Today Lucas and I took a day trip out into the Canadian Rockies to see how pretty they are now that more snow has fallen. We wanted to see something new, so we went to Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park. It was a really quiet, beautiful lake in the mountains with a small hiking trail and signs everywhere warning us not to feed the mountain goats. We pulled into the parking area and a little family of mountain goats greeted us. We pulled over and got out, and they walked right over to us and started licking the Neon — apparently they love the salt the car has collected from the roads after the recent snow. We also saw a couple of deer watching us from the trees above the parking area and took pictures. The walk along the lake was a little windy, but really beautiful, and if we’d been a little more prepared we would’ve tackled the hike further back into the canyon there. We’ll definitely go back and try it another time. We stopped to look out over the lake along the rocky shore, and deep within the gorgeous snow capped Canadian Rockies that served as a backdrop all around us, Lucas got down on one knee and proposed! We were both shedding tears of happiness and I of course said YES! It was absolutely perfect, and the location was especially fitting since the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my entire life I’ve seen there in the mountains with Lucas. So I’d like to start off my list of things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving with how thankful I am for love and the comfort of feeling complete… I am thankful for Lucas and our lives together. We’re so excited, and with it just happening a few hours ago, we’ve barely had time to digest. WE’RE ENGAGED! It’s so exciting! And the ring is absolutely gorgeous. We took a few photos of our own on the spot at Lake Minnewanka, and then I have some really good close ups from the jeweler’s website to show — click here and then here: 1, 2, 3, 4. Breathtaking, no? It’s so beautiful, and the princess cut diamonds are especially meaningful to us. Today was perfect. You can see all of the photos we took on our trip today in the gallery under lucas and lesley -> our engagement.

So… now that nothing else can really top that news, here are more things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. Now I know what you’re thinking: “But Lesley, you live in Canada now and Canadian Thanksgiving was last month…” This I know. But Lucas and I missed out on turkey and pumpkin pie last month because we were back in Indiana for Herm’s wedding, so we decided to celebrate on American Thanksgivng this year. Since we didn’t have the day off on Thursday when the holiday actually took place, we decided to do it tomorrow, so that in the typical spirit of an American Thanksgiving, there’s football on TV. We sort of impromptu are having some visitors over to help us eat all of this food — there will be turkey of course, and pumpkin pie made from scratch along with mashed potatoes and a green bean casserole. Mmmmm… I am thankful for homemade food.

But seriously, I am blessed and thankful for many things in my life. I am thankful for friends and family — both here in Canada and back home in Indiana. I have many wonderful friends that make life endlessly fun and colourful. And of course my family, who love and support me. Between my little family with Lucas and Oliver to my family in Indiana and back to my future family-to-be in British Columbia, I am a lucky person to have so much love and support that it spans two countries ;)

Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s hoping that everyone else out there had a wonderful and thankful holiday, too!

6 Responses

  1. It’s about time that lazy bastard proposed! To let someone like you get away would be a crime, like a big one.

    You compliment each other well so I think it’s a kick ass union.

    Congrads! I’m happy for both of you :)

    I’m on my way over now…and I bring ye beer!

  2. vakuum filled me in on the news. Big congrats to y’all from the cold and (unfortunately not very) snowy Sweden. BR smurfie (vak’s brudda)