Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The vacation is over...

...so it's back to the kitchen!

My break from school has ended so I started my new culinary class yesterday, American Regional Cooking. So far it seems pretty cool. We get to learn about the different regions of the United States and their native cuisines - like Cajun and Creole, Tex Mex and something called Floribbean Cuisine, which I just think is fun to say. We're starting with New England and the Mid-Atlantic states so for the next two weeks I get to make and eat seafood. Yum!

I really did enjoy my break and had some time to unplug, relax and sleep. I wasn't real productive on my home projects, but I guess productivity isn't one of my strong suits. Oh well.

Ken and I had a great road trip to Vermont. We stayed with my aunt and cousin who I haven't seen in ten years so it was awesome to reconnect with them. We hiked up giant mountains, we swam in waterfalls and ate and drank tons of great food and wine. It was truly wonderful!

And now for the new and exciting, secret information I promised...

Ken and I are engaged!

The day after we got to Vermont we hiked to the top of the Camel's Hump, which is the third highest mountain in the state. It was not an easy hike. It took about 3 hours to hike 3.4 miles up some pretty challenging terrain, and let me tell you, I'm not in good shape.

When we embarked on our hike the skies were overcast and there was some occasional drizzle. The temperature was somewhere in the low to mid-50s. As we hiked, it started to rain harder and harder and got colder and windier. By the time we reached the summit it had to have been in the low 4os and it was extremely windy. The view is supposed to be amazing, but unfortunately all we could see were clouds :(

Nevertheless, we sat down to eat some lunch and Ken handed me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and said, "hey, what's that under your sandwich?" It was a ring :) He then asked me if I would marry him, to which I replied, "Yes...if you get me off this mountain!" Honestly, I was overjoyed by his proposal. I was just cold and wet and tired.

Here's a picture he took of us on the summit after he proposed:


After we got down from the mountain, which was actually much harder than going up, we cleaned up and went out for a nice dinner. On the way to the restaurant we saw a rainbow, which I have no doubt was a sign of Kate and Peter's approval and happiness.



And here's a Kate story that now I feel I can share:

The weekend before the accident, we were reading a bedtime story when, out of the blue, Kate said, "Mama, I know who you're gonna marry."

I said, "Who?" and she replied, "Ken".

At the time, Ken and I weren't dating. We had dated before but decided we would just be friends, and I was dating someone else. I knew Kate (and Peter) loved Ken so I thought she was just being sweet and putting in her vote for who she thought I should marry. I told her as much, really thinking that Ken and I probably wouldn't get back together. But, as usual, my kids are far wiser than I am and she was right! I know, for sure, she is smiling about the fact that we really are getting married. And so am I.


50 comments:

  1. Congratulations Amy. I hope you have a blessed marriage and so much happiness.

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  2. Congratulations Amy (and Ken)! This is such exciting news and I'm sure Kate and Peter are throwing a huge party, complete with cotton candy and lollipops and bouncy houses, to celebrate the awesome news (and the fact that they were right - kids always love being right). Congratulations again!

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  3. Congratulations! I am so happy for you & Ken.

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  4. Congratulations & Best wishes to you & Ken!

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  5. so happy for you!

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  6. How wonderful! That rainbow and Kate's story brought tears to my eyes. Congratulations!!

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  7. Congratulations Amy! The story of Kate is wonderful!

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  8. I love this story.
    Im so happy for you Amy, you deserve all the happiness life has to offer you.
    And the fact that Kate and Peter sent you a rainbow (especially in light of Kate's prediction) is just the perfect end to this proposal story.

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  9. Oh Amy, I am so very happy for you. And Ken. Congratulations. It looks like the ring even fits! Good for you. Mazel Tov!!

    Jules

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  10. Tears in my eyes. Stories of your little sage and her childlike wisdom .... well... just overwhelming. Congratulations! Love the engagement story. What does it feel like to know that a rainbow was meant for YOU?!?! What a wonderful sign - should show you that you are on the right path in your life. VERY happy for you (and Ken, of course)...

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  11. WOW .... that is such wonderful news. LOTS OF LOVE to you both!

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  12. What a wonderful story to read this morning! Congratulations on your engagement and your childrens' approval!! You deserve much happiness, and I hope it keeps coming your way!

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  13. I find it so fitting that you got engaged over a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but yet are learning to make all these complex dishes in Culinary School. It's the simple things like PB & J and someone to share it with that life is all about.

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  14. I think it's wonderful you are marrying someone who has a history with your kids. Very special, considering you could have met/married someone who never knew them at all. Of course they are smiling! Best Wishes for a long and happy life together.

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  15. Congrats! Very exciting news!

    and seafood sounds delicious right now!

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  16. Congratulations! I love that you saw a rainbow afterwards! Beautiful on so many levels!

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  17. Congrat's to you Amy and Ken!

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  18. Such wonderful news! Congratulations to you both.

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  19. Congratulations Amy! I wish you and Ken much happiness together. It's so special that you both have a connection to your children. I'm sure the rainbow was a sign meant just for you.

    Suzanne

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  20. congratulations!

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  21. What awesome news! Congratulations!! I had the chills reading this!! I love that Kate and Peter are so happy for you! :) :)

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  22. Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your special news!

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  23. So, so, so happy for you two! Such a wonderful story with rainbows and wishes that come true. :)

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  24. What wonderful news! Congratulations!

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  25. Yes, I'm a stranger, but I read your blog, and feel so good that you have this new-found joy. You have given so much through your blog---teaching people who don't even know you to live and love MORE...and I am so happy for you to have this type of joy in your life. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Prayers that your life with Ken will be full of love, friendship, and peace.

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  26. Former GrasshopperJuly 14, 2010 at 7:21 PM

    How joyous is a wedding of true minds
    How wonderful to be marrying your best friend

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  27. Congratulations, Amy! I don't even know you but am SO happy to read this!! Thank you for sharing your good news with all of us! :)

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  28. I was so thrilled when I saw your news on Facebook. I don't know you in real life - but I couldn't be happier for anyone I DO know in real life than I am for you. You deserve this so much, and I am sure Ken does, too. You both seem like such wonderful people!

    How amazing your little girl knew that you would marry him. She and Peter were very special children, and I am sure that they are up there in Heaven celebrating this moment. That rainbow was certainly from them. I see it is a full rainbow, not a half one. That means it is the two of them, hands clasped, making a rainbow in the sky for you. They are so happy, I just know it!

    God bless you and Ken for a future marriage full of happiness and love. You make a splendid couple!

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  29. Congratulations, Amy! I've very happy for you!

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  30. (Wiping away tears) Congratulations Amy and Ken! I echo everyone's sentiments on how happy I am for you both! And the rainbow was the perfect message and a fitting end of a great day for you! Congratulations!

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  31. CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is wonderful, happy, exciting news! Many good wishes to you and Ken!

    And, I know exactly where that picture of the four of you was taken - I've eaten there so many times and in that exact booth. :)

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  32. Congratulations Amy!! What an amazing story- the PB&J proposal is just great! I am so happy for you; you deserve much happiness. Take special care.

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  33. Congratulations!! Wishing you much happiness! Kids always know everything....they haven"t learned to ignore intuition yet!~

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  34. recent reader. so happy. congrats!

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  35. Congratulations Amy! I'm soo happy for you and Ken!

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  36. That is WONDERFUL news! I don't know you personally, but I couldn't be happier to see someone become engaged! It's so cool that Ken knew Kate and Peter. My husband and I dated in college only to break up and get back together 11 years later. In the years that we had lost contact with each other his father was killed. It means so much to both of us that I had the opportunity to meet his dad and get to know him a bit in the old days. I feel so fortunate and blessed to have met him in those days. It's so great that not only did Ken get to meet your kids, but they obviously must have loved him too. That's really beautiful.

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  37. So happy for you! Congratulations!!!

    (and BTW, I live in Miami and Floribbean is some good stuff...lots of shrimp, cocnut, pineapple, spices...YUM! You'll like it!)

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  38. Horray Amy! Congratulations on your wonderful news!

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  39. YAY! Congratulations! :) What wonderful news and what a beautiful sign of approval from Kate and Peter! =)

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  40. How exciting! Best Wishes for you and Ken!
    What a wonderful gift of the rainbow.

    Dawn

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  41. congratulations! what a handsome couple. :)

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  42. I am so happy for you. Congr.ats to you both. I'm happy he knew your kids and they him..and liked him . May God bless you both.

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  43. Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations! We all wish you much happiness and fulfillment in your marriage!

    John

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  44. Congrats to you both!!

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  45. Congratulations! You so deserve this happiness.

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  46. Congratulations, Amy & Ken!

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  47. So happy for you! I had no doubt you always belonged together... Congrats Kate & Peter! Congrats, Amy & Ken!

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  48. It's been a few weeks since I've checked in, so I am very happy to read about your engagement! Congratulations!

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