy the moment he has us in now. it is always changing and always something new but still feels like a favorite pair of jeans, comfortable and leaving you feeling confidant in each step you take.

1 DAYYY

Aaron is going to be here tomorrow yay yay yay yay
so we are both super excited and it is going to be an amazing 12 days if only i could get my room cleaned in time well he's bound to find out eventually :)

you are looking at my latest project in ceramics it's coming a long quite nicely if i do say so myself so enjoy it's lovelyness

american bettys

whet to an amazing tea yesterday at mrs stoval's, i know she said we could call her lori but i might have a really hard time with that.
the tea was beautiful. she set the table perfectly and it reminded me so much of betty's only brighter and cheery. i love the little details she put into it all and how lovely it was to get together and share stories with her. lori is truly special person and she holds a dear place in my heart.

For Aaron

Hello Handsome,
I miss you and I thankfully have not learned to patch the hole you left in my heart when we said goodbye in York. It is like the road construction crew that usually handles this kind of hurt has staked off that part and are still trying to figure out what to do with it. They can't fill it cause it's only going to be empty temporarily so they stand around scratching their heads trying to make it work. God is taking care of it though, He soothes the area every day and fills it with His amazing love in order to keep it from closing up and He holds that place for you so that you can move back in easily when we are back together again.
Every time we get together and talk i am excited to see how much He is changing us both, it is fantastic and the changes we will experience when we are together will be even more amazing. I love how my understanding of the Lord grows when we talk. He is using you in my life to show me new sides of Him I had yet to see before now.
That being said I am frustrated with talking over Skype. I want to be able to see you and feel you and know that you are close by just by being able to sense you, not because a ringer on my mac has alerted me that you are now online.
i miss you bub and i am actually counting down the days until you are here [42 on friday the 8th ;) ]
with all my love
your girlfriend slash sister in Christ
Donna

who i am?

the super cool shirt i made today

this is what i am going to be telling people in my communication class tomorrow. is this who i am? can i really be summed up this easily in a matter of a half an hour when i am only half awake? i know there is so much more to me but i really don't want to tell a bunch of strangers all about who i really am yet.

is this the Donna you know?

i don't think i even know this diet version of me



My life is just that, a living thing that is alive. It changes from season to season and it is growing into something quite beautiful. In a typical day I attend at least one class at Grossmont and then go to work at a ceramics studio type business. I am taking a 4 classes and a lab, so my work load for school is not too heavy and is easy for me to manage while still working part time. My job is some what satisfying, but I am seeking other employment. When I get home or between classes I talk to my boyfriend Aaron on Skype because he currently lives on the other side of the country and this is the cheapest way we can talk to each other.
I am truly passionate about God and my relationship with Him. I love reading the Bible and spending time studying the Word. I go to church on Sundays both morning and night, and I am a part of a couple of bible studies during the week. Also I just got back from England where I was attending a Bible college in York. It was a really cool semester that opened my eyes to so much. For instance, how others perceive you, and how we perceive others in foreign countries and cultures. I picked that part up during a mission trip in Portugal where we served a a church in the Algarve. I also met Aaron in during my stay in England, he was another student at the bible college. These past four months have really whetted my appetite for travel and I hope to be doing so again soon. Another thing I really enjoy is art. I was, up until this past semester, a ceramics major. That is my area of interest, and my favorite medium to work in. I have been doing it since high school so for about 6 years now.
My life is pretty cool in that I have many outlets for expressing myself and the opportunity to communicate with others is always there. I enjoy the give and take of talking to some one about something really deep and thought provoking and I seek it out in others, but I can easily keep it light and funny.
I often use the internet to talk to people who I care most about if they do not live near me, namely my boyfriend, but a few others as well. Other wise I see these people face to face and we talk using text messaging and calling each other. I prefer face to face though; it is easier for me to read some one, as it is for most people, when I can see their body language and their facial expressions.
For me the important elements in a healthy relationship are openness, reliability, realistic expectations, honest communication, investment of one’s self into the relationship and at least some common ground. And if we are talking about close relationships, a relationship with the Lord is a must.

it has come to my attention

A picture from Andres's going away party last sunday taken by Mi-shell edits by me

I do not post enough on here, and that is a conclusion of my own helped along by a few people( ahem Heather and Aaron) so here I am writing...... not too sure what I'll talk about..... ok I got it now

school
I have finished my first week of school, and it was good and not at all like I expected, but was still good. My classes are interesting to say the least, and it is nice taking a class with Pear. Thursday an old woman in my ceramics class and I started talking about what were were doing the semester before, and I told her about England and Aaron and just cool stuff the LORD has been showing me. She told me she was a christian and that she had prayed that God would send people for her to talk to and be nice to her in her classes and I was the 2nd girl she had meet that day that was a Christian. She said I was sent to her by God. Cool huh?