till there was you ...

nat's point of view :

i think i'll start on one of our blog, just this time. =)

finally, a full circle has reached where it started. our cycle of journeys have not yet end, but it is another great start for something more exciting, frustrating, and loving ahead for chris and i.

today is our 1 year anniversary; a year ago where we decided to be together, where we jumped onto this crasy train ride w/o any safety net. allot of doubts and worries that we came across, have heard a handful of skeptical talks, but we held our heads high and only believed the true meaning of commitment and relationship.

i cannot thank chris enough for what he has believed in me, and in us. his strong confidence in our existence, his conviction that he has me engaged to him (haha!), his affectionate that makes me the happiest girl when i'm w/ him, the list goes endless. ... w/ everyone in the world, i dare not say that i will one day meet them all, but in the chances of meeting my soul mate and dearest best friend, i feel better than driving a Lamborghini gallardo. =D

there were bells on a hill
but i never heard them ringing
no i never heard them at all
till there was you

there were birds in the sky
but i never saw them winging
no i never saw them at all
till there was you

then there was music and wonderful roses
they tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and dew

there was love all around
but i never heard it singing
no i never heard it at all
till there was you

thank you honey, happy 1 year and many more to come!

Chris' Point of View :

Geez, how do I beat that? Especially with that baby picture.

It's amazing how you don't realize how fast the world is spinning when you are perched up on cloud 9.

The 25th was, in fact, our 1 year anniversary. Its shocking to think how far we have come during this first year together. I think this blog can attest to the growth that we have made during this time.

In Salt Lake, July 24th is 'Pioneer Day'. It marks the day that westward bound mormons settled in the Salt Lake Valley. Their trek was long and arduous. They braved winter storms, and pushed along, praying that they didn't loose their loved ones along the way. To commemorate this day, fireworks are launched screaming into the air, bursting into colors of sparkling light across the sky. It is a day of celebration, a day of remembrance.

While the 25th is our official anniversary, the telephone call that led to our sky high burst of joy and excitement, started late at night on the 24th. I remember hearing the pounding of my heart being drown out by crescendos high in the air. I was unsure and excited as Natalie and I talked about the possibilities and challenges that stood before us.

A year come and gone, I look back and see the storms Natalie and I braved, and the rough terrain we crossed. As the night commemorated success in pioneering western frontiers, for me the fireworks were just as much a celebration of Natalie and I. Natalie is the sparkling light in my northern sky; I am excited to continue our voyage.

a Fire Inside ...

Chris' Point of View:

We started this chronicle of events a little over a month ago. During this time we have attempted to recall all of the great memories that we have made, trip after trip, day after day. As this month [July] marks our 1st anniversary, we have told the tales that have made our relationship strong over the past year. What started as as glimmer on the horizon, has become the sun that brightens our day, and the moon that watches us by night. In a universe of the trivial and mundane, Natalie has become my life's brightest illumination.

In June, the skies were bright as Natalie made the trip to salt lake. We had lots of time to spend with my family, and really enjoy the warmth and relaxation of the summer months. During her trip we had the opportunity to drive up the canyon and roast marshmallows and "hoat doowgs". As my dad and I attempted to start a fire, it seemed hopeless. No matter how much we would dump on the fire, it would slowly burn out. Confused, Natalie and I went down the mountain looking for a solution.

Stopping at a store, we purchased some charcoal to put on the fire, hoping that it would sustain the flames. As we returned to the site, Dad had finally set the logs a blaze and we quickly gathered around its glow.

In life relationships are much like campfires. There are some couples that won't light no matter what you do, there are some that following hard work, will burn long and strong, then there are others that catch fire with just a spark and last a lifetime. I like to think that Natalie and I are the last example.

As I watched the smoke ascend to heaven, the stars quietly listened to crackling embers. ... it was a good night.


nat's point of view :


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a 3rd merry trip back to slc. what a lovely time!
so glad all the snow are gone. =S not a big fan driving in it.

every time i board and fly down to see chris, i have the butterfly feeling in my stomach. i'm not sure what the reason of this is, i guess not being able to see him so often makes me feel that we're on a date every time we meet. =)

we're engaged now and slowly planning our wedding together. the fact that he's so far away and not by my side, have always beaten me to the ground with the blues; i wish to run all our errands together. =\

w/ a surprise to start my trip - chris took me to forever21 and gave me a super awesome shopping spree!!! ahhh, the joy of shopping w/ chris, it's not so much the stuff that i brought that was exciting, it was more spending that quality time that we don't have together doing daily tasks, oh and have him to carry my bags. hahaha.

this time, i brought tons of yummy food to visit as i know kels and luann love those pocky sticks. (who doesn't?!) afterward, we went down to the saltair and checked out the honda civic tour. the head-lining band was panic! at the disco. it was a great show. chris and i always enjoy good tunes and live performances. ... just as we were about to head closer to the stage, we saw these computers where people can enter for a draw; the grand prize was a hybrid car. we thought, why not? so as i was entering all the information, i put the following note as i entered it in -

First Name : natalie
Last Name : van wagoner

for the rest of the night, chris had this huge smirk on his face. =D

chris has planned a very relaxing week for the both of us, since we both had a hectic week in the office, my visit to slc and for him to get away was much needed. we watched movies, made awesome breakfast, had a vegan dinner, made a camp fire up at the canyon + had awesome s'mores w/ natalie-save-all-s'more + fluffy bunny techniques, fantastic bbq, real mexican food, date night etc.

the week went by so quickly that i wish i had a time machine to just freeze the continuum during all the events. i miss having my saturday grocery run w/ chris, i miss having sunday brunch w/ the family, i miss not having chris to come home to making dinner together. ...

it seems my patience is running low. ekkk.