A Change of Plans...

Well the best laid plans of mice and men...
Without a residency of at least 21 days, it is not possible for us to marry in the UK. Bummer.
So we have initiated plan B. We will marry in Minneapolis on July 24,2009 in a small civil ceremony with my parents as witnesses. After one night in the Nicollet Island Inn and then we will board a plane for 2 weeks in Wales. Not too bad, for a compromise. I am still looking forward to meeting Vaughan's parents and seeing his home.
We are then planning to have a wedding and reception on the anniversary of our civil ceremony. This will give us time to plan for both. It also takes the pressure off of a busy year. We both have seniors that graduate this year and feel that the focus should be on them. :)

The Latest on the Big Day :)

This is the Peterstone Court Inn in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. This is where I will be spending my wedding night. (Three actually) It is beautiful. God is truly amazing. I couldn't have dreamt this up if I tried!

The wedding will be July 30,2009 in Wales.

Here is a link to the actual hotel

Peterstone Court 

Putting things in perspective.. of eggs and glasses :)

Is 3 months long enough to know someone before you decide to spend the rest of your life with them? I know that this question that many are pondering right now. 

I wish I could give a definitive answer to that question. The things that I know are a short list. 

I believe that God brought us together, not just for our own comfort but the the greater good of his kingdom. We hope to be involved in ministry as a couple in the not too distant future.

I know I have never felt about someone the way I feel about Vaughan. It is so much deeper than just a surface attraction. We can have an ebb and flow between us that is incredible. A true blessing.

The final thing I would like to add is the telling of some events that happened during our last visit together. These things really underscored my belief that we are "meant" to be together.

I was sent to the store to purchase milk with some money and a pat on the head. :) V. said to "get anything I thought we needed". I got the milk and looked around and decided that eggs would be a necessary item. Upon reaching home, I was greeted by V. who was looking sheepish saying he was going have to go out and get eggs..he forgot to mention needing them. There was no need, I had already gotten them. He was floored by that synchronicity. The next day, I was in need of sending email regarding my return to Minneapolis. As I sat at the computer and began my email, the font was much too  small for me to see, I was searching the buttons for something to increase the size when V. was standing at the door ready to hand me my glasses at that exact moment. It was what I needed without being asked.

These little things really affirm for me that we are together for a reason. I am so incredibly blessed!

No sooner met but they looked;

no sooner looked but they loved;

no sooner loved but they sighed;

no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason;

no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy;

and in these degrees they have made a pair of stairs to marriage.

-Shakespeare 

(this was in my inbox from V. yesterday morning {swoon})

For the benefit of those joining us in midstream...

I know there are a lot of people reading these posts who are feeling like they missed something..the last time they talked to me I was single, going to school and focusing on being "mom". For your benefit I will try my best to catch you up to speed with the last 3 months (really only 3 months!! wow!)

I have been a reluctant member of Eharmony since late Feb of this year. I hated every minute of it. I complained about the process evey step of the way. When the commercials with the happy couples talking about how it "worked" for them, I would tell the kids, "what I want to know is the number of people who never meet anyone through this site, they don't talk about that statistic!"

EVERY time it came on. They got to the point where they would roll their eyes and just say "OH mom PLEASE STOP!"

On monday July 21st, I had decided to end my connection with eH. I logged in to look at my  profile and check to see how to disable it, when low and behold there was a request for communication from a "Vaughan, from Bismarck" I looked at the photo (it's in this post) and thought. "hmmm, well, he doesn't look like a psycho, I guess I should try to get my money's worth out of this" (honestly)

I answered his first questions and sent 5 of my own. I logged into the computer a few hours later and he had sent 2nd questions, I responded and sent mine, "must haves" and "can't stands" went pretty much the same way. We basically blew through the "guided" communication in about 24 hrs. 

When we began e-mailing each other through eH, I knew there was something different about this man. It was like he "knew" me even though we had never met. The level of compatibility really blew me away. He very gently but persistently kept requesting me to e-mail him outside of Eh. I did. After one week he then asked me to call him. I did. (mostly because I was very curious about his accent) I was so nervous the first time we talked on the phone, I threw up before I called him. (those who know me are laughing, I am anything but nervous normally)

We have been in constant contact since then. We text, e-mail,instant message and spend hours on the phone. I am acting like a 45 year old teenager. I can honestly say I have never felt about anyone the way I feel about this man. 

He is a spirit-filled Christian man, who is kind, thoughtful, artistic, loves music, is just enough of a computer nerd, and has a British accent. IS GOD GOOD OR WHAT? Vaughan is my match.

One other thing-

In my eH profile I told any potential suitors that I was not interested in premarital sex. I have been saving myself for the man I will marry as an example to my children and an act of obedience to my heavenly father. I am happy to state that although we have been together 2 times for weekend visits, this is till true. Vaughan is as committed to this "dream" of mine as I am because of his love for me. (swoon) This is not to say that this decision is always easy...(there is a LOT of chemistry between us) but God's grace is sufficient. I have waited 7 years, so 7 or 8 months more is really not too much to ask. I want all of God's blessing for this new life.

WHEN is the wedding??

After my return to Lakeville, the plans were that Vaughan and I would meet on December 13th for an overnight in a bed and breakfast in Fergus Falls (which is approximately 1/2 the distance from Bismarck ND to Lakeville MN. This was planned because he was going to return to Wales to see his mum and dad (Ken and Eira) over Christmas break Dec20 until the New Year. I was not looking forward to doing without our daily phone call and texting, but totally understood that these plans had already been made.

After his weekly phone call from his mum and dad, Vaughan called me to say that his dad felt it might be better to wait to come over to Wales saying

"was it really prudent" to do it now. (In light of the economic situation and our recent engagement). So it has been decided to postpone the trip until the summer.

Two things came of this:

1.Vaughan and I have decided to have a civil wedding ceremony in Wales next July or August so that his folks can be a part of it. (His mum's back would not be able to withstand a transatlantic flight)

2. Vaughan is going to spend a week with me at Christmas :) since he will not have Rhys for this holiday.

To clarify about the marriage. Upon returning to the states,we will then begin planning for a wedding and reception for family and friends to share with us on our first anniversary. :) (This will give me a year to plan)

I have talked to my family (mum,dad,Ali and Kerry) and they are OK with doing things this way. It would be fun to have everyone go, but that isn't really practical either.

WOW how things can change in a week. I am very excited about the thought of going to Wales. I have always wanted to see the UK. I have been an anglophile almost since puberty. It will truly be a dream come true. God once again is giving me the desires of my heart. I am truly blessed.

The News as of Nov 1st

It has been a mere 15 days since I last posted and many things have changed since then. My trip to Bismarck was wonderful. To be able to just "be" with Vaughan was very restorative. It is truly hard to be a part. 

So hard in fact that when the time came for me to leave............         (Mon. Oct 20th) I was very sad. I tried not to fill our last morning together with my dread at the thought of leaving, but I am not very good at hiding my feelings. Vaughan suggested that we go to breakfast. The local diner is called Kroll's  (rhymes with troll?) As we sat in the booth Vaughan kept asking me "what are you thinking?" and "how do you feel about us now". It began to feel like a game of 20 questions so I decided to have a go.

I asked him "what are YOU thinking?" 

Immediately his eyes teared up and he said "I am sitting here thinking of a meaningful way to ask you to be my wife". 

I dropped my fork as my jaw dropped. How do you follow that up? He then presented me with the ring I had brought from my mum. (She had pulled me aside before my trip and told me she knew we were trying to decide if it was prudent to get an engagement ring and that she had been saving this to give to me, presenting me with my grandmother's wedding ring)

It was this ring that Vaughan gave to me as he said, "Elaine Hixson, will you marry me."

It couldn't have been more romantic if he had ridden up on a white horse and got down on one knee.

The ring is absolutely gorgeous. It has an antique setting and a "rose" cut diamond.It is early 1900's.The grandmother who wore it was the woman who named me at birth. I have a feeling that grandmama is smiling as she sees it on my left hand. I definitely was not sad after this exchange. God is so good. 

Vaughan said he had been praying about when to ask me. He said he knew I would be sad before leaving and decided to save it until then. The timing was perfect. I love him so much.

Pilgrimage to Bismarck

Having checked off the calendar for three weeks now, it is hard to believe that tomorrow begins the exodus to Bismarck NoDak.

I have packed and prepared for the past week. The actual journey will mean 6+ hours in the car with Gromit. I have a fresh supply of Beggin Strips so that should help.

I have snacks for me too... flaming hot cheetos to keep me awake....yum.

Tonight I will be cheering on the Cougars to victory and then making chili before bed.

Lots to do. Thinking about how much I miss being with Vaughan. I am hoping to savor every second we are together. 

It will have to last maybe until the new year.....

E.