Wednesday, September 10, 2014

An Engagement Story: Are We Going to Heaven?


Diana met Jud while serving in the New York Rochester Mission:

This is the one and only picture from the mission, where they were at the same event: a sealing in the Palmyra Temple. Nana reports that Jud did not even speak to her that day;
come to find out since then, he was very well aware of her, 
and because of that, he avoided talking to her altogether.
She is in the yellow sweater, he is to her left...the tall ginger.



 Diana came home from NY in December, and the two of them began writing. and writing. and writing.  He fulfilled his mission and returned home (SLC) from NY on July 2nd....and was out here in Colorado by the 8th.
That was an interesting week. He stayed at our Bishop's house--who lives around the corner from us--and we got to know him a little bit.  About the 3rd day he was here, he asked Kent and I out for "ice cream"--during which he stated his intentions: to marry our daughter.  We smiled and said, "That's nice, let's get to know you better."
So, they have done the long-distance dating thing between Utah and Colorado:

 At his Mission Homecoming in SLC, Utah
 This pic was either taken in Utah or Colorado...I'm not sure.
 Hanging out with other NYRMers in UT
 Camping with our family in Colorado

 A session at the Draper Temple


 At the Conference Center (UT) with a Sr. couple that served in their mission
 At the Denver Temple with folks from their mission who happened to be in Denver that day too.

The actual engagement day just one month later 8/8/14:
This is a sweet story: Jud chose the place to propose to Nana based on her love of a little jogging path near our house that she calls her piece of "heaven".  We have spent many many days around this little preserve and pond over the years.
Nana had told Jud about it, and even taken him there on his visit to Colorado.  So he made up his mind that's where he'd ask her to marry him.
He told us his plan and we all did a little bit to help. There used to be a bench on the side of the pond, but it had been vandalized. SO Joseph built a new bench, and I painted it, then stenciled a special phrase that Nana & Jud had been using in their weekly letters...which began with, "I love you more than....(fill in the blank).
Dara's part was to take a bouquet of fall flowers to the site and a guitar there early that morning, leaving it beside the bench and leave.
Knowing how private we all are, we knew that Diana would not want an audience for this special moment, so we all waited in anticipation.
Jud had taken Nana to run an errand ( I can't remember where), to get her out of the house that early morning, so we could do our stuff secretly.
Jud reported back that once he turned down the road that led to the designated place, Nana asked, "Are we going to heaven?"
Once there, Jud played a song he'd written for her and asked her to marry him.
Then they came back home to share the news and asked if we'd follow them back to heaven to take some pictures.  

 In Utah, at another NYRMer's Homecoming
One of their Engagement pictures taken in Utah

And here we are, just weeks away from the wedding.
Has it been unbelievably fast?  YES. A Thousand times, YES.
Are we ready for this? I have no idea...lol.  But the Wedding Train is moving forward and we are on it!
Nana is a simple girl and is making this super easy though.
We are heading over to the West side of the Rockies for the marriage at the Salt Lake Temple,
on October 18th.
They'll have a backyard reception there that day and then a week later, we're hosting an Open House for them here.

And that's it for now.
She is wearing my wedding dress--it had been in a box for 32 years, she found it and asked if I'd mind if she tried it on--it fit nearly perfectly, and we've had it cleaned and some lovely alterations that will make it "hers".  She has also chosen to use my bridal wedding ring set I wore many years ago. It was vintage when I got it, and in perfect condition.  A sentimental young woman.

Kent expressed to Judson our great love for Diana. She is a treasure. And he is one blessed man to have captured her heart.


9 comments:

  1. Wonderful story! Congratulations and many blessings to the beautiful couple :-)

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  2. This made me tear up a little bit. When it's right, it's right.

    I hope they are so happy. Keep us updated!

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    1. Jen, wish you lived closer so you could help me with the decorations! You certainly have the decorating-gene! Thanks!

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  3. What a sweet story, and looks like your daughter found a wonderful guy (we already know he won the lottery when it comes to women). What a whirlwind! Congrats to all of you!

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    1. Lesley, We think he's a good guy...and yes, a whirlwind, indeed! Thank you!

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  4. Looks like he fits right in! Love his proposal…and the fact that she's wearing your dress.

    =)

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