I wish I had known seven months ago

- don't take extra jobs just to save up money for a wedding. rather work with what you have 'cause the extra stress is so not worth it

- don't read bridal magazines and websites 'cause they just feed the wedding businesses and drive you crazy with body image concerns

- pre-think up a response to "how's the wedding planning going?" 'cause sometimes people don't need to know what you're going through

- the relationship and marriage is most important, not the wedding and reception

- everything's going to be fine so relax a little

things I'm glad we did:

- split up the to do list

- pinky promise Eric's mom that she and I won't have the typical mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship

- work through a marriage counseling booklet

- spend time together whenever possible

I'm looking forward to marrying Eric so much. I'm looking forward to coming home to each other, not leaving each other's places at night, facing the world together, learning more about how he ticks so well, ...

Clownin' Around

The past two weeks have been pretty rough with eight papers/presentations due. With wedding stress on top of everything, I was a mess this time last week as I tearfully doubted whether I would be able to fit into my wedding dress. Thankfully, Eric surprised me at just the right moment with Tricia and Shannon's surprise arrival from Pittsburgh and a surprise lingerie party the next day where my childhood best friend surprised me from D.C. We had a great weekend and I was able to re-prioritize and collect myself.

Then I started another week of due dates and expectations. As a hospital chaplain, I led a Catholic prayer service at the bedside of a wife/mother who had died in the middle of Monday night. On Wednesday and Thursday, I did research for the United Methodist Women. I also had the opportunity to sing with Drew's seminary choir and later rehearse with Mark Karris' band for his CD release party in April. Tonight, I preached a message for fifteen Southern Baptist teenagers. While teaching the kids about stress and the gospel imperative to "not worry about your life," I dressed up in a clown outfit and applied face paint in order to do a practice exercise with them as a silent clown.

WHO AM I?!?! Do you think I wear too many hats?

I think it's time to crash now.

But tomorrow morning, Eric and I are putting a deposit down on an apartment for May, getting fitted for our wedding attire and checking out the reception hall again... I don't have anything planned for Sunday...

P.S. I'm typing this as I sit in my clown outfit. I hope this face paint comes off...

Lovely Day

Two weeks ago, we had snow days and today it was 50 degrees. Welcome, Spring Break! I have to admit I'm loving the warmer weather because with warmer weather comes weddings. :-)

We booked a honeymoon this afternoon! We're pretty proud of our bargaining skills (Arnold & Pete would be proud) and it looks like it'll be a great time. We also started picking up odds and ends (flower girl petals, water bottles, etc.). 84 days to go. I can hardly imagine what life will be like when we're not planning a wedding, taking classes, working part-time jobs and pulling our hair out.

Hopefully we can go for a bike ride tomorrow. After months of brrr, I'm looking forward to catching the breeze as we wander the rolling streets through town. Then it's back to the grind spending the week at the hospital.