Good Friends

I have been thinking this week about how blessed I am to have so many wonderful people in my life. The Lord has placed in my life some of the world's smartest, kindest, funniest and most genrous people.

I cannot believe how many people have oofered their time and service to help Matt and I with our wedding plans. So many thoughtful cards and gifts and emails have come in that I am overwhelmed with the love and sentiment of so many people.

I have a couple of special Thank yous that are filling my heart today. Not to lessen the feelings I have for all my friends but there are a few that I am especially touched by this morning.

Ashley has spent so much time planning my shower, dress shopping with me and most of all doing my engagement pictures. She is a very busy wife, mom and photographer and yet she has taken extra care to be sure that everything was just right for my engagement pictures and spent hours uploading, sorting and treating my photos yestrday. She is an amazing photographer, she even made me look good in some of those pictures. You can see her work on everydaylovephotography.blogspot.com and everydaylovephotography.com. Ashley has been a beloved friend through many years and is more like a sister than a friend. Thanks Ashley for all you are doing but mostly for your love and friendship!

Christi of course is my rock. I know if ever I need ANYTHING she is always there. She is the most dependable and loyal and thoughtful friend a person could possibly find and as a HUGE bonus; she is also the funniest and most fun friend I have. No matter what we are doing Christi and I are always laughing and having a good time at it. I don't think I have ever introduced Christi to anyone who didn't comment on her humor and how fun she is. Matt makes it clear all the time that he is really just using me to get to Christi. :) My parents feel the same way, it is more important to them to see Christi when they visit than me. Even my beloved nephews, especially Tanner are smitten with her. Thanks for all your love and support and comic releif over the years. And thanks for all your help with wedding dress creating and shower plans.

I also got the most special gift in the mail yesterday. Matt has my camera in Ohio this weekend so I couldn't take a picture to post but darling Annamarie Ferrell sent me the most beautiful scrapbook for engagement pictures. I was so touched by her thoughtfulness and the time (and talent) it took to make this for us. Thanks Annamarie! It was not only a beautiful gift but means so much to me that you thought of me and put so much time into such a meaningful package.

Boston

One week ago today I was in Boston at a Red Sox game. Let's not talk about what has happened to the Sox since then but I did get some great shots at the game including a picture of the Green Monstah.

I am attaching some pics of all the fun we had in Boston. I loved every minute of it but especially loved meeting my Mother and Father in-law to be as well as two of Matt's siblings.

You might notice also that we were there for the extraordinary New England fall colors!

You will also see a picture of my distinguished husband to be at the Taiwan Cafe in china town. We made a mid night run one night when we were all hungry. It was fun being close to a big city with so many options. The food was fabulous.

Have I mentioned I am in love?

I cannot tell you how blessed I feel to have Matt Cox in my life! He is the most amazing man I have ever known. He is kind, loving, romantic, humble, HOT, and is perfect for me in every way! I don't know why or how I got so lucky but he has chosen me to be his bride! I love this man with all my heart and cannot wait to start our new life together on January 10, 2009!

Matt and I met about 5 years ago, when he came in to meet with my boss. We flirted a little and ended dating some but it never turned into anything more. Then a little over a year ago we ran into each other at a mutual friends wedding and chatted for a while. After that it seemed we saw each other in random places and always had a nice but short conversation. Then one day, out of the blue he called and asked if I would like to go try out this Cuban restaurant in Scottsdale. I agreed and we set the date for a few weeks in the future because our schedules were really booked. We went and had a great time and then I started seeing him a couple of times a week. It did not take long for me to realize what an incredible person he was and recognize that he was a good man in all aspects of his life.

About a month and a half later it seemed we were dating pretty seriously. We would talk about everything under the sun and always planned really fun activities and quickly became the best of friends.

Then on Monday October 6th, 2008 Matt took me on a pic nic we had planned a couple of weeks in advance. I thought it would be one of our regular fun dates and was excited to see him and enjoy his company and the outdoors. He really shocked me when after dinner he asked me to marry him and put that ring on my finger! Although, I knew in my heart it was heading that direction, we had never actually talked about getting married so he definitely pulled off a great surprise!

The Friday after our engagement we flew back to Boston to spend time with his family. It was the first time I would meet my new in laws and I must say it was like going home. We had a wonderful time together and I fell as much in love with them as I am with Matt (well close anyway). Being with him in Boston with all his family and friends he grew up with gave me a deeper appreciation for the man he is and increased my love for him even more.

He is the kind of man every girl dreams of having in her life and I am so excited to get to spend the rest of eternity with him!