Invitations and Family

Well FINALLY, I got the invitations ordered. Mom and I sat down tonight and worked on them. Jeff had already looked and voiced his opinion on what he liked and disliked so I was glad to have that to go on too. Mom was great to chat with and bounce ideas off of. She was also helping me with the wording, since my parents are divorced and since we lost Barney, the wording can be tricky. But I am very happy to say "we got it" and I think everyone will be happy with the outcome.

I started back to work this week, where did the summer go is the question we all have. It went by so fast and I can't believe in a couple of months I will be Mrs. Rose! I am so excited! I am also so thankful that we got as much done as we did during the summer. I can't imagine having to still do all that work and try to teach at the same time.

I found out this week too that my Aunt Jan, dad's sister in Midland, is going to be making the flower girl basket for Grace to carry. I am so glad she is doing this, she is really talented and I know it will look great. I am so grateful to have such a wonderful and supportive family. I think our wedding will be very special, others might not know all the personal touches we have done, but we will. I feel that with all the wonderful help from family and friends, our wedding will certainly be everything we had hoped for.

Flowers and More Flowers

Today, Mom, Debbie (her good friend) and I ventured into Houston to see what kind of flowers were available for the corsages, boutonnieres, and the bouquets. Well, we were shocked! We went to Fannin Flowers, and if you ever need ANY flower that is your place. It was amazing, we loved it. I knew that I wanted fall colors and roses. Diane (florist) had told me how many of each to get. So armed with the amounts, we set off to pick the colors. BOY, was I wrong to think it would be pretty easy to do. I loved them ALL and wanted them all. We were able to decide on some gorgeous flowers, greenery, and other arrangements for the wedding. I hope the girls and others will love the flowers as much as I did, the colors are going to be great. They are making an arrangement for us that promises to be wonderful looking. It is just another wonderful step in the process and one that makes me even more excited about the upcoming events...I can't wait to see it all come together!

Meetings and Meetings...

WOW, what a week. The week started out with a baby shower for my step-sister Terra on Sunday. She is having a little girl in October. This is her first and we are so excited for her.

Then Tuesday Jeff and I went to the church to meet with the minister and the music director to coordinate the wedding ceremony. I was nervous to figure out what we were going to have them play before, during and after the ceremony. Music is such a huge part of my life and Jeff's too, so we wanted a variety of stuff to be played. The music director is amazing, she can play anything and really helped us with the type of songs we were looking for. After about thirty to forty-five minutes and a bunch of wonderful songs, Jeff and I got the music picked out for the ceremony and we love it. Then it was off to meet with the minister. He is really great, a humble man who says that nobody is there to hear him speak, so his words will be short...can you believe that a minister who doesn't want to give a long sermon at the ceremony, AMEN! He spoke with us about the "vision" we saw for the ceremony, how we wanted things to be worded and to let us know that this is about us. He said that he is there to help us, but this is our commitment with God and to each other, so it should be what we want...not anyone else. We agreed. We are having an amazing song that will be sung by Sarah and a very unique reading done by Laura. The minister thought they were great and approved of them both. Jeff and I were very happy to have that hurdle crossed off our list.

They are Done!

The flowers, oh boy the flowers. Well I have been on the search for the flowers at the right price now for little over a month. I have bought all they have at one store and today I am heading to another to get the rest. It is a chore but I love it really. They arrangements are going to look so beautiful and I can't wait for everyone to see them. Diane, our florist, is amazing with silk flowers. As I have said before they weren't my first choice but she does/did a great job with the example she showed me that I am not worried at all. It is the buying them all that has me running in circles.

Saturday another hurdle was crossed as well. I put my shoes into be dyed (don't ask me how I forgot that one already) and my bridesmaid finished ordering their dresses! I am so glad....Pam, Macy, and Debra, all got theirs ordered yesterday and that completed my group! I know they are going to look amazing in their dresses and I can't thank them enough for being in the wedding. They are all so special to Jeff and I each in a very different way, we can't imagine not having them with us.

Dress Fitting

Thursday my mom and I went down to David's Bridal to have my first dress fitting. At first I thought, "what besides a bustle could they possibility need to do?" Well boy was I wrong. Unfortunately, the dress still fits (I wished it was to big but it could certainly be the other way) but the seamstress at Davids are WONDERFUL! First they helped me with a decision I needed to make regarding the sleeves. Also, they created a beautiful bustle on the dress and added some special touches that I had not even thought of. As I stood there in my dress, I fell in love with it even more. I knew from the minute I saw it I loved it but as I stood there and watched her work her magic, the dress became even more me and I loved it! I can't wait to wear it for everyone and especially for Jeff.

As Mom and I shared that special moment I looked over and saw her with tears in her eyes. I thought, oh we are in trouble if crying already. Kidding of course but she is happy for me and said she was thinking of that day. She knows like we all do that day will be one of extreme emotions. Those being of happiness and love and of loss. We will all be thinking of those who won't be there to see it. I guess that is what weddings do for us all. They make us realize what a wonderful event they are and help us to remember those we lost. I know that day though, that my grandmother (Mawm), my grandfather (Gramps), my uncle (Walt) and my step-father (Barney) will all be there in that church with us and walking me down the aisle. Because I believe that those people are with me everyday, so where else would they be on that most special of days, where all their family is gathered.

Our First Vacation!

On July 26, Jeff and I left for our first vacation together. We went to my "family" reunion in Georgia. I say family that way because they are family biologically but in my heart they all are so special to me. Over 35 of us came from all over the U.S. to Tybee Island, GA. We stayed a week and had a great time. I was nervous about Jeff going I will admit. I was afraid at first that something would happen and he would not be able to go, then I was nervous about how he would like everyone and they him. Well I should have known my worries were for nothing. I know he loved everyone and I felt like they loved him too. He is just that type of guy, easy going, never meets a stranger and is just him. I love that about him, his easy goingness (if that is even a word). I told Jeff that I want this to be the first of many vacations we take and he agreed. I think it is so important for people to go out and experience new places, we had a great time during that week and can't wait to see them all again at the wedding!

Pictures, Dress, and Songs!

Well it has been a while since my last post. Since then Jeff and I did more on the house, got our engagement pictures back and went on vacation together with my family. Our engagement pictures came out great. There are some that are our favorites and some I could do without. I guess that is normal, hard to take that many pictures and love them all. We got a couple shots that are so good that we are having a hard time choosing. That is a good thing right?

http://bigoakphotography.com/jeff_erin/index.html

Things are moving right along. I was supposed to go for my first dress fitting today (Aug. 5th) but a tropical storm has made its way to Texas and I think I will just sit this one out at home. Dress fitting can wait for another day. We have a meeting with the church on Tuesday, so that is exciting to finally get to talk about the ceremony with the minister. Also, my friend and bridesmaid Sarah agreed to sing in the wedding! We are both so honored that she said "yes". She has a beautiful voice and now picking just the right song for her will be a challenge. I want her to sing them all!