Last year on April 12th, we tied the knot on a snowy day in Saint Paul. Afterwards, we trekked over to Minneapolis to the Foshay Tower for two lovely days before we headed overseas to the Queen's Country. On September 28, 2012, Tomm proposed to me at the top of the Foshay, on the observation deck on a night where the sky was filled with stars.
The Foshay holds a special place in our heart -- plus it's historical! It was built in 1929 by Wilber Foshay, just a few months before the infamous stock market crash of October '29.
Since the night of the proposal was very dark and the only light on the observation deck was the twinkling lights of the surrounding buildings, I made sure to snap a photo of the very spot where Tomm got down on one knee and asked the all-important question.
We started off our weekend with a trip to Izzy's Ice Cream on a very excellent recommendation! Well worth it. I had soy peanut butter with a salted caramel Izzy (the small dollop on top of every serving of ice cream). Tomm enjoyed a serving of raspberry. Izzy's adjoins Gold Medal Park next to the river, and we enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the park. We noticed a memorial and realized it commemorated those lives lost in the collapse of the 35W bridge. It was a moving tribute. Thirteen people lost their lives that day, and thirteen pillars stand to commemorate them. I was drawn to a poem etched in one of the pillars:
"I was a traveler
Across the country far and wide
I heard the mountain's testimony
And saw the skies declare His glory.
Along the highways I traveled
Till concrete and steel collapsed
Though crushed and buried
I am still alive!
As man's work failed me
My Savior stood by me
Consider the work of Jesus Christ
For His love endures forever."
I was so touched and thankful that this recognition of the goodness of Jesus was forever etched in a pillar for so many to read. An enduring testimony of the Gospel of Christ!
We checked in to the Foshay Tower, and were pleasantly surprised with an double upgrade, considering it was our first anniversary! We were on the 21st floor, and the view from our window was amazing! We spent the evening in, watching movies and enjoying pizza from our favorite downtown pizza joint, Pizza Luce! We ordered "The Bear" -- vegetarian's beware! It had every kind of meat on it; best pizza we've ever had!
The Foshay staff was so kind! We received a handwritten note welcoming us back, along with two delicious cupcakes!
The morning after our wedding, we went to Key's Cafe--we did the same thing this year! It was fun reminiscing about how tired we were on April 13, 2013, and how excited we were for our upcoming honeymoon :) It was just as busy of a morning as last year, but there is something oddly relaxing about a bustling breakfast cafe -- makes you excited to accomplish something that day.
Tomm, being the considerate gentleman that he always is, surprised me with a trip to River Valley Ranch for a horseback ride! I've always loved horseback riding, and it was so relaxing to take a lazy ride for an hour in the woods! My horse wasn't ever concerned with going any faster than a plodding walk, and I was always bringing up the rear, but the scenery was beautiful.
It was T's second ride on a horse! He did well. He told me afterwards that as soon as he got in the saddle, he thought, "Wow. I'm sitting on a huge beast with a mind of its own, and the only way I'm controlling it is with a piece of leather and my heel!" His horse, "Bam-Bam" was n only interested in the sparse patches of green grass he found along the trail.
"Une corde de trois brins" is translated "A cord of three strands," which concludes the passage in Ecclesiastes that reads:
"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up! Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can over power him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
I am so thankful for my beloved husband, and how we, with the Lord, create a cord of three strands. I'm thankful that I was given such a gift -- one that becomes more and more precious every day. Yesterday, Tomm told me, "Ariel, you know, I think that I truly love you more and more with every new day." On April 12, 2013, we couldn't imagine being happier. But here we are, April of 2014, and we know what it means to grow to love someone even more than when it all began. I can't wait to know what "une corde de trois brins" will look like many years from now, if the Lord wills it.
La vie est belle.
"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up! Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can over power him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
I am so thankful for my beloved husband, and how we, with the Lord, create a cord of three strands. I'm thankful that I was given such a gift -- one that becomes more and more precious every day. Yesterday, Tomm told me, "Ariel, you know, I think that I truly love you more and more with every new day." On April 12, 2013, we couldn't imagine being happier. But here we are, April of 2014, and we know what it means to grow to love someone even more than when it all began. I can't wait to know what "une corde de trois brins" will look like many years from now, if the Lord wills it.
La vie est belle.