Pleasantly Surprised

One of the things that every married couple told us was that we would receive a lot of what we needed to start a life together from family and friends as wedding gifts. I guess I wasn't prepared for just how generous everyone would be.

We currently have almost all of our cookware, glasses, mugs, plates, bowls, bedding, towels, and home appliances.

We also received a bunch of amazing personalized gifts, like a sketch of the church where we will be married, a beautiful image of Mary, a statue of the Infant of Prague (which apparently every married couple is supposed to get), and a bowling trophy lamp with our names engraved from my future father-in-law.

In addition, friends sent checks and money, which we have not decided where to put yet, but definitely will be able to use!

Finally, my girlfriends/bridal party threw a tasteful bridal shower last Saturday night. It was such a nice chance to catch up with a bunch of girls I haven't seen much of since our engagement. We also received lovely gifts there. In fact, Miss Heidi gave me the entire Time Wise set, including the Replenish, which has done wonders for my skin since I began using it two weeks ago. My skin has literally never felt this clean and soft! 

Overall, we've been moved (really!) by how much everyone is helping us to get started. It seems like people just really like to help others get married. Thanks be to God!

Photo: My sister and I on Saturday

Nineteen Days More!

Photo Credit: Aunt Mary

Done:

1. Mass readings - check
2. Ceremony music - check
3. Attire - check
4. Decorating/Setup crew - check
5. DJ - check
6. Cleanup crew - check
7. Bridal shower - check
8. Rehearsal details - check
9. Beauty plan - check
10. Wedding veil & shoes - check

 

What's left:

1. Final music list - separated according to dinner & dance
2. Marriage license
3. Final meetings with priest
4. Finish creating wedding favors
5. Bridal party gifts
6. Ceremony program
7. Buy tulle or gossamer and choose another decoration
8. Tanning
9. Moving

 

We are so close! I'm even happier 19 days out that I chose this man and so grateful that God made it all possible!

Jacket: Solved

Both my future mother-in-law, who is a great seamstress, and a seamstress out here, who made a friend's wedding dress told me that the jacket is perfect for my dress!

I'm convinced that I was just thinking about and looking at it for too long.

Cannot Sleep

Frantically looking for sleeve/jacket/bolero/shrug options that I like. Cannot. Find. Anything. :(

Wisconsin Engagement Party

Photo credits: Aunt Mary Ann

We finally introduced the fiance to most of our family and friends. This is the 4th weekend in a row that he traveled more than 500 miles one way so that we could be together and take care of wedding details. (More photos are posted on Facebook.)

Look at how helpful he is!

Thirty More Days!

This brings me to #3689: He would die for me. I was thinking about this after yesterday's reading and this beautiful, recent story about a Canadian man who saved his wife and unborn child's lives by his split-second decision to steer them away from an oncoming vehicle. He died. They lived.

The fiancé shows me in small ways every day that he will sacrifice for me. He immediately takes action if something seems wrong. He never hesitates. I appreciate that so much about him. I don't even have to ask him, I know that he's willing to die for me if it came to that. He is a good, good man. I can't wait to marry him!

Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.

But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues

but do not have love,

I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.

And if I have the gift of prophecy

and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;

if I have all faith so as to move mountains,

but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away everything I own,

and if I hand my body over so that I may boast

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It is not jealous, love is not pompous,

it is not inflated, it is not rude,

it does not seek its own interests,

it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing

but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

-1 Corinthians 12-13

#3688: He's Helpful

Here's a story of 3 lovely vases, that do not really resemble lily vases. They, however, are sold in bulk and picked up locally, which will save us about $100 in shipping.  The fiance surprised me this evening by stopping in after work.

"Honey, I'm here at the store and there are lots of vases. What were the dimensions of those lily bowls you wanted?"

"I don't remember." 

After trying to describe the things with ligaments as measurements, I asked him to e-mail me photos. I think he wanted to buy them right then. :(

#3687: Romance

It's important. I'm not going to lie. He knows how to make me feel special.

#3686 From MBAs to a J.D.

I really appreciate the fiancé's intelligence and pragmatism. From the moment we started dating, I stopped worrying about a lot of things: money, my safety, and having to be the hard-nosed one facing the world alone.

Last weekend, we finalized details with the florist. She was very helpful but PUSHY. She kept telling me that we wanted two altar arrangements (at $140 each) in order to pull the colors of the bridal party together. I looked at the first draft of quote and saw that she somehow had convinced me previously to allow her to write "2". (I already talked to the church coordinator, who told me that it was customary to offer one.) As I sat again in her lobby - this time with the fiancé - she began to draw the same diagram. She explained how the colors would get lost if there was only one arrangement. He just looked at her and said, "we want one." She immediately dropped it and didn't bring it up again.

I don't know how he pulls that off, but I'm sure glad he does! I pray that we have a long, happy life together. He is perfect for me. :)

House Hunting

I think I found what we want! Thank goodness the boss let us off at 3:00 PM today! :)

And the Good News Is . . .

My healthy lunch.

We will be staying in the area! I can't tell you how happy this makes me! Not only was I really going to miss my sister's family, but I was facing a difficult job market in Michigan. We had so many obstacles to life in Michigan, that we finally took them as indications that we were supposed to live out here. I never realized how happy I would be - and how happy he would be as a result. We've received a lot of help with employment and housing since we made the decision (like night and day!), which was the reason I initially began working out here and not in Wisconsin in the first place. Unfortunately, the job market has changed significantly over the last few decades. I really wish that the entire family were nearer, but the better jobs do allow for travel and a whole lot of security. We will continue to do our best to keep in touch with everyone we love from the Midwest. God is so good!

What I Like About Living with Family:

"Aunt Kateri, that dress looks very, very, 

VEEERRRRY beautiful on you! 

I think Uncle Rich will like it." 

-Anne Marie