Our Cloud Nine: A tribute to our engaged days...

Peter and I weren't engaged long (a whopping two months), but we did our best to make it a fun time! My darlin' got home from his mission two weeks early (June 7) so he could go to school summer term. I had been in Utah enjoying my first term/semester with NO school - I did school year-round from Fall 2008 to Winter 2011 - and wasn't originally planning on going to Minnesota when Peter got home, considering it would only be a week later that he'd be back in Utah. Nevertheless, go to Minnesota I did! The day he got home I couldn't stand not seeing him, so I booked a flight was was home the next day - after a very convincing conversation with my parents of course, during which I probably sounded a bit like the girl from Dan in Real Life. Don't know what I'm talking about? Here you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS-eZfcq75E
Okay, maybe not quite that insane, but close. After that was all over and I was officially coming home, I gained my composure and was my usual self. Except I was skipping and humming all the time, and had to concentrate on breathing regularly. So... not normal at all, wow.
I thought I had grown wings, I was so excited. I got home the evening of the 8th, and Peter and his parents came by the next day to say hello and have breakfast. All morning I think I looked out the window every 5 minutes... it was silly, but can you blame me?! Two years is a long long time. I didn't let myself think about it very often, but all self control was out the window that day and I was behaving like a love-sick school girl (oh wait... I was a love-sick school girl... ah well). How about love-ALIVE school girl? Yeah, that sounds better. :) Anyways, when I heard the van pulling into the drive way (yes, I was listening that close, from inside the house), life was awesome. I opened the door the second he was to the steps, said, "Hi" and was in his arms in a flash. Felt like being home again... my real home. He was much more capable of being normal than I was (that's always been the case, actually). I didn't know what to do with myself, so I tried helping my mom cook, which meant standing in front of the pancakes with a spatula and a big smile on my face, turned away from every one because I felt so insanely awkward! After a minute or two I realized I better not be in charge of the pancakes, so I stood about a polite arms-length away from Peter - my arms flopped lamely at my sides. And then, the tall, handsome, wonderfully normal man I love saved the day - he naturally came and stood right next to me, put his arm around me and said, "That's better, eh?" During breakfast we held hands, and my sweet man lingered when it was time to go and gave me a little kiss. The only way the morning could have been better is if I had been able to think like a composed human, but in a way it felt good to be a little crazy. Two years of trying to convince everyone - including myself - that I wasn't crazy really starts to wear on someone in love. This picture was taken after breakfast, and I must say - the girl in that picture had waited a long time to have that look on her face. That is the look of.. "finally".

Two weeks after he was home, we decided to get marred in August. We toyed with getting married in October, but the thought of getting married a week after the opera was over (I had a lead role in the opera that year), and in the middle of the semester was crazy. And of course, waiting until December was simply insane (haha), so we decided to "get 'er done." As some people say... not sure who.
As we both love MN, we wanted to get married in the St. Paul Temple, so my mom set to work planning just about everything, because she was actually IN Minnesota, and I wasn't. I designed the invitations, sent them, figured out what we would wear (except the guy stuff - Peter's mom made that decision, and did a wonderful job), helped my mom make decisions from afar (usually went something like this, Mom: what do you think? Me: I trust your judgement. Mom: *sigh*). But let me tell you... I'm glad I trusted her, because she was INCREDIBLE. That woman can plan one beautiful reception. I'll post about the wedding itself separately, but it was truly wonderful.

Being in Utah with Peter was so fun. We went boating on Memorial Day, attended a couple of my friends' wedding receptions, went on lots of walks where I showed him all the different places I lived as a single lady (on one of those walks we found a goat in someone's yard... it was sad and really confusing. Why did they have a goat? Goats should be on a farm with their friends - not alone tied to a tree hidden in the shadows of the side yard. Free the lonely goats!!), and just enjoyed each other's company. We read a conference talk almost every night before parting ways, which I recommend to ALL engaged couples. Makes for some great gospel conversation where you can express your feelings about things that are really important to you and grow together spiritually. The more time I spent with Peter, the straighter I stood, the easier I smiled, and the more comfortable I felt in my own skin. Of course we both had those thoughts of - is this really right? Really? There's no going back - am I doing the right thing? To which the Spirit always answered - Yes, Michelle. Yes, Peter. This is right. It is so right. Trust me, trust each other, you won't go wrong. That's what the Lord said to my heart when we started dating, and that's what He says to me now, and guess what? We haven't gone wrong.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6.

It's a big deal. An incredible promise. And its true.
Here are some photos from our two months of engaged-ness. Enjoy!