It's shocking to imagine, last Friday Family Dinner Night with both sides was postponed due to a winter snowstorm, ice, high winds, and windchill far under 0 degrees. Today, it's sunny and 62 degrees. Thank you, Jesus!!
Today is my last day of two weeks off work. It was much needed time off and I am so ready to go back. I may have slipped into the office a couple times, but I'm refreshed and ready.
Only if it were as easy as saying, "Alexa, take down the Christmas decorations." It isn't and I did. Our home is sparkly clean too and I had the windows open for fresh air.
What is the magic behind grandbaby smooches? When these little loves pucker up for a kiss, something inside me, let's call it indescribable love, makes the world wonderful!
Kiss after kiss, smooch after smooch, I fall in love over and over again.
This is FaceTime kisses with little Claire. My crazy expression cropped out.
Christmas with them is definition of the magic of Christmas.
I had all three babes the other day and Sofia asked if I would put their presents in my Santa sack. I couldn't believe she remembered. Sofia had to be 1-1/2 years old when I couldn't wait any longer and wanting to extend her Christmas, I loaded up her presents in a giant cloth Santa sack and delivered them the week before Christmas. The Santa sack is the perfect grandparent touch and I memory I want for them.
Today is Christmas Eve Eve. Tonight, is a new dish cookoff of pasta alfredo with a new noodle we are practicing, seasoned chicken in the air fryer, and shrimp. Me, overly excited for him to be home will be dolled up in something alluring and "Christmas festive" with a chilled bottle of wine, a fire in the fireplace, and snuggling under a blanket watching movies.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and we will be ready with anticipation, hugs and smooches as our littlest loves arrive.
Once upon a time... it would have been a certain death to have to be stuck in the house during a snowstorm, nothing slowed me down or kept me in.
Today, nothing makes me want to leave the comfort of home.
The view from my dining room window, the 2nd highest peak in the county, has a view of 5.7 miles. It is a frozen tundra today. Our family pasta night dinner with both sides, postponed for safety reasons. Below zero temps, high winds and flash freezing is the perfect trifecta to stay nestled inside.
It's better than okay. The Christmas tree and hearts are aglow in anticipation of Christmas.
The week of Christmas. Final preparations, a pending snowstorm, and I have two weeks off.
Christmas is a production for sure. Instead of going over the top, gifting crazy, we are keeping it simple this year with gifts and a strong family focus. Several days' worth of family event gatherings.
This year I even changed traditions with girlfriends. Let's gather and enjoy a great meal and time together, less gifts. Gifting gets so out of hand, becomes so secular, robbing what Christmas is truly all about.
Focus on the little ones, creating the magic of Christmas in their eyes and little hearts. Reminding them always why we celebrate. My favorite gift this year goes to my grandbabies: 5 years, 3 years, and 1-1/2 years old. The thrill and excitement of Christmas with them is magic in my heart.
This is my 1st Christmas being merry & married and my heart is already so grateful for my husband. Yes, we have gifts for each other, but HE is my gift this Christmas. Waking up in our new home, with my husband, honestly, it can rage and snow on Christmas and I will be snuggled in with my love saying, "happy birthday, Jesus" and "thank You for the beauty of a white Christmas."
The months have slipped by so quickly and the day arrived, Brooke's maternity photo shoot.
Brooke looks stunning in her green dress with her red hair and she's beautiful pregnant. It's been a joy for me to watch her plan when she wanted to get pregnant, she thought through details such as January, after Christmas when no family member has a birthday and ready for summer after the birth. She planned the timeline about 1-1/2 years out, went to appointments to make sure she is healthy and ready, and voila! First month she tried, pregnant.
My step-daughter, Taylour, is a photographer and the three of us spent the day together with the photo shoot and lunch.
Looking forward to her photos coming back from this afternoon, it's so hard to believe my granddaughter arrives in five weeks!!
That magical phase of ''before" marriage, where all things were perfect, like my hair, makeup, the outfits I chose... it was effortlessly wonderful. Does she wake up like this? Well, that's the perception.
I remember the days where being caught without makeup, my hair up, and glasses on would have been a certain death.
Before marriage, doing his laundry was romantic. Washed, folded, lovingly put away... I was wife material.
Before marriage, my betrothed thought I was an exceptional decorator. This list goes on...
Imagine my shock when we moved into our new home and putting up decor, he asked, "are you really putting that out?" I was stunned! "It looks like something my grandma had in her house" he boldly shared. Back up! First of all, I AM a grandma. Second, this decor is from Arhaus, and it isn't old and dated. In fact, I like it so much, I bought two in different colors. Respecting his request, I keep it on my nightstand.
That's okay, I stopped doing his laundry. If he wears a pair of lounging pants for 1 hour and changes, it goes in the wash. He has extensive laundry and doesn't mind doing it himself as a fulltime job, so I let him.
He thinks I look cute with my hair up and glasses on. I truly don't think he even notices when I don't have makeup on.
The outfits I wouldn't have been caught in, that he knows they are secretly my favorites, he tells me how adorable I look and how much he loves them on me. Girls, that's love!
I'm pretty sure he was well-informed; I am such a creature of habit. If I had 200 pieces of clothing, I wear 5% of it 95% of the time.
Being married, things have changed in a very relaxed, wonderful, and comfy way. He is my best friend and life with him is absolutely the very best!
Many things haven't changed like when we are in the house together, we are always in the same room together, always touching, snuggling and affectionate. We have coffee together in the mornings, watch the Coffee Quiz on channel 8 news (starting every day off in competition), and when we both get home the end of the workday, we put on a pot of coffee, sit on the couch and share our days before we do anything else.
Before marriage wasn't smoke-n-mirrors, it was a natural dating process. Thank goodness that wanes.
Aged to perfection, happy 60th birthday to my husband, whom I love!
60, that cracks me up! Don't let the age fool you though. My husband is the ultimate badass. Disguised as an overly friendly, always laughing and joking, kind to every human, and genuinely the nicest guy, he is BRILLIANTLY smart, and he trains law enforcement and SWAT in weapons, ground fighting, and defensive tactics. He is fast as lightning, and I laugh when he displays his skills because I am always amazed.
What a husband I have! I'm SO proud of him!
When it comes to me... he is all love.
For David's 60th birthday, we took the day off and slipped out of town on a surprise date day. Never experiencing a professional massage, his first massage experience was a Couples Four Hand Massage. Yep, both of us in the same room, two massage therapists for him, two massage therapists for me, for 80 minutes. It was wonderful!
David is a chatty-cathy, going into a spa, one knows the quiet room is where the experience begins, so I emphasized "quiet." We lounged robed, with sweet champagne in hand, listening to spa music, with a variety of snacks, teas, and mimosas at our disposal.
A four-hand massage truly is the ultimate. After our massage and feeling slightly drugged and relaxed, we went back into the quiet room to linger a bit longer.
He said we should do this every month. I laughed and explained his first experience is far more significant than the average massage. So, we bought a massage table for us.
Stopping for lunch, we headed home for part 2 of Happy 60th Birthday! Our families, mine and his, joined us in our home for a birthday dinner and celebration. It's a lot of people, a lot of laughter and conversation at once with grandbabies running around. It was exactly what he wanted.
A Little Pumpkin is on Her Way was the theme of Brookie's baby shower. Autumn chic and lovely, I used accent fabrics, fresh gourds, higher-end place settings, autumn soups, an autumn salad, and a variety of sandwiches to give our guests options.
It was beautiful and perfect!
Alex's mom created a caramel apple station with toppings for guests to create and Brooke & Alex were showered in love with so many gifts welcoming my granddaughter.
Special thanks to Roann (Brooke's dad's fiancé before he passed) for doing her shower cookies. She created the vision I gave her and they were delicious!
A lot of special touches to make her shower elegant and this cake was phenomenal! I will certainly order from this bakery again.
Brooke looks beautiful pregnant and so pretty in her sage dress.
I appreciate each generous gift she received, and my daughter is so ready for the arrival of her little girl. We all are!
Life with him is wonderful and full of profound moments. I sit here in our reading room and the sunshine is pouring through the windows of our home. It's the 2nd of 4 days off together. That alone is welcomed and refreshing.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. Our home in autumn decor, cooking together and enjoying the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, we welcomed family from noon until after 9:00 p.m. It was our 1st Thanksgiving in our new home.
Our large island ideal for the entree of the day, turkey, and so many fabulous side dishes, and desserts. Endless conversations, a lot of laughter, and the energy of all our grandbabies. Brooke's belly large with my granddaughter arriving soon. It's so good to have everyone together and I don't take that for granted.
We woke up this morning excited to transition from autumn to Christmas. After a yummy breakfast, Christmas music filling the air, we pulled out boxes and began staging our new home for the 1st time.
It's beautiful. It's absolutely perfect! Hello Christmas, our home and hearts are so ready for you.
David is relaxed on the couch watching a football game and I am about to run in there and kiss him and he will light up light the northern lights, delighted every time I do.
Life is a beautiful blur of hustle-n-bustle and wonderful things, and I'm so grateful. I'm ready for it to slow down though.
This year, 2022, was three fabulous vacations, our engagement, our wedding, selling and buying our new home we are so in love with, Brooke & Alex's pregnancy announcement, a gender reveal, a most beautiful baby shower, and my smokin' hot husband turned 60 which cracks me up (he has an 8-pack stomach).
Life with now six children between us, four son-in-laws, and a 6th grandbaby on the way, there is always something going on, a celebration to be had!
We fell in love with pickleball, enjoying many evenings a week playing together and with my mom & dad.
Our home, already new and picture perfect, had us wanting to purge and go all new. Custom-made pieces for this home and new furniture arriving and on it's way has transformed our home into us.
Us, it's a word that makes my heart soar! Life with David is abundantly, exceedingly and beyond anything that I could have imagined.
I have so much to share and I'm glad life is slowing down. What I mean by slowing down is... it's dark early and cold out so we are not running to make the most of daylight hours. It's more staying in, binge-watching our favorite shows, snuggled on the couch, and him cooking fabulous dinners.
I'm so grateful for every wonderful event this year has brought to us, but I am ready for less major events, normalcy, and calm. For our free time to be, "what do you want to do?" Less, look at our calendar, what is going on this week. Let's play pickleball (inside now).
November, I have looked forward to you, appreciate your most beautiful first couple of weeks, and happy you've transitioned into winter.
I've always said [well, maybe about 5 times in my life], if you want to be a doctor you have to learn how to be. To be a teacher you must learn how to be, an electrician, you get the point. Many professions in life you have to learn how do accomplish them.
Shouldn't it be the same in your marriage? Your most important relationship.
I like to study and continuously learn and I believe most couples reach out for help in crisis mode, but why wait until crisis mode to learn healthy marriage habits. So, I found a Christian marriage retreat. It would serve as a fun weekend away, learn something new, and always strengthen our marriage.
When we both finally figured our schedules out, the marriage retreat was SOLD OUT. In fact, another won't be local for five months. With my heart set on an out of town trip and my excitement to learn something new pulled out from underneath my feet, I deferred to another mantra I've said a few times in life, "Out smart, out think, out last!"
So, I created our own marriage retreat.
Searching for a marriage book to read together, I discovered something far greater. Audible!! A lot of the books on Amazon come in a version where the book you want is read to you. Audible is FREE for the first 30 days. And, I managed to get 2 free credits, which bought me two FREE books.
With an out of town road trip needed, I made reservations, created clues for David, and had our day trip agenda firmed:
7:30 a.m. Depart our home, off to a delicious breakfast I had two FREE passes to use.
8:45 a.m. Stop at Starbucks for an autumn beverage for our road trip. FREE using gift cards
9:00 a.m. Autumn beverages in hand, address put into navigation, we were off on a 2.5 hour road trip. This is where our Audible Christian marriage book played for 1.5 hours and we had another hour to discuss many topics, come up with an action plans to practice healthy tools to apply to our marriage.
12:00 p.m. Arrive in Hocking Hills State Park, we were off on the "X" Tour 3-hour Zip Line Tour!!!! He was THRILLED! We zipped at one point 80 feet high through trees, up to 45 miles per hour, and our favorite was riding the zip line down the middle of a river!
3:30 p.m. Cold drinks (we always split a Diet Coke) and snacks in the car, we preferred to go home to eat dinner versus eating out. We had homemade Tortilla soup and made chicken quesadillas.
8:00 p.m. We met Brookie at the park and listened to a Journey tribute band as the last summer concert in the park (FREE).
We may not have made the retreat, but we had our road trip, we listened to a fabulous Christian marriage audio tape and had a great conversation about us and our marriage, went on an adventure, and enjoyed the day together. And, saved a lot of money it would of cost on hotel stays and eating out if we had attended the retreat. I TOTALLY recommend Audible through Amazon Prime!! I totally recommend studying and constantly learning new best practices for your marriage. I totally recommend going on an adventure together.
Autumn day, how I love thee!
I'm glad it was colder outside today, cloudy, and rainy off and on. What a perfect excuse to stay home and relax. He made the pie he had been looking forward to making. I made homemade chicken noodle soup, we snuggled on the couch, I fell asleep in his arms, it feels amazing to just be home.
A FaceTime call and I learned little brother wasn't feeling well, so I picked up a fun project to take over to build with the kids and snuggle Rowan. The cardboard ice cream truck was a huge hit! Two packs of crayons (I should have bought three), me and my babies put it together.
Snuggle time with Rowan and when both Rowan and Claire took a nap, Sofia came home with me for the day.
There are moments with my granddaughter that are so precious, I laugh and want time to slow down.
I had Sofia for the day and we had endless conversations when she said the sweetest word. She asked me if I like fish and told me she likes to eat fish and her daddy made fish chips when she said, "tHeY wErE pErNoMaL!" I love her use of what she meant to say, phenomenal, which became pernomal. I'm smiling listening to her share and I love her mind at only 5 years old.
Later in the afternoon we were snuggled watching Stuart Little together when she contemplated and asked me, "wHo dO yOu lOvE?" I prattled off a list starting with her. She listened intently and at the end said, "tHaT's a lOt oF pEoPlE." Then, I asked her who she loved. She was very honest, gave it some thought, and I was relieved I was at the top of the list. Some made the list, some didn't.
She is beautiful, smart, sweet, thoughtful, funny, and kind. My time with her is always treasured. I love to listen to her heart, I love when she snuggles up to me to relax and watch a movie, I love watching her laugh in delight. What joy she is!
We haven't been to the gym since before our engagement vacation in April. Since vacation, every day was filled with wedding planning details on my days off. After our wedding, our days off were packing and planning for our move into our new home. Then it took us weeks to move my full household and his packed-up household.
I would say... "I cannot wait for our first day when we say, what do you want to do?" Because there will soon be no one thing we have to do. Little moments hit me and I grateful we are finally here.
David LOVES to cook. He orders cookbooks, ponders what he wants to cook next, buys lots of ingredients, and will spend the day in the kitchen cooking from scratch. I came home after an event last weekend to three different kinds of chicken and a hodge podge of grilled vegetables. He's an excellent cook and we eat better at home than ever going out.
It was yesterday evening, the weather comfortable, he was having fun in the kitchen trying new recipes (thank you, God, for this wonderful perk in my husband!!!), when I said we should walk down to the clubhouse and play pickleball.
I love our home. I love our neighborhood. I love holding hands with my husband as we walk outdoors on a summers evening to play a game together.
A thought comes to mind over and over... this is "that moment." We made it.
We couldn't wait!! Testing for the baby's gender was done, the results sent to one of my dear friends, Charlotte, who ordered the correct gender color.
I would say 80% of the family guessed BOY. It was me, Sofia (Jeremy guessed along with Sofia, because Sofia has great intuition), and Jeremy that guessed GIRL.
The drum roll...
IT'S A GIRL!!!!! I am delighted!! From the moment Brooke found out she was pregnant, I had sign after sign it was absolutely a girl. IF it had turned out to be a boy, I would have questioned my own intuition.
Mama is doing great and her belly is bigger every week I see her. She is feeling her little girl inside her and I know she is overjoyed knowing she has a built in best friend for life growing inside her.
It was a wonderful celebration, there were screams of excitement when the balloons popped, pink confetti burst in the air and my next grandbaby's gender was revealed. What a wonderful moment and we have so much to look forward to.
Marriage vows are much like the bible, people tend to use a few words put together to their advantage and call it the gospel.
WE like to remind one another the words of our vows, "... and all my worldly possessions" which transforms the words yours and mine into ours.
I haven't had to share in decades. You know the buy what you want, when you want, hang what you want where ever you want. This husband-person I now have has opinions, too. Fortunately for me, my happiness is everything to him and truth be told, he trusts my opinion.
What I've quickly learned is, if I quickly hang something where I like it, and present it to him in excitement, it removes the opportunity of something else placed there I am not fond of and in busyness we move on to the next item.
He's so good to me.
Me, I am learning to work on not saying the words, "my and mine." It's actually habit. He is quick to remind me of our vows.
One large moving truck, a Uhaul, countless trips loading into our vehicles + two weeks. It has taken two weeks to move into our new home.
We are in and it's SO beautiful!! Actively looking since last August, it took us 10 months to find it and our conversations now are, "Just think of all the houses we almost bought!" This one is absolutely perfect! It checks all our boxes of wants and desires with a stunning view from our back yard.
Where did July go? Between the wedding, buying our new home, selling mine, and moving, it's been a blur of activity.
The big stuff is done, a few new purchases to complement this home bought, and we are settling in very comfortably.
I just turned 52. What a great age, what a blessed stage in my life. Family came over, many seeing our new home for the first time as we celebrated my birthday.
Brooke's gender reveal is next, she looks so cute with her baby bump! I think it's a girl, David thinks it's a boy. We are thrilled to know what this little one is!
We woke up on a beautiful summer morning, but this day was very different, "Good morning, it's our WEDDING DAY!!!!"
Our wedding day was exhilarating from the moment we woke up! Beautifully balanced, well-planned, it was exactly what I wanted, yet filled with unknown magical moments. David was upstairs getting ready, when I filled the air with Wedding Day by the Bee Gee's. A song I have listened to for decades and patiently waited. I was in the kitchen listening to this song I so longed for when David came downstairs, pulled me in his arms, held me tightly and danced with me. I cried and he continued to hug me tighter and tighter.
David is more than I ever imagined or dreamed of.
I wanted to set every detail at the venue, my vision becoming reality and it was perfect! Running home for a couple of hours to myself, because quiet brings me balance, I was so ready.
Surrounded by our family, our daughters, our grandchildren, and closest friends, I walked down the aisle with my dad, a moment I've always dreamed of. Wanting time to slow down, I looked from side to side at our guests, then my eyes on my husband, the one I promised forever to.
My daughters on my side, his daughters on his, our grandbabies walking down the aisle. Nathan sat my mom, my dad at my side, my brother officiating. I was radiant and smiled the entire time. You know the glow of happiness bursting out of you kind!
We said our vows to one another and in front of God. I especially loved each moment of the vows, slipping his ring on his finger, kissing "my husband" for the first time and being pronounced husband and wife.
Music filling the air, everyone happy in celebration, how blessed we are all our children are thrilled over our marriage. We know it could have been all together different, yet it's perfect.
Our dinner was exquisite and guests are still talking about it. We did a plated dinner, Mushroom Lavender Filet with Asiago Chicken, Rosemary Garlic Roasted Red-skinned Potatoes, Sweet Corn, and the salad was custom created in 4th of July themed with a Spring Mix with fresh Strawberries and Blueberries and Raspberry Vinaigrette. On the side was fresh cut Watermelon cut into stars and hearts (a surprise touch by the back of house team). Each plated graced with an edible flower.
SIGNATURE COCKTAILS
Our Signature Cocktails theme was inspired by our engagement vacation. Mine, the Mango Tango (I fell in love with this on the white sands of Siesta Key Beach). His, Smoky Mountain Moonshine in Mountain Java and Butter Pecan.
Our wedding cake... the top layer we cut, kept, and have been enjoying all week was Chocolate Chocolate Chip with two layers of double Toffee filling. Absolutely delicious!! The bottom layer was White Cake with Chocolate Ganache, also magnificent. Cupcakes at each guest plate one done in Amnesia Roses, White Tulips, and in scrolling matching our wedding cake.
White tulips, my signature flower, everywhere... my bouquet was Amnesia Roses with White Tulips.
At Last by Etta James filled the air and the DJ asked for the bride and groom to come to the dance floor and I danced with my husband for the first time. Twirling on the dance floor, he pulled me in his arms, I love the feel of his body against mine. A video sent to me shows my Sofia & Addy on the side of the dance floor swaying watching us dance. Could there be anything sweeter?
The day, our wedding, all of it was sensory magnificence! The DJ asked our guests to join us on the stone bridge for a group photo and while everyone was smiling for the photographer, commercial-grade fireworks bursts into the air behind us. That was the moment we wanted captured and guest whirled around in surprise and fireworks continued to shoot off behind the water on the other side of the stone bridge.
There were so many moments that was so special. My first look photo with my dad. My dad praying with me moments before walking down the aisle, and walking down the aisle with my dad. I've witnessed this so many times in the weddings that I conduct and I wanted it for me... and it happened.
Our wedding day was more perfect than I ever imagined.
We were off to the hotel for our honeymoon... and what nobody knows, would ever imagine, or even believe, we waited. I don't know how we did it, but we did. I honestly believe there are many, many blessings that have come because of it.
I married my best friend, the absolute love of my life, hand-picked and chosen by God.
Closing on our new home, under contract on our current home, and our Bachelor/Bachelorette party made for one heck of a week!
Our Bachelor/Bachelorette Party was up at Put-in-Bay and we had the best time. Sunny & 80's, being by the water, and sharing this moment with our daughter's and son-in-laws (although we missed Brooke & Alex) was the absolute best. There are moments that catch me off guard and I beam with pride with our daughters and son-in-laws. We are so blessed they are so put together, good, loving, happy, independent, and married. Sitting back watching them talk and laugh with one another, thank you God. Tons of photos captured together, time with them in pre-celebration of becoming a blended family, we love our bonus daughters + son-in-laws.
Life is a wonderful whirlwind.
The week my name changes. This week I marry my love.
How is it June 5th already? Every time I blink, another week has gone by. I'm so grateful though because I just want to get to our wedding day.
Weddings, weddings, and more events, I am in busy season and it's going really well. David asks me to text him when I'm coming home so he can start dinner on the grill. I know I say this all the time, but "thank you, Jesus, he is an excellent cook!"
I am refreshed knowing I get to go home to him. Coming home to the grass freshly mowed and edged, projects accomplished, trees and shrubs trimmed, him on the deck grilling dinner with a fresh haircut and looking all handsome, and I all I have to do is arrive... everything is done. He is always happy, always lavishingly loving and playful, and he enhances my life in every way! I absolutely love coming home to him and our life together.
Last night we tried a new beverage, which is always fun! Snuggling in his arms watching our current favorite show, Blacklist, is an evening routine we enjoy.
My soon-to-be husband is beyond my wildest dreams. How blessed I am to have such a loving Heavenly Father, a magnificent earthly father, and now an extraordinary husband. I am blessed beyond measure.
We all have habits and well-known phrases we use associated with us.
One of mine has been, "What on earth?!" I didn't realize I would say this until I heard my little Sofia repeating this and I wondered where she picked that up. One day I prattled that off and I caught myself. I guess I do say that a lot.
David's is, "OUTSTANDING!" Said with enthusiasm because he is an enthusiastic person.
I have another... I know I say it and I know I'm kinda known for saying it, and now I hear others have picked it up and prattle it off... "Absolutely not!"
Absolutely not means this is a hard no. Said with swift passion, it leaves no room for discussion and crystal clear so there is no room for interpretation, confusion, or question. It is a merciful and a matter of fact term.
My cup runs over. I have these moments of awe when I see this man by my side, every day, in every way, my best friend, my love, my confidante, my laughter, my protector, my provider, my Boaz. Only God.
I cannot wait to marry him.
To have our children and our grandbabies participate in our day, another on the way. My Brooke is pregnant. God love her, she planned, fully prepared, and I knew Mother's Day. After they left, I asked David if he saw how Brooke acted. She was so worn out she couldn't keep her eyes open. I said wildly excited, "She's pregnant!!" She didn't know it yet though and I didn't say anything but patiently waited for her to find out and announce it to us.
She invited us over and opened the bedroom door the babies nursery. Some moments take your breath away. We all went to dinner in celebration.
My dad saw her on Mother's Day and said she looked so beautiful and had my mom take a picture of her. My little girl. She's going to be a mommy.
She is calm and peaceful and nesting like crazy. It's beautiful to see her pregnant.
My Mariah & Jeremy moving into their new home this weekend. My Sofia, Rowan, and Claire... there is an unspeakable joy to have my grandbabies in my arms.
This is the most favorite time in my life. I wouldn't trade being in my 50's for any other age.
I can only imagine all of my prayers of thanks and one day telling Him in person how blessed and grateful I am for everything He has given me.
I have created what is called the Fiancée Privilege Package. This is basically a free-pass to do what I like, when I like.
For example... when he is walking up the steps in his robe with his arms full and a hot cup of coffee, I lift his robe high in the air to see his bare bum. When he is not paying attention, I quickly untie and open his robe, and run around the house holding his robe up whilst he tries to get away.
"It's part of the Fiancée Privilege Package" I like to remind him.
He would like to know the details and rules of said package. Silly boy, details are subject to change and purely for my benefit!
Details, details, so many little details. My wax seals are being shipped from France and I am over the moon delighted!
The details of our wedding is a reflection of me. As guests walk into our wedding ceremony, then our reception, I want their eyes to look in many directions in admiration.
There are many special touches to create an elegant ambiance.
My life is a blur of spinning wedding details in my head, busy event season, and embracing the sunshine with every free moment. What a fabulous season in life it is!
I don't know how brides plan their wedding 1-2 years out, I simply cannot wait and thank goodness we are only weeks away!
There have been so many wonderful events from asking my dad to walk me down the aisle, he said it was his second favorite day in life. The first being the day I was born. It was a beautiful moment between him and me.
Wedding band shopping with David was such a thrill. It was sunny and hot outside and as we went from jeweler to jeweler, we stopped for a cold drink and a giant triple chocolate chip cookie. I love that simplicity enhanced the fun we had. He knew exactly what ring he wanted and I love it, too!
Plans for a Bachelor/Bachelorette party at Put-in-Bay is absolutely perfect! A large group going up and in addition to my daughters, son-in-laws, and grandchildren, I love that not only do I get three beautiful stepdaughters, a step son, and two step granddaughters, but I get two wonderful step son-in-laws that I adore. How blessed we are!
Some may find it odd, but I love David's ex-wife, Kelly. We became fast friends. I asked her to go to our Bachelor/Bachelorette party, too, and she said that her & Tom and her mom & dad are all hoping to get invited to our wedding. When I say one big happy family, we are! I adore Jim & Sharon and they've all open-armed welcomed me in their family and we do a lot of family activities together.
In the midst of everything wonderful, I value the peace and quiet of my alone time in a week day off. It always brings me balance when there is so much going on. My home quiet, windows open, the sounds of the birds chirping, and the sun shining.
I am blessed beyond measure and my heart is grateful.
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