37 days and counting

It is hard to believe that so much time has passed since Brian proposed and we started this adventure of wedding planning. It is really nice to have everything completed for the wedding for the most part. This past weekend was a fairly busy one for Brian and me.

(The picture to the side is from right after he proposed!)

On Firday night we went to our pastors house to meet with him and go over wedding details. The man who is marrying us is a friend of mine from work's brother. We just sat around the table with him and his wife (they are pretty close to our ages) and discussed wedding details. When Brian and I left their house we both felt like this couple would be a good couple to remain in our lives from here on out. We intend to make plans with them over time even after the wedding.

On Saturday I woke up at 7:45 am to find Brian was still awake...working night shift makes him stay awake all night even during his weeks off of work. This was disturbing because we had engagement photos scheduled for that afternoon. He decided he would go to bed and try to get a few hours of sleep while I bathed Coco and got ready myself. Brian woke at 11:30 (we needed to leave by 12) and took a quick shower. I cooked some eggs for breakfast then we headed out the door. I wore a black turtleneck (we were going to the mountains where it was going to be a little chilly but not bitter cold) and my red heels. I wanted Brian to wear a "Carolina Blue" shirt and jeans. This way we were in our wedding colors, and we were both wearing colors which we both really liked.

We arrived on time and set out to take pictures. now my heels are pretty high and comfortable relative to the amount of walking I do in any given period of time. Unfortunatly the wind began to pick up as the day went on, and we began to walk more and more. By the end of what seemed like a VERY long photo shoot, which in actuality was only 2 hours, Brian and I were both freezing cold, and I had huge blisters on my feet from all the walking. The second to last location we took pictures Brian and I were supposed to be looking at each other and smiling. As we were standing there waiting for the picture to be taken Brian tells me through his smile that he is done taking pictures it is just too cold. (He was right, we were standing in a tunnel and the wind was funneling through there making it even colder.) I agreed, the last location was actually at the same place just up the hill, through the very wet ground, and down the sidewalk. Let me say heels and wet ground, plus cold, plus the dog do not mix. My heels kept sinking, the blisters were really hurting and Coco kept trying to trip the photograper. We agreed to walk to the last location, which we agreed was very pretty, and then we were done. After about 15 more minutes of shooting we climbed back in the photographers car and off we went.

The last hing we had to do before we could head home was pick up some menus for rehearsel dinner locations. We went to probably 8 places but quickly settled on 3. Finnally, two very exhausted people and one tired dog were headed home.

We got the last papers completed for the new house and Brian and his dad are painting the exterior next week. Once the exterior is painted we can bring out the appraiser and then we can close on it. I went to his dad's house last night and took my wedding dress by, as Brian starts to help me move my things into the new house I have a feeling he will start to get nosey and want to see the dress. His step-mom and I went by the new house and it looks so GREAT!! I also dropped off my first 4 boxes! Things are really coming together and everything is going to be done really soon!

I will be in Texas for a very quick trip this weekend. My best friend Maria is throwing me a shower and my mom and some of her friends are throwing me a shower. It is going to be a short, exhausting trip, but it should be a lot of fun. Only 37 more days until we are husband and wife...and the next journey begins.

With this ring...

With this ring I thee wed...in 45 days Brian and I will be saying these words to each other and promising undying love and devotion to one another.

When we began the search for our wedding bands we started with a trip to the mall. We quickly learned that we could order the same rings online as in the store for much cheaper. This week we have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of our wedding bands. Yesterday, I got home and there was a FedEx thing on the door saying they came by. It also said I could pick up my packages after 7pm at the FedEx shipping location in Winston.

We needed to go by the new house and help get rid of some busted up concrete from where we got a new front porch and discuss the painting of the exterior. When we left the house, I realized I had left the FedEx shipping information at my apartment. I called customer service and asked what location we could go to. The lady informed I had to have my door tag to pick up the package, and that the location closes at 8pm...did I mention it is 7:15pm when I make this call? So Brian and I go back to my apartment, pick up the hang tag, switch to my car with the GPS, and head out on an adventure. (It's 7:30pm). We arrive at FedEx at 7:55. When we walk in the door and hand the guy our hang tag he says that our package has not made it back to their location yet.

Now remember they close at 8pm and our hang tag said come by after 7pm. The man allowed us to stand around and wait for our package. At about 8:30 he bring our packages to us and makes us sign for them. Finally, we have our wedding bands in hand. Now, we are off to my apartment to try them on to make sure they fit...if they dont we need to send them back immediatly for new ones that fit.

When we got to the apartment we opened the packages and pulled out our rings. I tried mine on, it fit! I put it back in the box to store in a safe place until the wedding. Brian tried his on and said it fit, he also told me how much he liked it and that he was glad that we got that ring style for him.

We went about our evening, sat down on the couch to watch Life After People together. As we are sitting there watching TV I look over and see he is still wearing his ring! (It had been about 30-45 minutes since we had arrived at the apartment and tried them on) I said, baby are you going to take it off so we can put it away for the wedding. He said I really like it, I am going to wear it. He wore it around for another hour and a half. I am so glad he likes his ring and likes to wear it!

On a different note. The carpet people are coming to the house today to put in the carpet. Once that is complete I can start moving my stuff over to the house slowly.

Communication is key

In recent days Brian's company has laid off 6 people in his department. This is almost half of the total number of employees in the department. Because of this lay off the company has to work everyone more and they are much busier at work. Before the lay off Brian and I talked 3 times a day each conversation lasting 5-10 minutes, except the initial conversation which was about 15 because we talked on his way to work. Our conversations have now been cut down to one conversation on his way to work for about 15 minutes.

During our 15 minute conversation we must cover all wedding details which need to be discussed and any other issues going on in our lives. Now more than ever communication is key to a strong relationship. In the past two days Brian and I have learned it is very important to discuss our expectations of each other and how we deal with certain situations. We have learned that being far away from each other and not being able to physically see each other except every other week makes communicating in other ways more important. Those short 15 minutes a day are the times when we need to support each other and kindly/quickly work through issues.

Communication is key in wedding planning too. If I have not talked to my reception location in a few weeks I call just to make sure everything is working out the way it should and all things are on track. I communicate with the photographer frequently to ensure all photography is on schedule. I communicate with the officiant to set up meetings and hotel rooms and such.

I hate it when people on Facebook try to add you as a friend just because they knew you or even were friends with you in high school. There are many people who I was friends with in high school and on facebook who I just didn't talk to ever so I deleted them. Now they are trying to add me as a friend again...just trying to be nosy in my life. If I do not communicate with someone I dont have a relationship with them therefore I do not have any desire to be their friend on facebook.

52 days until I marry my best friend!

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
-- Corinthians 13:7-8