Honey, You Should Really Learn How to Drive

Now that we were engaged, Adam felt it was okay for him to start bossing me around.  I'm only kidding!  However, he did decide that it was imperative his future wife have a driver's license.  You see, I had never taken the time to get my license in high school and it became very difficult to deal with when I came to BYU.  I had no car and I didn't need one.  Plus, in Utah you have to take driver's ed.  So I had just not bothered with it.  But Adam was tired of having to always get a ride home when he would spend the evening at my house.  And Marmee wouldn't hear of him walking.  And he always stayed past the last bus.  So, he decided that meant I had to have a license.  (I guess he didn't have any problems making me drive him home at night).  Really though, it was time I got one.  

Lucky for me, my fiancee just happened to be minoring in driver's ed!  It was already past the deadline to sign up for the BYU class, but Adam pulled some strings and managed to get me in.  It was actually a great class.  I think I was the only native born U.S. citizen there as a student.  In fact, when I told one of my classmates I was from Georgia, she thought I meant the country! I think she was Russian.  We met twice a week in class and then we had driving practice with one of the student teachers.  I was really pathetic to start.  I had trouble with simple parking!  And I can't even describe to you how nervous I was to go out on the roads in traffic for the first time.  (I had driven before with my learner's permit, but it had been years since I had really practiced.)  And then my teacher made me drive on the interstate!!!  I almost got into an accident the first time I drove on I-15!

There were two students paired up with one teacher, so I had to spent half the time being driven around by someone else who didn't know what they were doing.  We actually had a really good time and it was a great experience and wonderful preparation for my driver's test. I'm so thankful to Adam for insisting that I take that class.  

I'm the Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.

Winter semester started that next Monday.  Adam had gotten a spot in the university orchestra and I was trying to get one myself, but to no avail.  I was really bummed about that.  How cool would it have been for us to be in orchestra together?  Maybe someday.  :)  Anyways, Wednesday was our two month anniversary of our first date and Adam was planning to make a big deal of it.  I had no idea how big, actually.

After our classes were done for the day, Adam and I met up on campus.  We decided to go to the creamery and get some ice cream, just like we did on our first date.  Afterwards, we stopped at Adam's apartment and he again loaned me his green scout jacket since it was a little chilly out.  Then we wandered across campus, reminiscing.  Somehow we ended up at that same tree we had climbed into that first night.  Unfortunately, there was a little stream between the tree and the sidewalk and today it was actually full of water.  (On our first date, the stream had been dry, though quite muddy, we discovered when Adam jumped into it. :)  So we just sat down upon the brick sidewalk and enjoyed the scenery. 

 The next thing I knew, Adam was on one knee presenting me with the most gorgeous sapphire and diamond ring!!!  Ok, I could tell he was going there by his conversation, but I still wasn't expecting it at four o'clock in the afternoon.  And I was wearing his green scout jacket, for pete's  sake!  It was actually the most perfect moment I could have imagined.  

After a while we had to head home so I could babysit my niece and nephews while Julie went to class.  But first we had to share the news with Marmee.  And then Julie and the kids.  And later Becca.  And eventually everybody.  And then Adam had to leave to go to orchestra.  Already I was wishing he weren't in orchestra!  He had tried to get out of it that night.  He even told the director he would be getting engaged that night, but they wouldn't let him miss class.  But that was okay, as it gave me a chance to put on something nicer than a tee shirt and jeans for our dinner date.

  

When Adam got back, he took me to Ottavio's for dinner.  We had the most wonderful time!  The place was empty except for one other table.  It was the perfect place for us to celebrate and it became our special restaurant.  That was the happiest night of my life! (Up until that point, that is.)

It's Like I'm Losing My Mind

I can't believe I almost forgot about our drive through Vermont on the way home from New York!  Man alive!  We took the scenic route and decided to visit the Joseph Smith Memorial in Sharon, Vermont.  We even got a sneak peak at the new Joseph Smith movie that had just started playing in Salt Lake.  It was so good!  I loved it!  Unfortunately it was freezing cold, go figure, so we didn't spend too much time wandering around the memorial.  Besides, most everything was covered in snow!  

Wednesday finally arrived and it was time for me to fly back to Provo.  That morning Adam and I took some pictures outside the house in Sutton.  I even had him make a snow angel for me. :)  Then we headed back to Boston to say goodbye.  It was easier to part knowing I would be with Adam again in just a few days, but that didn't mean I had to like it.  My travel home proved to be much less emotional and stressful.  I arrived in Provo without difficulty.

The next couple days of the Christmas break were ruined when I got a terrible stomach virus!  Marmee and I had gone to the bookstore where I purchased mine and even some of Adam's textbooks (the French lit. ones which he never read!) and by the time I got home I felt awful!  I still wasn't completely recovered by Saturday, but I wasn't going to let anything keep me from going to the airport to pick up my man!  Of course, it was kinda a bummer that as soon as we got back to Provo, I had to go in to work.  At least Adam would be coming in later that afternoon.

It sure snows a lot in New England!

Saturday was New Year's Eve.  I don't really remember much of what we did that day.  I do remember staying up until midnight to watch the ball drop in Times Square.  We went to bed shortly thereafter since we had to be getting up for church the next morning.

The next day, after church, we drove to Argyle, New York to visit Adam's aunts, Sue and Joyce.  Uncle Bruce and, I think, Aunt Arlene also joined us for dinner.  I was meeting the family left and right!  Sue and Joyce have a beautiful home on a lake, which just happened to be frozen over!  I'd never in my life been to a frozen lake.  With much trepidation I was persuaded to venture out onto the ice.  It was rather unnerving knowing there was just a little ice between me and hypothermia!  

We headed back to Sutton the next day in hopes of making it home before a major snowstorm.  We made it safely there, as did the storm.  School was cancelled for Pat and Danny on Tuesday.  (Mom, please correct me if I'm getting days mixed up.  Its kinda hard to remember it all.)  Again, I can't really remember what went on those last two days of my visit.  I have an awful memory!  I wish I could ask Adam, cause I'm sure HE remembers perfectly!  Well, at any rate, they were absolutely wonderful. And I was so relieved to find that Adam's family was so warm and inviting.  (In fact, I just read in my journal where I was anticipating the visit and hoping that they "aren't Yankee snobs"!!!  Ha ha!  Nothing could be further from the truth!)

The Morning Train to Boston

We got up pretty early the next morning to go back into Boston to see a production of White Christmas on the stage.  I finally met Pat over breakfast.  He turned out to be much friendlier than I had expected him to be.  (He was a teenager, you know.  Actually, I guess he still is... Not that I have anything against teenagers... Or Pat for that matter!)  After picking up Adam's cousin, Jan, we headed to the subway station outside Boston so we could take the train into the city. After a short walk through town and a quick stop for lunch, we arrived at one of the fanciest theatres I've ever been in (I'll have to get the name from Mom).  The show was great! I've always loved the movie and it was even more fun to watch it on stage.  They had extra songs and everything! 

 After the show we took a scenic tour through Boston.  We visited Boston Common and Boston Public Garden, where Adam pointed out to me an equestrian statue of Paul Revere, only to discover on closer examination that it was George Washington!!!  We checked out the Make Way for Ducklings statues and somewhere there was an ice skating rink, I think.  Adam lamented that the swan boats weren't running that day, though the pond was probably frozen! It was extremely cold, despite the sunshine.  And windy!  And I was wearing a skirt! Nevertheless, I loved it.  Boston is one of my favorite cities.  It's beautiful, historic, and best of all, it was Adam who introduced me to it.  Along with the rest of the Coxes, of course!  

I believe it was that evening that we stopped in Medford to have dinner with Adam's grandparents.  It was very nice to meet them, though I'm sure I didn't speak two words together the whole time we were there.  Adam's grandfather tried to convince me he was just a mean old grouch, and at the time, I probably believed him!  

Note:  Only the first picture is actually mine.  I've misplaced my disk with all the pictures on it...  I had to steal that one from another place I have it posted online, hence the size.  I'm really bummed about it cause I think I have a really cute shot of Danny sitting on the Mama duck!  I'll see if I can locate it...

Time to meet the family

Christmas came and went and finally it was time for me to go to Massachusetts.  When I got to my gate at the airport I discovered my flight was delayed.  I had flown several times by myself, but never with any type of complication.  I already had a short layover so I knew I was going to miss my second flight which would just make things worse.  I was getting into Boston pretty late as it was.  I immediately called Adam to tell him the bad news.  Of course, he was quick to reassure me that everything would work out fine.  I, on the other hand, was very nervous and unhappy.  I mean, it had been forever since I had seen Adam.  I didn't want to wait any longer!  

When I got to my connecting city I had missed my flight but the airline had rescheduled me for the next flight which was only about an hour later.  Again, I called Adam to let him know.  I think I spent every moment I could on the phone with him during my travels that day. 

It was nearing midnight when I arrived in Boston.  I was just following the signs to baggage claim when I suddenly saw Adam standing at the bottom of the escalator, waiting for me.  His family was standing just a few feet behind him.  I was so relieved and happy to see him, I just ran up to him and threw myself into his arms.  Finally!

I think the exhilaration of seeing Adam again helped me not be too shy to meet his family. Adam's dad, mom, and littlest brother Danny were there.  (Pat was at home, and Matt was in Chile on his mission).  It was also late and I was really tired, so that probably added to my goofiness.  I don't remember what we talked about but I was very relieved to find everybody was super nice and friendly.  And quite silly!

I'd watch every M.A.S.H. episode ever made, for you Adam!

The next week I practically lived on the phone.  Adam called me every night and we talked for hours.  During the day, we texted back and forth like crazy.  All my siblings were coming into town for Christmas and I was very excited about that.  We went back and forth to the airport, made multiple excursions to the mall, and just hung out at home visiting.  One of my sisters even got married!  Plus, we hadn't all been together in years so there was a lot of catching up to do.  It did help to occupy my time but sometimes things got crazy and I just wished I could curl up next to Adam on the couch and watch a boring episode of MASH.  (That's what happens when Adam gets ahold of the remote...).

Meanwhile, back in Sutton, Adam was actually pretty busy shopping for an engagement ring!  I knew this because the boy couldn't keep a secret from me to save his life.  Even when he thought he had me fooled, I usually knew what he was up to, though I didn't let him know it.  ;)  But he didn't try to hide the fact that he was shopping from me.  In fact, I got a text message letting me know he had finally found the right ring.  It was rather exciting to know he was spending that time searching for my ring and thinking of me.  He had told his mom his intentions before he got the ring, but I don't think he told his dad until after he bought it.  (Correct me if I'm wrong, k?).  I don't think anybody in my family really suspected he had a ring already, though there was lots of speculation, as I recall.