Uh, is this thing on?

Uh, is this thing on?

Jeeeeeminy, has it really been over 6 months since I posted? Man, I suck as a blogger!

But I have a good reason. And its not just Big Bad Law School this time! Its a good reason!

I fell in love.

And I'm getting married!

Here's the story in a nutshell:

Mike and I met at a Fourth of July BBQ in 2006 back in Washington, D.C. We went to the same church, so for the next 7 weeks, he walked me to my car after service and asked me out. I wasn't really interested, so I kept coming up with excuses. By the 7th time, I couldn't think of anything else to say, so I finally agreed to go on one date with him on Labor Day 2006. It didn't go well. But he asked me out again anyway and I politely declined, stating that I would rather be friends.

Usually, "let's just be friends" is code for "have a nice life." But after about a month of awkwardness at church, Mike and I actually became friends. He lived near me so we started to hang out all the time. He was my go-to pal for late-night ice cream runs, rodent disposal, and venting phone calls.

People kept asking us if we were dating. We weren't. People kept asking if we were ever going to date. We said we were just friends. And on and on it went, until he started dating someone else, and I began applying to law schools. I eventually moved back to California for law school and Mike stayed behind in D.C. to finish his own law degree. We kept in touch over the phone and he was a great support to me during that first year of school (more venting phone calls), and I lent an ear (and a mouthful of advice) whenever he had problems with his girlfriend.

By March 2010, Mike had ended his relationship and I found myself with a free plane ticket to DC for Spring Break. Through a series of odd events, I ended up crashing on his couch for a few nights and playing a witness in his mock trial. We talked, went to dinner, and hung out with mutual friends. It was just like old times...except it wasn't.

Something had changed - there was a spark. But neither of us knew if the other felt the same way, so we both kept quiet. He drove me to the airport, I went home to California, and promptly came down with a serious case of the flu.

He called every night and texted throughout the day to see how I was feeling. He laughed at my hoarse Miley Cyrus voice and kept me company while I laid in bed for a week. Every night the phone conversations would go longer and longer, until we were on the phone 3-4 hours a night - with a three hour time difference. The poor guy never got any sleep!

After about six weeks of talking every night, he finally called me on Mother's Day and blurted out that we should start dating. I had just woken up from a nap so I was rather taken aback. I think my exact words were "okay, I accept." Then we had a detailed discussion on what it would mean to be boyfriend/girlfriend. After all, we had been friends for 4 years and there would be no "getting to know you" period. Nor could we go on dates since he was 3,000 miles away in D.C.

So that day we decided two things: 1) We were in a serious relationship (Yooli: "So does this mean you're my boyfriend?" Mike: "Yes." Yooli: "And I'm your girlfriend?" Mike: "Yes." Yooli: Okay.") 2) Mike would fly out over Fourth of July to see me in the midst of studying for the Bar Exam. And just like that, I was in a long distance relationship.

Two weeks later, Mike called to tell me that he loved me and that we should think about getting married. I said I felt the same way. He was graduating from law school the following week, so I secretly booked a flight and planned to surprise him at his graduation party. I got in late and missed the party, but hid in the party room until he came back to clean up. I stepped out from behind a wall to say "hi," at which point he dropped his vacuum and yelled "HOLY CRAP." We kissed for the first time in the middle of an empty room and spent Memorial Day weekend holding hands, talking, and walking around the city that had brought us together.

By June, we decided that Mike would move out to California after he took the Bar exam in July. At that point, we told our parents about our plans to get married and oddly, they were fine with it. (As for all of our mutual friends, the response was a unanimous "FINALLY!!!") Mike flew out for Fourth of July to visit, which was coincidentally the 4 year anniversary of our first meeting. And in an odd twist of fate, we spent the day scoping out a church to get married in.

3 weeks later, Mike took the Bar exam and I flew out to D.C. to pack up his apartment. We drove to his hometown - Grand Rapids, Michigan - for 8 days where I met his family and had a lot of fun. Then we drove cross-country to Los Angeles where he asked my parents, on my mother's 54th birthday, if he could have my hand in marriage. My parents speak almost no English and this was their first time meeting Mike, but he gave such a simple, heartfelt speech that he won them over and they gave their blessing.

We drove up to Davis in mid-August so that I could start my last year of law school and got engaged right before we went out of town for Labor Day weekend - the four year anniversary of our first date.


So now, less than 5 months later, I am engaged and planning a wedding. What with dealing with a 3-hour time difference, law school, a full-time summer job, flying back and forth to DC and going on a month-long road trip, I haven't had a lot of free time, nor have I cooked much of anything. Thus, the lack of blog posts. But now that we're back and relatively settled, I'm getting back in the groove and introducing this sugar-and-soda-addicted Midwestern boy to the wonders of wholesome natural foods. (So far he loves the food and has lost 2 inches in his waist!) So I think the blog should be back in the swing of things pretty soon.

The only thing I will warn you ahead of time is that I am also a bride in the midst of planning a wedding, so this blog may veer into wedding planning territory from time to time. But I think you'll enjoy the ride.

Anyways, that's what's been going on here. Blogging is about life, and if I've been too busy enjoying it to blog, well, then I think I'm doing alright. :-) I'm happier than I have ever been and am so happy to share the news. Love you all and thanks for tuning in!