Josh Ritter Weekend

Turning the big 3-0

…really didn’t amount to much. I’d be lying if I said that I hadn’t been worried about it. For the past couple of years I have been really dreading it. I had a great time in my twenties and being thirty just sounded so… not really old, but definitely older. The past few months I’ve come to terms with it, even come to embrace it and be grateful that I lived to see it.

We spent the weekend at the cabin with Mom and Dad and our good friends Celinda and Isaac. I was hoping Scott and Angie might be able to come to Idaho, but it wasn’t to be. Kathy and Joe had already been here for the summer so I knew they wouldn’t be able to make it out either. Kathy also started student teaching on Monday so she has been very busy. We still had a great time. There was a blue grass festival going on so we were lucky enough to see a couple of surprisingly good bands.

MJ and I stayed by ourselves on Sunday night and I took him golfing for the first time. He is a natural… he hit for his first time ever on a golf course over the pond on Terrace Lake’s signature hole, 16. He seemed a little confused as to why I was so excited for him. It took me years (granted, I only typically play once or twice a year) to be able to land the green on 16 and he came within a few yards his first try. He continues to amaze me.

Monday the day of my actual birthday was pretty “chill.” We drove back to Boise and spent the day shopping and eating. We went to Grandma and Granddad’s for dinner with Mom and Dad and then went to Opa and Reef by ourselves. It was a good night, but frankly I’m glad the whole thing is over and done with. Now we can move on to this weekend which entails a whole lot of Josh Ritter… I can’t wait!

My Precious...

We’re back from the weekend and I just realized I had told a lot of people that I would post a picture of the engagement ring and I never did so. It is one-of-a-kind and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ring. It was custom made by an artist that MJ is friends with and is in his signature style - kind of a cross between modern and art deco. We choose to use a sapphire instead of a diamond for humanitarian, political and economic reasons. Also because I think they are incredibly beautiful (blue is my favorite color and every time I look at it I’m reminded of Michael’s eyes) while still being second only to diamonds in their strength. The top is sandblasted, but can be polished to match the rest of the ring later if I ever decide I want it to be more “sparkly.” When MJ and I first discussed spending the rest of our lives together I didn’t think I needed a ring, but I love this so much and I am so happy with how it turned out… truly unique, but still respectful of traditions past. Perfect. I also love seeing people’s reactions to it. Thanks to Peggy for sending this picture over. Love to you all. I’ll post details about my 30^th birthday later in the week.

Never say never

I’ve always been fairly independent. I’ve made an effort in my life to be self-sufficient and even buck the trend from time to time. I choose to work in a lumber yard when I was eighteen and all of my girlfriends were going to nursing school, becoming teachers and waitressing. I watched most of them get married in their early twenties and then continued watching as they had children. Instead I bought a house by myself when I was 25 without even considering that I should wait for a life partner. My favorite quote was one by Mae West, “Marriage is a great institution, but I’m not ready for an institution yet.” I watched my sister get married to a wonderful person (and expand our family to include the Hodsons whom we all just love, honestly we couldn’t ask for better in-laws) last year and was so so so happy for her. But I thought to myself at the time, “No, thanks. That life just isn’t for me.” That being said, the words I am about to type are words I always wondered and honestly doubted that I would ever say…

I’m getting married to the most wonderful man I know and I couldn’t be more excited!

Apparently everyone was right all these years and I just hadn’t met the right person yet. Michael proposed this weekend at an early birthday party hosted by my friends. It was romantic and fun and perfect and I wish that everyone I know could have been there. We haven’t decided if we will have a wedding or not, but once we do I will be sure to let everyone know. Love to you all. Celebrate life. -M

Dog Days of Summer

MJ and I had a relaxing Saturday night at the cabin this weekend instead of heading to the Sawtooths. Boise has gotten a much needed reprieve from the heat. I think that the last week in July is just always brutal temperature-wise. At least we can be thankful that there is no humidity here. Last night was fabulous. I was able to ride the greenbelt after work and run during the evening in the foothills. It felt so good to get out while there was still daylight. I have been extremely busy at work, going in early and staying late every day this week. My run last night really helped to clear away some of the junk that was crowding my head after a long day in front of a computer. Hopefully the busy season at work will only last a couple of weeks and I’ll get a reprieve from that as well.

I got an email from my old boss this morning reminding me I only have 13 more days left in my twenties. I’m actually looking forward to 30… older and wiser and all that…

Here are a few pictures from the weekend at Terrace Lakes. I included a picture of Ripley in the Payette (my yellow lab) so you could see her amazing trick. She knows how to hold her breath and open her eyes under water, and her tail wags the entire time. When we throw her rocks she puts her head under water for what seems like forever but is probably only several seconds. She is one in a million, that dog.