Blogmas Day 1: I’m Engaged 💍

Hey my friends!

I am back after taking a very long break from blogging. I’ve been wanting to share updates for awhile now, but as they say…Life happens

After unexpectedly losing my dad last year, a big piece of my heart has been missing. This was definitely something I was not prepared for or could ever imagine happening. It’s been and still is a difficult time for me and my family. The one thing I know about my dad is that he would not want us to not move on with life. He would want us to live our lives and not stay locked up in a shell. I miss my dad more than anyone could imagine. I at times feel guilty being happy. Those of you that has suffered the loss of a loved one knows exactly what I mean.

My first post after a year is not meant to be a sad one, especially when I know my dad is looking down over me happy. I’m sure from the featured photo you know why I write that my dad is happy for me. I am engaged!!! Yes…I am getting married.

When I tell people how my fiancé and I met, they first say that my dad sent him to me and secondly, we have a beautiful love story. I definitely believe that as well.

When and How did We get Engaged?

It was February 12, 2022 and we planned on celebrating Valentine’s day that Saturday because my fiancé had to work on the 14th. I told him that I wanted to plan our Valentine’s dinner since he’s always the one setting up romantic events for us. He agreed, but said we’re going to do this prom style.

So back story, I told him that I never had the chance to go to my prom. Another story for another day. He spent his high school years in France and they don’t have proms. So naturally I thought it was an excellent idea. Now back to the proposal night…

He came to my parents house to pick me up with a beautiful corsage. You know what’s funny…my mom said to us wow you guys look nice, you better not run off and elope.

We went to the restaurant, which by the way was a big disappointment. Not at all the ambiance they potrayed on their website. Nonetheless we made the best of it. We were enjoying one another’s company, so that was all that really mattered.

We went back to my house and he immediately gave me a tiara, as I was the prom Queen. He then sent me to my room to set up the music for the prom in my office. He told me to wait 5 minutes, then I will be able to come out. Me being who I am, I waited probably 10 minutes fixing my lipstick and taking selfies.

I finally opened my bedroom door and there were candles and rose petals down the hallway leading to the office. I knocked on the door and no response. I knocked again and no response. This time I opened the door and he was standing there with my favorite music artist, Brian McKnight playing in the background with the room filled with candles and rose petals. He starts telling me how he feels about me and the impact I’ve made in his life. Then all of a sudden he gets on his knees and my big eyes became the widest it has ever been since I was born.

And there you have it…my proposal story. It was a surprise. I didn’t expect to get engaged yet, but am very excited and happy to have found love when I wasn’t looking.

Now that it’s less than 6 months until the wedding, I am going to blog all the details about our wedding. For a long time I was made to feel bad for getting engaged less than 4 months after my dad’s passing. I was made to feel as if I was being selfish and was only getting engaged because I was mourning. A time in my life that should be exciting was portrayed as disrespecting my dad. They don’t understand that I already felt guilty finding love and happiness. By saying these things, it took away that excitement and due to that all the things a woman would rush to do, I procrastinated because I didn’t want to be that selfish woman. But I’ve come to realize that no I’m not being selfish. It’s actually selfish to make me feel bad for wanting to move on with life. It’s already difficult knowing he will not walk me down the aisle or have a father/daughter dance. I will not crawl in a shell and not share with the world my happiness. I do this because in my heart and knowing the man my dad was, he would be happy for me. In fact, my dad would say it’s about time you’re getting married. And it’s a bonus that my dad would have absolutely liked having him as a son-in-law. They have lots of things in common…

Anyway my friends…until next time ❤️

Tribute to my daddy ❤

Earl Marvin Waterman. My daddy!  The man we nicknamed McGuyver because he could do anything.  This man was a genius.  When he talked, people listened.  I could tell you stories of how in awe people were when my dad would speak.

Yes he has been recognized for his many patents.  Yes he is part of history.  Yes his inventions has made a difference in the lives of others.  But I will tell you that his greatest achievement in life and what he really would want to be recognized for was being an amazing husband to my mother and an amazing father to me and my siblings.

My father loved my mother with every fiber of his being.  He always said that I don’t have a husband yet because I’m so picky, but what my dad didn’t realize is that I couldn’t find anyone because he set the bar extremely high.  If I could get half of the love he has for my mom, I would be a lucky girl. Family first was his motto.  No matter what he was doing, if any of us needed him, he was there.  I didn’t make any decisions without getting his advice and stamp of approval.  My dad’s mission in life was to always protect us and to make sure we had everything we wanted. 

I am who I am because of my parents, but if you ask my mom, she will tell you I am just like my dad.  What a great compliment.  This man, my daddy had a heart of gold.  I wish you all knew the man that I know and hold close to my heart.  This is a man that a week before he went into the hospital when he saw that my mom had a swollen ankle, he put his pain to the side and insisted on filling the foot bath with water and episom salt and layed on the floor to massage her foot.  This is the man that was in pain, but insisted on climbing up a tree in the backyard to prune it so my mom can get a better view when looking out the kitchen window.  This is a man who was in pain, but was more concerned about my health.  This man, my daddy was a slim framed man not muscular, but was the strongest man I know.  And was a fighter.  He kept fighting to come back to his family.

I am so proud and honored to be Earl Marvin Waterman’s daughter.  I just pray that he knows how much I love him because I didn’t always show it.

On this day, November 2, 2021, All Souls’ Day, we laid my father to rest. He is now an angel watching over us. I will miss my daddy more than anyone could imagine, but I know we will be with one another again. ❤

  

International Autism Awareness Day 🧩

Hey my friends!

For those of you that don’t know, today is International Autism Awareness Day and April is Autism Awareness month.

1 in 54 children are on the Autism spectrum. A child is usually diagnosed between the age of 2 or 3. If you are wondering about the signs, there are many signs, but one sign that I remember is that child will begin to stop communicating. It’s almost as if one day they just go into this shell.

A person with autism has difficulties with their communication and as a result they tend to get frustrated when people cannot understand them. The one thing we can point out is that people living with autism are generally extremely smart individuals and have great memories.

Autism is not a disability, it’s a different ability”
~Stuart Duncan

To learn more about Autism and help raise awareness, go to the link below:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-awareness-day

Let’s continue to raise awareness about Autism. This is a cause that is so personal for me.