3 MONTHS.

Three months from today is the big day. The day I unite through vows and celebration with a best friend, a caretaker, someone who has seen the best and worst of me, who has walked along side of me- and sometimes dragged me along or pushed me forward when I couldn't go on by myself, the man of my now and my forever. It's going to be beautiful.

But before there is beautiful, there is preparation... which is not necessarily beautiful, but is definitely time consuming. There is so much already decided, but also so much to do in preparation for the ceremony and the celebration that follows. We've chosen a photographer, a caterer, the rentals have all been contracted, the marriage counseling is done, invitations are made and ready to be enveloped, sealed, and delivered- I'm his! Sorry if you don't get the adjusted musical reference. :)

I'm so excited to see everything together, but at the same time- to be quite frank- I'm sick of planning and waiting. Patience is not one of my virtues. I want the day to be here already! I love to organize. I love to be creative. But I also love results and seeing my hard work come together. Until the big day, it's mostly just details waiting to meet and make marriage magic. But on the big day, all the hard work and decisions come together and people get to celebrate love- which I think is something that should be done everyday!

So even though I typically wish time would slow down, right now I wish it would just bring with it productivity and awesome wedding planning, while also getting me to that alter so I can say vows that make people cry and become Mrs. Knudsen!

Today I remember.

Today is the one year anniversary of the passing of a most wonderful person- my aunt Dolly. I am sad that it has been so long since she's been gone, but even sadder that I forget to think about her daily like I should. Not just to remember her, but to remember all the things she stood for and represented that I wish I stood for and represented more in my life.

The weekend of her funeral was the saddest, most miserable weekend of my life. Her passing caused such great heartache for so many people, including me. To see people cry that I've rarely seen cry, especially such passionate crying, is a very hard thing to handle. I held my grandmother on one side and my sister on the other during the service. I watched my grandfather hug my father tightly, both sobbing. The men in my family don't sob.

Dolly was a light in the lives of the people she knew. She showed kindness to everyone- unless of course you were picking on someone, and then she scolded you. It's not right to pick on others. She delighted in the small things- like hugs. I could go on about the things she did that inspire me.

I am glad that I was able to grow up with her in my life. It's made me a better person, I am sure of it. So, today I remember her and all she was to me and so many others.

Come on self, get back into this!

Life is busy. Busy busy busy. There are so many things going on, but it just feels good to get on here and write. Therefore, I'm going to try harder to do so. Especially because I've gotten the impression people like hearing from me and about what's going on in my life!

The biggest thing lately is that I'm a brand new homeowner. Wow. When people said it would be stressful, they forgot to say it would be exhuasting! I am so tired this week it's making me nauseous! But I get up every morning and force myself to go to work rather than back to bed... although this morning I got up, showered, and then crawled back into bed to doze for about 15 minutes. It didn't help much. Haha. The fatigue is worth seeing our condo become ours though. The painting takes forever it seems, but when a room is done, it's awesome! And I really enjoy emptying the boxes and putting things away. I want to live there, not just be there- which is what we've done so far by just painting and sleeping and not unpacking. Last night, though, I got some boxes emptied and the contents put away in the kitchen. It's amazing how hard it is to figure out where to put things... there are way more kitchen cupboards than I think I'll be able to fill, but that is a beautiful thing! I can't wait to get new furniture and really finish things up. It's going to be great to welcome our families and friends to our first owned home and to make many, many memories there... including bringing home our first little one, maybe. WHOA! Okay, maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself! Haha.

Before the little ones, there shall be marriage... and hopefully a few pay raises! The wedding plans are coming along nicely- although they are on a time-out right now. Not because Casey and I are on a timeout, but because we are focusing on home-making at the moment. I'm not afraid that planning is taking a time-out, though, because my wedding consultant (MUM!) and I have done very well to get the big things settled and are at a point where it's mostly in the details... and those are coming together as well. I just can't wait to see it come completely together on the big day!

So, the goal is to get myselve back on here to share- to share my nesting adventures, my DIY wedding projects, and whatever other creative endeavors I may be involved in... not to mention the plain old wonders of life!

Tagged - 6 Word Memoir

It is hard to write your memoir in just six words. I went through several six word phrases that sounded just alright before I thought of the one below. I'm still not sure it's what I'm looking for, but it definitely is true.

"Thanks God daily for broken roads."

Life is full of broken roads. You walk down them, you cross over them, they pass along side you with traffic that travels slower or faster than you are travelling. You are walking down your own road and sometimes the road is bumpy and sometimes it goes in completely the wrong direction. But you still have to thank God for those roads because those are the ones that teach you and help you to be grateful for the smooth roads, the ones that bring happiness and show that you are making progress in your life.

I've passed over quite a few broken roads before, and several that went in a completely opposite direction of the road I'm usually on, and even a few that I definitely never thought I would be on and wish I hadn't taken. But I did take them. And even though it was hard going, I made it through. God knows where we are going even if we don't and even if the road seems wrong, He has a reason for us to take it.

Thanks to Aunt Cindy for tagging me for this. It was cool to think of all the different six word phrases that could sum up life. Of course, six words aren't usually going to cover it all, but sometimes it's inspiring to simplify.

MEME from Mummy

I have not posted since February. But life and wedding plans and all else are making time fly by, and really, I guess I haven't been inspired to post anything. Sad, I know. Anyways, here is a little something I tagged myself for from my Mum.

JOBS I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE:
1. Housekeeper at the Shire Inn
2. Waitress
3. College bookstore customer service
4. Administrative assistant- currently for the criminal investigation division of a police department!

MOVIES I HAVE/WOULD WATCH AGAIN AND AGAIN:
1. Under the Tuscan Sun
2. 50 First Dates
3. Dirty Dancing
4. Grease

PLACES I HAVE LIVED:
1. Chelsea, VT
2. Tunbridge, VT
3. Fairfax, VA
4. Soon will live: Aldie, VA

PEOPLE I WANT TO SLAP RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK:
1. I agree with Mom on the first one- people who are unkind to the elderly and who mistreat children.
2. People who are ignorant about individuals with Down Syndrome and who show that ignorance through the way they speak about them.

3. Sales people who tell you about how wasted (drunk) they got the night before and that's why they can't provide you exceptional customer service that day.
4. People who speak and make judgements about things they don't really know about.

PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME REGULARLY:
1. Mom is the only person who really e-mails me REGULARLY.
2. Casey has been e-mailing me at least one thread a day lately.

3.
4.

TV SHOWS I WATCH/FICTIONAL:
1. Wow, I'm so much like Mom, haha. My Husband-To-Be controls the remote and when he's home the TV is pretty much always on. However, this time of year (tax season) he doesn't get home until late, so when I get home and make dinner, I watch TV- though it's not usually fictional. I've been watching lots of wedding shows (Bulging Brides is a current favorite), and I also watch HGTV or TLC quite a bit. Honestly, I come home and check HGTV, TLC, Bravo, WeTV, and Style, and if there is nothing on those channels I want to watch, I turn off the TV. Well, sometimes I check the movie channels, but lately I just turn it off. It's good when there is nothing on I want to watch, which is usually, because really, I don't like to waste time watching TV when there are better things to be doing.

PLACES I HAVE VISITED:
1. Florida- Orlando, Daytona, Cocoa Beach, Panama City Beach

2. The Grand Canyon

3. Scotland- Edinburgh, Glasgow

4. London

FAVORITE FOODS:
1. Meme's Christmas rolls
2. Homemade mac and cheese

3. Buffalo chicken salads from Chilis... or made at home!
4. Chicken ala Kenny

WHERE I WANT TO BE RIGHT NOW:
1. VERMONT- even with all the snow!
2. At the river or orchard hanging out with my besties.
3. The beach, boogie boarding with Casey.
4. On a train travelling across Rannoch Moor.

THINGS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR:
1. Moving into our condo in April!
2. Getting married in August!
3. St. Lucia with Casey- our first trip we've taken together that requires a passport!
4. Any time I get to spend with friends and family celebrating life.