Friday's Photo Flashback!

She Said "YES!"

People get real "nutty" about Baby's 1st Birthday parties, so I didn't think too much of the fact that my mom was throwing a party for my youngest sister (GiGi) 5 years ago! I did think it was weird just how many people she was inviting and all the decorations she was buying and such! I mean, you would have thought it was G's Sweet 16 party!! But I helped with the prep none the less.
It was a Sunday afternoon and I had rushed home from church to help get things together before this big old party got underway! One thing you should know about me is that I can tend to be nosey. I saw a pretty pink envelope on top of the counter with no name on the front. Curiosity killed the cat, and I had no business looking in that envelope, but I did. It was a pretty card with wedding bells that read "Congratulations! You're Engaged!" HOLD THE PHONE!!! WHAT??? WHO???? I opened the card (yes, I'm bad, I know!) and it was 2 lengthy notes to me from each of my parents. My heart sank to my toes. I ran straight to my room and cried. I'm not sure why I was crying. Maybe it was that I ruined a surprise, Or that I was not even expecting a proposal anytime soon?? who knows!? I stayed locked in my room trying to regain SOME composure. Thinking, When was this going to happen? That night? Did I miss something?
My nails were a wreck, so I painted them while I was sequestered...ya know, just in case. I changed clothes...several times, ya know, just in case. I had gotten a hair cut the day before, that I wasn't pleased with. So I was trying to fix it... ya know, just in case. Then, people started arriving for my sister's birthday party.
I was trying my best to hide the fact that I knew a pretty big secret, putting it out of my mind completely, not telling a soul. Eventually, it left my mind because of all the chaos of a one year old's birthday. I do remember sitting on the back porch eating and chatting with people when Chris came up and knelt beside me. I must have turned white as a ghost. I was thinking "PUHLEASE! NOT HERE, NOT WHILE I'M EATING A HOT DOG!" but he was just coming to tell me that my mom needed me to run to the store for some ice. WHEW!! He did have some sense! I didn't know how or when "IT" was going to happen, but I'm sure glad it wasn't then!

Ice. They needed ice, and apparently I needed my best friend to drive me there. So we went and grabbed the ice quickly. At least I tried to be quick. Amy "lost" her keys in the store and we searched all over the place. Turns out they were in her purse. We began to drive home and she passed our neighborhood. The same neighborhood we lived in for 15 years!!! I was beginning to become concerned for my dear friend...early onset of Alzheimer's? possibly? I wasn't catching on to her "mistakes" until we pulled down our street and there were about 3 times as many cars parked in the street and a SWARM of people in the front yard!!

I told Amy "I know!" and I started crying. I think I hopped out of the car before she even put it in park, and I was greeted with family and friends from the past and present and my siblings each holding a sign that said "Ashley, will you marry me?" I believe I said "yes!" before Chris could even say anything! So, what I thought was my sisters first birthday was really a pretty awesome engagement party!!!!! And 5 years ago on Oct. 2, I said "YES!" to spending the rest of my life with my very best friend!