Weekend of Gratitude.

•I am grateful for the person(s) who had the thought to recycle the barn whose wood is currently gracing the presence of our backyard.

•I am grateful for The Reuse Center of Minneapolis who sold me the barnwood and gave me some pretty sweet glass doors too.

•I am grateful for Handsome Randy, my handsome husband, who is always willing to trust my visions, such as barnwood on the walls & ceiling of our soon to be 3 season porch.

•I am grateful for our neighbors to the south for being patient with my late night wood sanding. Sorry if I disturbed you - I was so focused on finishing that I didn't think about it until I was nearly done with the task at hand.

•I am grateful for the motion light on the garage of our neighbors to the north; the moon wasn't quite enough light for me to finish that last coat.

• I am grateful to live in a neighborhood in which I feel safe working on a project in my driveway at midnight with no second thoughts about it.

•I am grateful for my mom from who I inherited the ability to persevere so that I can do anything, like shellack 500 square feet of barnwood by myself over a weekend.

•I am grateful for the my mom again, she not only brought me dinner, she brought me Jung's Chicken Chow Mein for dinner.

•I am grateful for the quite perfect patio table given to us by Tim. Yay!

•I am grateful for my cat, Cyrus, who seems to have come around again after the loss of his companion of 9 years, Asha.

•I am grateful for my neighborhood Taco Bell being open late. The thought of a Cheesarito is really what kept me going during the very last stretch of sanding & shellacking.

•I am grateful to have a house and the resources to build a porch for it.

•I am grateful for the bathtub that I will soon sink into filled with hot water & epson salts. I will soak my aches and pains away while reading and dozing. Can't wait.

xoxx

married.

A few months ago, Randy & I were talking about, well I don't remember what we were talking about, but as we were talking it occurred to me that I should tell him something. So I did.

"Just so you know, I am ready to get married whenever you are."

He stared at me with what I think was curiosity (he may beg to differ), and I went on to articulate exactly what I meant and how I hoped we could go about doing things, when he too was ready, of course.

And so the ball started to roll. We talked often about our impending nuptials, marriage, being married, being a spouse and we talked about our hypothetical wedding. Somehow we seemed to agree on almost everything pertinent to the matter at hand.

And then he was ready. Just like that. As simply as had I told him the month before, he said to me one night, "I'm ready, we should figure all of this out soon."

And the plotting began.

Yesterday morning I woke up and sat at our dining room table listening to the day begin with such intensity. It was snowing outside. My favorite kind of snow, light & fluffy but full bodied flakes. This was the kind of snow that enticed my grandmother to love snowy days. And so on my wedding day, this kind of snow falling down calmed me a little bit & I took it as a little sign that grandma Bette was smiling on me & wishing me a lovely, perfect day.

And I did have a perfect day. I was a little anxious, of course so I kept myself busy with Lunch with one of my oldest friends (Natalie) and the most incredible massage ever at Spot Spa. I gussied myself up a little bit & then drank tea at a coffee house & looked over my vows and reflected on this crazy, new chapter I was about to open. I arrived home with enough tim to giggle with Randy before our small wedding cast arrived.

Randy's witness, Steve, an old friend, arrived first. Then came Dave, our friend & Wedding Officiant. Next it was Annie, my witness and friend since age six. Our friends Skye & Sarah arrived with camera equipment in tow. Soon it was time to dial up The Dads on Skype in Kansas City & Oaxaca, Mexico. Now we only had to wait for The Moms to arrive. They are the most exiting part in this because they had no idea.

Our moms thought they were coming over for a look at our bathroom and to offer advice before a dinner reservation. When each arrived we told them. We cried a lot and hugged each other tightly.

Our ceremony was short and took place in our dining room in front of our fireplace. When Dave started the ceremony I remember reaching into my pockets & squeezing my hands open & closed a few times to make sure it was really happening. I could hardly believe it.

Randy's vows made me cry, I think mine watered him up a little bit too. Everyone applauded when we were announced as married, we corked a bottle of champagne, signed the license and had a few photos taken.

Dinner was amazing. It was just us and The Moms. We were treated like royalty and there were all sorts of crazy presents waiting for us at the table...wine, champagne, Peonies...it was lovely.

A wedding more perfect couldn't have been imagined. I am so lucky and in love with such a great man. And with that, I am confident we have many years of wedded bliss ahead.

xoxx

Everett James Forston 3.13.08

Last week my aunt, Stephanie phoned me to confirm that I would available on a Sunday in April for my cousin, Jessie's baby shower. Jessie was due in mid to late April. I confirmed that yes, I was available & that I couldn't wait.

Neither could the baby.

Last Thursday Jessie wasn't feeling well, so she went to the doctor. The doctor took some tests and determined that it was time. By 3pm baby Everett was in the world. A little early (6 weeks) and pretty tiny (4lbs), but doing just fine and the cutest baby ever (next to his cousin, Wyatt of course). Mama Jessie is doing well also. Exciting!!

Babies are everywhere! In addition to Everett's birth last week, college friends Jon & Tiana welcomed their second daughter (name unknown to me) on Tuesday & Millicent was born to our friends, Erick & Andrea on Friday. Three in one week.

I still have 3 more friends due in April and another in May.
And then there are the three friends who just announced their pregnancies and are due in the fall.

xoxx

New Car!

So a in this post I eluded to a new car.

In early December Handsome Randy and I were driving his car, The Blaze, a couple of blocks from our house when a man in a brand new Bonneville ran a stop sign. We t-boned him and while we were only going 20 mph & the airbags didn't even go off, The Blaze was totaled. This incident inspired the purchase of a new car. Exciting.

And here she is.

A fantastic 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback!

An nice departure from my Thunderbird & HR's Blazer. We are both glad to be back to good gas mileage, manual transmission, and all wheel drive!

xoxx