"Our Day"

How blessed am I?  I have the absolute best fiance in the entire world.  During my short 7 day break, he took me to look at houses, wedding venues, to buy my dress (he stayed in the car), and planned "our day."  He told me to block off the 11th, so of course, we both ended up having people ask us to do really cool things that day, i.e. free concert tickets, work for Lisa, etc.  But even with these other options, we stayed true to our word and kept the day open.  

To our dismay, the day's plans were changed a little bit when the sky decided to open up and pour a years worth of rain out.  So instead of going out to the beach, we drove down to Bradenton to look at a wedding site and buy my dress.  Like I said before, he was a great fiance and stayed in the car while I tried it on one more time.  After all was done in Bradenton, we went to Lakeland for another visit (I'll show pictures of all these in another post).  When we went back to Tampa, Tom told me to dress nice because we were going to dinner.  He had kept the location a surprise, which is very rare for us.  After a little tricking, we arrived at The Melting Pot.  Tom worked here in high school, but I, myself, was a fondue virgin.  When we got back to our table, I saw flowers and Tom informed me that he had them set out for me since he couldn't give me flowers on Valentine's Day.  I didn't realize that with fondue, you actually COOK the food yourself.  Silly me, I thought you just dipped food in cheese or chocolate.  Dinner left us full to the brim - what with the bread and cheese, salad, 5 meats, and chocolate!  All I wanted to do was sit around! But Tom said there were more surprises.  We started driving to were I thought might be the airport so we could watch the planes, but in fact, Tom had a huge surprise in a random location.  We pulled into a parking lot where I questioned what we were doing.  We sat there for about a minute when Tom told me to look up.  Then I saw - 

This was such a sweet, unique gesture that is only one of the special things Tom does for me. He is not one for doing the normal, so this fit right into our relationship. I had no idea how he would top a billboard, so I wasn't surprised when he said we were going back to his house. When we to got there, I was very surprised when he said he had one more surprise. On the night of our engagement, Tom played a mixed cd he had me make for him. Well, he decided to create a mixed tape for me. But instead of a CD, Tom played a live version of the songs on his guitar.  This was an especially great treat because Tom refuses to play the guitar anymore, so for him to learn these special songs and play them for me was such a great surprise. He is truly the man of my dreams who will do anything and everything to make me feel special. I am truly, truly blessed!!

I found it!

The day finally came! I found my wedding dress.  After trying on what felt like a million, I decided on "the one."  I was waiting on that breathtaking, "this is it!" feeling, but only got, "this is the best of the bunch."  But maybe that's what it is.  Maybe there isn't always a life changing feeling that comes over you.  As I tried on other dresses, I kept comparing it to "the one."  I thought, maybe since I keep thinking of the other one, that is a sign that the other is IT!  Obviously, I'm not going to put a picture on here, but just know - it is gorgeous! 

I tried on many, but ended up getting it from a local store in Bradenton called Something Blue.  Tom told me about how you can get a discount on anything, so I asked for a discount and ended up getting 10% off the dress! Thanks, fiance!!

I am so blessed to have a loving family and best friend to go shopping with me and share my special day with me.  My life is exactly where I want it to be right now!

Today is our 25 month anniversary!

Wow! So it's been almost a month since I last wrote.  I promise once I'm back home I will write a lot more. Right now, I am in Birmingham, Alabama, looking for a house in Tampa, Florida.  Tom and I are looking for our first house together, which sounds fun in theory, but in reality, it stresses us both out.  It is very difficult to do this while I am constantly 10+ hours away.  I will be home the second week in March, so hopefully we can go look at some, or hopefully, sign some papers (keep your fingers crossed for the latter).

Although I can't plan much for the wedding while I am gone, I sure can scope out some bridal blogs, which fills up most of my free time.  I have a feeling I am going to become a DIY queen by the time December rolls around.  I have many great ideas - now all we need is a place to put it all! We will also be looking at wedding ceremony/reception venues while I'm home and hopefully lock in on one of those! With these two done, all I'd have to do is find a dress and my life would be complete.

During my break, I plan on finding my dress! I don't know where or how, but this is a HUGE stress on me right now.  I have searched and researched and can't quite seem to find "the one".  How will I know? Will I hear the "Hallelujah Chorus" and see a light shining from above? Or will it just feel right? Or will it just "do"?  I want the angels, I want the lights, I want it to be perfect (and within budget of course).

My only question left is, how am I going to get all of this done in a week?!

Where has the time gone?!

Saturday was our two year anniversary.  How did this time fly? We talk about how some things feel like they were yesterday, and others years ago!  Since we are in different time zones right now (I'm Central, he's Eastern), I called him at midnight Florida time and we talked until midnight Texas time, just so we could officially say "Happy Anniversary."  


I remember when Tom asked me to be his girlfriend.  He didn't want to be cheesy or juvenile about it, but he wanted to make sure we were on the same page about where we stood in our relationship.  Sometimes I like a little cheesiness.  He told me how much fun he had hanging out with me, and asked if I'd like to "hang out, ya know, as boyfriend and girlfriend."  Oh, that's my boy :)!  I shot back with a smart, "I guess I could handle that."


It is so hard being away from each other, but our communication this time around has grown exponentially.  Because we are unable to talk things out in person, we have to make sure we articulate what we are feeling.  Text and email do not leave room for sarcasm or tone of voice, so things can be misconstrued very easily.  We are usually pretty good with picking up on each others humor through texting, but sometimes I have to ask, "was that a joke, or are you serious?"


I won't be home until at least March, which seems like light years from now.  I've wanted so bad to get out of Florida for so long, but all I can wish for right now is one more day in Tampa.  Well, I guess I'd take a day anywhere, as long as we were together.  I guess it's not Florida I miss.  It's the people that reside there - who also happen to hold a special place in my heart.  I keep having to tell myself that I only have about three months left on the road and then I'll be home forever.


I'll leave you with some pictures... 

I have told Tom many times that I think it is so sweet when somehow the engagement is recorded or documented by pictures. So, he had his dad hide outside and take pictures of us dancing and the proposal. They are a little blurry (he obviously had to turn the flash off) but I love them and am so glad Tom incorporated that into our special night.

Photographer: Check

We’ve made our first decision! We have a photographer!  Denette Schaer has photographed many of our friend’s weddings, so we are very familiar with her work.  Tom has known her through her husband and his family for years and I have stalked her facebook page/website looking at pictures since Matt and Nicole’s wedding last October.

Denette Schaer - In His Image Photography

Denette's facebook Fan Page

Since I am gone until May, we have to decide if we want to have engagement pictures done on my break between February and March or in May when I get back.  I’m pretty sure we are set on having them taken at the (as Tom would say, prestigious) University of Tampa.  It is a little cliché, but Tom went to school there and I think it is gorgeous! We can get great shots of the minarets and around the park area as well as possibly downtown!

I have known for quite sometime that I wanted her to shoot the wedding, but we had to set a date before we could book her.  As soon as we were content on the 11th, Tom emailed her right away.  Thank goodness we asked when we did.  We are the only wedding she will be doing in December! Whew, I’m glad we got that on lock!  I’m not really sure what I would do if I had to add that to the list of decisions to make.  I feel like I have more than enough already.

I’ve pretty much become obsessed with theknot.com, stylemepretty.com, and marthastuartliving.com.  Any and everything DIY (Do It Yourself) site has been searched and filtered through, I’ve checked out many blogs, and dress sites.  It’s too bad I can’t get online in the air – I’d get LOTS done then! (And that could also prevent weird people from talking to me!)

Having Denette on lock makes me feel a lot better! Pictures are one of the most important parts of the wedding planning for me, so knowing we have her is a big relief to me.  One decision down, a million+ to go!!

-Tom's fiance :)

The joys of planning

As well as being very excited, I have grown to be very stressed! An hour and a half after Tom’s proposal, we were asked for the first time (of MANY), "do you have a date picked out?" Geez louise, man, let us enjoy our engagement!  I feel as though you have to pick a date for the wedding before the date is picked for the proposal!!

After much consideration (and a week and a half of thinking about it and letting everything settle in), we have decided on December 11, 2010 (we think).  Yes, I know that is 12/11/10, and no, we didn’t pick it so its easy for Tom to remember.  I’m still traveling until early May, and weddings – or the kind we (I want) – aren’t cheap.  That date gives us plenty of time to plan and save.  Also, many big things happened for us around the winter time: 

• December 2, 2007: we met at Idlewild
• December 22, 2007: first high-5 
• January 1, 2008: first hug lol
• January 14, 2008: first date
• January 23, 2008: we started dating
• December 24, 2009: the proposal!!

And last, 11 is a lucky number for both of us!  I’m hoping I can wait patiently for that long.  I also hope I don’t explode before then.  Since I was supposed to leave on the 15th, I wanted to get a lot done before then.  Well, change of plans – I left the 5th.

Before I left, we researched many, many churches and reception sites, visited a few, plan on visiting others, tossed the idea of running away to Vegas around a few times, and here we still sit with nothing.  I know, I know... we have lots of time. But I would feel so much better with definite locations.  I guess we will have to do the best we can while I am away.  I plan on researching as often as I can and Tom is being a trooper and helping me (mostly to keep me sane!).  There are PLENTY of places I like - I just don't like the numbers after the dollar sign.  

With all of this, I just ask for your prayers.  The last thing we need right now is stress.  It is stressful enough for us to be apart.  We really don't need to add anything unnecessary.  Please just keep us in your thoughts and prayers throughout these next few months! It means so much to us!

-the future Mrs. C

We're getting married!!

Tom and I are tying the knot!! After two years of bliss, we are taking the next step in our relationship.  I am excited beyond words!! Now for "the story"...

Ok so Tom told me not to get him anything for Christmas. He just wanted 3 things: a mixed cd, to look through the memory box he made me last Christmas, and a 3rd he'd tell me later.  On Christmas Eve (also the day after our 23 month "versary"), we went to Bonefish Grill for dinner and then the Christmas Eve service at church.  Instead of going back to his house, we went to his grandmother's house (which I later realized was so I wouldn't see what he set up).  I sat in the living room while he got stuff ready.  

When he was done, he walked me in to this wonderland, with my cd playing in the background.  He had told me earlier in the month that he needed time to build something.  It was then that I found out he had to build this wonderful setup.  He bought sheer material and hung it in four corners from the ceiling, found silver boxes and put two underneath each hanging material.  In the top one, he cut a hole and taped a flashlight in it to shine up through the material.  He laid down a blanket and put twinkling Christmas lights all around.  On our special occasions, we drink sparkling cider, so he had that and two glasses set out already.  

In the middle was our memory box.  We went through the box, reading every card and talking about each item and the time shared together.  He told me how much I meant to him and he was ready to make more memories together.  

Finally, he asked me if I was ready to give him his third gift.  I told him I was nervous, but he reassured me not to be.  He told me he just wanted a slow dance with me! He changed the cd to the first song, “History in the Making,” by Darius Rucker.  I had told him earlier in the week that I heard this song and it would be perfect for someone to propose to and that he had to hear it.  As it played, he told me that it was a great song for a proposal and promised me that when he proposed, he would make sure that song was playing in the background.  

We kept dancing and then he said, “Why should we wait?”  He got down on one knee, pulled the ring out of his pocket, said some things I feel like I blacked out for, and then said, “Amanda Kathleen Varner, will you marry me!”  I thought I said, “yes,” immediately and hugged him, but apparently, I didn’t say anything.  After about 30 seconds, and lots of sweating, he said, “so is that a yes?!”  I made sure I said, “yes,” a few times so he was sure!

We knew that things would quickly get crazy, so we just sat with each other for a while.  I asked him about talking to my parents, he told me why he picked this ring, and we just enjoyed each others company, now as fiances.  After a while, I asked him, "what are we supposed to do now?" We decided to pack up and go tell his parents.  They were very happy for us!  I had his dad take lots of pictures of us!  Since it was late, I decided we would tell my family when we saw them the next day for Christmas.  They were very excited as well!  

I started this blog (and hope I can keep up with it) to share my thoughts and our joys throughout our planning.  It is going to be a wild ride, but I know that with Christ in the center of our relationship, and our already firm foundation, we will be blessed beyond measure!