Honeymooning Adventures

All week we have been seeing peanuts from The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg in the various shops we’ve been browsing as we explored nearby towns.  Adam and I just finished off the can of Salted Caramel Honey Roasted Peanuts we had purchased our first night here as a late afternoon snack.  That’s how I know this honeymoon vacation is nearly over; we had been nibbling on the peanuts here and there throughout the week and now the can is empty and in the trash and my mind is thinking ahead to having to pack up our belongings and hitting the road to drive north back to Ohio.  This week went by so quickly…just like the wedding last weekend!  I can’t believe we’ve been married for six days already!  I hope this summer slows down as we settle into the new house and fall into a routine.  At some point eventually I will need to focus on schoolwork and prepping for the fall semester but all I want to do is relish this time with my new husband, enjoy the sunshine, and play with the pup.  Ha!  I guess all will happen in due time.

Looking back over all that we were able to see this past week, we spent all of Tuesday at Busch Gardens Amusement Park thanks to the generosity of my older brother and his wife where we walked and walked and walked as we rode all of the roller coasters!  I was so glad I had purchased a pair of shoes from the Nike Outlets (thanks Ash!) since I had forgotten to pack sneakers.  Lesson learned…I will need to always keep a pair of sneakers and socks in Adam’s car like I do in my car..haha!  Neither of us has been to this Busch Gardens location and we both enjoyed ourselves.  Adam enjoyed the greenery and vegetation while I liked the various animals we saw that lent a zoo-like feel to the amusement park.  We “traveled around the world” Busch Gardens-style as we entered and exited different country regions within the resort.  We learned that back in the olden days, if a man threw an apple at a gal, he was proposing marriage to her.  Boy, am I glad that custom is not still around and Canada is known for having the highest number of people who eat cheddar cheese (perhaps I’m a Canadian at heart?) and Spain is credited as creating the first lollipop.  My favorite country of the park was of course, Ireland, where I bought a shamrock charm (thanks Patrick!) that came from the same company where my Claddagh ring came from that my parents had purchased for me in Jim Thorpe, Pa at an Irish gift shop.  Adam and I also enjoyed a pint of Bold Rock Apple Hard Cider (mmm!!! ) that took the edge off our thirst for it was a sunny 90 degree day.  After 8 hours of playing (how appropriate…my niece and nephews were with us in spirit!) at Busch Gardens we were more than ready for dinner! 

We headed over to “Food for Thought” that had been recommended by a couple friends and we were not disappointed.  I loved the quotes and inspirational sayings that were displayed along the walls and the service was superb!!  It turns out our waiter had spent a couple years in California right after college!  When he found out we were on our honeymoon, he promptly declared dessert would be on the house which made our strawberry and banana crepe taste that much sweeter!!  My favorite quote from that night was from Ralph Waldo Emerson (who coincidentally had a birthday this past week!):  “What lies behind us and before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us”.  I love love love this quote!  It reminds me of redemptive mercy.  Why dwell on the past or worry about the future when you can only control the here and now…control may not be the right word….maybe just live in the moment.  Focus on what is happening in the moment, amidst others and ourselves.  Yes, I’m sad the honeymoon is coming to an end and it’s time to return to the “real world” but fortunately, Adam and I have only (God willing) just begun and I’m excited about what the future holds.  I can’t wait to sleep in the new house for the first time and to be reunited with Dusty Shamrock.  We have a summer to make the house into a home, to get the thank yous written, to prepare for the new school year but instead of thinking of all those things right here right now, I need to focus on the fact that in a half hour Adam and I get to go to the Blue Talon Bistro (thanks Mark and Liz!!) for our last dinner in Williamsburg for now.  What lies within us is the love and grace thanks to God that will helps us to overcome any challenges or bumps in the road that may come our way.  There will be other vacations and new places to explore in the future but I’m also super excited to live the everyday living with my best friend under one roof.  No more saying goodnight at midnight or 1am as I drive back to the house I was renting.  No more figuring out which house Dusty was going to stay at that night.  No more having to drive to each other and coordinating schedules.  Will figuring out chores and making grocery lists be as exciting as planning out a vacation itinerary?  Will cutting the grass and doing laundry be as fun as visiting historical sites and learning about the events of centuries ago?  Probably not but I think there is a different kind of joy and togetherness that can be taken from the mundane and household routines.  Again, all that matters is what lies within us.  I’d like to take that concept a step further and say not only what lies within us or among us and others but also what matters is what we do with it.  How can we inspire others or help to make a difference for the good of others?  For some, it may be as sharing a smile with a lonely stranger or it could be the time you take to interact with a toddler as a young mom tries to figure out how she’s going to pay for the car’s repairs at the mechanic shop.  In any event, let’s all strive to demonstrate how what lies among us or within us can help to make the world a better place by focusing on the positive contributions we can make. 

On Wednesday, we took a bit of a road trip by riding down Colonial Historical National Parkway to Yorktown and then to Jamestown before returning to Williamsburg.  This was a quiet and relaxing day that involved riding a trolley through historical Yorktown and down Main Street where we enjoyed a video tour as we rode the trolley, snacking on some new Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavors along the York River as we people watched, and looking at the outdoor exhibits of the museum by the Wind Mill of Yorktown.  In Jamestown, we enjoyed the visitor’s center, a brief informational video, and learned more about the original 13 colonies as well as information on the state flags and states as they entered the Union.  In Williamsburg, we visited Williamsburg Pottery (a huge complex of pottery, lawn ornaments, picture frames, and other home décor) and the largest Yankee Candle Store I had ever visited.  Our car has been smelling really good these days thanks to the “Sun & Sand” air freshener we purchased (for only $2!!) there.  The friendly woman who checked us out recognized my 717 area code and shared that she used to live in Hanover, PA.  We had a lovely conversation with her about York and Hanover before leaving for dinner at the Captain George’s Seafood Buffett Restaurant that had also been recommended to us. 

The seafood buffet was amazing!!  There were 80+ items on the buffet that resembled parts of a ship.  The desserts were stationed near the indoor lighthouse and the lighting was the perfect accent to complete the experience of feeling like you were actually on a ship.  However, I disliked the smell (again…it was a seafood buffet so there is really no getting around that!).  I tried things I never had before and discovered I really really really liked the sautéed mushrooms (go figure!) and mini hush puppies.  Of the seafood, the salmon was my favorite though.

Once we returned to the resort, we went straight to the Colonial Room (the activity room) to enjoy a talk given by “Ben Franklin”.  The actor was engaging and drew us in to Ben’s story.  I had no idea his mother was one of the Folger girls (from Folgers Coffee) and was reminded of long forgotten facts I am sure I learned in elementary school about the prolific inventor.  Adam and I continued to relax after that segment when some jazz music was played on the piano.  Fortunately, we made it back to our room as the first few raindrops fell.  We enjoyed the thunderstorm that followed from our dry cozy room.  It rained all throughout the night but we were okay with that for we had had beautiful weather during the whole time here to that point.  Thursday morning, hot and humid, found us at “Southern Pancake House” for breakfast before we hit the road for Virginia Beach (a little over an hour’s drive away from Williamsburg).  There are SO many pancake & waffle houses here in Williamsburg!  We had a lazy and quiet afternoon at Virginia Beach before we met up with Dan and Sue, family friends who happen to live in the area.  They welcomed us into their beautiful home then took us to a historical charming restaurant/conference center/hotel called, “Founder’s Inn” that reminded all of us a little bit of Heritage Hills (where the reception was last week)!  Once again, the service, food, and sangria were perfect!  Thanks to Sue and Dan for a fun night in Virginia Beach. 

Once Adam and I hit the road (literally and figuratively) to return to Williamsburg last night, I just had to take him to his first WaWa gas station.  He is with me in liking Sheetz more but we definitely still enjoyed the caramel cheesecake smoothie we shared on the way home.  We unexpectedly drove over a curb (remember those bumps in the road I alluded to earlier?) that landed us at a mechanic first thing this morning.  Where did this curb snafu happen?  Well, none other than near Cleveland Road in Virginia Beach….(the new house is located on Cleveland Avenue!!).  Another fun little twist is that there is a garage right outside our resort (smack in the middle between a senior center and a school) so we didn’t have to travel very far at all to have the car repaired to ensure a safe ride home to Ohio before we can have the car looked at again.  The people were very friendly, courteous, and fast!  We would definitely recommend The Auto Clinic (TAC) for any car issues while visiting Williamsburg, VA. 

After the repairs, we headed over to the Williamsburg Salt Spa upon the recommendation of a friend.  Thanks once again to my Dad’s military discount (yay Air Force!), we were able to enjoy a 45 minute session of sitting in the Salt Room.  This was quite a unique experience of sitting in a zero gravity chair (it felt like a regular lawn chair) in a room that was decorated to look and feel like a cave.  At the end of the 45 minutes, my lips tasted a little like salt and I even had a small piece in my sock (you weren’t allowed to wear shoes in the cave) that I kept as a souvenir.  I enjoyed the salt scrub soap in the bathroom and also purchased some bath salts for the new house.  Along with Adam and me, there were two older gentlemen also reclining in chairs in the salt cave during our session.  One snored and the other coughed and let himself out of the cave twice so I was never able to completely fully relax during our session.  I’m not sure I would do it again but it was a fun experience to try out once.  If I didn’t have sunburn from yesterday’s beach trip, I would have suggested a massage since I think Adam and I would have enjoyed those more even though I’m not much of a massage person. 

So, here we are, on our last full day of the honeymoon (boohoo!!) but I’m excited about tonight’s events.  We’re heading back to Colonial Williamsburg for an early dinner at Blue Talon Bistro (thanks Mark & Liz!) before we walk off all the calories (I hope) during the Ghost Tour tonight where we’ll hopefully learn more history and have a spooky good time!

Most Magical Day

Our wedding day got off to a slow start with my awaking after a couple hours of sleep to get the day started for I was too excited to keep lying in bed as the sun rose the morning of 05/23/15 but then quickly sped up as folk started popping into my parents’ and my hotel room.  The texts and comments from excited friends were fun to read as my parents and I prepared for the day.  Mom quickly ran the snacks down to the hair room while Dad answered questions as folks started coming to our room with last minute questions.  As the night before, the children were in and out of the room all morning. 

I had ordered breakfast for the immediate wedding party to be delivered to the hotel between 9:30 and 10am and they were delivered right on time.  From Big Apple Bagels on Haines Road just down the street from the hotel, fresh bagels, mini-muffins, and cream cheese were delivered to each of our siblings and their families by my Aunt Marie and cousin Mikey.  Mom dropped me off at the makeup appointment in the hotel spa at 10am. 

While I was “hiding” in the salon, Mom saw Adam at the front desk paying for his massage appointment.  She reported back that he was very relaxed and heading back to his room.  A flutter of butterflies in my stomach joined the excited feelings and I wished I could go see him right then and there but I knew it wouldn’t be long before I would see him at the church that afternoon.  A complimentary mimosa was served that was quickly sipped in the time spent waiting for the arrival of the makeup girl.  For some reason, my appointment didn’t begin until twenty minutes later which admittedly added some stress/worry to that morning for everything else was delayed after that but as my family and Heather, my matron of honor, kept saying, “It’s okay because today is the one day you can be late” but it was still a bit nerve-racking as the clock kept ticking and I realized how behind schedule we were.  I LOVED the makeup application even more than what was done last Saturday during the practice makeup session.  I couldn’t wait to add the sparkle spray Ashley had purchased for me later in the day as well.

Next, it was time to have my hair done by my former hairstylist in York.  Natalie and her assistant, Jordan, had been in the hair room since 8:30am working tirelessly in the back to back appointments that were scheduled for my mother-in-law, three of my sisters-in-law, my niece, mom, matron of honor, and me.  It was during this time that I remembered to finally eat something and I enjoyed the cheese bagel left over from one of the morning deliveries.  During my hair appointment, Juliana and her assistant, Eliciane, arrived and took some “getting ready” photos in the various rooms where our siblings and their children were getting ready.  With each appointment and arrival of someone new, my excitement grew but I wasn’t nervous just yet.  I felt this overwhelming sense of peace and God’s presence all morning even amidst the panic when I realized I accidentally didn’t order enough breakfast boxes for each family and had to improvise, in spite of the 20 minute delay of the makeup appointment, and getting started with the hair much later than planned for when my hair was done, we were already five minutes past the time that we were to have departed for church!  Some quick thinking and informing Adam and his parents of the slight change in plans in having them arrive to the church before my parents, matron of honor, and me helped to ease some of the worry over how late we were running. 

Now that we knew Adam would go to the church first, we had little bit more time for me to get ready and for the photographers to take some quick shots.  I loved when Juliana and Heather reported back to us after seeing Adam and said how handsome he looked.  I couldn’t wait to see him all the more.  What an excited sense of anticipation the morning held!  Before long, it was time to go down to the hotel lobby to do the “First Look” with my Dad.  He, like Adam, didn’t know what dress I was wearing and patiently awaited my arrival by vacating his room in the last 10 minutes so I could get dressed and come down to the lobby with hair and makeup in place.  My mom, Heather, and the two photographers quickly left the 3^rd floor and it was then as I stood waiting for the elevator alone that the nerves kicked in a bit.  I wanted Adam there and to be in his presence already but was SO excited for my Dad to see the final look of everything put together.  He had seen the practice hair and makeup in the week prior and had been behind the scenes over the last year as everything was planned and Mom and I went over every fine little detail (over and over and over) throughout the planning process but this was it!  This was the moment….once Dad saw me, there was no turning back as we were getting in the car and driving over to the church that was most certainly already bustling and full with loved ones who had come from near and far to be with us as we celebrated the blessed sacrament of marriage.  It was really happening…finally….after all this waiting…and the nerves as well as the excitement were building.  So I sent up a quick prayer of thanksgiving as the elevator descended the three floors to the lobby.  The doors opened and there was Dad.  As soon as our eyes met, we were both overcome with emotion.  My older brother, Brian, was also there.  He watched with Heather and Mom as Dad and I greeted each other.  He looked so handsome in his suit and the lost boutineer that was replaced with one of the ring bearer’s boutineer looked fine!  It actually looked better than the original one I had made for him due to it matching my dress better but still being able to go with Mom’s.  Ironically, his original boutineer was found in the car on the way to the church so we were able to give it to Dustin, my oldest nephew on Adam’s side to wear at the last minute.

Once at the church, Heather and I made a beeline for the chapel where Adam had been waiting for at least 15 minutes.  The videographers were also there waiting for us.  They said that since I had seen the back of Adam in his suit already during the final fitting earlier that week that I was able to walk into the chapel and see him from behind…I’ll never forget that feeling as I came around the corner.  Everything seemed to fall away and quiet down as I entered the chapel.  There stood my tall future husband in his suit facing the stained glass windows.  More than anything I wanted him to turn around and for us to embrace but once again, we had to wait for we knew that in just a few moments we would be able to do that in the church.  Heather hung back in the hallway but was holding back tears as I approached Adam and stood back to back with him.  He clasped my hands and we greeted one another.  I was overcome with emotion as the familiarity of my hand in his took over and he began leading us in prayer.  We also exchanged a card and a prayer journal.  Reading his words printed on the page made me cry (in a good way) and I was a sniffling mess as the photographer and videographer documented the “First Non-Look”.  All too soon, it was time to say goodbye with a “see you at the altar!” and Heather and I retreated to the restroom where we saw more friends.  I still felt calm but just wanted to get started with the ceremony as I knew we were behind schedule but was surprise to hear we were only 5 minutes behind at that point!  Soon, the music started and both sides of the family, Heather, and I were ready and lined up outside the door in the narthex of the church.  Meredith, Ashley, and Monika as well as my cousins, Mikey and Ethan, were also there.  I loved seeing all the colors together for the first time!  My beautiful friends in their beautiful blue dresses and silver sparkly shoes were so gorgeous.  Then my newly combined family dressed in sand khaki suits with the pastel light green and purple ties and dresses were radiant in their spring colors.  Heather and Patrick added splashes of bright pink to round out the color scheme and Mason’s dress was the perfect blend of the lilac and mint green as the flower girl.  Both sets of parents were beautiful as well with my mother-in-law in a dress similar to my Mom’s in that both were flowy, sheer, and had sparkly embellishments on them.  The boutineers and flowers added small bursts of color to the suits and girls’ dresses and the pocket squares and socks seemed to work for the men!  The little boys’ bowties and bigger boys’ ties completed the look as well.  I couldn’t wait to see Adam in his light suit with chocolate brown accents!  He wore a vest, as did the fathers but also wore a bowtie like the little boys while the other men wore ties.  My favorite part of the men’s look however was the shoes!!!  The chocolate brown shoes that were shiny and smooth reminded me of puddles of chocolate.  I loved them!  The funny part was when the little boys heard me say that and throughout the day asked me where the chocolate shoes were for they had taken me literally when I said that..haha!

As my friends, each family, and my cousins seated themselves, the butterflies increased..especially when I almost forgot to place the veil over my face but Heather quickly helped me with that.  I was so glad Dad was there for his calming presence kept me calm.  Before long, it was time to go join Adam!!  The doors opened and in we walked to the church.  It was so surreal seeing all the cherished smiling faces in the family and friends who had made the trip to join us.  My favorite view was Adam standing next to Fr. Jack though.  Yes, this was the best walk I ever took on the arm of the first man I loved guiding me to the man I love and get to spend the rest of my life doing just that!  How wonderful and I’m SO appreciative of this opportunity.  Praise God for guiding us to each other and knowing what He was doing all along…His plans for us are SO much better than anything we can even try to come up with on our own. 

When we sat down and mass began, at one point, I looked over at Adam and he said, “You’re so sparkly!”  Hehe….yay for the sparkle spray from Ash!  ;)  Mass was over in a blur (albeit with a mistake or two on my part) but I felt like we were able to thoroughly take in everything and be fully present thanks in large part to Fr. Jack, my Aunt Maureen, and family friend Laura for how they coordinated and set everything up for us.  I can’t imagine how the wedding mass would have been without these three very important people to us and am so glad that they were such a huge part of the day.  The music of Kim Kalman was just the icing on the cake.  I was surprised at how much I didn’t mind the presence of the four altar servers provided by the church for all I cared about in that moment was being one with God and Adam!

One of the (many) highlights was also greeting each guest as he or she exited the church pew at the conclusion of the mass as a friend of ours from NC, Lynn, sang so beautifully the recessional song, “Companions on the Journey”.  Seeing all these companions who played some role in each of our journeys no matter how minor and knowing they cared enough to come spend the day with us was overwhelming but in a good way.  We are so blessed with our supportive network of folks who help to build us up rather than tear us down and I hope we can be the same for them!

After the mass, as a new combined family we attempted photos in the church.  As with doing anything with children, some photo attempts were more successful than others.  Once we were done at the church by 4:04pm (we had to vacate the premises by 4pm so they could prepare for the 5pm mass), Adam, the photographers, and I headed downtown.  Juliana and Elciane really did think of everything!!  They had cold water in the trunk and some snacks in the front seat for us to nibble on as we drove the 4 miles downtown for some city shots.  Again, I couldn’t imagine doing photos all day long with any others besides these two awesome girls.  They were so accommodation and joyful and excited for us throughout the day yet were professional and got the job done.  We were so blessed to have them share in our day with us!  We then drove over to Heritage Hills where we met up with Heather and the best man, Adam’s brother Mark, as well as the videographer and the wedding day coordinator Jackie.  We all hopped into golf carts (it was Juliana’s and Adam’s first time driving them) to the grounds where more photos were quickly taken.  Upon our return to the hotel, we reconnected with our family and the girls in the holding room.  I quickly scarfed down some delicious coconut shrimp, meatballs, and cucumber rounds.  The cheese and cheese dip were yummy too!  Within five minutes, it was time to go upstairs to be introduced to the reception for Fr. Jack had to quickly leave after the blessing to make his flight in Baltimore.

I know everyone says it, but I truly can’t believe how FAST the day went!!!  The reception was over before it started it seems like!!!  There were so many people I didn’t get to talk to and not nearly enough dancing done by Adam or me and oh, the cookies!!!!  Thank goodness my cousin and Laura quickly made a goodie bag of cookies for us to take with us on the way out after our sparkler send-off.  I was glad they did this with the few cookies we had as we enjoyed them tremendously the next day when we drove to the mystery honeymoon location.  It seemed like everyone enjoyed themselves (and the food) and that was my main goal anyhow…to be sure that folks were able to socialize, relax, and just be in the moment as we all celebrated together.  Jokingly, I said to Adam yesterday that I wish we could go back and be guests at the reception to take it all in and enjoy it all the more..haha! 

The  next morning, most of our family and some other guests joined us for mass at the same church and a brunch (I had a delicious French Toast that contained bread covered in Frosted Flakes!) at Knickers Pub which is also on the grounds before we all parted ways.  Adam’s brother and his family had already left for Philadelphia, Wendy (Adam’s sister) and her family were heading to Washington, DC, and his parents spent the afternoon in Lancaster while my parents returned home to northeastern PA, my aunt, uncle, and cousin drove back to Pittsburgh, my aunt and her friend headed north to Boston, and my three brothers all drove back to their homes in central PA and Dover, DE.  Adam and I headed south to our mystery destination which turned out to be Williamsburg, Virginia!  I had suspected that was where we were headed but the “clues” Adam gave me the last few days hadn’t matched up with that location so he threw me off the trail.  Haha! The drive to VA from York was spent with Adam driving and me reading to him all the loving messages/comments/well wishes via text, email, and Facebook.  We also were able to open our cards from the beautiful bird cage Alicia (California sister-in-law) had given us from Mark’s and her wedding.  It was so fun reading all the messages and well wishes as we drove further and further south to our honeymoon!

The resort is very relaxing and peaceful in a wooded area but is also still close to Colonial Williamsburg being only a few minutes’ drive from it.  The first night was spent getting settled and unpacking before we ordered some Italian food for delivery from a restaurant that was recommended to us by Sheresa and her husband in North Carolina.  Our first full day here was spent relaxing and having a quiet morning of swimming in one of the pools (first swim of Summer 2015!) and enjoying the beautiful weather.  We then drove to Colonial Williamsburg and found a coffeehouse another North Carolina friend recommended we try.  Aromas was full of character and charm and had some fantastic grub and smoothies.  Adam had a pineapple coconut smoothie that tasted just like a pina colada and my Aromaccino smoothie of coffee ice cream with caramel and whipped cream was soooo good!  It was here that we were able to not only post the reception movie as requested (my laptop won’t work at the resort for some reason) but we also were able to research some of the activities folks had suggested we do and were able to create a loose itinerary for the rest of the week.  After a couple hours relaxing at this charming coffeehouse we took in all that colonial Williamsburg had to offer by browsing the shops and looking at the old buildings.  This part of Colonial Williamsburg reminded me a lot of Old Salem in Winston-Salem in NC but much bigger of course! 

On the way home, we picked up a pair of sneakers from the Nike Outlet so that I could be prepared for our day at Busch Gardens today!!  Bring on the roller coasters!!

The only down side of the trip thus far happened last night on the way back to the resort.  When looking at my phone at the GPS, I saw I received a notification from a former friend regarding a comment he had posted on a friend’s picture.  It wasn’t the nicest of comments and was quickly removed by someone but the impact of it was long reaching and permanent.  This incident that put a damper on the first day of the honeymoon for me reminds me that social media can be used for many wonderful things (such as gathering ideas for a honeymoon trip (thank you again for the awesome suggestions!!) or helping a guy from California and a girl in North Carolina to connect (I’m SO glad that worked out the way it did -haha!) but it can also be used in negative ways.  My prayer for this moment right now, as I use another form of social media through blogging, is that we all are a little more cognizant of the impact our words/actions can have on others both online and offline.  Even if we say something in the heat of the moment or think we are 1000% right about what it is we’re stating/feeling, we need to be mindful of the repercussions of that action or lack of action.  We are all entitled to our own opinions, beliefs, positions, thoughts and I respect that.  I would never dare try to impose my thoughts/beliefs on another even if others may assume that is the intent behind by an action/something that was said but I guess what I’m trying to say is the simple element of being kind to one another is the same regardless of on which side of the fence we fall.  So, rather than focus on the pain from last night’s comment and what it implied, and admittedly after letting a few tears fall the moment it happened, I’m trying to move past it and still embrace each day for all the beauty it holds.  Instead of wallowing in it, I’ll offer up a prayer for this friend as I have each time I thought of this couple so many times over the years since our friendship was forever changed in October 2013 over an action I felt compelled I had to make.  I do have to say though, that my new husband rocks is awesome!  Even with trying to hide how deeply affected I was by this comment that was made, he knew it upset me and helped to distract me to make me feel better.  Again…..God knows what He’s doing…trust in that and lean into HIM!  I have a feeling I will have to do this in a few short hours while I’m on a scary roller coaster ride too.  ;) 

One day!

Yet another morning has arrived and I'm awake at 5am which has been par for the course this past week and a half.  The difference this morning is that my pup is not here for me to pet as he is at the kennel for the weekend (sniff, sniff).  I know he is in good hands but I miss that little furball of love.  Another huge difference is that when I viewed our wedding website, there was only ONE day left remaining in the countdown.  As my friend, Jim, said, "I remember when it used to be "one day...", but now it's "one day!" Tonight we get to practice in the church with our loved ones and priest at our side.  It will be the first time our two families will all be meeting at once and I'm so excited I can barely contain it!!  Thank God everyone arrived or is in the process of arriving to YoPa safely.

I also awoke to an email from the DJ confirming a change in the timeline and sent the updated timeline to the vendors.  That was the last (for now) item on my to-do list before leaving my parents' home.  !!!!  I Jamberried my nails last night, am nearly packed, and thought of one more stop we need to make in York before checking in at the hotel.  Hopefully we will have time for that stop as I want to provide one more surprise for the wedding party tonight.

When signing in to write this post, I happened to see this quote on another blog I follow:

We are all divinely connected, despite the time and distance. Not everyone is in tune with it and in our modern day world, most of us will lose ourselves in the day to day busy life, getting lost in the material things of this world, making a living, stressful situations that need to be resolved, etc… is this really why we are here on this earth? Or, do we dig deeper to find our true calling, our soul purpose?

Reading the words above gave me pause.  From the moment my feet hit the floor on this still dark Friday morning my mind was whirring thinking of what needs to get done before we make the 1.5 hour trip south to wedding weekend.  I was also thinking about the news I received yesterday from a dear friend in NC who can't attend the wedding after all due to some family emergencies that are happening.  Two family members fell ill at the same time in unrelated cases and both are in the hospital so I can just imagine the stress and worry the family is going through...not to mention the hassle of having to cancel travel arrangements due to not being able to attend the wedding.  Please keep Tammy and her fam in your prayers and thoughts as they face so much uncertainty health-wise today.  Back to the quote...yes, we are all connected even if we might not see each other regularly or at joyous celebrations which is what will happening this weekend.  Let's try to

not get swept up in the to-do lists,

the busy busy busy lifestyle, and

forget to embrace those in our lives right here right now.

I will try to keep the above quote in my mind over the coming days to try to fully embrace every little moment amidst the details.  Family and friends have come from both near and far to help us celebrate and for that I'm so so so grateful.  I can't wait to see everyone and to walk down that aisle to the man I love on the arm of the first man I loved.  With God at the center of it all, I pray we have the grace, humility, and strength to see this love on through obstacles, challenges, and anything else that may come our way.  Only a little over 24 hours to go until we take each other officially as play AND prayer partners. Yesterday was nineteen months since Adam and I first emailed one another and tomorrow will mark the blessed sacrament signifying we've got forever to go! 

Image and caption taken from Fierce Marriage

Sometimes the simplest concepts are the ones that cause the most powerful impact. Here's what we mean by Pray | Play | Stay:

Pray: bring your entire lives before God. Talk to Him often and talk to Him together. When we pray, we acknowledge our trust and faith in God and deepen our relationship with Him as our Father, Savior, and King.

Play: be friends. Be intentional about building your relationship and enjoying each others' company. Find activities that you can enjoy together, laugh with each other, and take joy in one another. Remind yourself why you love your spouse often.

Stay: when the fun moments aren't readily apparent and times get tough, just stick together and work through it. There is a beautiful sense of security when you're both committed to do whatever it takes to work through anything and everything.

Pic by Jeff Marsh Creative / ‪#‎marriage‬ ‪#‎love‬

Bachelorette Party Fun!

This past Saturday was a fun day spent with close friends and one of my sisters-in-law.  It started with my driving down to York and meeting up with Ashley at the salon where I will be having my makeup done for the wedding.  I'm so glad Ash was there with me to share in the fun in picking out colors and trying on looks that are different from what I normally do in day to day wear.  She also thought to take a before/after picture (something I completely forgot to do when it was Adam's turn for his transformation this past Monday).  Anyhow, here is the picture!  I wasn't too crazy about the lipstick in person but liked it in the picture below....otherwise I can't believe how different the after picture is from the before picture!

I think what I'm most excited about regarding the makeup is the surprise Ash bought....sparkle spray!  I hope all of the girls/moms will enjoy it as much as I know I will.  :)

After the salon, Ashley and I headed to one of my favorite breakfast places in York.  Big Apple Bagels was where I was waiting for my friend, Lauren, the morning of Monday, May 3, 2010 which was the day I found out whether or not I would be accepted as a Fellow to the National Leadership Consortium for Sensory Disabilities and as a result if I would be going to North Carolina the following school year.  I was not accepted as a fellow BUT was offered an assistantship through UNCG and still able to go obtain my PhD!!  Anyhow, that is one of my prominent visits to the bagel shop...when I met Lauren there super early that Monday morning to give her the keys she needed to get into her school/classroom that I accidentally had in my possession.  Another time I was there was when Ash and I swung by there on our way to BWI for me to catch a flight to Rhode Island!  So, this past Saturday morning, when we ate there, of course it was memorable again.  This time, we sat by the window and I Jamberried her nails as we ate our brunch.  I had a blueberry bagel with chocolate chip cream cheese...YUM!!!  Ash rocked her beige sparkly polka dots the rest of the day!  We also enjoyed the fact that a jewelry shop called, "Adam's Jewelers", was located right next to the bagel shop.  ; )

Next, it was time to drive on up to Harrisburg where we met up with Heather and Monika to paint a "Rainbow Tree" picture at Paint and Create, a new painting studio near where my twin and I used to live!  For the next two hours we let the creative juices flow, enjoyed some yummy wine, and excitedly talked about what we would be doing exactly one week from then (having fun on the wedding day..yay!).  I can't wait to hang the portrait in the new house and love that it is the perfect blend of two other paintings I created while down in North Carolina.  As Heather pointed out, I also loved the fact that the painting was SO colorful and whimsical...what a perfect choice of a painting!!

 

 

 I love how even with using the same supplies, having the same end goal in mind, and following the same "instructions" we have four dramatically different images....what a neat metaphor for life.  We're all give the same set of tools but the lived experience and difference we make is up to us to create!

After painting and getting our creativity on, we loaded up in Monika's car and headed to a new winery for me.  Spring Gate Vineyard reminded me a little bit of one of my favorite wineries over in Lancaster, Nissley, and I enjoyed it just as much as that place this past Saturday.  While there, Melanie and Alisha joined up with us to round out our group of six!  A fun twist was that the winery is very close to where my brother and his wife recently purchased some land for their new house!

The wine was delicious, the truffles were to die for (especially my bacon and peanut butter ones), Melanie added some humor through her chocolate treats she brought with her (she also brought fun beads for all of us to wear and a veil for me), and we enjoyed ourselves despite the rain that fell as we sat on the covered patio.

 

With dusk coming, it was now time to travel to downtown Harrisburg where we dined at an Italian restaurant right across the street from where my twin worked so many years ago at the Capitol Building.  Again we laughed at Adam's name coming up on the menu...guess he was with us in spirit all throughout this fun girls' day!  The dinner and dessert were yummy, the wine delicious, and the time spent with the girls very much needed and appreciated!!  I'm so lucky to have such a strong network of supportive women in my life!  Thank you for taking the time to show me some love and fun one week prior to the wedding and always!!  Hugs to you all and can't wait to do it again this coming weekend!!

Love how the Capitol Building decided to match some of our wedding colors by using the purple lights.  Hehe.

Small Town Church Memories

This past Sunday, Mom, Dad, and I took Adam to the church that was attached to my elementary school for the first time.  My brothers and I attended Holy Family when we first moved to Frackville so I spent 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th grades there.  5th grade was spent across town at St. Joseph's which was my favorite school before the 5th and 6th grades were moved back to Holy Family. 

We sat in the front pew and participated in the last mass Adam and I would attend as an engaged couple.  To the left of us was the Mary statue that I had stood in front of as a 3rd grader during May crowning by the entire school.  This was the statue I had been facing when I forgot the words to the Hail Mary when it was my turn to lead.  I remember being so mortified and crying to my Mom in the laundry room that night about how embarrassed I had been.  She taught me a trick to remember the words to the prayer by using the fingers on my hands that I still think of to this day.  The next day when it was my turn to lead the prayer I didn't forget the words.

From where we were sitting on Sunday morning, I could see into the back room where the priest gets ready before mass.  From my vantage point, I could see the area where 25+ years ago I sat as a child receiving the sacrament of Confession for the first time.  It was the only time I participated in face-to-face confession with the priest until I did it as an adult at St. Joseph's in 2008. 

So, as all the memories of childhood masses that were held each First Friday, and thinking of when a childhood friend's funeral was held there when we were 16 years old, and recalling what it was like to read the readings or prayers of the faithful, I tried to keep myself focused and present during the mass.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to hear one of our wedding mass readings during this past week's mass!  During the homily, Father talked about the "in between" waiting period and what do we do in that time?  He also talked about how we need to show kindness to everyone at all times and asked of us what do we do to show Christ's love to others?  Some of these statements reminded me of some of the topics we discussed up in Boston with the priest who will be presiding at our wedding specifically relating to hospitality.  How do we show others we care about them and we want them in our lives?  How do we make others feel welcome?  What are ways we can demonstrate their presence matters?  Hopefully everyone who makes the trip to York in a few short days will feel welcomed and at home even if it's the first time they stepped foot in southcentral PA!  However, I would challenge you, dear reader, to show a complete stranger he or she is welcome or better yet, someone whom you might not normally associate with...perhaps an adversary or someone whom you would rather not interact with needs to feel some of that love.

Pep Talk

At yesterday's graduation ceremony, the speaker was FANTASTIC!!  Below is a link to the whole ceremony but if you fast forward to the 50 min. 40 second mark, you will be able to listen to what Coach Lou Holtz had to say until the 1 hour and ten minute mark.  For another familiar face, check out the 23 min. 50 sec. and 2 hour, 43 min., 30 sec. marks.  ;)

After the ceremony, while standing outside the President's Reception on the phone giving Adam directions, Coach was a few feet away from me.  It's a shame I was on the phone otherwise I would have asked for a quick picture.  Oh well!!  I hope you find his words as inspiring as I did!

http://www.franciscan.edu/graduationevents/livestream/