Just because Bianca’s been doing all the posting lately does not mean that I’ve left my family already ;-). A big thank you to her but I know that you all think I have the more interesting life right now, why amn’t I posting? Jon’s aunt Judy discovered our blog and her encouragement to post did it! She persisted that I had to write in spite of my excuses that all my writing was for Jon lately ;-). I’m sure he won’t mind being referred to in third person once in a while.

My excuse of being busy doesn’t really work and I’m so thankful for that. Life before Christmas was too busy and I thank God that it’s slowed down. I still teach piano and even though I’m tired after a day of teaching, it’s not quite so challenging anymore. Paperwork has slowed down so now I can teach math at home 3-4 days a week. I really enjoy teaching Elfrieda and Leandro with our new math program, Right Start Mathematics. I also have had more time to help with housework and do my own piano practice. Bianca, Edgar, and Imelda got to start coming to youth in January so that has been a new thing for us. Up till then, I had been alone and now it’s the four of us. I had been looking forward to this for a long time and it’s been a lot of fun. Discussing youth events with someone who hasn’t been there for 3 years already is pretty interesting. They notice things that I am totally used to and it’s quite hilarious sometimes!

I used to think that my siblings would have it so easy when they got into youth. After all, they could be with me and my friends and they would always have a ride to Old Folk’s Home Singings etc. I tell Jon he ruined it for them! I don’t think they really care though and Jon definitely doesn’t! In fact, my siblings get along with Jon so well that if we would spend a little more time with them, I would get jealous. He is truly like an older brother to them and it’s so much fun to watch! Imelda played the first real prank on Jon a few days ago. He had scared her on Friday evening while she was waiting for me in the car and on the way home, she said she had figured out how to pay him back. Once we got home yesterday, I saw Jon had tried calling me and then he sent me a text saying, “Tell Imelda it’s on!”. I couldn’t figure it out and I called him back right away. While I was on the phone, I heard Imelda talking about how she had smeared peanut butter on his steering wheel at CE program. The bad/good thing was, he hadn’t touched it but “it’s on”!

Being in a courtship is truly one of the most amazing things to ever experience! My sisters tell me they’re jealous and I know why! My parents and aunts and uncles tell us they would never go back and it’s hard to understand because we’re having so much fun! But apparently, it only gets better and I’m so glad! I mean, what they’re saying is that there’s something better than the best I’ve ever experienced! But there are definitely times where we both can’t wait for the ‘somedays’ of married life. When we left yesterday, Tante Anna told us that that was one of the things she never missed. Ten o’clock in the evening. I doubt I will either. When we go to our separate cars (even though they’re usually parked next to each other for some reason), we can’t wait for the day when we can get in the same vehicle and go home in the same direction. Jon’s family moved to Barnwell in January so I joke that we have a long distance relationship and that we’re lucky to at least live in the same province. (In reality we’re not quite an hour apart but when you’re in love, it’s too far [even in Alberta].)

(I started this blog post a while ago but now I have good reason to finish it.) On Sunday, it was six months since we started courting. Jon came over for lunch and we had a relaxing afternoon, looking at pictures, having devotions, and talking. I wanted to take pictures because we hadn’t taken pictures for almost three months ;-(. It was a bit rainy but our pictures turned out very well.

After eating faspa, I asked Jon if we wanted to go skating because the arena closes soon. He said he didn’t feel like it and I started wondering if he wasn’t feeling well, but whatever. Then he said that we wanted to go for a bit of a drive. It smelled so fresh outside as we went to the car because it had just rained. We were going to go look at the new church building because it’s almost done and I hadn’t seen it yet, but someone was there so we didn’t. It wasn’t raining, so Jon asked if we wanted to go for a walk. I agreed and we enjoyed the freshness, the sunset, and a beautiful rainbow in the park. Back at the car, Jon said he had something for me. A single rose, the most beautiful one he had ever given me! So perfect. So clean. I looked into his face, wondering why, but he said it was because it was our ‘anniversary’. This made sense because he’s given me flowers for that reason before but never a single rose…

Even though it was almost time to leave for church, we looked for a place to sit down and talk. Since all the outside picnic tables were wet, we went into one of the gazebos and sat there. Jon started talking about last year in March when he started noticing me and that, through prayer, he had known that I was the one. The way he talked to me was somehow different than he had ever talked before and I started getting suspicious. But no, he wasn’t going to propose, was he? I wouldn’t let myself believe it until he said that he felt we were up to the next step in our relationship and asked me to be his wife!!!! He says he can say I hesitated but once it sunk in what he was actually saying, my answer was whole-hearted!! Then he told me for the first time that he loved me <3!!! That moment made all the times when we felt like saying those three precious words, but refrained, so worth it!!

So yes, we are engaged to be married this summer!

Finally his fiancee 🙂  ❤ ,

Yesenia

P.S. I honestly did not want our engagement to be the next time I posted but here it is anyway.