Simplicity is key...

I got this from my pal Jamie who posted it here. I was inspired to do my own "The Simple Woman's Daybook".

Outside my window...
the night falls on my parents' new patio which my Dad, brothers and beloved built a couple weeks ago. The brick is from Normals first hotel which was built in 1850 and when it was torn down, they gave the bricks to my Dad.

I am thinking...
of how to make Mikey's and my wedding really "ours"... what do we want to communicate? I think I'm overthinking it.

I am thankful...
for the next seven weeks with my parents. Well, more like 6 weeks before chaos begins, but I'm thankful because being at home in Illinois and being with them grounds me.

From the kitchen...
er, nothing today.

I am wearing...
my black stretchy pants and my favorite v neck t-shirt i wear like every other day. It's so comfy. Thanks Buffalo Exchange for this.

I am creating...
a wedding and all that entails; flowers (not creating them but creating the arrangement of them), favors, centerpieces, song lists, decorations, menus, timelines, gifts for people helping....

I am going...
to bed soon. I like to hide from the world sometimes.

I am reading...
oh I wish I was reading. If I were reading a book it would be To China With Love by Hudson Taylor

I am praying...
that God would show me how to sit at His feet, to have a heart that is teachable, and to be a servant to my (future) husband and family.

I am hearing...
crickets. Ohhh how I love you crickets.

Around the house...
are jars that need ribbons, multiple little to-do lists, my Dad reading Founders on Religion and my Mom checking email.... quiet night.

One of my favorite things...
is coffee in the morning on the patio with a cool breeze, my bible and journal.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
wedding planning, arrival of some decorations I ordered online, Icenogles on Saturday, outdoor theatre on Friday, taking advantage of an awesome gym membership and working on a project non-wedding related.

Really rude of me, I know!

How rude of me, right?

I promise you posts.

I promise you pictures.

I promise you stories and laughter on end of the two weeks (or so) I spent with my family.

Well, let me tell you. In the week to two weeks I spent with them I took 312 pictures!

3.1.2. pictures

THREE HUNDRED AND TWEEEEELVE!!!

So the thought of going through them, digitally fixing them and picking out which ones might or might not work is so overwhelming to me that I have avoided it.

And I have to apologize.

I'm so rude.

Here's the good news.

I feel so bad about my rudeness that I've decided to post in small increments. Starting with today. Here are my four sweet nieces and nephew... along with a video of Waveland singing wheels on the bus.

I offer that to you, my beloved readers.

And hope that you will forgive me.

If you can't watch the whole video watch the first 1:30... you won't regret it.

I promise.

And without further ado... I'll shut up and let you enjoy.

Sincerely,

Miss Rude

p.s. I even posted their pictures in order of birth... how nice of me. (do you forgive me yet?)

Miss Lenora Daye

Mikey said, "pose" and that was what we got.

Miss Waveland Eliza eats a hot dog


Mr. Edwin David enjoys the girls... but would never wear beads of a girly color.
(no way sir!)



cookies with Miss Adelia True

and for all these cute photos I have 308 more almost as cute!

a question

While cleaning my room I came across letters. Probably hundreds but I paused at only a few... and now here I sit. Convicted and crying.

Somewhere along the way, I wonder if I have lost a little sense of my gumption. I don't know why my heart has become more timid but reading these letters I was reminded of a girl with guts and passion.

It was like reading of an old friend who I hadn't talked to in awhile and it made me wander, Why haven't I?

What has changed me? Is this a good change or a bad change?

Besides being reminded of my gumption and passion I was reminded once again of friends who loved me unconditionally and also with their own passion....

my bible study girls; Laura, Christina, Shannon, Nox, Katie, and Amy
Mayflower RAs
Alesha
Emily Reddy

and my own family members.

Letters are probably the best part of life. I love handwritten letters... but sheesh, if I read every one of these and cry my eyes out. I'll never get my things cleaned.

this was seen

while moving out of our apartment

(note the date)

katie & cody

ah, my beautiful roommate and her beloved were married june 28th, 2009.

what a fun day to celebrate the lives of two very awesome people!

congratulations katie & cody. katie during the ceremony

jenna lighting candles...

ann (who is getting married SUPER soon, herself) playing and playing and playing.... ;)

cody sees his bride enter the church

drew and my beloved (drew is mikey's best man at our upcoming wedding)

i loved the details of katie's dress...

katie saying her vows

her ring

his ring

his hand around her

holding each other's

the pronouncement

Mr and Mrs Gibbs!

seeing my handsome man in his sharp suit. i've got a great lookin' fiance!

katie's great idea for centerpieces! classic old books with a candle on top

good friends
liz, ismael, los, mikey

joni, kristine, jo

first dance

underneath this goregous chandelier

mikey's wandering what kristine is doing, kristine is being herself and i am oblivious to their interactions... oh, how i love these two!

kristine and michael

cutting the "cake"

yum!

they are SO cute together!

good friends

forgive my silence

forgive my silence... it's been a crazy busy first half of July... and as I just wrote that I almost wrote "June" so as you can tell.... I'm still trying to catch up.

I have about four blogs coming in the next couple of days so stay tuned... but until then, here is a little snippet of the next blog to come...

Katie and Cody Lovas' wedding

Whose fiancee is the best?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThUlcRxRV2Y

first

Do you know who can throw a good party? My roommates!
Katie and Kristine threw me my first bridal shower and I was so touched by their attention to fun details and time that they put into this party. It was beautiful.

We played this fun game where people put their first or favorite memories down of my friendship with them. It was SO much fun to have many sweet friends in attendance.

We had fun champagne to drink. (see what I mean about details? cute pink ice buckets! how cute Kristine!!!)

Kristine also borrowed her Mom's punchbowl and fancy cups. Everything was so beautiful and done remarkably well. I was honored!!

On the phone before everyone arrives...

even the patio doors had their own decorations! :)

the yummy food spread!! YUM! (minus the shrimp tempura)

practicing wearing my veil

Emily and Michelle (my future teammates)

Liz and Sarah Joy (UCLA ladies)

I had to play a game where Kristine had questions and answers from Mikey and I had to guess what he would answer or I would get these lovely little zits.

Well, I answered 13 out of 20 correct.

Fun questions like:

Describe you and Joanna's first kiss. Where were you? When was it?

(i definitely got that one right, I waited a looong time to kiss him!!)

What is Joanna's favorite food?

Mikey answered, "In general, she could eat Mexican food everyday"

I got that right but then he went on.

"Her favorite Japanese food is okonomiyaki. She loves chocolate, sourdough bread, and eating raw cookie dough."

He is right but I didn't know he was so detailed. :)

Your favorite food?

I got this right.

Mikey said, "Anything Asian, preferrably Chinese."

and other questions like...

How many kids does Joanna want? How many do you want?

If Joanna were an animal, what would she be?

What animal would you be?

Describe Joanna in three adjectives?

What three would she use to describe you?

Anyway, I got 13 right! Unfortunately as you can see from the picture... I did get 7 zits!!!

What a fabulous party thrown by fabulous roommates. I am so blessed by wonderful friends!!

a rose by any other name...

I've been known to change my name a time or two...

when I go to Starbucks I like to tell them my name is "maribeth" "annie" and any other name that comes to mind.

I don't know why.

I just like to pretend and have a little fun....

well, today... i had a LOT of fun at the dry cleaners!

my man

Mikey is passionate about many things in life...

the Lord, good food (preferrably Asian) and ultimate frisbee... in that order, I believe. :) It's such a joy for me to be able to capture on film the many faces of my beloved... he is really REALLY good at ultimate but if you are a beginner, have no fear~ he will let you know all his little tricks for throwing and catching.

Isn't he cute?

What a hunk!

mmm mmm mmmm......

ohhh baby!

I think I'm going to love marrying this awesome man.

Besides all his other good points, he also just knows how to have fun!

I don't think I'll ever get bored married to an ultimate frisbee player. :)