3 Days!

Three days before the wedding! Eric and I worked so hard in the past few months that when Tricia, Mom and Grandma arrived earlier this week ready to work, we didn't have much to do. Unfortunately, I somehow left two personal projects so that keeps me busy in the morning before Tricia wakes up. Then we relax around my apartment until about noon. Yesterday we went on a five mile walk/run before starting to run errands with Eric. Yesterday we were also able to visit the lovely Sherri and her family including the seventeen month old ring bearer, Joey, before going to the new apartment to tidy things up. I haven't heard from mom in about twenty hours so I'm hoping she had a great time in Princeton reuniting with a friend. Tricia bought a GPS to get around NJ safely and... well, to get around which was a good idea. I'm sleeping about seven hours a night, usually restlessly with thoughts about the wedding running through my head. I'm drinking a lot of coffee and trying to limit salt intake as if lowering my water retention will help me fit into the dress better. I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HONEYMOON!! This time in a week, I'll be married! The next time Eric and I go to Sunday worship, we'll be married and have learned what our marriage stories will be for the rest of our lives.

Prayer requests: Peace of God over our minds and spirits instead of anxiety, safe travels for all, may God be glorified during our ceremony and reception, may Eric and I have a union blessed by God. :-)

Last date and the last week before the wedding begins!

Eric and I had a great last date as an engaged couple. There's a special bridge in the woods about a mile or two from my apartment where Eric's taken me twice for our first date and for an anniversary. Each time he brought subs, soda, battery-operated tea lights and daffodils. Not wanting to copy his dates but wanting to return to the site, I found a map of the Loantaka Pond Reservation and printed it off with a circle around a parking lot we've never been to and an X on the bridge. When I picked up Eric after work, I drove past the entrance to the park that we typically use to find the parking lot on the map. Then I had Eric find the treasure map in the car and lead us to the X. It worked! I successfully pulled off the surprise after we walked about a mile from a different direction! I pulled out a sub from Subway with two Cokes from my backpack and just after I noted that "there should be more creatures in the water [under the bridge]," Eric spotted a large snapper turtle. After we ate, I gave Eric a letter I had written while I hoped that the mosquitos would bite me in places my wedding dress would show. Thankfully, I made it out of the woods without a bite. Whew. I had forgotten about the bugs. Then in order to make it as close as possible to a dream date for Eric, I pulled out his baseball gloves and a baseball to play in a field as he reminisced about his passion. :-)

Last night was Laura's bachelorette party and I secretly pretended it was mine which was great because I didn't need to be the center of attention but I could allow my pre-wedding bod to consume three drinks.

And now Tricia's on her way!! Eric and I'll pick her up in about two hours! I'm so thankful for Tricia. She has definitely seen me through my lowest lows and highest highs. In the past two years, she's driven from Pittsburgh on multiple occasions to take care of me in illness and to celebrate the wedding. I'm hoping that this visit can be relaxing for her despite it being the week before my wedding. So glad we have a week together!!

Nine days before my wedding. The ten day forecast says it'll be partly cloudy with a high of about 79 degrees. That sounds great!

We're done with so much of the wedding planning and I've almost moved out of my apartment. The last minute tasks include getting my engagement ring cleaned, printing off an activity book for the kids, organizing a game for the reception, confirming details with the caterer, greeting everyone as they come into town, packing the car with everything needed for the rehearsal, manicures and pedicures, a bachelor party and getting ready to pay everyone. We're slowly coming off the high of busyness and we've decided to try to be happier than we've felt recently due to stress.

Eric only has two more days of work before three weeks off. :-) Tomorrow after work, I'm going to take him on a date to one of our favorite places.

Although I'm thoroughly tired of saying good-byes at the end of the school year, Mom reminded me that I get to say hi to all the guests in a week. I'm excited about seeing so many friends and family in one place. Jenn and John are bringing their little man, Cameron, whom I haven't met yet. I have no idea how my head won't explode on the wedding day. It's SO EXCITING anticipating seeing loved ones, trying not to trip down the aisle, standing at the front of a sanctuary for an hour in high heels and a tight bodice, trying to get good photos, hoping everyone has a great time at the reception, hoping that the drinks aren't flat and that the food lasts, cleaning up and then our plans for the night before two weeks of vacation between NH and the Bahamas!!

I'm excited and thankful for the many blessings surrounding our wedding: Eric, flexible family and wedding party members and great musicians. I'm also glad that we will hopefully only ever do this once because it's a lot of work. Though I did have to stop myself from borrowing next semester's textbooks from the library this morning... how about you get married first, Heather?!

Craziness

Fender bender my first day off from work/school. Eleven days before the wedding. It wasn't my fault. It looks like it'll work out, but it was an unnecessary distraction from trying to planning the wedding and relax. Tired sigh.

Pete's over and we're planning the reception with Eric. I ate pizza and drank a soda even though I had resolved to eat healthy starting today. I was too stressed to be more resolute. Which of course leads to more stress.

Bought lots of make-up and hair supplies today to figure out how to do this face thing myself for the wedding. But I didn't have time to shower today so I didn't get to try anything.

It'll be okay.

Two years

Two years ago, I was invited to an IVCF camping trip. We had a great time playing on the beach, singing and answering awkward questions that Arnold proposed, "What would be your dream wedding?" and "Describe your perfect mate." On the afternoon of May 3, 2008, the group gathered around a picnic table on the beach and Eric pulled out a piece of paper and pencil. He started playing a childhood artistic game with me and the others got bored and wandered off. I patiently continued playing wondering about whether Eric shared my affection. Finally, he stopped playing and asked me out. Once I was clear that he was talking about me and not any other girl, I agreed and we excitedly jumped up from the table to join the others who were playing a few hundred feet away. I stopped him before we got within hearing distance and quickly said, "Look, you just have to know. I've never been kissed. I'm okay with that and everything but I think you should know. We don't need to rush it, but you just need to know." Eric's perfect response was, "How is that possible?"

A week later, I cryptically wrote in the blog: "let's just say, I'm not looking naively into the abyss of the future with an unreciprocated relationship [are you reading into that yet, Amie?]. Thankfully, I have been able to maintain and build new friendships since then and from the perspective of this plateau, I'm thankful for my experiences."

And two years later, we're twenty-six days away from our wedding!

We've been through sickness and health, traveled to Uganda together, sang a duet at Eric's dad's wedding, supported each other through transitions and most importantly, enjoyed as many moments together as possible. We're just as happy singing in concerts with our favorite musicians (Mark Miller and Mark Karris) as we are playing Trouble in our PJs. We can gang sock wrestle with the most athletic seminarians (though not necessarily win!) and enjoy the solitude of a lazy Sunday afternoon. We listen to each other long enough to understand each other's intentions rather than make assumptions. We take turns cooking dinner and agree to split the chores in order to have equal time to relax together. We hug daily and say, "I love you," every time we leave each other. We say, "I love you," at other times too. We genuinely enjoy being with each other. We're looking forward to living in one home.

I love Eric Valosin. He has legitimately changed my life by listening to me patiently, encouraging me, being my friend and companion and by dreaming dreams with me. Thank you, handsome man. I'm looking forward to being your wife.

Remind me later please

My life is crazy. This is what a typical week looked like this spring:

Monday: 7 hr. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) workshops; Zumba fitness class

Tuesday: 7 clinical hrs. at the hospital; 2.5 hrs class about loss, grief and dying

Wednesday: 4 clinical hrs.; 3 hrs researching at the Methodist Archives; 5.5 hrs class

Thursday: 9 hrs. in NYC for an internship at the Church Center for the UN

Friday: 8 clinical hrs; 3.5 hrs youth group

Saturday & Sunday: wedding errands, papers

In case that's just a bunch of jumble, it translates to three classes, two internships and one part-time job while planning a wedding.

I have faced a lot of fears including seeing a dead body and commuting to and working in NYC.

I have driven through two storms (blizzard and hurricane) to get our wedding bands.

I have had ample time to reflect due to two weekly reflection papers and individual meetings with two supervisors.

I was disappointed not to be able to sing with the seminary and gospel choirs at Drew but I have the opportunity to sing with the gospel choir and a rock band this week.

I've written approximately thirty papers this semester, been published in the April issue of Response magazine, created a couple videos for the Tillman Chapel, preached a few times to the youth group and read two books leisurely. I haven't exercised as much as I wanted to but I have lost about seven pounds. I fit into my wedding dress. Eric and I have a new apartment that we're presently moving into. I only got sick once and I'm still recovering from the cold. I have been very stressed. But I'm happy to have survived and thrived. I don't think I need to over-extend myself like this again though. Remind me of that, will you?

Hard to Concentrate

It's getting stinkin' hard to concentrate when I'd rather be day-dreaming about the wedding! I've still got a few weeks of school left but only recently have I really begun to daydream about the processional, reception dancing, holding Eric's hands, the music, the family and friends all present, the dress, the rings, the first night together... I can sit through whole lectures distracted by the enjoyable thought of dear Honor, the flower girl, or of little Joey, the ring-bear who'll be fifteen months old next month. I have no idea how I'll be able to enjoy all the loved ones that will be there as much as I want to. Honestly, I think it'll be a little strange when I'm used to one-on-one conversations compared to everyone at one party!

Nine more papers/projects plus two finals before this semester is over. I think I can, I think I can!