Big News (and a little update)

It's been a long time since I've updated (though I have noticed that I am only about average- everyone has been slacking off!) and I was planning to update the night before last but put it off one more time... as it turns out, it's just as well, because now I have big fun news to tell you! Last night (Saturday the 15th) Nathan and I went to Saturday night Mass. Afterward, we prayed together in the tabernacle- a really lovely, beautiful, and holy place off of the main "sanctuary" where the "host"- the communion- is kept. There are candles, flowers, stained glass. It is quiet and reverent and one of my favourite places in the world. I know, I know. I am terrible that way! always taking an hour just to set the scene! Even so, it's important. So Nathan and I were praying the rosary, offering up prayers for our lives, our families, our friends. It takes about half an hour, and as we are getting closer to the end Nathan is speeding up and speeding up. Now it is a fair generalization to say that comparatively speaking, Nathan is ALWAYS in a hurry and I am ALWAYS wanting to take longer at everything. Prayer is one area where I believe it is a legitimate concern that an appropriate amount of time is devoted, so that you can really put your heart and mind fully into what you are saying. Yet it is a terrible thing to interupt a prayer in order to deliver a lecture on the above very legitimate concern, so I was struggling to maintain a focus on the prayer and not allow myself to become more and more annoyed with Nathan's speediness. Still, I was just a little preoccupied with the question of where he was trying to rush off to- after all, he had requested that we stay to pray, not I. We finished praying out loud, and I remained kneeling there (there is a little bench thing), praying inwardly. When I opened my eyes, Nathan was moving close to me, kneeling beside me on the floor. According to Nathan, I looked pleased to see him moving closer, but then somewhat confused as to what was going on. All of a sudden he was saying beautiful things to me regarding his love for me and holding out a little box. Of course, I threw myself off of the kneeler and into his arms and hung on for dear life long before he finished his lovely proposal of marriage. It took a bit for me to get out my "Yes of course" "I love you" and "thankyou"s, and a while yet before we paused our hugging and crying and clinging long enough to take a look at the beautiful ring he had bought me and to get it onto my finger. And so, and so... it has been an exciting weekend. We are hoping to get married over Christmas holidays (we're both going to be in school next year) and I'll keep you all posted. So there. That is the big huge news. That Nathan Edward Hoffart and Ashley Star Bates REALLY, REALLY LOVE EACH OTHER!!! YAY!!!!





In other news, I started my job over a month ago- training was good- lots of awesome information, and actually too much slacking off, believe it or not. Two weeks ago the actual camps began and I was one on one with an eight year old boy that has a "autism spectrum disorder" diagnosis. He took part in the big summer program the CRA offers to 50 kids at a time- an overwhelming setting for just about anyone! I had a really great time, and I hope he did too. There were some tough times, but mostly there were good times. What else? Well, I was accepted into the Social Services Worker program at Langara College, so that's the plan for the fall. Oooh. AND Nathan and I road tripped up to Vernon and stayed with Laura Ginn and went to Melissa Rose and Ted's wedding. Which was just beautiful of course. Also of course I hardly recognized the beautiful bride, as it has been two years since I've seen her and three years since the Capernwray bread diet... The trip was great, Nathan and I got lost many, many times and were stressed out by a fair number of them- oh, the adventures! Unfortunately, one of these fiascos lead to me forgetting the camera in the car as I strapped on my high heels and ran two city blocks to make it to the wedding on time... and thus, I have no pictures to offer you! However, the trip was well worth it. We saw beautiful scenery and enjoyed good conversation and listened to the Bible on CD. We enjoyed the hospitality of the Ginns which included a glorious swim in a cool lake on a hot day, warm comfy beds, tasty food, world class live music, and the generous gift of probably hundreds of absolutely WONDERFUL books that Gail was ready to pass on from her library! We had a much smoother return trip, caught an earlier ferry than we had dared to hope, and were home in really good time. Nathan even taught me to play crib on the ferry, a game I have always wanted to learn, as both my mom and grandma have an absolute passion for it. It was all great fun. Well, that is all for now. Goodnight, all, much love and affection and all the blessings God has to offer! xoxoxo from your very most newly engaged friend! PS. maybe you should notice that when I marry Nathan my initials will be ASH. How cool is that?