Prouts in the winter

I found two pictures that Craig sent to Teri (Wes' mom) and I. He took these a few days ago. This is a view from a lot in Prouts. Isn't it beautiful?...





This is one side of the neck, or peninsula. There is beach along both sides and at the tip of the neck there are rocks (where we grill on Sunday's). The whole of Prouts Neck is about two miles long. I just love it there! I wrote a piece for creative writing in high school. I was asked to write about a place where I remembered feeling at peace. I wrote about nights in Prouts where I would walk home along the beach and sit right where the steps meet the path. The moon would bounce off the water, and I would just sit, look at the stars, listen to the waves crashing against the shore, and thank God for his awesome creation!

When I was younger, my mom and I used to walk home from the sing together, and we would stop and lay down in the grass. We would look up through tree braches and find the shapes they would make against the sky. We would watch the stars and talk just the two of us. Those are some great memories!

Not much going on

This week has been slow so far in terms of planning. Craig (the coordinator) and I have emailed a few times double checking that we are on the same page with the linens, but still no big decisions being made. I forgot to get in touch with the makeup artist which I will have to do in the next few days to confirm that she will be coming. I also need to make a list for who Wes and I are going to invite to the reception in Houston which we will have three weeks after the wedding for all those in Houston who can't make it to Maine. The church in Maine seats about 250, and last time I asked my dad how many were on the list for Houston, he said between 800 and 900. I am guessing he must have been exagerating. Who knows that many people? Anyway, it is going to be in July so I'm sure a lot of people will be out of town. It should be fun though! Wes and I are also going to go to Houston toward the end of February for a party. My mom and I are hoping that Wes will have an opportunity to get to know more of my parents friends during that trip.

The wedding is less than five months away now. Of course I am a girl and want to be in top shape for the big day (and for life in general), so I am starting to work out a little harder and cut back on the sweets (I have probably the biggest sweet tooth ever). My parents are a good encouragement, and they are dropping sweets for a while with me. I have the most supportive and loving parents! They are the best! What a blessing that my mom and dad have not only been so supportive, but seem to really be having fun planning this wedding. I am so excited that it will be in Maine as well because Maine really is like a second home to me. The church we will be married in is so old and familiar, and I have such wonderful memories in Prouts Neck (Maine). It was always one of the best times of the year growing up... August in Prouts and Camp Ozark. It is like a small town... like something out of "Dirty Dancing" according to Robin (the maid of honor). We all grill out on the rocks that Winslow Homer painted on Sundays before we head to the sing. For the sing, we set up chairs in the yaht club, and the whole town gathers as Chippy leads us for an hour in songs from a song book that has not changed since the sing began in the 50s. In fact, Chippy has led the sing since it started. It is just one of those traditions that seems to remain in a world that is constantly changing.

My mom has been going to Prouts for all of her life and so have I. Every summer, my mom's whole side of the family gathers in Prouts, and I have gotten to spend time with family that I otherwise wouldn't see often if ever. My mom's family is spread out over Houston, Arizona, and New York, but every summer, we all travel to the same place and get to spend time together on the beach, at the sing, in the kayaks, on the tennis court, etc. I have gotten to know my cousin's children, and my cousin Will's daughter, Eliza, will be a bridesmaid in our wedding. I wish I had a picture of her on my computer. She is the most beautiful girl!

I love tradition, and I love for things to be meaningful. I really want every part of our wedding to be personal and to mean something to Wes and I. I can't imagine having our wedding anywhere else. I don't know if Prouts Neck was the dream destination for Wes growing up (I actually know it wasn't :-), but for me, it has been just that. To be months away from getting married to the love of my life in a place that has so much history and meaning to me is almost too good to be true. The Lord certainly has blessed both Wes and I with each other!

Details

I found the perfect linens! This was a big deal because they had nothing in the Portland area that seemed to match what my mom and I were thinking. I also found a makeup artist! As I think I mentioned earlier, I was not impressed with the make-up artist at the nice spa in Portland. I was thinking that I was going to be doing my own makeup on my wedding day, which could have been stressful, but I found someone I really like to do my makeup for me! Exciting...

Trav and Nikita's wedding

Travis and Nikita got married in South Africa over Christmas. The wedding took place in Johanesberg, and then I went with Wes' family on safari at two different game reserves. We ended the trip in Capetown. South Africa was really beautiful, and it was so great to be able to spend time with my future family and grow even closer. It was kinda a big deal for me to be at the wedding as well, because it was my last Christmas before I am married, and I didn't go home to Houston until January. I still go to see my parents though which was great, and my bridesmaids in Houston had a kitchen shower for me when I got home.

My future family :-)

Heather and Chris

There has been a lot going on in my future family. Heather (Wes' sister) married Chris last October and a beatufiul wedding, and Travis (Wes' brother) married Nikita in South Africa over Christmas.

Heather is a bridesmaid in my wedding, and she recently gave birth to one of the cutest babies ever, Breydon, and Wes and I have been honored with the responsibility of being Godparents to the little one. Heather and Chris waited until we were engaged to ask us, and we could not be more thrilled! Every time I walk by a baby store, I just have to look inside and see if there is anything on sale for the little guy. I am going to have to be on a strict budget if the Lord ever blesses Wes and I with kids of our own. Something tells me my mom will be the same. We are suckers for cute kids clothes.


Can you tell where his parent's went to college? He is going to be an athlete for sure!

Awesome bridesmaid!!

Jennie wilson has got to be one of the best bridesmaids ever. We go way back. When we were in middle school we would make music videos to country songs and ski together in Crested Butte. She is uniquely Jennie... I don't have another friend like her. She is probably the most interested in all the details of the wedding, which I LOVE because of course, I like to talk about them. She is also a great resource for any questions I may have about hair, make-up, etiquette, etc. She made me an appointment to have my makeup done and sat with me for two hours while Jentry explained the steps of application. She organized and hosted (along with her mom) a wonderful shower for me in Houston with the rest of the bridesmaids from Houston. I just got to talk with her and update her on everything going on. She is great... she is one of those friends that I know will be around forever. She is so sweet and supportive of me in my relationship with Wes. She really takes a genuine interest in what is going on in my life, and you always know she cares. Gotta love JenBen!



This is Jennie at her debutante (not wedding) with one of my ushers, Sam, who has also been one of my closest friends for as long as I can remember. We met in Kindergarten and have been friends ever since.



This is Jennie with Ryan, another usher. I have known him since Kindergarten as well, and he is by far one of the most loyal friends. I know that he will always be there for me as I will for him. Doesn't Jennie look beautiful! I have more to say about all the Houston bridesmaids, each one of them holds a special place in my heart (cheesy but true), and my wedding wouldn't be the same without each one of them there. I have known them for what seems like forever, and I can't imagine not having them by my side. I am super blessed to have such wonderful friends!!

Quick updates

Turns out our first marriage counseling session is not this Friday but next. Though there are no big decisions being made right now, there seems to be a constant dialogue between me, my mom, the event planner, and now Teri, Wes' mom. (The event planner works for and with our caterers: www.churchillcaterers.com). This Friday, I will be going with Teri to have my make-up done and probably look at linens for the rehearsal dinner and wedding. We are also working on figuring out the timing for the rehearsal, dinner, and after party the day before the wedding. That's about it for today :-)

My maid of honor, his best man

We have been so blessed by these two! Not only are they incredible friends, but they are family. Robin is my cousin, and Luke is Wes' brother. Two summers ago, Robin came down to Nicaragua with Wes and I to volunteer at an organization the Luke helped found (http://mannaproject.org/Home.asp). We all got to spend time together and became close as a group. Since then it has been so fun to all spend time together...Robin came to their sister, Heather's wedding, Luke came and visited Robin and I with Wes in Houston, etc. Robin is like a sister to me. I have two brother's and so does she, so we serve as the sisters we didn't have. She is such an encouragement to me. Luke is now in medical school in Mexico and we don't get to see him as much as we would like, but we got to spend about three weeks with him over Christmas in South Africa which was so much fun! I am so glad to have the overwhelming support of these two and to know that they will be standing next to us come June 23rd. They are the best! (Luke is the one with the blue shirt and the other picture is of Robin and I when we were litte. Robin is on the right...so cute with her bowl cut :-)

My Fiance!

Wes is the greatest fiance ever! He is so sweet... he bikes me home from volleyball every night so I won't have to bike in the dark, he stops by just to give me a hug, he always calls when he says he will. I can't remember ever hearing him raise his voice at me. He always shares his thoughts honestly and openly. He loves the Lord and encourages me in my faith constantly. He lets me be cheesy, and he always holds my hand. He is thoughtful and caring and always expresses how much he loves me. He is trusting and trustworthy. He has the most beautiful heart... I am truly blessed! I absolutely love being engaged to him, and I can't wait to be married to the love of my life :-)

Back From Maine

The planning continues... I took a red-eye to Maine Thursday night and just got back to LA this afternoon. I spent all day Friday through Sunday planning the details of the wedding. I met Craig, the event planner for the first time, and I am beyond thankful that my mom, and I decided to use him and his catering company. He is so helpful! We accomplished a number of things this weekend. My mom and I went with Craig and the florist to the church and the country club where the reception will be to see the space (though I grew up going there I have never looked at it closely for dimensions, etc.). It was freezing! If you think it was cold in LA last week, that was nothing! It was about 15 degrees in Maine. I have been to Maine every summer, but never when it has been snowy, and I am sure glad I don't live there year-round! I am so excited that Wes agreed for us to get married there though, I love it. It feels like my second home and the church is so quaint. It was build in the late 1800s and it is all old wood with shingles on the ceiling inside. I wish I had a picture, but I can't quite figure out how to work pictures on this blog yet...that and I forgot to take one :-) It is really beautiful!

Getting married in Maine is definately a different experience. There is one spa in Portland that charges way too much for everything. They have one make-up person who uses the spa's own make-up and a number of hairstylists. On Saturday I thought I would have a trial make-up/hair appointment. I don't know whether I will do my own make-up, fly a woman from Houston up to do it, or use someone in Portland. Well, I didn't know, and now I am sure not going to use someone from Portland. Every time this woman tried a shade of lipstick on me she would draw way outside my lip line. I kept telling her and wiping it off, but I think she thought that's the way it should look or something...oh well. The hairsylist was better though. I think we will use her.

My mom and I also worked on picking out linens. We tasted cakes, looked at sample floral arrangements, went over the schedule for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding, worked on the menus, talked about transportation, etc. After this weekend I almost thought I wouldn't have much to do in the coming weeks, but on the flight home I made a list of the things I have yet to do, and I realized that the process is nowhere near completed. Don't worry... I will have more to write :-) This upcoming week, Wes and I are going to have our first marriage counseling session; however, I also found out that because we are getting married in an Episcopal Church, that we will need counseling with someone within that denomination as well. We still have to figure that out. I also realized we haven't started learning how to dance, and though Wes will argue he doesn't need to, I think some help couldn't hurt :-) This week I will also be looking at linens, isle runners, and continuing a dialogue with the florist.

Oh, I almost forgot... my dad booked a band for the wedding. Apparently it is a big band, 11 players or more I think, from Boston. My dad seems really excited about them. I am glad to have one booked... we were a little slower to get that done. Anyway, it's coming along!

Starting a New Book

It is nearly five months until the wedding, and I am beginning to meet with Joy to prepare emotionally and spiritually for this next phase. I have been so blessed and haven't had to think much about money growing up. I also haven't had a roommate for an extended period of time. I know that the responsibilities of married life will be different than what I am used to, and though I am excited, I want to be prepared to be a supportive and loving wife. This book I am beginning with Joy, a "Sacred Marriage" does not focus on how to have a happy marriage, which I want and expect to have, but rather, its empahsis is on the way that two people can grow closer to God and closer to one another through marriage. Gary Thomas says that "if you want to be free to serve Jesus, there's no question--stay single. Marriage takes a lot of time. But if you want to become more like Jesus, I can't imagine any better thing to do than to get married. Being married forces you to face some character issues that you'd never have to face otherwise." I anticipate that marriage will teach me how to be less selfish, thinking of another always before myself. I want to support Wes, and he makes it easy by loving me so completely. Another point that has stood out to me is that a lot of problems in marriage come when we set the wrong expectations and expect a human to fulfill what only God can. Only He is perfect and both Wes and I will mess up often I am sure, but as long as we remain centered on and filled by the Lord, we will be able to love each other despite our failings.

I know I have a lot to learn and that excites me. I want to be stretched and to grow in my relationship with the Lord and with Wes. I can't wait to see how the Lord uses us in the future.

We are going to be starting marriage counseling soon with Dave, Wes' sisters' father-in-law. He will be performing the message part of our service as well. Wes and I both have a lot of respect for Dave. His profession is Christian marriage counseling, so he has a lot of expertise in the area that I am sure will be of benefit to us in preparing for our married life together. It will also be great to spend some more time with family in the process.

That's all for now. I'm off to Maine day after tomorrow. I am excited to get some of the details figured out and spend some time with my mom.

Now 5 1/2 months left!

Wes asked me to marry him on October 13. So far, the planning process has been more fun and less stressful than I expected. We have decided to get married in Maine (meaning my parents and I). I am from Texas, Wes is from California, but I grew up going to Maine every summer. It is like a second home and there is a beautiful old church there that I grew up going to. At first my mom and I were going to try to plan everything ourselves without the help of a planner or coordinater, but as time passed and we realized our lack of knowledge about the services in the area, we signed up with Craig, our new event planner. What a good decision! My mom and I are a little disorganized and don't really know the order in which everything should be accomplished. It is comforting to know there is now a professional on board. My mom and I will be going up to Maine next weekend, and Craig has arranged a cake tasting, menu tasting, meeting with a woman from the Church who will open it up for us (normally just open in June and July), and meetings with two potential florists he recommends. I am looking forward to the trip! So far all the big things are done: the location, the general format of the evening, my dress, the bridesmaid dresses, and the groom and groomsmen attire. Now we get to work on the details. Fun! Sometimes it seems like the wedding is so far off, but the past few months of being engaged have flown by! I can't wait for June 23rd! Then after the wedding, Wes is planning a suprise honeymoon (I am assuming somewhere tropical :-), then we might be heading to my grandparents cabin in the mountains for a week or so before our reception in Houston. What an exciting time!