Month: May 2018

We all got ready for church and little did my mom and Tatum know what was to come. What a night was last night!!!

This beautiful lady here is about to find out.

And this one too:

Oh, Tot. I love you so.

Your world is about to grow and change for the best.

When Doug walked into the cafe to meet us before church, my heart melted. My man is here. For the first time, I truly felt captivated.

Service was amazing; all about the GOODNESS of God. And He is so good.

We came back to our house and Tatum gave me my birthday presents. Doug and she had made me up a gift bag full of my favorite bars. Yum!

We’ll be having one of those later to keep up my strength.

Ok, now the moment we all have been waiting for. Doug pulled out the picture with TATUM and he proposed to me again.

I felt like a princess.

He told me he wanted to be our spiritual leader and protect us forever.  He pronounced his undying love for me and knocked my socks off. Even though it had happened the night before, I lived it all over again. My heart just melted with joy and love. (and seeing Tatum so happy)

Do you know what I said??

Thumbs up all around.

Then the ultimate.

He proposed to Tatum with a ring he had designed for her.

He said: “Tatum, I’d be honored if you would allow me to be your daddy.” I was dying. Melty melt melt.

Do you know what she said??

We’ll take you, Doug, Love!

Our rings match:

He had a ring designed just for her in a size ONE. Isn’t it amazing?

I need to change the title now: THREE BLESSED GIRLS. My mom is so happy.

More about the rings and my love in the next blog.

When he left, she couldn’t wait to wear it. The rule is she must wear it with at least one of us. She now keeps it by her bed and is telling everyone.

Doug, you bless us every single day.

It was my birthday, Saturday May 19th. I woke up to Tatum singing to me in my bedroom. What else was today to hold? I honestly had no clue. In the past, Doug has blown me away with surprises. So…..hmmmmm????

During breakfast, God gave us this gift of seeing new life. These quail parents are so nurturing to their young. So much love in these little birds and in their family. Very prophetic.

Tatum and I worked on a craft during the day, and then I got ready for my date with Doug.

It took me forever to get dressed because it was the day of the Preakness, so I was in and out of watching the race as I did a curl or two. Not the most efficient method, but I got to see JUSTIFY win. (He won the Derby so now he just needs one more win at the Belmont Stakes to get the Triple Crown).

After getting all gussied up, Tatum tried on my shoes.

You like, Mommy?  I like if you don’t break your neck.
Ok, now she snapped a few of me.

I was ready and waiting. Doug wanted me ready at 4:50 SHARP so we could start our “adventure and mystery” outing. So promptly at 5:09, he showed up.  (LOL) This meant we had some “wait” time to snap snap snap.

He arrived, the HANDSOME DUDE!!! Wow.

Then Tot’s turn. She got dressed up for “the arrival.”

Then the kisses goodbye. I love you Tot. Have fun tonight! I have no idea what I’ll be doing? Bye Coti boy!

When I got inside his car, he handed me a stack of 10 envelopes.

And I opened up Numero Uno.

The card came alive and sang “We will…we will rock you!”  to me.

Anticipation!

I then opened up Card #2.

I guessed it: HOUSTON’S! We had our FIRST date there back in January of 2015.

And so we started with a little glass of wine. Little because we split one. I needed to pace myself, right?

A short conversation and a chat with the waitress who recognized us from our visit 3 months ago. How cool is that!?

Then Card 4:

I guessed it again. Our Wine bar (Terroir)!! We had to go there of course! It’s our “living room” on all of our dates. We love to go there because we know everyone, it’s cozy, and it just feels happy. We have so many memories there. 3 1/2 years of them!

And guess what he did?????
He bought fancy pantsy cookies for everyone there. Now that is awesome. Thinking of others on my birthday. I loved this!

Come and get the cookies, Scott, Chris, Jean, and Kristy!

That was so fun. (I saved a couple for Austin, Tot and me). Now what will we do??

I guessed it, hooray! The Royal Palms. Wow, I know how pretty that place is. Many of our presidents have stayed there.

And we did. I warned him that my shoes were NOT made for walking. They were made to look pretty, but that was their only function. 

Now, with ALL The beauty there, he wanted to show me this amazing fountain.  (LOL) Srsly, babe?

As we walked the sun was shining through. How symbolic. The beauty of the sunset… Things to come?

I warned him he might need to carry me since my feet were ready for an ice bucket or at least a run in the fountain,  so we headed to T. Cooks. The concierge, Cassandra, who he had prearranged everything with was all ready for us. Then, the waiter, who he had “interviewed” a week prior, showed with the wine chilling. I mean, WOW. He doesn’t miss a beat.

Octopus for an app. They should not call it that since you get maybe one piece of one leg. Maybe Octopus part? BUT, it was delicious!

And the salad??? I wanted to bottle up my dressing. Oregano vinegarette and feta dressing. SO YUMMY!

They had Chilean Sea Bass, and I found out it really isn’t sea bass at all but Patagonia Toothfish. Who knew?  For marketing sakes, they fancied up the name. I’d eat it anyway. It’s like buttah on a plate!

Doug had a perfectly cooked Filet.

All was going just swimmingly! We were having a blast. We both took our last bite, and he proceeded to take out a piece of glass.  He set it on the table and brought out a puzzle.

I knew this was the picture since it was on the box.

He told me this was his favorite of us (my mom took this pic at his Christmas party 2016.) We were just having fun and being silly. A good memory.

So there I am completely focused building the puzzle and totally missing the candle and birthday wish behind me!

Ok.. Enough! I want to build this thing!

After I finished,

he asked me to look for any clue in the picture that was different. What??

Glasses ON: I’m searching HOLDING IT UP to stare, and then the waiter saw what it said behind the puzzle and made a face. I of course then turned it around. AND…..

Will I!????????

Now apparently I forgot the most important part. According to Doug: I was in a bit of a shock, and I did not answer! He presented the ring then. More on that later. 

Now, he had me open Card 10

There’s a surprise on the back of the ring. Read about that here:

Here’s a peak:

I had not answered!!! He then had to ask:  “So honey, is it a yes??”  I was so caught up and in real shock I was just “oh my gosh, oh my gosh – is it really happening now!!?

Apparently guys need to hear the answer. Because, they’re like 99.99% sure it’s a yes.  They think they’re on solid ground like no doubt it’s going to be a yes. But then is it??? He needs to hear it so:
I made it clear:

Coti and Tatum, cuddling again. Can you just handle the cuteness?

Well, later on, Tatum’s brain took over, and she turned her room into a race ‘o’rama Ville. Magnatiles helped make a colossal car wash.

Coti helped monitor it all. He had to check the cars in.

Later, Tatum, Dino, Bella, and Coti waited for more customers.

It’s never a dull moment.

My dear sweet Doug added the pedals, and now, nothing can stop my little speed racer.

Help! How am I going to keep up now!??

Well, Lime Bike, here I come!

It was to be a special day because we were going to spend a bit of time with my friend Bob. We’ve been friends for over a decade.  He was going to get my old computer so we planned to meet at SBC for a coffee, a bit of talk time with Tot, and the big “give.” My goal in giving it to him was for him to be more mobile and meet some people. He is such a gift to so many, and he deserves to find the right gal. He also deserves for his business to get off the ground. Being out and about will give him this opportunity. All I wanted to do was equip him.

So, Tatum wanted to dress up! (Now this is a big deal because she only wears dresses on Sunday’s).

Then we hit Einstein’s for our usual coffee stop. Tatum had made a card for the bagel team and she gave it to Matt the manager. He hung it up in the store. Yes, this is Tatum’s usual mode: GRATITUDE. They give us free coffee almost every time we go in; plus they just are so kind to us.

Anyway, we finally made it to SBC and gave Bob the MacBook. Tatum wanted to play a game, so she got it all set up.

She wanted to “school” us both, and guess what?  She did.

Those memory games are her specialty.

That brain!

Thanks Bob for being such a great friend. We pray for you every day. We also had a great time with you. Tot sure adores you. It must be the dairy allergy twinsie thing!?

So, she knows my age. I mean really?
Ok, and she knows I love her. I think that is my favorite part; next to being a good hugger.

I love you Tot.