adventures of c&k: one hundred days
The day that I have dreamed about since my youth will become a reality in one hundred days. That’s right, reader! The official wedding countdown has reached one hundred! I’ve been keeping a weekly countdown and will continue to do so; I don’t think I can handle a daily countdown until the last month, but I did want to note this particular milestone. In some ways it seems that we still have a long way to go, but I know it really isn’t that much time… and it is going to fly by!
And when the BIG day finally arrives, it will look very different than what I imagined it would. Partly because my tastes are rather different than they were at ages seven (thank God!), nineteen, and even twenty-five, but it will also be different because those dreams and plans didn’t include a specific person; the wedding that will take place in a hundred days does. And Karl is what will make our wedding day far and away more incredible than I could have ever imagined.
There is still a lot we have to do before the wedding, so please keep us in your prayers as we continue to plan and prepare to kick of our marital adventure in ONE HUNDRED DAYS!
adventures of c&k: the big move ~ phase I
We were up earlier than normal on Saturday morning. It was Moving Day – Phase I. Our friend Lindsey’s parents were separately consolidating their households and both wanted to give their furniture to someone they knew. Us. Karl and I were (and are) beyond grateful and were willing to take whatever they had off of their hands. Since we don’t have a place to live yet and the furniture needed to be moved as soon as possible, we acquired a storage unit for Phase I.
Through a steady morning rain that once in a while turned into a downpour, we loaded the U-Haul with our first pieces of furniture. It was slow going due to the rain, but highly entertaining as Lindsey and Karl’s high school friend Mike regaled me with amusing anecdotes of young Karl. It’s a good thing my man is a good sport and can put up with a little teasing. We took the first load to the storage unit before picking up the second, much larger haul. All in all, we filled a 10×15 unit with so much furniture I’m not sure we’ll be able to find an apartment large enough to house it all!
It took the entire day: 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM. But it was worth it! Karl and Lindsey worked hard to move all the furniture, along with help from Mike in the morning and Howard in the afternoon. They endured the morning rain and an afternoon monsoon, which left Karl drenched from head to toe after I remembered that one of the car window’s was left slightly open and he ran to close it. Thankfully, Lindsey’s mom had spare clothes and a dryer. What did I do? Oh, I had the toughest job of all: supervising. I moved a few things too, but the supervising was quite taxing.
We are so incredibly grateful to Lindsey’s family for their generosity! I am so excited for Phase II, but I think the guys need to rest up before they can think about moving us out of the storage unit and into a home.
a testament to motherhood
Last week a few blogs I read linked to an article that caused a bit of a stir. A soon-to-be father of twins wrote that he and his wife are dreading their arrival, “like cancer patients with only months to live.” Comments quoted here show that people were horrified and disheartened by the selfishness displayed in the original article. Well, this morning my soon-to-be sister-in-law wrote a beautiful testament about parenthood from a different perspective than the one referenced above:
“Let it be known that motherhood is not the end of a woman’s life; if you let it, it can be the beginning of a very special, very fulfilling chapter—and I don’t simply mean as a parent.
Every year of my motherhood, I have somehow taken on a new hobby. First, it was writing regularly on this blog. With that—because I got into reading other blogs—I branched out in what I was cooking and baking. That continued into writing a novel that largely hinges on a young woman’s love of cooking.
The next year, I learned to knit. In the wake of losing Ethan, I knit up a storm. Maybe next year I’ll take up math and figure out how many miles of yarn I used. Not today, though. Let’s leave it at a whole heck of a lot.
Now I’ve somehow gotten myself into…” You’ll have to visit Lindsay’s blog for the answer.
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Now, wasn’t that encouraging to read?
inspiring women and girls
I saw this on Facebook and had to share it! A photographer was looking for inspiration for her daughter’s 5 year old photos. They looked beyond the typical Disney princess role models, instead choosing to take photos inspired by strong women from recent history.
“It started me thinking about all the REAL women for my daughter to know about and look up too, REAL women who without ever meeting Emma have changed her life for the better. My daughter wasn’t born into royalty, but she was born into a country where she can now vote, become a doctor, a pilot, an astronaut, or even President if she wants and that’s what REALLY matters. I wanted her to know the value of these amazing women who had gone against everything so she can now have everything. We chose 5 women (five amazing and strong women), as it was her 5th birthday but there are thousands of unbelievable women (and girls) who have beat the odds and fought (and still fight) for their equal rights all over the world……..so let’s set aside the Barbie Dolls and the Disney Princesses for just a moment, and let’s show our girls the REAL women they can be.”
pure michigan
My home state of Michigan is treasure trove of natural beauty. If you don’t believe me (and even if you do), check out this video by Michigander Shawn Malone called North Country Dreamland.
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Read more about the video here.
In awe? That’s Michigan for ya!
She’s a beaut!
Most people have a list of things they never want to do, or things they refuse to do. My list isn’t ridiculously long, but there are several things this stubborn blogger has always said she would never do, like go on a cruise and participate in a road race and read out loud. It’s amazing the things love makes you do… because Karl and I are going on a cruise for our honeymoon. Someone (ahem, Karl) decided to enter us in a contest and he won a cruise. So even though I always said I would never go on a cruise, I’m going on a cruise. Mostly because we aren’t paying for it, and partly because I know Karl is excited about going.
For years (and I mean YEARS), various family members and friends have tried to convince me to run a 5k, especially since I attended a lot of races. But the only reason I would go was to cheer for those same people who were trying to wrangle me into running, and who would cheer for them if I was in the race? Well guess what? I’m running a blasted 5k… with Karl. He wants to get back into running but prefers to run with someone (that someone, meaning me) and to have a goal to work toward. Oh the things I do for that man! We’re signed up for a 5k in July.
I’ve mentioned before how I feel about reading out loud. Karl was aware of this when we decided to read The Hobbit together. He most graciously read most of it, but there were times when for whatever reason, whether it was logistics or the batting of my eyes had no effect, I had to read. Every time that happened, Karl would sigh happily and say, “I love when you read out loud, babe.” (Grrrrr….) We finished The Hobbit and have moved on to Captain Blood by Raphael Sabatini, and dang blast it, I’m making more of an effort to take turns reading. But I think we might have to ease up on the reading; the swashbuckling tales of Captain Blood are affecting Karl. Look what happened when we were went to a BBQ on Saturday night to celebrate a friend’s birthday (Please note that the amazing fire was built by yours truly with some assistance (You would have been proud, Dad! I made the tee-pee and everything, just like you taught me!)):
“Captain Blood” challenges me to a duel with a paper plate.
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Me to Karl: “I’d start a praying if I was you, Toledo.”
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Posing for my victory photo.
Obviously Karl doesn’t realize the duel is over.
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Never mind, he does now! We really do love each other!
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I always said I would never lose a duel. At least I haven’t caved on that one! Seriously, I can’t believe that someone as stubborn and obstinate as myself is actually doing things I always said I would never do! And for what?! Oh, right… for love.
adventures of c&k: wedding news
Blogger that I am, one would assume I would be all over the latest fad of creating a wedding website, with a wedding party who’s who and helpful information for out-of-town guests and a list highlighting our incredibly talented vendors and a blog with the bride’s latest rants thoughts on the planning process and progress. But if one assumed that, one would be wrong. Sort of. I think a wedding website would be great, but I’m not “all over it”. I actually started putting something together, but haven’t followed through with it. There are many other details that have required my attention and the website fell by the wayside. I actually refrained from posting amusing wedding planning adventures with the thought of “saving” them for the wedding blog, but then I realized I don’t have to deprive my faithful readers of wedding-related posts when I already have this blog!
Surprisingly, there are still a few major-ish details that have yet to be locked down. As you can imagine with only 127 days until the BIG DAY, I’m ever-so-slightly anxious. I know said details are being worked out as I type, but a little concern is only natural. I am not however concerned about the actual getting married part. Karl and I conquered two marriage prep courses last weekend, and though neither of us would say we know exactly what we are in for, we are certainly more prepared and excited than we were last week.
We attended God’s Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage on Saturday and Pre-Cana on Sunday. Next year the Diocese of Paterson will require engaged couples to complete both programs. Currently only Pre-Cana is required. But what can I say? Karl and I are overachievers. Not really. A friend of ours is the Director of the Office of Family Life for the diocese and highly recommended we attend God’s Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage. So highly in fact, that it was her (and her husband’s) wedding gift to us. And it just so ended up that both were scheduled in the same weekend.
It was a heck of a lot of info to ingest in the span of two days, but it was good. God’s Plan covered the basics of the sacrament itself and Pre-Cana worked through the practical aspects of married life. So we might not be on target with our wedding plans, but we have most of the important stuff taken care as far as marriage plans. Besides, as we were reminded this weekend, all we really need in 127 days is a priest (or deacon) and two witnesses. Everything else is a bonus. As long as we show up and our priest is there along with the best men and maid & matron of honor, we’ll be good to go! (Someone, please remind me of that every so often during the next 127 days… but only if I’m panicking about frivolous stuff…)
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