Fireflies

It's quite a feeling of magic, really, seeing a firefly for the first time. 

I remember when I was a small child, around six years old. My mother brought back fireflies in a jar from a trip she took somewhere east of Utah. Dots of green light flashed here and there under the warm night sky as we let the lightning bugs fly free. 

Years later, the song "Fireflies", by Owl City, came out on radio. It sparked my imagination and built a burning desire in my heart to see "ten million fireflies" light up a warm summer night. 

Currently, I am in the beautiful state of Tennessee. My fiance had been telling me about the fireflies, how there are thousands of them out every night, and how beautiful it was to watch them glow. When I first arrived, I was so excited to see the fireflies. It's something I looked forward to every night. Unfortunately, Tennessee has been going through a drought and a major heat wave, causing the lightning bugs to hide all day and all night. I was so disappointed the first couple nights when I didn't even get to see a single glow. 

A few nights into my stay, I was watching for the fireflies, as usual. I wasn't expecting anything, really. Then I saw it. A bright, quick, green flash. Then a few seconds and a few feet later, another flash. Then another. Then another. It was a single, lone lighting bug flying its way across the porch. I couldn't contain my excitement and started laughing over delight of seeing a single fairy-tale-like magical bug. 

My fiance reached his hands out and cupped the firefly in his hands. For a moment, it flashed its beautiful bulb and illuminated his hands and face with a serene, yellow-green glow. My mind took a photograph of that single split-second moment and it resides only in my memory as one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. 

A few days later, on the fourth of July, it rained. That night, the skies cleared up and my fiance and I decided to go for a swim in the river. We floated around for a while. As the sun set, the fireflies came out, one by one. It wasn't as many as I would have liked to see, but it was still such a magical moment for me. It felt like I was watching fairies dancing in the woods and peeking out from behind the leaves. I felt so alive! Who knew that something so simple could bring such happiness?

Some may call me silly for finding such delight in just a little bug. But for me, it's a whole 'nother world. 

The best things in this world aren't the biggest and most expensive. Sometimes, it isn't even material. The most amazing things come from the hidden treasures that lie right in front of our eyes. We don't see it, because the world has trained our eyes to be focused on objects of monetary value. But, if we choose to, we can look away and see the beauty that lie around us. We can begin to notice and take value of the simplest of things. Isn't that what God made our lives to be for, anyway?

"You would not believe your eyes

If ten million fireflies

Lit up the world as I fell asleep.

'Cause they'd fill the open air

And leave teardrops everywhere

You'd think me rude but

I would just stand and stare.

I'd like to make myself believe

That planet Earth turns

Slowly

It's hard to say I'd rather stay 

Awake when I'm asleep

'Cause everything is never as it seems..."

"Fireflies" by Owl City 

The Proposal

As many of you know... I'm now engaged to the wonderful and handsome Adam Farley!

I've been asked to tell the story of how he proposed to me, so here it is!

It was a hot day on July 4th. We got up, got ready, and hung out around the house a bit. It was just a regular day and I was getting excited for the night cause I was suspecting he'd propose then with all the fireworks. But even then, I wasn't too sure cause that's too obvious and that's not Adam. He loves things to be unexpected. So, I was kinda not really getting my hopes up about him proposing on the fourth of July. 

We got a little bored hanging around the house so I told him I wanted to go to the mall and like the gentleman he is, he happily took me and tediously went to every store I wanted to go to and let me try on things without a word of complaint and a smile on his face. You know that's one of the many reasons why I love him! After shopping, we had delicious Japanese food and just talked. He wasn't acting weird or nervous or anything. By then, I decided he wasn't proposing that day cause I was expecting that he'd act nervous or strange. Cause ya know, it's kind of a big deal, asking someone to spend the rest of their lives with you. 

After the mall, I suggested we head back home, but he said he wanted to "show me something cool." Of course, he wouldn't tell me... it was a surprise! So, we went on a drive for about 45 minutes. We arrived in Nashville, but I still had no idea where he was taking me.

Now, back up a bit. Adam has listened to me talk on and on and on about my trip to Italy. He knows I love Italy and everything to do with Italy and that one of my favorite spots, other than the Amalfi Coast, was Rome. And in Rome, my favorite spot to hang out was the ancient Pantheon, which is similar to Greece's  Parthenon. 

As we arrived in Nashville, he pulled into the park and there it was, Nashville's and the world's only life sized, accurate replica of the Parthenon. We weren't able to go inside cause of the 4th of July, which was a bummer. But it was really cool to see the Parthenon as it would have looked like back in ancient Greece and Rome when it was just built, with all the designs and the colors. We walked around, took some pictures, sat on the steps and talked. It was really, really hot and humid for me and I was getting thirsty. So I suggested we go to the gas station and get a drink. 

Adam and I began walking toward the front, and as we hit the front steps, he stopped me. I turned around to see him on his knees holding a ring in his hand. My heart stopped for a second and then it just started pounding like crazy! I didn't know what to do or say. He said to me, "I can't promise you that we will get to travel all over the world. I can't promise you we will have nice things. But I can promise you that with me, you will never be bored. I promise you that I will always love you. Will you marry me?" 

Of course, I said "YES!!!" 

I'm so excited for the new adventures that lay ahead of us. We both are. We don't have a date set yet but it will be soon... somewhere in the time frame of August-January. It depends on work, money, and all that stuff. But for sure, we aren't waiting for long! 

We will be starting out in Clarksville/Adams, Tennessee. It's a beautiful country area, with lots of trees, rivers, and farms. And rednecks. But that's OK, I'm marrying one! ;)

I'd like to thank everyone who supports us. It really means a lot, you don't even know! It feels really good to know that people are happy for us and that we have friends who care. So, thank you! 

Adam and I will be taking our engagement pictures before I leave Tennessee. I am here to visit for 10 days, and currently I only have 3 days left, sadly. It has been such a wonderful time meeting his family, exploring his backyard and swimming in the river. Anyway, engagement pictures will be up soon!

Thank you all for everything! I hope you enjoyed the story!

Adam taking me to the Parthenon. At the time I didn't know it! 

The ring!!! Small and simple, just like I wanted. :)