Um....2009 Happened!!

Ok...so I would love to tell anyone that its easy to plan a wedding but I would be lying!! It is by far the hardest thing I have had to do yet. I know there will be other obstacles in my life and please do not get me wrong, I am SO excited to be getting married to my best friend but this has been a headache. Now that the big things have been taken care of, its the little small things that we lack and are trying to work out. I have created a wedding website after all because its been easier for my out of towners to access it.... www.ericandmelissa.wedsite.com just in case you want to check it out. Otherwise, I haven't forgot about the blogging world but I must go and email some people I need to meet with. I hope to be back soon with updates and pictures but for now check out the website if you must.

The proposal according to Mel....

Eric called me one week and said "hey, why don't we get dressed up and go out to a fancy restaurant". Well, clueless as I was I thought "well sure, an opportunity for us to both dress up and go out on a date that we haven't ever really had" so I took it upon myself to search for a new dress and a place to eat. The more I got to thinking I wanted to go somewhere besides Chattanooga so I brought the idea of Atlanta up to Eric. Even though he travels alot to come see me he said that would be fine, find a restaurant that looks nice and we will go. So I picked a steakhouse that had good reviews online called "Bones" and we decided to go on Friday, June 27th. I found a great little black dress, had the cute shoes, and my friend Megan helped me to pick out some coordinating jewelry. Eric was so excited because he was getting a chance to get out of military clothes into his blazer that he had hanging in his closet for several years!! We drove down that afternoon, Eric was in what I thought was a bad mood all day, got checked into our hotel and got ready to go out. The whole time we were getting ready Eric was guarding his jacket, snapping at me for moving his shorts and just being grumpy.


We arrived at Bones, got valet parked, and proceeded inside to our "private table" which was very nice. My choice of restaurant was great, the service was awesome and the atmosphere was perfect for our "date night". We had a delicious meal of filet, choices of sides and hand picked wine from their large selection. The night was perfect and couldn't get any better......or could it?

Okay so after dinner the waiter starts to clear our table in between what Eric was trying to make a VERY serious conversation, Eric then gets up from his seat and comes around to my side to get on one knee! I was freaking out to say the least!!! "Oh my gosh, what is he doing", I thought as he pulls out a box from his jacket (that box was in his shorts earlier in the day unbeknowst to me). He opened the box, said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and asked me to marry him.....I was speechless for once in my life!! Aaaahh...I was not prepared for this at all but said "yes" and took the beautiful 1.07 carat ring from his shaking hand.

Eric went and sat back down, grabbed my hand and we talked for what seemed like forever about our future plans and how much we loved each other. The waiter brought us FREE champagne, desert and even took our picture (which I posted). They actually had no idea this was going to happen at the restuarant because I made the reservation but they were so very accomodating and congratulatory. We will most certainly visit them again and I know I will never forget that night again!!

All about Mel....

Well, most of you know me as Melissa but as I get a little bit older each day "Mel" seems to be sticking to me. I will write something somewhat short since my other posts so far have been lenghty. You have heard about the man in my life so now I will just briefly sum up "the rest of the story of Mel".

I live in Hixson, TN....a growing area about 20 minutes from mom and dad in East Brainerd where I grew up. Yes, its still Chattanooga but like any other city we have little "burbs". I have lived here in my little one bedroom apartment for now almost 2 1/2 years and love every second of it!! I took on a new dental job about a year ago (WOW!!) in a little town called Soddy Daisy, TN as a dental assistant in a general dentist office. It is a small office with about 5 people including the woman dentist I work for and its growing each day with new patients. For those of you that don't know, I only have one job now!! I was working two jobs but have since left my socializing at Sam's Club for rest and relaxation with one career....I do miss it some days! Otherwise I try to scrapbook when possible, hang out with my family and of course, enjoy my weekends off when Eric comes home or I get to go to see him! My life is rather simple, I have a niece and nephew that keep me occupied as well as a great family for company and dinners. I enjoy spending time with Eric's family as well who has welcomed me with open arms into their home and life. Thats about it for "Mel" but if you want to know more or I have left something out that may be important please feel free to let me know....I am writing this ya know!!

How we met and a little 'bout Eric....

Hmmm...where shall I begin. Since I, Melissa, am writing this I will be nice and sweet...no mean things said. Just kidding, in the almost two years that I have known Eric I can honestly say that besides his stubbornness he really is an awesome person.

To make a long story short, Eric and I met on December 30th at our friends, Megan and Josh Philpott's. We kind of just chatted briefly that night, I proceeded to ask him to my apartment the following night for a New Year's Eve party with friends and that was pretty much the beginning. We closed out 2006 and rang in 2007 with friends that night, talked into the morning hours about each other and spent that next week going to the movies, hanging out and just getting to know one another. I knew after meeting Eric that he was a solider in the U.S. Army, stationed in Ft. Stewart, GA and that he would soon deploy in late January to Iraq for a second tour. We made a promise to keep in contact through email and to be open minded on the future.

Throughout Eric's deployment from January to August 2007 we emailed each other daily, surprisingly for me I got phone calls from him once a week if possible, and pictures of his duty stations as they changed. In late August 2007 Eric came home on 18 day leave and that is when we made if official to be called "boyfriend/girlfriend". We spent almost every day together getting to know each others' family and going on vacation to Panama City. Eric returned to Iraq in September 2007 to complete his 15 month tour and sadly with tears in my eyes I promised to be here when he got home.

The last leg of his tour was probably the hardest and longest months to have to wait for him to come home but thankfully we could continue our talks through email and phone. After a lonesome holiday season, gifts to and from overseas, family gatherings and much more it was time for his return. On April 1st, 2008 Eric returned home safely to Ft. Stewart where his family and I were waiting for him!! Since then, we have grown SO much closer and appreciate all the time we spend together being that for now we still live 5 hours apart.

Eric will complete his 5 year enlistment in July with the Army and will begin non-military flight school soon after our wedding....he wants to fulfill his dream of becoming a helicopter pilot.

Here it goes....

Hello to all!!

As most of you well know by now I am engaged...yes some of you may mutter under your breath "finally" and I sometimes feel that same way!! I must tell you first how excited I am to be joining a lot of folks with this blogging stuff but keep in mind I am very new at this so bear with me.

Okay, so yes I am getting married to really my best friend in my whole life. He is the love of my life, my motivation and my inspiration to live day to day. Over the next few blogs I will let you get to know him, "us" as our relationship has progressed through time, where we are at this moment, and where we go in the future. I am also going to basically use this as a progressive wedding site for those of you that might need or want to know that information as the date grows nearer.

Again, thanks to you all for visiting and I hope I can make it as entertaining as possible.