"The Anticipated Announcement!"

I received a call from Patrick last Friday morning and he announced that he and Julie are now engaged! :) YEA! We have hoped for a long time that they would marry and seems our hopes will now come to fruition. They are hoping to have a September wedding, but plans are still in the works.......

This photo is from our Christmas gathering at my parents house, 3 years ago, when we met Julie for the first time.


This photo was taken here in Madison when Patrick and Julie came to visit Don and I (State Street behind them).


And this photo was taken while we were being tourists at the "Grand Traverse Lighthouse", located at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula in Michigan, when Don and I vacationed in Traverse City 2 summers ago. Julie lives in TC, although her condo is now "For Sale", for obvious reasons. :)

This was taken outside Patrick's house, after celebrating Christmas 2 years ago. The weather was quite different than we had this past Christmas. :) Along with Patrick and Julie, is Morgan, who lived with me while Patrick worked in Yellowstone National Park.


And this photo was taken last Christmas, again outside of Patrick's house. Sean, my younger son, holding Morgan, myself holding Odie, who was a birthday present from Julie to Patrick last November, Patrick, Julie, and in front, Copper, Don's and my dog. Don took the photo while Sandy, my sister (who hates having her picture taken), strategically removed herself from the area when the camera came out. :)

We are so happy to have Julie officially join our family! In all honesty, she has been a part of it since first meeting her. :) YEA!!!!