Hello, Goodbye.

“Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves and then we have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos.” Peanuts Snoopy
I am so excited to move to Manhattan, KS and start my new life with my (soon-to-be) new husband. Hello KANSAS! Hello No more Long Distance Relationship! Hello Married Life! Hello The Rest of My Life!
But, I have always had a hard time saying goodbye. I will miss my friends, Dancing on New Years with Lindsey, Coaching with Brandy, Long Talks over Margaritas with Mom, Cigars with Dad, Watching my Nephew Grow...I will miss everything and everyone I am leaving behind. Here is to you, Here is to New Adventures, Here is to the Love of My Life. I love you all. Never a Goodbye. Always a Hello when I See You Later.

Photographer and Garter and Dress, Oh My!

This past week I have made quite a bit of progress on the wedding plans!

1) PHOTOGRAPHER

Initially, Josh and I were going to have my Dad take pictures at our wedding. After much thought, and realizing that Dad would then not be in any pictures, we decided to let Dad's official role be "Father of the Bride." I then went in search of a photographer. I looked at every photographers website in and around Manhattan, KS. SPENDY. I then looked on craigslist (thanks to the recommendation of my best friend and sister-in-law Lindsey). The first photographer listed had a website, so I clicked on it. http://www.artisticimpressions-air.com/

I was very impressed! I emailed him and explained our situation, Josh and I are on a strict budget. Shortly after I sent the email I received one back from the Photographer, Monte (Owner of Artistic Impressions Photography) and it was an answered prayer. He is willing to drive an hour to our location and take pictures of us before, during and after the ceremony. On top of that, he is willing to video our ceremony and take our engagement photos over the summer. He has been a Godsend and has worked within our budget to capture the importance of our BIG DAY! Thank you Monte!

2) GARTER

Again, thanks to the Brilliant Lindsey, I was directed to http://www.etsy.com/.

I wasn't looking for a garter, I was looking for wedding invitations and/or ideas for wedding invitations. (Josh and I have decided to make our own.) I clicked on the "Weddings" link and there it was. It was made for me. A blue and white plaid with eyelet lace garter complete with a tiny ruby red slipper charm. What else would Dorthy wear on her wedding day in Kansas? (Aside from the Ruby Red Slippers which I already got!) I had to order them. They are Fabulous.

3) DRESS

I bought it! I went into the store thinking I was going to buy one dress and ended up buying a different one! Wouldn't you like to see it...Its a surprise, for Josh anyway, so I can't spoil that. All I can say is its Beautiful, and I feel like a princess in it. I bought a tiara, also.

So, it looks like I am making progress on the wedding front. I am still looking into flowers, jewelry and Josh and I are going to go shopping for invitation making ideas/paper/everything else. But, aside from that, we are good to go! October 17, 2009 here we come!

3 People + 2 Closets= Not enough space!

I am moving to Manhattan, Kansas in July. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited to be able to live in the same state as my fiance! (Finally!) But, now, we are faced with a dilema. Originally, and up until about 2 weeks ago, we did not think Elizabeth and I would be able to move for quite a while. Josh and I had picked out our new apartment, the nice 3 bedroom with the walk-in closets.



Last month was the deadline for Josh to extend/renew his current apartments lease. Given the fact we did not think we would be there until at the earliest September, Josh renewed through September. Now, Josh lives in a nice apartment, it is just a small two bedroom. We need a three bedroom initially, not just for the space for three people...but the closets! Josh has two closet apartment. He uses both closets already. Elizabeth has enough clothes for two closets...and I, well, I have enough to fill a small room. As you recall, this is a picture of just some of my clothes...

So, our dilema is do we break the lease and pay a bunch of money? Or, do we suck it up for a couple months stuffing Elizabeth and I into one room and cramming Josh into the other? I have found a few closet organization units that could come in handy!

Decisions, Decisions.

April Winners

So many good times in April, So many blessings!

1) Josh came to Oregon to meet the whole family! (I always love having him here, and they approve!)


2) The whole family came home to Oregon for Easter and a "Meet the Boys" (aka, meet Josh and Ben) open house!



3) I got to meet my new Nephew Ben! (He is adorable! I love him so much!)


4) Fun Trip to Disneyland! (Really is one of the happiest places on Earth!)


5) Elizabeth turned 9! (I can't believe I have a 9 year old!)


6) Elizabeth and I went to Kansas to check out her new school and our new place! (Elizabeth has never been there, and she loved it!)

Something New and Something Blue

We know how much God loves us, and we put our trust in Him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.~~~~~1 John 4: 16-17

Church, Dress, Flowers, Venues, Cakes, Food, Music, Pictures...Garter, Shoes, Hair, Makeup....Guests, Gifts, Readings, Priest...

Though we haven't yet set a date, we have been thinking up many of the minor details of our Winter Wedding. We have started our research for reception ideas, but want to keep it simple.

Church: Check! We will be getting married at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Manhattan, Kansas.


Army Office Josh will be wearing his Army Dress Blues. (Attire pictures provided by Marlow White)

Josh's attire makes it easy to decide on wedding accent colors, Blue!

Josh and I have decided that we want something small, so our Guest list will be our family and GOOD NEWS LADIES, no bridesmaid dresses! Aside from Elizabeth, we won't be having a wedding party.

I have tried a few dresses, so far I have 4 favorites...none of which are similar! I have, of course, found potential shoes. Red Shoes. What else would Dorthy wear at her wedding in Kansas?

Shopaholics Anonymous

"You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles and your heart kind of goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well that's what it's like when I see a store. Only it's better."-Rebecca Bloomwood

In February I went to visit Josh in Kansas and he took me to the Shopaholic Movie. Before the movie we went and looked at the apartment we will be living in when I move. The place is absolutely lovely, and I was so excited to see, in person, my favorite part...WALK IN CLOSETS. The man who gave us the tour of our future abode noted there is a seperate "storage" area in the bedroom also, he called it the "shoe closet." I was so excited, my bedroom was going to have a shoe closet for all of my pumps, sandals, boots, peeptoes...then I opened it. Only five shelves...Only about a foot deep...I would need another "shoe closet." After looking into the walk in closet, and coming to the realization that the other two bedroom closets were not for my use...I became a little discouraged.

Then, the movie. This is when I had my Ah-Ha moment. I either needed to rent another 12x14 room in a seperate apartment for the rest of my clothes and shoes, OR I needed to do a little spring cleaning in the clothes and shoe department. The movie inspired me to go through my clothes.

The next weekend, I cleaned. I sorted. I boxed, bagged, donated, sold and threw away. I was motivated! And then, after a little mourning the loss of...I felt accomplished. This is something that definitely needed to happen in order to move and have room for my daughter and Josh.

Here are the 13 pairs I got rid of...Elizabeth's comment was "Mom, you still have over 50 pairs!"

Here are the Clothes I got rid of:

Here is the finished result, (minus the clothes that are in the laundry and those in my dresser).

Then, when it was all finished, I rewarded myself afterward with a cute pair of Clogs.