Let The Adventure Begin!!

All it took to bring two hearts together was a well-meaning, albeit, meddling friend (Sarah) to send an "innocent" text to her cousin, Britton, encouraging him to get to know Kathy. Sarah's strong love for both of us told her exactly how great things could be if we could just get the timing right. We had no idea how right she could be... Less than two years after that fateful text, here we are, engaged!

Over Valentine's Day weekend, we went to Manhattan, Kansas to be with Britton's family to celebrate February birthdays (Tammie, Riplea, ad Erin). It just happened to be the coldest week of the year by far with record-breaking freezing temps and wind chills. Most of our favorite things to do together are outside. With this in mind, Britt was going to take me on a hike along a nature trail where the two rivers, the Big Blue and the Kansas intersect, a trail we have traveled together before and of which we have fond memories. The weather report showed below zero temperatures and -20 degree wind chills! I knew that I did not pack sufficiently for an artic trek along the riverside. I had to burst his bubble, and tell Britt that I think it is too cold for a walk along the river, but if it warmed up, we could reconsider. Britt's back up plan was to create a bonfire in the backyard (bonfires are one of my absolute favorite things in the world). This idea was dashed by the weather and his father's exclamation that we would all freeze, no one would want to sit out there in those temperatures, and it would be a waste of the wood for the wood-burning fireplace which was heating the home. Having wrench after wrench thrown into his plans did not deter Britton; he adapted and overcame. While everyone was gathered in the living room around the wood-burning stove, after the girls had all opened their birthday gifts, and Bryna had given us some Valentine's Day gifts. Britt stood up from beside me, stated that he also had a Valentine's Day gift! He dropped to one knee, presented a small jewelry box, opened it to reveal a beautiful ring, and said, "Will you marry me?" At least that is what I think he said because I am still not 100% sure I didn't black out... I know I nodded, but I am pretty sure I said, "yes."