The Prince Proposes

Well, it's taken me a rather long time to get this blog written, hasn't it? I'm sorry for that! Here it is folks, the proposal: 

It was a normal Wednesday, or so she thought. Wednesday, April 9, 2014. Ashleigh woke like normal, ate and got ready...like normal. However, today was one of those days where she just could not find an outfit to wear! She tore her closet apart, waiting for something to pop out at her. Nothing did. So, she searched Pinterest for ideas. She was ready to go to work in sweats and call it a day! Luckily, she stumbled upon an adorable denim on denim outfit. (Yup...DENIM ON DENIM O_o) She thought "oh how cute! I have dark jeans and a chambray shirt! I even have red jewelry and red shoes! It's perfect!" Well, it WASNT perfect. She put the outfit together, ran out the door, hopped into her car, and was on her way! The longer she was in the outfit, the more she grew to loathe it. She stopped by her moms salon before work and chatted with her for a bit! Her mom, being the kind and observant lady she is, helped Ashleigh to not hate the Pinterest outfit so much. She even straightened Ashleigh's hair for her! What a lovely lady :) Ashleigh, however, decided to pin back her bangs. Something she didn't normally do. With her pinned back bangs, her denim on denim outfit, and her red shoes, she finally headed out to Prince Daniel's house. 

Prince Daniel had a way of making her feel at ease, but most importantly, he ALWAYS made her feel beautiful :) He told her how beautiful she looked, flashed her a smile, and her heart fluttered about, as it usually did when he did this. He looked very handsome on this day, in his burgundy button up shirt, brown shoes and matching brown watch. Oh how she loved the Prince! After a few moments, they carpooled out to work, enjoying one another's company all the while. He even stopped at a gas station to get Ashleigh the sour candies she'd been craving all day!

Work was nothing out of the ordinary. The Prince and Ashleigh taught the children, and finished up their work day with lots of smiles and laughter! After work, Prince Daniel took Ashleigh to In n' Out for dinner. Yummy! They had planned on eating their dinner in the car while heading back to his house for a little movie night. Prince Daniel had a different plan! He asked Ashleigh if she would like to take a stroll around the temple first! She didn't think anything of it, and agreed. 

They talked and laughed SO MUCH on this particular car ride. They even managed to spill their animal style French fries all over themselves! Ashleigh ended up with some on her neck and her awesome denim on denim get up. Prince Daniel got some on his shirt...in a spot that made it look a lot like he had spit up on himself. They were the coolest of the cool. 

Finally, they arrived at the temple. Ashleigh is talking and laughing and being a complete fool, and the handsome Prince was suddenly a bit more serious. Ashleigh was oblivious though. They held hands and began their little stroll around the temple. As they rounded the first corner, Ashleigh spotted Daniel's mom's cousins, whom she had just met that day! They were sitting on a bench! She said to the Prince "Aren't those your moms cousins?" The Prince replied, "Yes." Ashleigh was only momentarily confused as she tried to wave at them and quickly realized they weren't going to wave back. Before she could dwell on that for any longer, she noticed a pathway leading to the temple fountain, made of candles and daisies! It was breathtaking! The Prince smiled at her, knowing she was absolutely surprised. He said "I wanted to do something special for our 5 month anniversary! I know it's tomorrow, but we won't get a chance to celebrate, since we're going to Washington. So I thought we could tonight." Ashleigh could only smile and reflect on what a sweet and beautiful gesture this all was! 

In front of the fountain, there were two vases of colored daisies set up, and a red gift bag and note in between them. Ashleigh also noticed a weird foam looking thing next to the gift. Prince Daniel instructed her to open the note first. She did so, and as she began to read aloud the words on the paper, the Prince said "Maybe you should speak into that microphone" pointing to the strange foam thing. Just then, Ashleigh thought "oh my gosh. He's proposing! Why else would there be a mic?!" So, being her most awkward self, she squatted down to the level of the mic and tried to read that way. The Prince was smart though, and suggested she hold the mic up to her mouth instead. Boy he was the greatest! 

After she read the note into the microphone, Prince Daniel asked her to open the gift next. She reached into the red bag to discover a medium sized box. "This can't be a ring box" she thought. She opened it and gasped at what she found. A beautiful necklace and matching earrings set! Her thoughts of a proposal completely disappeared. All she could think was how beautiful it was and how it was the perfect anniversary gift! As she stared in awe at the jewelry, she began to realize something. The jewelry was pearls with diamonds around the pearl. "Hmm," she thought, "The only thing I told him I wanted in a ring was a pearl." She remembered the time he had asked, and when she had said pearls, the Prince replied with a "just a pearl?" Ashleigh had said "ok, maybe it could have some diamonds around it or something." With this memory flooding her thoughts, she turned to Prince Daniel. He wasn't there! She spun all the way around and found him. 

There behind her, kneeling on one knee, was the amazing Prince Daniel. He held a beautiful box, much like a treasure box, in his hands as he spoke such enchanting words to her. He spoke of his love for her, and how she, normal Ashleigh Consentine, was the light of his life. He told her he hoped she would be that light for eternity. She could hardly believe it! A handsome Prince, a man who had exceeded every expectation she had ever had for a prince, wanted to marry her! She couldn't form words for quite some time. All she seemed to be able to say was the ever so elegant phrase, "oh my gosh!" Over and over and over again she said this phrase, until finally, she uttered the long awaited answer. "Yes! Да!" She said. Prince Daniel smiled a smile unlike any she had seen on him before, and it made her heart soar. She smiled right back, and felt her throat catch. She had never been this happy! He placed a beautiful pearl ring, encircled in shining white sapphires, on her left ring finger and then kissed her. 

To Ashleigh's surprise, their family had begun emerging from bushes and corners. How had she not seen all these people! Everyone was there to show their support and love, and to take pictures and videos for the happy couple :) Ashleigh hadn't even noticed there was someone standing behind the big light on the ground, holding a car dash sun visor thing behind it to get the light on her and her Prince! How oblivious and surprised she was with all of this! 

Now Ashleigh will be marrying the Prince of her dreams, Prince Daniel. She will finally become the Princess he has been making her feel like all along! Together they will live out their fairytale and be happier than they ever imagined possible. June 28th is when their forever begins. 

Be ready for part two, because it's coming your way soon! 

:)  

Never Gone

That sting of losing someone never fully goes away. 

I often have days where my heart aches because I miss my grandma, my aunt, my grandpa, and my uncles, so incredibly much. Today is one of those days. 

It's interesting that our hearts are capable of so much love. They have the capacity to love and love and love, and to allow us to re-feel moments and memories. It's a beautiful treasure, it really is, even though sometimes it's difficult for us to relive those things. Today, my heart has chosen to reflect on my grandma. 

I remember the very last conversation I had with her. I remember hugging her. I remember the smile on her face as she listened to me tell her all about my senior pictures. I miss her. That sting never truly goes away. 

Being in her home with my grandpa has been such a blessing. I know I say that all the time, but really, it has been. I'm certain she had a hand in getting me to come back to Vegas and live with my grandpa! I watch him do his daily chores, visit friends, and read his scriptures, and I am in awe of his strength. He has lost his wife and 3 children, and he still smiles and brings the pure love of Christ into the lives of others. My grandma would be so proud of the man that he is. I often wonder what my grandma would think of the things I've done in my life. What would she think of the woman I have become and all that I'm striving to become? It's hard to reflect and realize all that she has "missed" and all that she will "miss". However, I feel her love constantly. Especially through my grandpa. 

I pull out an embroidered dishrag of hers and hang it on the oven, and I flashback to the time I wanted to be just like her. I remember how she taught me to sew pretty things on a simple dishrag. I see her journals set up in my grandpas office, and remember the time I sat outside of the motorhome with her in Fishlake, while everyone fished, and she taught me how to write in cursive, and about the importance of journaling. I set the table with one of her tablecloths and remember how much she loved family dinners and having the table set beautifully. She was so happy and so loving. 

And despite the feeling of her "missing" so many crucial moments, I know that my grandma hasn't missed one single moment of my life. I know she is able to see me and to be near me when I need her. Memories are treasures. I am so thankful that I have so many wonderful memories to cherish, not only of my grandma, but of all my family watching over me on the other side. 

We may never understand why the people we love are taken away from us, but we can be certain that Heavenly Father never leaves us. He, and the Savior, are always standing near. Through others, and through small daily chores like setting the table, Heavenly Father blesses us with memories. He blesses us with love for those people we have lost, for those here with us, and with the love from both. 

Today, I miss my grandma. 

Today, I am grateful for the plan of salvation-Heavenly Fathers plan for each of us, and the knowledge that I will be reunited again with all those I love.