The Engagement

When I set out to write this blog Thursday night it turned into a 5 page documentary about Lauren and Brad. It is a very sweet piece of work if I should say so myself, however I can’t imagine that the average blog reader would want to read that much about our lives. I mean I can name a few people that would (my parents, Brittany Kay, etc) , but I know you have lives of your own too. So instead of “Brad and Lauren: uncut and unplugged” (which may be available upon request) I bring you…

Brad and Lauren: The proposal of a lifetime (The abridged version)

So here goes…..

Brad’s extended family takes a trip about once a year and for Christmas break all 17 of us went to Aruba. Yes, I know. 17? Yeah. Isn’t it cool how a family that big goes on vacas together and wants to be together. It’s a cool deal. They’re a neat family. So anyway, Monday, Dec 29 we flew out to Aruba. Our flight left Austin at 5 am. Yeah, I’m pretty sure that we slept like 3 hours. That and a few other factors made me a grouchy little Lauren, but I’ll spare you the ugly details. So, we got there, had dinner and just hung out around the hotel. We were exhausted and Brad and I talked on the beach until late that night. While we were walking back to our room Brad said “you’re going to hate me, but I made sunrise breakfast reservations. Do you still want to go?” Of course I said yes. Three of my fave things: Sunrises, breakfast, and Brad. So even though I hadn’t slept, I wanted to get up and besides about a week before I had told Brad that I wanted to do this. Little did I know that he had already planned it. :) So we get up at 5:30 and our reservations were at 6 am at the Bucuti Resort. We walked up and the hostess says “are you here for a romantic breakfast on the beach?” Brad said yes. Wow, I thought. So we got taken to this private hut on the beach. It was dark and no one was there and there were rose pedals on the floor. Well done, Brad, well done I thought. And even then I didn’t know he was proposing. He does sweet things like that. I mean, just this morning he had flowers delivered to my classroom for my birthday. He had a janitor sign off on them and place them on my desk. He’s sweet like that. So back to the story…we sit down, they bring us menus. It’s very romantic. We take pictures and look at everything and at one point I turn around and there’s Mr. Wayne Snead (Brad’s dad) trying to get behind a bush. I turn to Brad and say “Uhhh is that you’re dad” I don’t know how Brad did it but somehow I still wasn’t convinced that he was going to propose. I really thought he hadn’t been ring shopping and I knew he wouldn’t do it without my parents. So then we just had small talk and he tries to tell me all these sweet things. And then at one point he says “ I know my dad is in the bush, but I’m going to do it anyway” and he pulls a ring out of his pocket. Bradley Wayne has a ring! I couldn’t believe it. So he says other things…like I love your family and you and I want to give you a home and …Lauren Elise Oropeza, will you marry me? I cried some more and said yes and cried some more. We talked some more and hugged. Then he said I could turn around and as I did my parents were walking towards me. I couldn’t believe it. Hello…we are in Aruba….another country! I cried a lot more. Have you ever seen Hope Floats?There’s a part in there where she’s really happy and she says “My cup overfloweth” That’s how I felt. My cup overfloweth. I couldn’t begin to express how I felt and how grateful I was that my parents were there. That meant the world to me. My parents, his parents and Brad and I all had breakfast together and celebrated. And then both families vacationed together for the rest of the week.

And that’s how Lauren and Brad became engaged. I tried to make it as abridged as possible, but you know how I am.

Here are some pictures. Wear glasses when you see the ring. It’s a bright shiny beauty.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving...

In the spirit of thanksgiving, I felt it only fitting to have an entry about thankfulness. so here goes...

My list of thanksgiving:

1) God's saving and unconditional grace. Throughout my life there have been a number of instances where I just sit and look at my life and think, I would not have made it here without unconditional grace and love. I just sit in awe when I think that regardless of anything, God still chooses me. It's a pretty unbelievable thing.

2) My parents who have also showed me unconditional love. They've always been there for me, have always encouraged me, and have always fought for my best. I am who I am today because of them.

3) My Brad who is amazing. If you know him at all, you know what I mean :) Few people in my life have ever encouraged me like he does. Not to quote Jack Nicholson, but Brad really does make me a better person. I love who I am when I'm with him.

4) A job I love and am proud of. It may have taken me 3 years to get here, but for the first time since i've been in the "Real World" not a day goes by when I don't want to come to work. Yes, some days I'd rather be shoe shopping, but some days, I really would choose teaching over shoe shopping. Yeah, really. And thats a pretty big statement if you've ever seen my closet. or my feet. Besides, this job is how I go shoe shopping.

5) My best friends. When I was in college my circle of friends was much bigger. My Fish Camp/Big Event/Pine Cove/Waterwood circle allowed me to have so many friends which was a blast in college, but now that I'm a big girl, the set (yes, a math term) of all my friends is much smaller, and it seems that the good ones have stayed and have been such a blessing in my life. When I need something, I have a few genuine friends that I know I can count on. I love those friends!

6) The Snead Family - This is Brad's family. It has been such a blessing and an adventure being a part of another family. I say adventure, because growing up as an only child with just my parents was a pretty quiet experience. Going to the Snead household is a lot of things, but I wouldn't say quiet has been one of them. Loving, yes, caring, yes, quiet...ehh, not so much. But, I've learned that siblings are a pretty cool thing :) I've really enjoyed getting to know them and for people that have only known me about 2 years, they have really taken an interest in my life and I am so grateful for their friendship.

*Obviously, I am thankful for more things too, but since this post is 2 weeks late, i figure I better just get it out there in cyberspace. Thanks and gig em'.*

The half-marathon-umentary (2 weeks late)

When I was in junior high, my dad ran the marathon. I was scared. If you know me at all this is no surprise, but it seemed like a really big, scary thing for a young kid.

When I was in high school, I thought it was cool. I even ran a few 5 and 10 K's with some of my high school friends.

Then when I got to college, I decided I wanted to do my own half marathon or even real marathon at some point. But there was never enough time to train. You try to fit a 10 mile run in your busy schedule. Being a college student was very busy. I barely had enough time to work out much less train for a marathon.

But it was always on my list of things I wanted to do. Graduate college. check. Go to Spain. check. Get a job. check. Have an amazing boyfriend. check. Get a job I love. check. Graduate with my masters. check check. Run a half marathon....

CHECK!

So after my masters graduation, I had a lot of free time and my good friend Sandy convinced me that I could train for it in 2 months, so I did it. I ran and cardioed (yes, cardioed) like crazy, but it paid off in the end. I did it and in pretty good time too. It was a big accomplishment for me and I was proud. I was proud that I could run 13 miles, but even more proud that I had been wanting to do it for a while, and finally just went out and did it. My parents and Brad came out to watch and they were awesome cheerleaders. I love them and am so grateful that they got excited with me and celebrated with me.

Here they are just hanging out waiting for me to pass. Great marathon attire! Would you call that your marathon jogging suit?

and more waiting...

Look at me go!!! Like a bolt of lighting!


It's the last lap and I'm loosing steam...good thing Brad came in for encouragement!
There I am crossing the finish line! Yay, I made it! I even got a cute medal to show for it!

Hey Brad, you think the medal is orange for halloween??

All in all, it was a great experience and I had a great time! I especially loved the celebratory brunch at LePeep afterwards with my parents, Brad and my bff, lauren! :)

What I love about my job.....

What I love about my job is that I'm 5 feet 2 inches, barely 100 lbs. and I can walk in the high school hallway, yell for the kids to get to class and they do. It's actually an unbelieveable thing.

¡Feliz día de disfraces!

My boyfriend is a rock star...

(disclaimer: the following list is in no way comprehensive, in a specific order, or a specific attack of another counsel.)

Top 10 reasons Brad is a rock star lawyer:

10. Since dating Brad, I read everything before I sign it.
9. Since dating Brad, I try to use less passive voice and more active voice.
8. He's a rock star editor and handy for master's papers.
7. He looks for a legal loop hole in every possible situation.
6. On vacation, when we were on a bike tour, he crossed out the items on the waiver that he didn't agree with, then signed the form.
5. He looks great in a suit.
4. He writes 100 page briefs like they're nothing.
3. He makes 45 year old attorneys nervous. (true story).
2. In the courtroom he has been called "big bad brad."
1. in the courtroom he can be found kickin' butt and takin' names.

Basically, my boyfriend is a rock star.

Thanks and gig em'.

That's a cool feeling.

If you're from Houston and about my age, you might remember the days when Sam Malone did the morning show....Before they decided he was too old and moved him to Mix 96.5. Anyway, he had this segment called "that's a cool feeling" where he would talk about funny things that happen and say thats a cool feeling. Example: When you are half asleep barely getting on the computer for the first time of the day and you forgot you had your volume turned all the way up. You are clicking around all nice and peaceful and all of the sudden you get blasted by some music. That's a cool feeling.

Ok, I have one to share with you. Last year sometime I bought some cheapish jeans to wear to work. I hate wearing my nice ones, because you never know what may happen (ex: the great marker war of fall 2006). Therefore, I try not to wear anything I can't replace or live without. (mainly my paige jeans). So, i bought these jeans and because i liked them so much, brad bought me another pair. Well, last year one of my students came up to me and said, "ms. oropeza, I have those jeans too." oh dear. me and the high schooler have the same jeans....

That's a cool feeling.

And today...it happened again. one of spanish I students has my jeans! crazy. yet again....

That's a cool feeling.

Maybe I should rethink where I shop....

A teacher moment

I had a teacher moment recently. If you're a teacher, you know the moment...it's one of those moments where you feel warm fuzzies and you think...that's why I became a teacher...I knew it wasn't to be cussed at, yelled at, or disrespected. Well, one of my students from last year came over after school and just came to talk. She sat in my classroom while I graded and she even helped me with a few things. She then tells me how stressed she's been...you know the high school drama...and tells me that she loves coming in my classroom becase I'm always happy and positive. She said I was like a sun..always shining! uhh, helloo..I was like, are you talking about me? She said her teachers this year weren't like that and she loved coming back here because I made her happy! sweetest thing ever! It's so encouaring to hear statements like that. I think too many times we think people realize that they are doing a good job, but how would they know if no one tells them? My little Cassie made my day..except that she's really not that little. She's a junior in high school and engaged :) there's a ring...but thats a whole different story......