Stuck in Tokyo

Well, our journey to Singapore began yesterday at 1:50pm EST. We flew on Delta and our flight was supposed to be 13 hours but ended up being over 15. The plane we were on ran out of gas, so we had to stop and refuel in northern Japan. Due to this delay, we missed our connecting flight to Singapore last night. Delta put us up in the Radisson in Tokyo where we ate dinner, went to the bar, slept and had breakfast. It is freeeeezing here in Tokyo! On our way to the airport it was snowing! Poor Jason packed his sweatshirt in his luggage and was not prepared for the cold weather. I mean, we figured we'd be in the tropics by now. Anyway, last night after dinner we went to the sports bar in the hotel which was hilarious! A group of business men were drinking and singing some pretty terrible karaoke but it definitely gave us a laugh. They thought they were so good but there most definitely was not a William Hung in the crowd. We are now sitting in the Narita Airport waiting for our flight to Singapore, which leaves in less than an hour (thank God!). It is 9:20am Tokyo time. The flight is about 9 hours. I can't wait to arrive and to have dinner with my love in our new home country. Many, many more posts to come. We miss you all already!! XOXO

Dress Shopping

I can't believe it is really happening... I am getting married! Today, my Mom and I went dress shopping. Although Jason and I are not getting married until next spring, I wanted to get an idea of what I wanted so I could have my perfect dress made in Thailand while I am in Asia. I found a gorgeous dress and I truly felt like a princess. I knew it was a good sign when all the people in the store came over and commented on me in THE DRESS. One lady that I didn't even know started to cry and congratulated me. It was a perfect day, just my Mom and I. I am so glad we got to experience this before I move on Thursday. I couldn't imagine trying on dresses by myself, especially without my Mom. It really struck me today that I am no longer the little girl who was a bride for Halloween but am actually going to be a bride IN REAL LIFE. I am trying to take everything in and cherish all of these special moments. Boy am I going to miss my Mom!

Ciao Bella :*(

Well, this is it! Bella just went to a new home. I've cried pretty much all day but sometimes things like this are just a part of life. I am thankful that I will be giving Bella away to a happy home, instead of mourning her passing or some other dreadful event. It is amazing how attached one can get to his or her pet. I have had so much fun with Bella in the 6 months that I have had her. It's funny that she just learned to use her doggie steps just a couple of weeks ago (finally!!) and now she is leaving me. Originally we were just going to have some friends watch her, but I do not want to put that burden on anyone, just having to watch her for several months only to give her back. I would not be able to give her the attention she requires in Austria anyway. I gave her to a sweet family with a three year old daughter, Shelby, who is already in love with her and got a million of kisses from Bella before they left. Although I am sooo sad to have had to give her away, it is something that had to be done. I am so thankful to have Jason to lean on in hard times like these. Oh Bella... how I will miss you peanut!

Growing Pains

Sometimes I just wish that I could go back 20 years. Back to the little girl that washed her bedroom wood floors everyday, pretending to be Cinderella without a care in the world. Although I am lucky enough to have found my prince charming, sometimes growing up really is painful no matter how happy you are. I have always found it easy to move on and change was always new and exciting to me. This is why I find it easier than most to leave everything I have ever known and move to Singapore with my fiance. But sometimes, we encounter changes that were never a part of the plan that we have for ourselves, which has been heartbreaking. I have to remind myself that everything that happens is a part of God's plan for me and that everything works out the way it is supposed to. It's funny because as a child I was in such a hurry to grow up but now that I have, I just want to go back to times where I was carefree and the only thing I had to worry about was trying to get my brothers to play house with me. On a side note, I can not wait to start my adventure with Jason in two short weeks. Oh how it sure is bittersweet! Bring on the lemons, I'll make some damn good lemonade!

ENGAGED!!! :)

Jason and I got engaged on March 20, 2010! It truly was the best day of my life.

Here's the story:
For a couple of weeks, I've been begging Jason to walk on the Greenway with me by our house. Saturday was supposed to be a very nice day. A couple days prior, he told me that it would be perfect to go on a walk on Saturday so he could take some pictures before dinner at my parent's house at 6:30pm. Jason loves photography and told me that he also wanted to try out his new remote shutter release that my parents gave him for his birthday. That morning we ate breakfast, layed out on the back deck and took a nap. When I woke up he told me to change out of my sweats so we could go for our walk. I questioned why I should change and he said that he wanted to take a picture or two of me and knows that I wouldn't like to be photographed in sweats. So we got ready and were off to the Greenway. When we got there, we started walking down the path. He set up his tripod and took some pictures of the wetlands. After taking a few pictures, he picked it up and we began walking again. At the second stop he set up the remote shutter release. He told me to stand in front of the camera so he could test it out. I told him that I wanted him in some pictures too, so he came in front of the camera to join me. I took a couple pictures making silly faces, not having a clue what was about to happen. After taking some pictures, he asked for the remote so he could show me how to take a picture without the remote being in the picture. As soon as he took the remote from me, he started to get down on one knee. I was wondering what he was doing, since he had flip flops on (bending down like he was going to tie his shoe). Then, I realized he was going for his pocket and took out a ring box. I was in complete shock! Jason got down on his knee and asked me to marry him with my beautiful ring shining in its box, while he snapped pictures the whole time. I grabbed the box and just started to stare and him and the ring. He stood up and asked, "Is that a yes?" I was still so shocked that I just hugged him and kissed him, completely speechless. Finally I said YES! He then said, "You can take the ring out of the box and put it on you know!" I immediately put on my gorgeous ring and could not stop starting at it, sparkling in the sunlight. We walked back to the car, where I began calling some family and close friends. I was truly on cloud nine. Jason told me all about how he had told my friends and family that he was going to propose that day and that my Mom even met up with him that week because he wanted to show her the ring. On a side note, we usually try to visit with my family once a weekend since we are leaving in 3 weeks for Singapore so I did not find it unusual that we were going to dinner over there around 6:30pm. We got home and started to get ready for dinner. Jason was taking forever! We finally left the house and were on our way to my parent's house when he told me that he owed his friend Bob $20 from poker the night before and wanted to stop by Buckhead Pizza where he and his family were having dinner so he could drop off the money real quick. I began to get irritated because we were running late and it was already 6:45pm. I called my Mom to tell her that we were going to be late but she did not answer. Not thinking a thing about it, as Bob works out of town during the week, we walked into Buckhead Pizza. We walked into the back patio area and were almost at the table when I realized that my entire family, his sister, and our friends were all there for a surprise engagement dinner party for us. I was sooo shocked and immediately started bawling while they were all standing up, clapping for us. Two wonderful surprises in one day! I am so blessed to have such special people in my life! We drank champagne and had a wonderful dinner. It truly was the most perfect engagement and I am so glad that Jason included our friends and family, especially since we are moving soon. I am so lucky to have such a sweet fiance. I can not wait to spend the rest of my life with Jason. I am so blessed!

~Soon to be Mrs. Shannon

To Do List

Ok, so first I would like to apologize for being MIA the last couple of weeks. My life has been crazy busy and I realized that it was time to BREATHE and post a new blog.

I don't think time has ever flown by so quickly and it is crazy scary to think that we will be moving to Singapore IN LESS THAN A MONTH! We have soooo much to get done/do that I'm beginning to feel as if I am stuck in quick sand, trying to get out.

Here is my checklist:
~Pack, pack, pack!!!
~Get International Insurance squared away
~Go to the Dentist
~Get my haircut
~Go shopping!!!
~Get a new driver's license

Thankfully, here's what I've already completed:
~I sold my car!!
~Quit work
~Got Bella fixed
~Sold a lot of stuff on Craigslist

April 15 will be here before we know it. For those that have asked, we are pretty much booked until we leave. We really won't be around at all in April since we are going to Missouri for Spring Break to Jason's parent's buffalo ranch. I hope to see you all before we go!

Alright... back to packing... :(

Another chapter closes...

Today is officially my last day of work at Sedgwick. It seems like just yesterday I got hired. It's quite surreal actually. Today is first time that I actually FEEL like we are moving. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be where I am today. I am so happy, excited, blessed, anxious, nervous, thrilled... there really are no proper words. This is my most scatterbrained post to date, but it's perfect because that's how I am in this moment.

The thing that I can put together in my head is that I am going to miss all the great people I have had the chance to work with and get to know, you know who you are. You have helped me through some of my hardest times and have been truly uplifting. Thanks for showing your support in everything that I do and for your encouragement. I hope to remain friends with all of you. You are some damn good people.

I'm not gonna cry... I'm not gonna cry... I'm not gonna cry...