Let me preface this weekend by saying that Parker requested a "quiet weekend.” He works very long hours 6-7 days a week and really looks forward to his off rotations every three weeks. Despite the 15+ hours of travel that it requires, he is faithful and intentional about spending time together. Unfortunately, his request for a "quite weekend" this trip didn’t quite happen.
Friday was the new best day ever though! We slept in, made breakfast together, then went to Starbucks for a couple of hours to do our Bible study. We were planning on going up to Denver, so Parker could take me to the new Ikea. However, he also had a little something else up his sleeve, though he wouldn’t tell me what! I tried my hardest to get it out of him all weekend, but he’s tough and I couldn’t trick him. When we got to Denver, we had lunch at a BBQ place. Then we drove around and it seemed like we got lost. Parker wasn’t using the GPS, because he didn’t want to give away where he was taking me. When we went through a car dealership lot and finally parked, I had no idea where we were. It wasn’t until we walked up to the Shane Co. doors that I let out a gasp. I had heard the ads on the radio for “Your friend in the diamond business.” There were 13 cases of shiny things! Parker started out a little nervous, but he turned out to be such a trooper. (He even took my purse back to the car so that my shoulder didn’t get tired.) Only once did he comment that he wouldn’t propose to me if I picked that ring. To give him credit though, it was affectionately referred to as “The Claw” by the staff. In the second to the last case, I found one that I liked best. Then, we went to Ikea. I was exhausted just half way through since we'd been on our feet all afternoon. It was still a fun date though. We came back just in time to play games and have dinner with Jake, Jenna, Haley, and Ryan. Parker said that I could tell them about looking at shiny things. It was the best day ever--sleeping in, coffee, Bible study, ring shopping, date-day in Denver and then wrapping up the night with friends, more delicious food, and games!
The rest of our weekend together we spent doing house projects. Parker helped me do the tile back splash for my new counter tops in the kitchen. (I've been saving up money for 2 years and lived with my kitchen in chaos for 2 weeks. End result, totally worth it!) As typical of all house projects, it included many trips to Lowes. Park did lots of other little jobs around the place too, like spackling, painting, setting up his new computer, burning me a new “beautiful songs for my beautiful princess CD,” and grilling some delicious steaks. He brought 6 DVDs of his ISU marching band days. I watched part of one. We Skyped my family and they weren’t all that surprised at our “shiny things” trip. Apparently Parker talked to my parents about 1.5 months ago, though nobody told me! Dad has now turned into the least patient member of the family regarding shiny things :) Every time we talk he asks if I have a ring yet. Now wonder he made the comment to mom during Parker’s last rotation that he was, “Disappointed with our victory picture on top of Mt. Elbert.” He was hoping that Parker would bust out the ring on the top of the 14er! It all makes sense now. I’m not sure if Parker has the ring yet, but I’m confident in his plans. I drove Parker up to Denver at 4:30 am before work on Monday. Poor Park was so tired. I really owe him a true “quiet weekend” next rotation! He is so wonderful in all the ways that he loves and serves me!
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| Before |
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| After: with tile and new facet |
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| Before: 1980s gold counter tops |
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| In process: chaos |
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| After |
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| Before: with home made cutting board after cutting down the tall pantry cabinet |
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| After: totally worth it! |
