Random Phone Photos

Random photos I came across, while looking through my phone. They made me smile.

Goodbye 2011

Goodbye 2011, we were happy to have you and will cherish your memories.
 

A date to remember

Exactly 2 years ago, February 21st 2009, Ben and I went on our very first date. 

I will now tell you about this monumental day. 

Ben and I met at church, I noticed him.  Ben was the ward mission leader and led a Sunday School class every Sunday.  Deneal, Liz and I decided the best way for me to talk to him would be to attend his class.  We went for a few weeks in a row.  I never said a word to him.   I didn't dare, I couldn't decide what I would say after, "Hi, I'm Amber."  I had nothing to say and I am not good at starting conversations with new people.  Especially new, tall, dark and hansome, hot males of whom I may be interested.  So I sat in Sunday School class, learned, and hoped we would talk afterward.  We didn't.

One day, I got up all my courage and decided I would speak to him.  We were at a mingle after church was over and I decided it was the perfect opportunity.  I stood with my friends waiting for my perfect moment.  It never came, I was too scared and still had no idea what I would even say.  He left and I missed my chance.

That Sunday when I got home I checked my cell phone.  I had a missed call and a voicemail.  I listened, "Hi Amber, this is Ben Walunas.  I am not sure if you know who I am.  I sat next to Amy in Sunday School today.  I am wondering if you are available sometime this week, I would like to take you out." WAHOOO!!!

Of course I gathered myself and a few hours later calmly called back and accepted.  We scheduled a date for today.

We sat 2nd row at a Winterhawks Hockey game and had dinner at The Deschutes Brewery.  I can honestly say it was an awesome first date, no weirdness - just a good time.  This weekend, in celebration of our first date anniversary, we decided to recreate it.

We enjoyed a Winterhawks game
We tried to recreate first date conversation

We went to the Brewery

We enjoyed a fabulous meal

And we agreed that although our first date was wonderful, this date was better.  Being married and able to share these memories and live our lives together as bestest friends is way better.

I love you

I have been thinking about the first time Ben said, "I love you".  Maybe because a romantic holiday is dawning on us. Maybe because it was simply a fabulous moment. In celebration of Valentines weekend,  I want to tell you about it.

It was March 21, 2010.  We had dated here and there for over a year.  We had been dating "seriously" {serious = the intent to decide if we should tie the knot} for about a month.

We decided we should date with this serious intent a month prior.  Valentines Day weekend actually. We took our first trip together to San Diego.  We visited friends, enjoyed the sun and had a fabulous time.

Together, on the plane home from San Diego, we decided that what we liked what we had. We decided it might just be the kind that you keep around forever.  We decided to give that thought a try.

Now back to March 21st.  Ben had planned a date to go to Dar Essalam.  A Moroccan restaurant in Oregon. One of Ben's ultimate favorite places to eat.  It was my first time.  I was wearing this.

It's weird that I know what I was wearing, I know.  But I have good reasoning.  One - I always associate big moments in my life with what I was wearing.  That's how I remember, it works.  Two - I was doing a 'no shopping' challenge and I took pictures of the outfits I put together with my existing clothes.  This was one. I love that flower.

We had an amazing dinner and stuffed ourselves full of chicken and beef, veggies and couscous, pita bread, hummus and mint tea.  It was so yummy, so flavorful, so memorable.  Ben chatted with the owners, fellow soccer players, and the chef came out to greet us.  By the end of our meal I was STUFFED, but Ben insisted that we order dessert.  "It's the best dessert you will ever have," he said.  It didn't take much convincing.  We all know I have a soft spot in my heart for dessert.

When the chef personally brought out the dessert I knew something was going on.  With a big smile on her face she placed the beautifully plated dessert in front of me.  Behind her stood two smiling waiters.  They told me to enjoy our dessert.  They could hardly hold in their excitement.  I looked at them confused as they walked away.  I looked at Ben who was smiling his "I don't know what the big deal is" smile, then I looked at the plate again.  Around the thick edge of the pearly white plate it read, "I love you Amber" in perfectly printed red letters.

I loved him too, and finally we said the words we were both dying to hear.

I kick myself for not taking a picture of that perfect dessert.  I wish you could see the perfect moment, the memory in my head.  I was so filled with excited butterflies grabbing a camera wasn't at the top of my to-do list. I guess we will just have to leave that for Ben and I and our special little, I love you.