STRIKE!

The girls....and Hot Pink bowling balls!

The twins!

Satisified with a tie!

There are very few things that I can beat Trav at. There were a few times I won a game of horse but he still claims that he let me win. However, if you could have been there, you would have seen the beads of sweat pouring down his face as he realized he was going to loose to his girl friend! One of the only other times I have beaten Trav was the summer after we started dating when we were in Bass Lake with his family. We went bowling with everyone and I won....both games. And it was no close match between me and Trav....I'm pretty sure triple digits were not broken from his side. But, it made me a little too cocky about bowling! We went the other night with some of my close girl friends and his close guy friends and I was talking it up about how I won. ( Let me remind you it was 3 summers ago and It was only one time that I had won) Well, Doug and Rick chimed in about that time in Bass Lake and I was confident that I was going to bowl the same that night! When it was my first turn I bowled a Strike! Oh yea, this is going to be a good night is what I was thinking. Eh, not so much! We ended up with a tie for the first game, neither of us breaking 100. And the second game he left me in the dust! And needless to say, that one strike was the only one of the night. I think a rematch is in order! :)

"Will You Marry Me???"

If you are like me you have been planning your wedding since the day you learned to walk. Growing up I thought I had every little detail planned out and I couldn't wait till I was old enough to get married. Now, I'm getting married and it's crazy how fast those years flew by. Well, by the time Trav proposed, I was pretty sure I had thought of every possible way he could propose. It was to the point where everytime we would go out I made sure I liked my outfit ( just in case of course) and whenever he would bend down to pick something up or tie his shoe, I want to yell," Yes, I do!!!!" ( Thankfully I never embarressed myself in such a way.) But no matter how much I had day dreamed about that day, I never would have thought he would surprise me in the way he did!

It was a Thursday night and I randomly called my brother in law in St.Louis to see if I could surprise my sister and their kids and stay with them on my week off. He called me back to say he found a ticket and asked if I could leave the next morning! I jumped at the chance to go but I was bummed Trav was staying behind. I hadn't seen him in a week since he was doing a medical study and I was not going to see him for another week. Looking back, I should have been able to put all the clues together but I'm just not that on top of things. It was much better as a surprise though.

The night I arrived we went to Monkey Joes for dinner. On our way I was sitting in the back seat with Maddie and Sam while Lea and Jon were whispering up front. ( Mind you, it drives me crazy when people are in the front of the car and whisper because they know there is no way you can hear them. My parents still try to pull that on me but I haven't mastered the eavesdropping skills yet!) The next day they pulled the same thing while we were on the tram at Grant's Farm. I heard my sister say, " Do you think she heard?" But i thought they were talking about my niece so I started talking to her to distract her. Little did I know that both times they were talking about a phone call they reveived from Trav asking if he could come out there. The week went by and I was having a blast with them but still missing Trav. I was bummed because we talked on the phone once the whole week and we were barley texting. And to top it off, Jon's bro was coming into town for the Cubs/Cardinals game on Fri. and we were going to go to the Arch with him downtown before. I was excited to see the Arch but not so thrilled to have Dave as my date instead of Trav. Plus, to show how gullible I am, Jon had me believing that there was a restaurant at the top of the Arch we were eating at. If you have been to the Arch you know that there is no way a restaurant could be up there!!! I kept myspacing Trav that I wished he was going and I even texted Heidi on that Friday asking if she could put Trav on a plane and send him to STL so he could come with!!!!

My sister was persuasive and made sure I showered and dressed cute for dinner despite the fact that I really didn't care what I was going to look like for Dave. On the car ride there, it was just me and Lea, but Jon kept calling her a thousand times to see where we were and how soon we would be there. When we pulled in the parking lot he was waiting for us but Dave was not there. He claimed he was in the underground museum. ( Yes, that is a really place unlike the restaurant) I was making fun of Jon because he had his video camera yet he lived in STL and had been to the Arch before. But I am so thankful he had it now!!!We walked up to the edge of the grassy field that laid under teh Arch. I heard Jon say he saw someone that looked like Trav. I looked but didn't see anything. Then my sister repeated what Jon had just said and pointed to the middle of the field directly under the Arch. All I could see was a guy down on one knee, just waiting in the grass. I looked at my sister as if to ask, " Is it really Trav?" and she just smiled. I took off walking, feeling as if I was floating. It felt like I walked a football field to get to him! As I was walking I realized I had tears streaming down my face. I couldn't believe this was really happening! There he was, on one knee, waiting to ask me to spend the rest of my life with him! As I got closer I could see he was nervous and I realized that I was shaking and my heart was pounding! I made some stupid comment like ," aren't you supposed to be at practice?" ( Duh Emma. Obviously not!) Anyways, Trav took my hands and said the sweetest things before saying, " Emma, will you marry me?" AH!!!! But you know what the first thing out of my mouth was? " Did you ask my Dad?" He just laughed and said yes and then I said yes!!!! He stood up, kissed me and gave me a ginormous hug! ( Oops, sorry Mom and Mrs. H....that was the first time we kissed, don't worry!) Right when that happened all the tourists around us started clapping and cheering! I felt like I was in a movie!!!! The longest walk of my life to get to him!

" Emma, will you marry me?"

" YEESSSS!!!!

Never felt as happy as I did at that exact moment!

Trav then pulled out the ring and when he opened the box all I could see was sparkling! It was the most beautiful ring I had ever sing!My sister and Jon came up and hugged us then we spent the next few minutes calling our family! When I called my parents they both said the same thing, " How are you engaged? Travis is here in California!" :) I still can't believe he surprised me that way! And it was so neat having my sister there and a part of it!Plus, we got some great pictures and video! It's going to be such a great story to tell our kids one day!

Talking to our parents!!!!

I was slightly freaking out!

We're getting married!

The plane ride home....with my fiance!

Kids at Heart :)

There are so many things about Trav that I just absolutely love....but one of the biggest is the fact that he brings out the kid in me. I know that sounds weird...I'm 22 and I am trying to be a kid....but I don't mean it in that sense. It's amazing in our relationship how his strengths are my weaknesses and vice versa. I have always had that "kid at heart" part about me but lately life has been so intense, sometimes I forget. Trav just brings out that part of me and I am so thankful for that! My life these days involves studying, school, studying, clinical, studying....you get the picture. I recently finished my rotation working at a SNF ( Skilled Nursing Facility) with geriatric patients. There were days when I came home where I didn't want to eat or talk after what I experienced and then there were days where I couldn't decide if I should break down and cry, take a bath, or curl up and nap. I feel like lately I have been so drained....and that is where Trav comes in! He always has so much enerfy and he is the absolute goofiest person I know and I love it! Those days when I was just so worn out, he had me laughing till my stomach felt like I had done 1500 sit ups! I love how he evens me out with being serious and just letting myself go and being goofy. I love how he doesn't care what others think and is completely real....that is such an amazing characteristic to have! I love how sometimes his excitement towards something new is like that of a child who just got the best Christmas present....the one they didn't think they would ever get! When I am with Trav I can be myself. I can let go and not be concerned he will think I am a weirdo! He has taught me to not care what others think... just be myself. But the greatest thing is....we really are both kids at heart! And it definetly shows in how we occupy our time! ( The famous "airplane". My nieces and nephews love it when I do this to them, so one day I asked Trav to do it to me so I could see how fun it really was! I tried to give him an airplane after....bad news.)

One of my favorite things we have ever done was last winter. We could not think of anything to do so instead, spur of the moment, we went to Target and bought board games and candy!!! We then went back to his parents and built a fort where we played games and ate candy! I know....perfect example of the kids in us coming out! ( and don't you worry....we had flashlights too! We were all set!) But regardless how ridiculous we looked sitting in this tiny fort made out of sheets at 21/22 years old....it was one of the best nights of my life! ( And let me tell you, the older you get, the harder it is to become creative with building a fort...oh how I miss being 7!) I do still remember the look on Trent's face though when he came home and saw us....and little did we know he was bringing about 5 guys who were in his best friends wedding with him....slightly awkward, but with Trav I don't get embaressed, I just laugh. :)

You know how when you are sitting in church and there is that adorable little baby in front of you and you try to make her/him laugh by making silly faces??? Well, we do that too...just to each other!!!! ( Oh yes, I am dead serious right now!) Sometimes while we are driving we make the craziest faces and sounds while trying to mimic each other and we end up dying of laughter! Another favorite of ours is when we are at Disneyland we try to think of the weirdest ways to walk and then strut thru the park with our new moves! We get some interesting looks...but it is worth it

( Sleepover with Sammy and Huds! )

( Silly faces with Parker)

(Small World with Van Man)

( Follow the leader with Lexi! )

Trav and I absolutely LOVE kids! I think part of the reason is because we relate to them. I love just sitting and playing with my nieces and nephews...whether it's dress up or "sledding" down a dirt hill. My nieces and nephews have adored Trav from the moment they met him and I think part of the reason is due to the fact that he didn't hesitate to get down on the floor with them and play a game or run around with them outside. And the best part is....he loves stuff like that! He gets so excited when they get something new and he gets to try it out too! ( ok, I'm not going to lie...we both do! I'm still jealous about the sweet streets they have...they did not have that cool of stuff when I was that age!) I can only imagine when we have kids it will be massive play time all the time at our house! ( or our tent, Rv, or our parents upstairs since we all know that housing in the OC is ridiculous!) One of the greatest things, is with Trav each day is different and packed full of laughs, humor and complete joy!

Basically, I am blessed to have found a man who not only has a heart for the Lord but a heart for the joys of child as well!

Our Story: As Told By Travis

I first laid eyes on Emma my freshman year of college a when I was on the Concordia basketball team. It was move in day at Concordia and I had just met Levi who was my roomate there. Levi and I were hanging out side meeting new people and I saw this super fine blonde girl up stairs while me and Levi were in the quad sitting down with Trevor and Nate. I immediately say to Trevor dang who's that hot blonde girl up there. He goes oh thats Emma she went to high school with Nate and I. I was just in awe so Emma comes down with Sara Cahill who she was helping move in and Nate and Trevor introduce me and Levi to Emma and Sara. I dont even remember if I was introduced I was too shy and I just sat there with some other guys who were sitting with us because I was just in awe of how hot this girl was and it was my first day remind you so I was just overwhelmed. So as the year goes by I always saw this fine blonde girl at some of our home games at Concordia and I was just like dang Nate get em. If you didnt know Nate who was one of the fab four, including Me Levi and Trevor, was my teammate and roomate my sophomore year and went to high school with Emma. Emma always kind of liked Nate through high school so Freshman year of college Nate would talk to her and she would come to our games and I was always like dang Nate she is so fine you should be with her. They kept talking and were friends but never had that official dating thing. So Sophomore year comes around and Emma is now a freshman at Concordia. So there was this freshman casino party thing on campus or maybe it was a welcome back but whatever, I saw this girl Jessy and was like dang shes cute. Turns out this girl Jessy was friends with Emma. Since Emma liked Nate who was my roommate and I like Jessy who was her friend I some how got Emmas number and had the nerve to talk to her. I knew she liked Nate so I asked her some questions about him and was talkin about him the whole time. I asked her to hook me up with her friend Jessy cuz I figured since I was helping her out with my roommate she could help me out with her friend. You know the whole time I was texting Emma I was just thinking of how lucky Nate was cuz the hottest girl in the world liked him. I always got the butterflies even just texting emma about my roommate, she was just so gorgeous I didnt know how to tell her i thought she was the most beautiful thing id ever lay eyes on. Well one night we were texting and agreed to meet in person to talk about our friends. I was like YESSSSSSSS but then I was like darnet I dont know what to say in person cuz over text i have time to think about what i say but in person im like retarded or somethin i dont know how to talk to girl especially if they are hot. Well we met on the stairs in for of the gym to talk and I was just in awe of her the whole time and I faked like i liked her friend Jessy which i thought she was cute but nothing compared to emma and emma would talk to me about nate and everything but we ended up just talking that night and didnt even really talk about nate or jessy it was more about eachother and school and everything. So I had this huge crush on this girl that liked my roommate and i liked her friend but was kind of just asking about her friend so that i could talk to her. So I started texting emma more and more and I some how became comfortable and was able to be myself around her even though i was in shock she was even talking to me. So as time went by we never talked about my roommate or her friend it was just about us. I worked my magic and gave her some of my lines that i used to have and i ended up telling her how beautiful i thought she was. i gave her the famous all the girls are here and i held out my hand but your here and i held the other hand up way higher saying how gorgeous she was. We just had that connection since the first time we texted to the first time we talked in person that one night on the stairs outside concordias gym. So we talked every day and night and we would hang out til 3 in morning alot just walking around campus or shooting hoops in the gym. I even let her beat me in horse. I liked this girl so much and we had a special connection even since the first day i laid eyes on her and i couldnt even get introduced to her cuz i was to nervous. So emma and i hung out a lot and we both liked each other but i was way to nervous to ever actually ask emma out as my girl friend. Finally i had been telling Levi my roommate how much i liked her and he knew i did because of how much i hung out with her and how much we texted. It finally happened one night when me and levi went to emmas room to watch a movie. it was past dorm hours and the RA heard us inside emmas room so we hid. The RA asked if any guys were in the room emma said no so the RA was like ok and left. 5 min later we hear the RA out side the room still and she knocked again so i quickly hid in emmas bathroom leaving Levi to hide in the shower haha. The RA comes in and searches the room and find levi hiding in the CLEAR shower hahah and the RA say ,"bust out a shower trick good one". So levi got caught and emma too for having a boy in her room past hours. I on the other hand got away scotch free because i was hiding behind the bathroom door that she never looked behind haha. So levi and emma got written up, but Levi had told just talked to us about how we should date cuz we liked each other. So it was three in the morning and Levi went back to our room rattled cuz he got writtend up and i didnt but i love that guy cuz he convinced me to finally have the nervs at three in the mornin to ask emma to go out with me. She said yes and i was the luckiest man in the world. I went and told levi he was pumped i was just so happy that me and emma had finally started dating. From then on its history. We fell in love and never looked back, hanging out basically every day and night at concordia having the times of our lives. To think if she had never liked my roommate and i had never thought her friend was cute we would have never been brought together. It was Gods plan the whole time:) Now were engaged and getting married in July and I get to spend the rest of my life with the girl that when I first laid eyes on her I couldnt even talk because she was so beautiful

Our Story: As Told By Emma

We thought it would be interesting to write the story of how we met and started dating....but, from both of our points of view. :) We have a feeling they will sound a little different! But as different as they sound, the one thing that remains the same is the fact that God had his hand in it all and gave us the incredible gift of each other when we were least expecting it! Here is my version:

I still remember the day I first met Trav. I was a SR in high school and I had friends who were beginning their freshman year at CUI. I was up there around move in time and was introduced to Travis and Levi. I remember asking Levi, " Is that Levi as in the jeans, Levi?" ( I know, sometimes I should think before I speak....especially on first introductions!) Well, when I said hi to Trav he did not even look up and mumbled a "hi". I remember thinking, " What in the world is his deal...he barely even said hi!" I didn't see Trav for a little bit after that but in the meantime he had a new girlfriend at school. I attended some of the basketball games that year but not once did he acknowledge me when I would talk to other players afterwards ( 0ne being his friend and the guy I had a "crush" on). I remember a specific game when I was sitting in the bleachers and this tall, skinny, beautiful blonde walked passed me wearing a tank top and it was -30 degress outside! I saw her talking to Trav afterwards and couldn't help but think that he scored a good girl friend. ( Little did I know that was his sister and my soon to be sister-in-law! God has a good sense of humor!) The only time Trav and I talked that year was when I would talk to his friend on the phone and he would get on to say hi. We even spent New Year's Eve together ( but we had different dates) and he STILL did not talk to me.

Pretty soon I graduated and it was time for me to go to college. Looking back on my decision to go to CUI I realize that it was completely God's plan to bring us together. I was struggling in high school with whether I should be a teacher or a nurse. My dad would tell me profusely that I would make an incredible nurse and it just seemed to fit me but of course, I had to figure it out on my own. In a way, I took the easy way with college. Going to CUI was a no brainer for me because all my sisters had gone there and I knew the school inside and out. Deep down I knew that teaching was not for me but I hadn't trusted on God and his plan yet. The best part is, me attending CUI for a year was a major part of God's plan...I just had no clue! Now it was my turn to move into the dorms and I was soon re-introduced to Trav. I saw him around campus a few times during orientation week but that was about it. At this point in time I still had a crush on one of his roommates and one of my roommates had a crush on his other roommate, so I never really saw it coming that Trav and I would be the ones ending up together. This is where it gets good! Trav supposedly had a thing for my friend Jessi. Trav and I were talking somewhat at this point and I used to tell him that I would bring Jessi down to hang out in his dorm. I don't think I ever actually asked her! I found myself showing up down there without her and making up some excuse why she could not come. ( And this didn't just happen once...we are talking multiple times. How many excuses can one come up with for something like that??? I don't know how I did it!) This led to many nights of Trav and I watching tv in his dorm and the beginning of a great friendhip. We often used "our crushes" as an excuse to meet and talk. But whenever we did meet up to talk, it ended up never being about them! I used to plan my eating schedule around when he would be done with class or practice so we would just happen to run into each other in the cafeteria! Of course, that led to me waiting to refill my soda till I saw that he was headed up there...there were days I was parched from waiting so long, but I still waited, just so I could walk past this good looking, tall, blonde basketball player that I figured I had no chance with since he liked my friend!

I still remember the first time he texted me. He was in the drive thru at Jack in the Box and I was so surprised to see TRAV in my inbox! ( I remember the lamest things, I know!) Another surprise was whenTrav went on a bball trip to the lake and he called me from there!! This was about the time I was realizing that I was falling fast for him but I thought he still "liked" Jessi and he still thought I liked his roommate. One night I was really homesick ( Yes, I realize that my home is 20 min from CUI but I was still homesick! ) and I texted Trav telling him about it. He wrote back saying that he used to feel the same way his Freshman year and then asked if when we were both done with homework, if I wanted to take a walk. Of course I did! I responded to the text so fast! I don't even think I actually finished my hw I was so excited! I probably changed my sweats 15 times and waited the apporiate amount of time it should have taken to finish the assignment to text him and tell him I was done! :) That walk was the turning point for us. We ended up walking around campus untill 3am and we talked about everything! We shared our whole lives in those couple of hours. He probably thought I was crazy because as we were walking, I couldn't stop staring at him! He was so dang cute! Eyeing him form across the cafeteria just didn't do justice to the up close and personal view! I still remember the feeling when he walked me back to Rho ( the freshman dorms) and he gave me a hug. Holy Cow I did not want to let go! With him being 6'7 I felt so safe when he hugged me and my heart was flip flopping all over the place. I seriously think he prob felt it since it was pounding like a massive drum! But I still thought he liked Jessi and I didn't have a chance! And he was still thinking that I like his friend. I wasn't going to give up though! I decided to invite him for dinner at my house with my whole family! ( as friends of course). The poor guy did not say a word the whole night! He was such a trooper for coming though...especially since we weren't actually dating. After that It was pretty obvious that we liked each other but we were both to scared to say so.It took Trav's best friend Levi to knock us over the head, sit us down, and get our feelings out in the open. We were in my dorm ( Trav, Levi, my roommate, and I) and I can still picture Levi sitting on the edge of my futon with Trav and I in front of him. He would look at me and go " Emma, you like Trav right?" Awkwardly I said "yes". Then he looked at Trav and said, " Trav, you like Emma right?" Another awkward "yes". "Good, then you should date!". ( haha Thanks Levi! We couldn't have done it without you!) Well, we did start dating that night...after we got written up for dorm hours since Trav and Levi were in our room! He asked me out on the steps of the dorm and made me the happiest girl on campus! We spent a year at CUI together and then we both transfered to different schools as we followed God's calling for our lives. But those memories from our first year dating are some of the greatest! We still go back to Concordia to "our spot" up by the chapel where it overlooks the whole city and all those memories come rushing right back!

And now, even after 3 years my heart still flip flops and pounds like a drum when he hugs me goodbye! In 7 months I get to marry the man of my dreams. The man I prayed for for years. The man who captured my heart and became my best friend. How amazing is that?!?! As Phoebe would say, " He's my lobster!" :-)

The New and Improved Myspace!

Can you believe I have a blog? I can't. I am a texter, myspacer, and facebook fanatic to the core and I honestly never thought I would be writing a blog. This blog wouldn't exist today if it weren't for those that inspired me! It all started when Katie left for Mozambique and I found myself waiting anxiously for her to post her next blog about her African adventures. Then soon after, I get hooked into constantly checking another blog about the sweetest little boy. Just a few weeks ago my childhood friend, Beth, got engaged and had her blog up before I could blink. Here I was, engaged for 2 months with no sign of a blog in the near future and she barely even had a ring on her finger and hers was done and looking good! That got me thinking. Well, to quote the Hills, " the straw that broke the camel's back" ( oh man, I don't even know if I used that the correct way...I really am not sure what it means but I have heard it quite a few times recently and I just had to write it!), was when I saw that Heidi had made a blog! Ok, i figured if she could do this, than so could I. I mean, it could not be that hard, right? Wrong! It has taken me almost two weeks to get this thing started! I caught on to myspace right away...why is this so hard? Maybe, it's because it is the myspace for people of my sisters ages so it is still a tiny bit over my head...who knows, but I am determined to figure it out!
Anyways, I am really excited to be writing on here and I promise to keep it updated as frequently as nursing school allows me! I can already tell that I am going to love writing on here as a distraction from the craziness of school. It will be written from my point of view but don't worry, I will get Trav to write some too! ( I already have a really good idea about that!) Well, I have to get to a basketball game ( HIU vs Biola tonight! Pray it goes good!) but I will write an informative update about wedding details later! And soon to come will be our story which I am so excited to write!!! Have a great evening everyone and thank you for taking the time to read this! ( The entries will be more interesting...don't worry!)

In Him,
Emma ( and Travis)