Jonasavalon's Xanga

Monday, March 30, 2009

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:42:43 GMT

Tomorrow is Red Envelope Day!

Please participate and help support life!

Click here!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:58:38 GMT

Check out my brother Ryan's new poetry blog!

Dei Gratia

Monday, February 02, 2009

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:56:07 GMT

Well, I'm going back in for another x-ray on my right shoulder today.

My elbow was hurting last week (common carpal tunnel side effect), but it wasn't that bad. Then I had my adult student over with her baby. After she folded up her playpen, I grabbed to pick it up. I jerked it up with my right arm and it was super heavy. I felt something wrench in my shoulder (the same one I separated before). The shoulder has been getting worse (not nearly as bad as last June, but not great either0 and so has the elbow. Last night my right hand went stiff and it had to be massaged in a pressure point before I could really move it.

I could use the prayers! I'm flying out to spend a long weekend with Tiffany at Biola on Friday - Why do I always fly with a hurt arm? So the prayers will be very helpful!

Thanks!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:47:55 GMT

Just got this picture from a day of ice skating with my best friend Christian, who is going to play all of the piano music in my wedding.
Isn't he cute?

Friday, January 09, 2009

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:04:06 GMT

Today, on Brad’s half birthday (21 ½!), is the anniversary of our first “meeting.” It was the day I exchanged the first “words” with him on Xanga. He posted a short introduction to his blog and announced that he had joined us on Xanga to harass his friend Mark W. My first sentence to him was, “Good for you. Mark/Smokey needs harassment!!!” Famous last words. His harassment would soon descend on me - something that made me fond of him on the spot… *ahem* (or soon after. ) This is a tribute to the sarcastic and ironic conversations that Brad and I exchanged during the very first two months of knowing each other (January and February of 2006), before we fell hard for each other and ever would have guessed that we’d be engaged three years later. That is… before I ever knew. Brad had a crush on me fairly quickly.
Happy anniversary, my Braddy.

Here are our Famous Last Words…

--- January 15, 2006

(Brad posts a blonde joke. At this point, he had only officially seen a black and white photo of me as my profile pic)

RJ: Not you!!! *moan*

Brad: Hey, I loved that joke. Wait -- you're not blonde, are you?

RJ: That's right. You've only "seen" me in black and white. I'm as blond as they come.

Brad: Even in black/white, I think photo suggests that your hair has at least a light shade of brown. False advertising!

Mark W.: RJ, actually you did have a couple of color pictures on before, but that might have been before Bcon's time.

RJ: Yes, BBC. (Before B-Con).

Brad: Fool, there was *nothing* before me!

Spoken in jest, but soon to be true, there was nothing before in life like my Brad.
And, *groan*, this was also the start of the incessant blonde jokes that led to a blonde website, blonde t-shirts, and even being called “Blonde” more than any other name!

--- January 20, 2006

This conversation began after Brad’s intriguing post on his puzzlement as to why women have fruit-shaped soaps…

Brad: Does everything have to match? For example, would you want your boyfriend to dress to match you?

RJ: What is it with you guys and the topic of boyfriends or girlfriends??? I don't have a boyfriend and never want to have one, so the question of dressing alike is null.

I think this was both a relief and a worry to Brad at the time!

--- January 23, 2006

RJ: You get to keep your wisdom teeth! Like me! So you have a big mouth too? But you say they're not fully in? How old are you?

Brad: I'm 18, and I guess that you could say I have a big mouth -- at least when it comes to polotics

RJ: You're eighteen!!! PAR-TAY!!!! I'm older than you! Uh-huh!! Party, baby!
Sorry, but that just made my night. (I'm older than Jake too, which is *snort* soooo obvious).
Ha ha! Also, young one, it's spelled "politics".

Do I look at all older to you?

Never for a day have I felt older than Brad. I think it was relief to find I was older because I was always in awe of him.

--- January 26, 2006

(This was one of my silly worded quotes that I had posted, along with many others, much like I still do today.)

RJ: "Greet each other with a Christian kiss of love."

Brad: I just really, really hope I never meet you in person, RJ.

RJ: Don't worry, Brad, I don't smooch little boys...

Brad: Yeah, so you claim. I have never met you in person, so I can't validate this claim personally

RJ: You're not little OR old enough, kid. So move it along...

NO comment.

--- January 27, 2006

RJ: Actually, I live on Mountain Dew...

Brad: I have found my long-lost sister!

Still want to be brother and sister, Brad? *wink*

--- February 4, 2006

RJ: Thanks for the compliment!!! I love looking younger! You're so kind! (I'm really serious)

Brad: You took that as a complement? Darn it, I can't even insult somebody properly. I'm losing my touch. I can't go looking like I'm sensetive or nice or anything, I have a rep to keep up....

Still laughing at this one. This is the guy who had my ring specially made, proposed in a flower garden that he researched endlessly before deciding on, and called me his princess when he presented the ring.

--- February 6, 2006

RJ: I personally like green diamonds the best...

I promise I wasn’t hinting back then!

--- February 6, 2006

(Brad’s post for that day)

I'm sure that by now you guys are hoping for a bit more in site into my life and who I am, because all I've really done on my blog so far is whine about wearing ties and insult RJ for being blonde. Those are definitely worthwhile activities -- no doubt about it -- but for some reason it just doesn't cut the mustard for everybody. Some people actually want a deeper level of content and intimacy -- if you can imagine there actually being anything more intimate than insulting the color of someone's hair.

--- February 10, 2006

Brad: I'm going to boycott RJ, because I don't like popular blondes. Or people named Rachael.

Doesn’t look like you’re still boycotting me, Brad…

--- February 14, 2006

Our first Valentines’ Day ever knowing each other.

Brad: Whatever, you blonde nerd.

RJ: YEAH! You called me a nerd!!! My day is complete!!! Ha! Blond nerd! Yes! I've achieved the oxymoron! The impossible! Woohoo!

Brad: lol. You have a strange sense of accomplishment -- but one that I like

RJ: As if I would've cared whether you liked it or not! Good night - and may the bed bugs chew you raw (Rachael version).

How tender and sweet we were to each other! ;-P

--- February 16, 2006

(after my friend Connie commented on my post)

RJ: Love you more, Con-Con!!!

Brad: Everytime you say "con" I think you're refering to me, as my primary name is "B-Con" and a couple people abbreviate it to "con". It always confuses me for a split second when I see that.

RJ: Dream ON, Bradford!!!!!!!!

Mark W.: I totally agree with Brad. Several times I have looked at a line saying 'Love you more, Con-Con!!!' and have to remind myself that its NOT Brad that your talking about.

RJ: EWWWWWWWW

I didn’t really think that, I promise. Hehe… I love you, Brad!

--- February 25, 2006

And finally, Brad’s ultimate vow:

Brad: When I become a multi-billionaire, I will buy myself an orca and keep it in a large swimming pool in my yard. The pool will be horseshoe-shaped and go around the front of my house, moat style. When door-to-door salesmen or Jehova's Witnesses come, I will raise the drawbridge and let them shake in terror of my orca. When friends come, I'll lower it and let them walk safely over my orca and feed it fish. When blonde girls named Rachael visit, though, I'll let them get half way over the bridge before yanking it out from under them, dropping them in with the orca.

Happy Anniversary, my dear! Glad you won’t be a multi-billionaire when I marry you!!

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:40:22 GMT

Quotes from the Holidays

Brad: "If romance and death go hand in hand, then 'Half Life' is an extremely romantic game."

Carissa K.: "I really don't like your face in my feet."

Hannah K.: "You should get one of those huge obnoxious purses. You can fit a cat in one of those things. People would be like 'Do you have a piano in there?'"

RJ: "Dear Lord, thank you for braces, that it helps people look at our eyes instead of our deformities or blemishes, because our witness and countenance shouldn't have them... I'm thinking of the British who never straighten their teeth..."

Elizabeth R.: "Now I know this part of a leg is called a calf."
Kathleen: "Just think of a baby cow. All stuffed up in there."

Mom: "When did you first notice you were losing your hearing?"
Nana: "What?"

Brad: "But it makes me more distinguished."
RJ: "No it doesn't! Think about it. It's HAIR growing on your FACE. Like a bear. That's why 'bear' is in 'beard.'"

Hope Conte: "Alike minds think alike."

RJ: "Misery loves company, but whining loves an audience."

Mama Conte: "Gracie, it's time for your to mobilize."

RJ: "That's my diary. Read it and die."
Hope Conte: "That's why they call it a DIary."

Joshua M.: (pointing at Christian and me) "I'm not the one stealing illegal giraffes!"

Ellen F.: "Everyone and their dog is telling me I'm stopping school."
Renee N.: "Don't listen to them! Who listens to dogs anyway?"

(RJ makes her foot talk)
Brad: "RJ, no giving voices to bodily appendages!"

Kathleen: "It's so exciting to think of you having a kid in the future! I mean, you'd let me handle it!"
RJ: "Are we talking about a child or a package?"

(during the proposal)
Brad: "I love you."
RJ: "I love you too, now where's my family?"

(For those of you who don't know, Brad's obsessed with RJ's feet)
Kathleen: (while unsuccessfully trying to get Brad to hold RJ's hand just right for pictures) "Pretend it's her foot!"

(RJ holds up a "forte" flashcard in piano lessons)
6-year-old Jackson: "'Fart,' which means 'big.'"

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:58:39 GMT

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:53:10 GMT

The Engagement Story!

There was a girl-only party on Saturday, hosted by my sister. While Kathleen was having her girls' party (that I was at), Brad, Dad, and my brothers were supposed to be bowling.

They did... but not very much.

Instead they spent most of the four hours at the arboretum - a place Brad had picked out ahead of time from CA to propose to me. A place I have fond memories of from going every year... and from being at as a little kid when we lived here before. It is one of our favorite places. And Brad came up with it on his own! So he gets lots of points right there. :P Brad took them ALL over the park scouting out the best place. And found what he wanted. Then, later, he let my mom and Kathleen in on it.

Everyone but me. :P

As a family, we each pick one activity that everyone has to do so Mom said she wanted to go to the arboretum. I didn't question it because it's so typical Mom to pick the flowers. We were supposed to go the 23rd, but the weather was so lousy (cold and rainy) that we moved it to Christmas Eve. So we went there. The whole time, I'm going, "This is the arboretum, Brad. This is ____. That is _______." And here Brad had been all over the place! Hahahahahaha

So they were going towards the spot, which looked like a mini courtyard of a castle - stone walls with a garden in the middle - when I said, "Let's go look at the cabins and teepee!" So everyone trooped over there to oblige me and keep the secret. :P

Kathleen's a photographer, of course, so she was snapping pictures the whole time, including ones of Brad and me.

Finally... we walk through the spot.

Brad goes, "It's like a little fort!"

Kathleen said, "Sit down on that bench and I'll get a picture of you."

My family, in the meantime, strolled out the exit and left.

Kathleen's about to take the picture, and suddenly she glances down in her bag and goes, "Oh no!! I lost it!" Which isn't unusual. *rolling eyes* She goes racing away the other direction.

We're alone, sitting on this bench. Brad pops up. I tell him to sit back down with me. But he stands up again.... Goes to look after Kathleen... sees no one... Goes to look after the rest of my family... sees no one... Very suspicious. Doing all of these double takes.

Then he comes over and puts his hands on my shoulders.

I was like, "What are you doing???” I also felt bad about not helping Kathleen so I start after her.

Brad grabs my arm and asks me to stay.

I'm getting scared. "Let me go! We should find my family!" Good little courtship girl. HAHAHAHAHAHA. I had no clue. I was starting to be upset and afraid.

Brad felt bad. So he stopped touching me and said, "I love you."

I cut him off. "I love you too. Now let's find my family." :D

He then said some things about never leaving me how much I meant to him... I hardly remember. It finally began to dawn on my brain. He said, "RJ! They're not coming back! We've prearranged this! Relax!" Then he knelt down and held out the ring!!!!

I forgot everything at that point. Later he told me I said, "It's beautiful!!" And then remembered to add, "Oh! I say yes!" :P Top it all off, I took the ring and started putting it on my own finger!! A-type RJ. There's news to Brad of what's to come. He realized as it was half way down my finger that he was supposed to be putting it on and finished. I totally didn't even think about it. Haha!

Anyway, my emotions were completely singed after that. I was numb with shock. :P My family came strolling back, grinning, having been gone about 20 minutes. Mom was giddy, laughing at everything.

Kathleen had us reenact everything for pictures.

It took me the rest of the night… announcing it to the guests at our Christmas party... and staring at my beautiful ring to realize it has finally happened!!! Everyone clapped. People teared up. I greeted people at the door with my hand extended. Just to show off the ring. :P

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Praise the Lord for His infinite goodness and mercy. I don’t deserve a life partner like Brad. And especially so young. Just when I need him. But God has given him to me anyway.

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My Jonas Avalon.

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I love you with all of myself, dearheart. May I be just the wife you need to bring you closer to the Lord Jesus.

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THANK YOU for the amazing privilege of getting to be yours!!!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:29:16 GMT

Dear Xanga,

A week from three years ago... I met this guy named Brad Conte through you. He got on because Mark Wilkie got on because Jake moved... but that's a long story. Whatever the case, God used you to bring this crazy guy with a Dogbert picture on your blog site. Many people saw our relationship grow, which culminated into us officially starting to court 20 months ago on April 13, 2006.

Today, on Christmas Eve, this guy proposed to me and I accepted. We are engaged!!!!!!!!

Dear Xanga, you are the cause of this mess. And I love you for it.

Pictures and story to follow soon!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

- Love, Brad and RJ

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:48:26 GMT

RJ is typing from a pink laptop in Best Buy with Brad. Hahahahahaha!!!

Signing off before they kick me off....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!