Finally…an Update!
Just wanted to let everyone know that we arrived safely (if not a little tired) at our apartment in Paris. It’s 3:20 AM, we had fun trying to get our car back to the rental agency (neither of us would dare think of driving in Paris on Monday morning…). We have internet at the apartment, so I’ll try to catch everyone up on the ceremony, travels, et al.
Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement!
Shower #1
So because of the way Joel and I have decided to do all this, we get to to double up on a lot. 
From the beginning we have had twice as much to do in half the time, but we’re getting it done. But as a reward, we get to double up on other things, like showers (one in Texas and one in IL) and receptions (one in Texas and one in IL) and even weddings (yup, thats right folks, one over the pond and one here in the states to make it all “legal”…that trip to the courthouse will be fun). The beginning of these rewards started on Wednesday, July 30th in Peoria. Joel’s mom Donna and 2 sisters Katie & Kristin hosted a wonderful bridal shower. It was filled with laughter and games, sweet prayers and hugs, not to mention all the wonderful gifts which we are so thankful for.
The Gaping Wound
My Mom & Grandma made it all the way from Texas! they must love me
Joel even showed up for a while to watch me fearfully open more gifts in hopes of no more paper cuts
Our Mom's & their first children to get married.
Yummy Cake Table with lots of Chocolate Covered Strawberries...life doesn't get much better than cake and strawberries
How to Ask Politely
Is there a better way to say give us stuff? I’m of the opinion “no”. This is just for the people that are going to buy us stuff even if we tell them not to do so, thus:
We are registered at
in no particular order. A big thank you to everyone who has been so generous, to all the people that are coming to showers and receptions and possibly even the wedding, and as noted below, for all the support.
And should I say again we don’t expect anything, but are very thankful for everything we get? Or should I just leave it be. Probably both…
Work, Wedding, Sleep & Stress
We just wanted to say a big thank you for all the kind words, the help and support that we’ve received from quite a few people. Angela and I are working quite a bit, we have the wedding to plan, we live 20 minutes away from each other so there’s some driving, have several ongoing social responsibilities, we’re trying to figure out about the reception location, church stuff, get our announcements/invitations together, and, somewhere instatwixt there, get some sleep. In no particular order.
At least the weather is beautiful!
Just a couple more pics for everyone:
Watch Y'er Step
Too Cheesy?
My Lady's Fine
A Night on the Town
Just thought we would give everyone a heads up: our plan is currently to get married on September 02, 2008 (as is pretty clearly indicated by this URL!) in (or around) Florence, Italy. We are bringing 24 people with us, but anyone who is likely reading this post is more than welcome to come! Obviously this invitation is given understanding that going to Italy isn’t exactly cheap, so we won’t be offended if you can’t come, and clearly we won’t be offended if you don’t either!
For everyone who won’t be attending the actual ceremony, we are having two receptions here in the states. One will be in Peoria, IL and the other will be in Ft. Davis, TX.
View Larger Map Peoria, IL
View Larger Map Ft. Davis, TX
Our tentative Save-the-Dates are September 28 (Peoria, IL) and October 11 (Ft. Davis, TX). If you know us or are reading this or don’t know that you are reading this, you’re invited and more than welcome to either (or both!) of these parties. We have some details to hammer out concerning location, time, etc. We hope to send announcements (and invitations) within 60 days of either event, but clearly the more people know, the better.
I would also love to request prayer for both Angela and me. We’re under a lot of stress with work, the wedding, work, reception plans, work, the wedding, church, getting hitched, etc.
PLEASE get us your address and any other contact info. If you are interested in going to Italy (probably around $2K per person), PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! let us know ASAP!
Also, we got 89 unique guests yesterday, thanks!
Hidden Things Revealed
I know that I still have to explain why we’re getting married in Italy. And if you didn’t know that, apparently I had yet to explain that we are getting married in Italy. But now that you know that, the next logical question is why. But I will address that later. This is the where:
The Cortine Villa
This 15th century villa lies at the heart of the Chianti region (yes, that Chianti). It boasts three houses (along with various other buildings), two swimming pools, and a beautiful Renaissance garden. I could describe it further (or just copy/paste our travel agent’s opinion), but the pictures do it plenty of justice. Enjoy…
pictures. Like I said, people are going to be split over three houses, so I can’t promise for sure where you might end up (or what stories you’ll have to tell after).
For those who are coming, there are some interior shots. If you’re curious about the location, here’s the Google Map: The Cortine Villa
We plan to visit Florence, the Coast (possibly Lucca), and potentially Rome. We will effort to fly as close as possible, everyone is leaving from the largest international airport near you, etc.
Again, I promise further explanation at a later date for those who don’t already know. We love you all!
Joel and Angela
La Giardino
Little Pool
Little House
Little House
Little House
Middle House
Middle House
Middle House
Big House
Big Kitchen
Big House
Big House
The Front Gate
La Big Piscina
The Villa
The View
- The Big House
Trauma Drama
One of the worst things ever is being directly responsible for the wellbeing of someone you care for very deeply but, at the same time, being forced to inflict pain and potentially life threatening injuries in order to save them.
Or getting a ring stuck on someone’s finger.
I take a good deal of the blame. I should have more emphatically protested the night I handed her that white gold torture toy, but someone back me up: it is nearly (and I say nearly only to appease the double XXers out there) impossible to stop a woman from putting on the ring the moment it is handed to her.
If, however, the whole thing is to be a surprise, or you waste way too much time trying to pick a ring, or you’re just a numbskull, it is almost equally as impossible to pick a ring the right size. Additionally, rings are cast smaller than average (shrinking is harder than expanding), and jewelers refrain from making changes willy-nilly because it lowers the integrity of the ring each time it undergoes such stress.
Anyway, I’ve practically told the story. We tried several times to get the ring off beginning Saturday night and ending in panicked, wildly unsafe extraction efforts. I didn’t really begin to panic until Monday morning when I arrived at Angela’s to examine the evidence of Sunday’s efforts: swelling, bruising, and tear stained cheeks.
We did our best to let the finger rest Monday (I think she still tried from time to time to see if majik had happened). That night, Doug and Tyler were over for Operation Don’t Have to Call the Fire Department.
Tools: 1) Ice 2) Water 3) Bucket 4) Window Cleaner 5) Towels 6) Undisclosed Analgesics
O Happy Day
I have a low tolerance for cold; icing anything on me requires some sort of restraint. My baby stuck her hand in a bucket of ice water for 30+ minutes. Yes, there was kicking, screaming, various expressions of pain and suffering, but, overall, a rather well maintained composure. Google suggested that we watch for extreme color changes in body parts exposed to such extreme cold. So we did.
The thing that really confused me was that she could feel pain after a certain threshhold; namely, the one where your finger turns bright purple.
Picture the scene (for obvious reasons, we were a little too distracted to take pictures): Doug had taken a hold of her palm; I was holding tight to the ring; all the while, Tyler dutifully applied copious amounts of window cleaner (don’t worry mom, it was a generic). I pulled and coaxed and cajoled while doug did the same from the other end. We got some movement! The thing was actually coming off! Until it stopped!
It literally was stuck between an ever swelling finger and an ever swelling knuckle. Angela’s finger began to turn blurplack. The screaming began.
If, at any point in your life, you need someone to do something to you that will hurt, and hurt a great deal, here is a piece of advice: find someone that HATES you. Love gets in the way.
I was about to push the ring back toward her palm, hoping it hadn’t swollen too much. I was about to really, honestly, genuinely freak out. People parts should not be that color. It was only through Doug’s encouragement (he doesn’t do well with losing) and desparately muttered prayers that I struggled on. The window cleaner flew like a torrent from the heavens. I hesitated for another moment, torn between causing pain and risking permanent damage to a finger I’m rather fond of, potentially having to cut in half something that had cost me time, money, and a great deal of emotional investment, and other, potentially unconsidered outcomes.
Then, what I will forever remember as what happiness is like, the thing popped off like a moscato cork, unexpected and loud (that may have been Angela), and I ducked. And now, when I sign a deal or an employee surpasses my grandest expectations, I will almost always feel happy. And I will duck.
Finally Engaged
For those that have been paying attention or are closely involved in the planning and attendance of our wedding may have noticed something a little odd…planning sans something shiny on Angela’s left hand.
It’s true, we’ve been working on the where/how/when/who (well, maybe not the who) of our nuptuals some time before we were actually engaged. As we explain the details and the rabbit trails, hopefully everything becomes clear…but I make no promises.
The Thing
I purchased the thing from a local jeweler after many weeks of consternation and internal struggle. I made the final decision at 4:00 PM on Saturday, June 27. The store owner very kindly asked if the stone could possibly be set that day, to which the jewler kindly laughed very loud.
For several days, we had been planning to take engagement pictures (yes, sans the ring) on Saturday, June 28. This will, hopefully, become clear later. Once this time crunch was revealed, the jeweler’s heart strings were plucked and he said (ver batim) “Let’s give it a shot.”
Filled with hope, I waited for them to call while we planned a birthday dinner for our friend (and photographer) Tyler (who did his best to hide that fact that we were making him take pictures of us all day on his birthday!). We were supposed to eat at 6:00 PM (which Angela pushed back to 7:00 PM, the time the store closed), so I was sweating it a little bit. Fortunately, just before we left, I got the thumbs up from the jeweler. I dropped Angela off at the restaurant to grab a seat (6:45ish) while I ran to get a card for Tyler (which I ended up having to run all over Grand Prarie to find). As I rushed breathlessly into the darkening store front and laid down my life savings, the owner explained that the jeweler was only able to set the stone to sit in its setting, but he needed “another hour or two” to bring it up to his level of satisfaction. This was, in her opinion, OK, because the ring surely wouldn’t fit anyway and would needed to be size the following week anyway.
The Fit of the Jig
So, having no plan and having procrastinated beyond everyone’s expectations (or, as Angela so helpfully just noted, “for three years”), I was now in breathless anticipation for any moment to present itself for my heartfealt (and totally unexpected) proposal to actually follow through on the wedding plans we had already made.
Six hours later, we found ourselves walking Aston (her Christmas present) before I took off for home. We discussed our plans for the following day’s wardrobe and location demands, Aston’s unique desire to mark every tree he passed (and, being a 10 pound dog, his inability to meet such demands), and the odd color of the moon. For the morrow, her only concern seemed to be finding some more jewelery to match one of her outfits. Yes, even I could hit that slow pitch.
Casually, I drew her new hardware from the hole it had burned in my pocket and asked if “this will work”.
It’s like Shakespeare.
Anyway, that’s it, she’s done well displaying it for all interested (or nearby) parties.
