Our Engagement Story :)





(Betsy): We are engaged!!!! I am so thrilled that I get to spend the rest of my life with such an amazing man! I have had a ton of people ask me how Scott proposed, and we wanted to share our engagement story with everyone, so let me start out by mentioning how surprised I was! I had no idea that on November 5, 2010, I’d be saying ‘yes’ to my sweet Scott.

(Scott): mmm surprised – maybe she was just a little, but it’s hard to believe that’s true as she dropped hints every other hour and constantly asked probing questions trying to feel me out. She was slightly surprised because I put forth a lot of effort to propose at a time that she wouldn’t expect anything.

(Betsy): Ok, so maybe I knew I had something coming. And drop hints? Me? Never...I was just being helpful: “You know, Scott, wouldn’t it be neat to be engaged before my cousins come in for Thanksgiving?” “Wow, Scott, wouldn’t November be a beautiful month to get engaged?!” Despite my helpful suggestions, Scott completely threw me for a loop. And here’s how…

(Scott): About a week before, we had selected the ring. Then, it was up to me to pick a diamond and a “delivery date”. I had always had spring in mind as the “delivery date” but changed my mind because I knew we were meant to be and knew we had something special. On November 5th, I made sure to call the soon to be in-laws and my parents to inform them that I might be proposing soon. This again was difficult with “snoopy” but we all somehow pulled it off.

(Betsy): They sure did pull it off! But there were some close calls. For example, here is a conversation my mom and I had a few hours before Scott popped the question:

Mom: “Hey there, what’d ya’ need?”
Me: “What do you mean what did I need?”
Mom: “Well, I have two missed calls from you.”
Me: “Uh…well, I didn’t call you.”
Mom: “Yes you did. It says right here that I have two missed calls from Scott.”
[I check with Scott…he says to tell her ‘never mind’]
Me: “He says never mind.”
Mom: “Ok, love you. Bye”
[10 minutes of me nagging Scott about why he called my mom…I think he has
something up his sleeve, but I finally give up.]

THEN, my mom calls back!

Mom: “Tell Scott that I checked his message, and I think it is a good idea to move
those things up to Noblesville. I don’t need them in my house.”

DARN! All this time, I was thinking that Scott called my mom to ask her if it was ‘ok’ to get married when in reality, he just was making sure it was ok to move some furniture up to his house in Noblesville! Or so I thought….

(Scott): On November 5th I had the ring in my possession with the intention of proposing on Saturday, November 6th; however, I myself could not stop starring at the ring and thought, “how and where am I going to hide this thing?”. Meanwhile, Betsy knew I went to look at the assembled ring, but I told her that I left it there until I was ready to propose. The entire time it was in my possession, I was worried about losing it or her finding it – then I realized that I would not plan anything, and I would just have a ‘feeling’ about when the right time would be; however, I didn’t know it would hit me on the night I bought the ring.

We spent most of the day moving and capped it off with dinner. We enjoyed some nachos – our favorite—and had great conversations. The quality time was great and that night was starting to feel like ‘the night’. I knew she was the one for me and she means everything to me – it was confirmed that night. We got home, and we opened our favorite wine and as I was getting the wine, she was nestled in on the couch. I thought to myself what a great end to the night if my precious lady could get what she has wanted for a while. I brought her wine to her, sat next to her, said some kind words and asked if she wanted a surprise. I could tell she was confused, which was good, as I wanted badly to surprise her, and I think I did as I pulled out the ring and asked if she would be my wife. I was relieved when she said yes, and she hasn’t stopped smiling since. It felt perfect, and it made me very happy to see her so happy.

(Betsy): Happy is an understatement!! There are no words to describe how thrilled I was…and still am. After we got engaged, we made calls to close friends and family, and it was so nice to have support and encouragement from EVERYONE! That night, my mom picked out my colors, informed me when I was sending out save-the-dates, and showed me what kind of flowers we were going to use for decorations! Oh boy!

…

Ok, so that might be a slight exaggeration, but it is nice that she, along with the rest of our families, is so excited and willing to help with wedding planning. We will keep everyone posted with our progress.

Meanwhile, I’ll let everyone know when I am planning on driving somewhere because it is dangerous to be on the road with me—who knew engagement rings were driving hazards!? I can’t stop starring at it…Scott has asked on a couple occasions if he needed to give “us” (my ring and I) some alone time!

More important than the ring is my love for Scott. We feel so blessed to have found one another! We can’t wait until we get to cross “Get Married” off of our 30 list!!!

Eye Opener...

(Betsy): Last night, Scott and I attended a donor's banquet for Fresh Start, the organization where Scott is a candidate to be a board member (He should find out if he gets to serve at the beginning of November when the other board members 'vote'). The banquet was held at Laurel Hall, a beautiful mansion in the Fall Creek area of Indianapolis.

This organization is so incredible. I learned so much about domestic violence and was blown away by the frequency of abuse that occurs in Indianapolis alone. Some 30,000 families are affected by domestic abuse just in Marion County. Not only are thousands of women physically tormented, but they are also mentally and intellectually attacked. Fresh Start is for women who are serious about leaving their abusers for good. Oftentimes,we learned last night, those being abused won't leave (or will leave and go back) their abusers because they are fearful, without money, and feel incompetent. Fresh Start offers counseling (financial, character building, etc.) and provides resources (such as furniture, housing, employment opportunities) for these battered women.

One woman, Charlene, shared her testimony with the donors, and brought Scott and I (and the rest of the audience) to tears. This woman had been in an abusive relationship for over 39 years before deciding to leave her marriage. She had lived on a farm in Southern Indiana, where she and her husband raised cattle. As she told us her story in her amazing Southern-bell accent, I was floored by all she had endured. Her 'job' (what her husband forced her to do) was physically demanding; she 'threw' one-hundred pound bails of hay every morning, delivered baby calfs, and milked cattle on a daily basis. She also raised three children and worked in a factory.

Despite all of her hard work, she had no money. Her husband, a 6ft 3in, 275lb man, used her income to pay bills and buy food and clothes. Meanwhile, he stashed his cash in a separate account. Not only did he control her finances, but he also controlled her social life, family life, and private life. She wasn't 'allowed' to do much of anything; rather, she was required to serve him when he demanded.

One night, after coming home trashed from the bars, Charlene's husband woke her up from a deep sleep. She had to wake up at 4:30a to begin her daily tasks, but that did not matter to this cruel, disgusting man. He violently woke her up, demanding that she get him a glass of milk. When she responded that he was a 'big boy' and could get it himself, he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her into the kitchen, insisting she do what he told her to.

Unfortunately, this story was only the beginning. Charlene had been raped numerous times and was constantly verbally assaulted by this creature she lived with. After coming home a little late one night after a wedding reception with friends, Charlene was kicked in the throat by her husband, who, at the time, was wearing his huge farming boots. She couldn't swallow for a month...

Despite her unfortunate circumstances, she was 'tickled to pieces' to let everyone know that she just signed papers for a new home. Fresh Start gave her the opportunity for a fresh start. She was provided legal assistance and left her husband after "39 years, 11 months, and 17 days." Her story, her faith, is so inspiring, and I am so humbled by her tale.

Scott and I want to volunteer--both time and money--to a great cause, consistently and frequently (30 List, anyone?). As we learn more and more about Fresh Start, we become more and more passionate. I hope that we can continue to build a relationship with this organization (specifically, through Scott's contributions if elected as a board member). We will keep you posted!

On a much lighter note, I discovered the most amazing wine ever while at the banquet (the organization brought in a gentleman giving free wine samples)--Moscato d'Asti. If you love sweeter wines, this is definitely worth trying. I'm trying to learn more about wine so I can roll with Scott and his fam :) If any one knows of any good books, let me know!

Have a beautiful weekend!!!!

Crazy Week!!

(Betsy): This week has been quite a busy week; I have exhausted myself with studying for/taking midterms, and poor Scott has had a full workload while trying to suffer through a common cold. We have been tired, cranky (esp me!), and frustrated that we have not been able to spend a lot of quality time together because we have been busy hitting the books and/or meeting work deadlines...

The good news...the week has come to an end! In the midst of our exhaustion, we did take some time to think about things that we are grateful for (healthy family, friends, employment) and work through a list of questions we thought were really important to consider as a couple: Check Them Out Here. Scott and I have very similar values and belief system; however, it was interesting to see where we differed and, moreover, how we are planning to handle those differences.

On Friday night, we took on the challenge of watching four seventh-grade preteens. Maddie, my 12-year-old sister, and three friends came to the house, fully loaded with cell phones, fake-nails, and the latest gossip from junior high school. We thought and thought and thought about what we could do to entertain these girls...take them shopping, take them to a movie, buy them pizza?

As it turns out, you do not have to do any of these things. In fact, all you have to do is provide them with a camera because, as Scott and I quickly learned, all seventh-grade girls want to do is take pictures of themselves...and watch Jersey Shore. So, what Scott and I anticipated to be a long, stressful night, actually turned out to be quite relaxing (and entertaining).

(Side note: Abby-do you remember our green frog days at your gmas? and making those silly videos? Watching Maddie and her friends reminded me a lot of those days!)

On Saturday morning, we were able to enjoy a great breakfast with our friends, Breena and James (who, by the way, are amazing cooks! Last weekend, they spoiled us with heavenly cheesy/sausage potatoes and chocolate chip pancakes!!). Scott and I, after our stressful week, were in much need of a date night, so bearing in mind our food budget, we jumped on Resaurant.com to find a good deal on a local joint. We agreed on The Tap Room, a little diner in Zionsville, IN. For just three bucks, we scored a twenty-five dollar gift certificate, and it was so worth it! The atmosphere was great and the food was delicious. The Tap Room is located in a community in Zionsville called Stonegate, modeled much like The Villages of West Clay. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend checking out the neighborhood. The homes are beautiful, and it is fun to drive around because the neighborhood has so much character.

(Mo and Eric, we definitely want to go back with you guys. We think you would enjoy it!)

We are now ready to start another week, with fresh, clear minds. Midterms are over, and Scott has recovered from his cold. Everyone have a great week :)

George

(Scott) - Hello all!  Just wanted to say a few things about this past weekend. 

First off, I love this weather and all other things that go with the fall season - the scents, football, pies and the leaves changing colors - just to name a few.  We made our way down to Bloomington on Saturday with some of Betsy's family members for some tailgating and to spend time with her brother, Alex, as he recently turned 21.  It was a little rainy and chilly but, apparently, that does not prevent people from tailgating.  Let's just say we had a good time and most of us were done 'celebrating' by about 5 pm as we exhausted ourselves with being outside and, well, doing what people normally do while tailgating. 



Wow - Betsy's photography skills at work



With that said, Sunday was not what you would call productive as far as getting stuff done - studying and work.  However, we ended up having some great quality time on Sunday as Betsy and I decided to head to a pumpkin patch.

Sunday was a glorious day to be outside and perfect for hunting down pumpkins.  We enjoyed the atmosphere of the pumpkin patch and all the activities that were taking place.  We did have a mission though - find the perfect pumpkin.  So, we hopped on the wagon and headed to the patch.  We attempted to take a picture of ourselves to capture the moment but we were unsuccessful after several attempts as it is rather difficult to take your own photo.  Betsy then pointed out that the other passengers probably thought we were in love with ourselves considering how many pictures we attempted to take when, in reality, we just kept messing up each photo.  Once we made it to the patch it, was time to find the perfect pumpkin for us.  After walkling around for a few minutes - there he was - a perfect pumpkin.  We decided to name the pumpkin George and I am sure some of you have been wondering for quite some time as to what is up with the title of this blog - now you know.

We finished up at the pumpkin patch, drove around for a bit and had some lunch.  Throughout the entire day we had some great conversations and also gained insight to a very important lesson - be happy with what you have, don't live in envy and try not to constantly chase after 'stuff' because if you continue chasing something you think is better, you will likely never be truly happy.  Thanks for reading.

(Betsy): I wanted to add some more pics from the weekend!

Dad and Alex, celebrating the BIG 2-1

My mom and my stepmom, JC....

...versus me and my sister, Morgan!

Favorite pic ever of my dad and cousin, Hanna! Go IU :)

Scott and George, our pumpkin!

Stoneycreek Pumpkin Patch, Fall 2010. Such a great time :)

                     

Yard Sale and Weekend Update

(Betsy): Dave Ramsey has coined several phrases and ideas (i.e. "Live like no one else so [that later,] you can live like no one else.") One of our favorite components to his teachings is his idea of attacking debt with "gazelle intensity." Let me explain.

Imagine a camera skimming Africa's grassland habitat (think: Discovery Channel/Travel Channel). You may spot an occasional tree or pond, but we all know the camera man's true intentions. Somewhere nearby is a herd of animals--probably gazelles--with a predator--the cheetah--close by. The camera man continues filming as the gazelles become aware that their enemy is on the prowl. When the cheetah makes his move, darting towards the group of seemingly helpless animals, the gazelles scatter and run like hell. Usually, the cheetah chooses one victim, and a cat and mouse chase develops over the next few seconds. If you concentrate on the gazelle, you will notice that he (or she) is running from the cheetah with a 'focused-intentsity'. In other words, this gazelle is on a mission: to get away from this cheetah, and get away fast. His life depends on escaping his hunter.

We, the American consumer population, are much like the gazelles; our predator, credit card debt. We are constantly being encouraged to go into debt so that we can have what we want instantly. We are encouraged to finance cars, furniture, cosmetic surgeries, televisions, homes, the list goes on... When we finally realize that our lives our now swallowed in debt, we begin to panic. Dave Ramsey argues that we should run like hell from credit card companies, with this 'focused intentsity' that the gazelles use. Likewise, we should be using this same intensity to pay off our debts. Sell things you don't use or need. Work extra hours. Pick up an additional job. Whatever it takes.

Scott and I are fortunate to only have car debt. But, let me tell you, we HATE it. Scott makes double payments each month, and we are both making compromises and sacrifices in order to stick to our budget. We are on schedule to pay off the loan in 12 (or fewer) months. We are incredibly happy with that, as the loan was originally scheduled to be paid off in 5.5 years! To illustrate our 'gazelle intensity' (our roommates now have it too!!), we had a yard sale. Not only was this a great time to make some extra cash, but we also were able to spend some quality time with my roommates. We had many laughs and many customers. The yard sale also gave us the opportunity to meet some of our neighbors and learn some interesting history about our 18th century home.

 

On a much different note, Scott and I started a new book, Super Freakonomics. The authors, two economists, put a unique twist on interesting topics. For example, they propose that you are at greater risk by walking drunk than by driving drunk. We are currently reading a chapter on why "A Street Prostitute is Like a Department Store Santa." Interesting stuff... 

Everyone, have a great week!

Labor Day Weekend

(Betsy): Hello all! I hope everyone is enjoying the transition from summer to fall. While I'm a huge fan of warmer weather, I'd have to say, fall is probably my favorite season; there is something refreshing about crisp air, and who doesn't love the beautiful outdoors during September/October?!

Like most of you, Scott and I started our September with a long, fun-filled weekend (with a lot of studying in between). Friday afternoon, we drove to the central library where I was able to get a significant amount of reading done for class, and Scott was able to finish up some things from his work week. The downtown library is gorgeous. In the past couple of years, the structure has changed quite a bit, and visitors get this cool "old/traditional meets modern/state-of-the-art" experience. It is definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

On Saturday, Scott's parents came down for the last Indianapolis Indians' game. We enjoyed some wine at Tastings before heading to Weber Grill where we met Scott's aunt, uncle, and cousins (It was so great meeting you guys!). After a great dinner, we headed to the game (less than a mile walk) on a perfect night. Although I've never been a huge baseball fan, it has been fun learning baseball lingo. I now know what a pinch-hitter is, and I am slowly learning the dynamic between the different professional levels (i.e. Indians versus Yankees,etc.). Scott is super excited to take me to a Cubs' game (on our 30 list!), and, from what he has told me, the subculture at these games is nothing short of exciting...Anyway, I don't know that I've ever sat through an entire baseball game, but the fireworks show at the end of the game certainly made it worth it! We also were able to enjoy the entire night for less than $40. Between Tastings, dinner, and food at the game, we could have easily spent $70-80, but by budgeting and only spending cash, we were much more aware of where our money was going. Call us nerds, but we were SO excited about that!

We also spent Sunday with family. We headed to Danville, IN for my family's annual hog roast. Here are some pics we snapped:

Breena and Scott

My dad and his beautiful wife, JC :)

Only the sweetest little cousins ever....Chris and Nick!!!!

The poor hog!

Hanna!!! and myself

Grandpa Al, my wonderful mother, and Janet L.

Finally, on Monday, Scott and I got to spend some quality time together at one of our favorite spots at the Lily Gardens in Indy (pictured to the right). The Lily Gardens is a seriously beautiful  hidden treasure, located behind the Indianapolis Museum of Art. There, we finished Mindfulness which turned out to be a really great book despite the sometimes drag content. I'll save my thoughts on the book...and share my absolute favorite story from it...for another post!

Also, I wanted to let some people know (specifically, Mo and Amanda) that you can subscribe to our blog (down at the bottom of the blog page) or "follow" us if you have a gmail account. You will automatically be sent updates when we update. I'll also send you the directions in an e-mail.

I cheated!!

(Betsy): Ok...so...you know that whole request from me in my earlier blog about praying that I didn't burn the house down...well, I was serious! I need your prayers, people!

Tuesday started out a lovely day. The weather was perfect, I was on time to work, and my amazing boyfriend had my lunch ready to go--tortilla chips, cheese, and a yogurt. My morning flew by, and I was all smiles....

Those smiles quickly turned to looks of horror when I realized I had set my office microwave on fire. I was trying to melt some cheese on the tortilla chips when I noticed the smell of smoke. Apparently, you can't microwave paper plates with aluminum on them (they were little plates from a child's birthday party with some crazy cartoon character)...who knew!

I quickly put the small fire out (turns out, I exaggerated a bit in the previous paragraph--i only sent the plate up in flames--not the entire microwave) with some water from a sink nearby. Needless to say, my lunch was burnt, and I had a major headache (probably induced from the stress of putting out a fire combined with an empty stomach). Then, I totally broke down. I admit it! I drove to the Mexican restaurant down the street, Real Hacienda, and bought chicken nachos!

Scott helped me rationalize the situation and made me feel better about eating out. So, we are adding one more day to our challenge to counteract my little episode at work. September 24th can not come soon enough!