Tidbits About the Riddicks - Our Engagement

Happy Wednesday!!! Thanks for all of your sweet comments yesterday - it's so fun to be back!! Today I thought it'd be fun to share about our sweet May 26th, 2018... 

Pierce had been planning this day on the calendar for some time without me ever knowing... 

He had had lunch with my mom one morning while she was in Nashville visiting and I was at school teaching... He went up and spent a weekend with my dad while I was at a family wedding with my mom and sister... He had bought the ring, made our amazing step stool keepsake, and planned the whole day including our families flying in and my sister driving in from her summer at camp... It was the best and most thoughtful...and it really is still one of our most favorite days to look back on still... 

I, on the other hand, had no idea anything special was in store for this day...that is why that Saturday morning, I thought would be a prime time to mow mine and my roommate's grass... It was so hot and honestly, usually our sweet neighbor would mow our lawn or Pierce would come over and mow it sometimes, but...here I was...covered in grass clippings... 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

Pierce was in grad school that summer every Saturday from 9-6, and I knew we were headed up to visit my parents for Memorial Day weekend when he got off, but what I didn't know is that Pierce had worked it out for him to leave class early and us to head up there way earlier than expected... 

He claims that the only misleading he had to do on this day was forge an email "from his professor" saying he was letting everyone out early for the Memorial Day weekend. It was so exciting because that never happened, so I quickly showered and packed my bag and we started making our way to Louisville early that afternoon.

My dad texted me on the way up there and asked if I wanted to go to Carrabba's that night... It had become a family favorite when I was in high school to celebrate little moments and just enjoy an Italian dinner out... I only had one or two outfits packed besides summer pool outfits, so when we got there I changed and got ready for dinner... 

Little did I know, my parents and Pierce's parents, Logan and Jessy (Pierce's brother and almost sister-in-law at the time), my sister, best friend, and Pierce's grandparents had already cooked dinner and stashed it in the garage... And Jessy was downstairs ready to take a few pictures inside, Logan was hiding in a tree in my parents front yard to take pictures, and the rest of the crew was hanging out at a church parking lot just down the road waiting to come visit after... I seriously had NO idea... 

We went out to the porch, grabbed a quick picture...

Then Pierce said he had something to show me... I think I was wondering what he had to show me in my dad's flowerbed, but I was all eyes and ears to see! 

Then he pulled out the sweetest step stool and told me he and my dad had made it together... As soon as I saw the date...and realized it was today....I think it started to click. 

It took me a second for everything to sink in...but I still remember this sweet moment like it was yesterday. 

The sweetest!!!

Love this one too!!

And I was SO surprised by all the cars pulling in the driveway...seriously had no idea... 

We always laugh that we don't even think my sister turned her car off or shut her door...she was on the porch before we could blink...so sweet hahaha 

We celebrated and took so many pictures... 

I got to hear the story from so many different perspectives which was so fun to start putting the pieces together... 

And we still have this picture framed in our house today... 

This precious front porch of my parents has always been such a special place...a few summers earlier I had posted this picture and written... 

The front porch...

To me this place represents so many things... 

So many moments on this porch...so many hours, days, and conversations...

So many prayers, so many books, so many phone calls...

So many late nights, early mornings, and rainy afternoons...

So many summer meals, family memories, and so many naps...

So many welcomes, goodbyes, and so many pictures... 

To me this place represents so many things

That I'm saying "see you later" to and wishing fall to come.

Maybe takes the cake as my favorite place with some of my favorite memories...

And that was long before May 26th, 2018... I love this place even more now... ❤️

I'm so thankful for Pierce and for the start of that sweet engagement season... I was off of teaching for the summer, so we soaked up every bit of those fun few months and loved wedding planning and counting down till October 27th... 

I remember going to sleep that night in the room I grew up in feeling like I just got done shooting a Hallmark movie...hahaha the Lord was so sweet to give us that special day...I pray we always remember the special memories that May 26th, 2018 hold... 

And there you have it... A few pictures and stories to take you back to our engagement day! Hope you're loving this little mini-series! It's been fun to look back on this week. 

I'll plan on seeing you back here tomorrow with our next favorite day to celebrate!
Hope you have a great Wednesday!!!

❤️Tabitha and Pierce