a really, really good story

Wednesday, December 23rd 5:00 at Immanuel American Lutheran Church

That's what it said on our wedding invitations.

Well, the blizzard of a quarter century interrupted our plans & we had ourselves a merry little impromptu ceremony at 3:00 in the afternoon in the Dayton House.

The boys set up the tables & chairs while I got ready upstairs with my sisters. Our photographer was unable to make it, so her husband took the pictures instead. Our room was just beautiful & I felt like a princess getting ready. My sister did my hair and makeup while I just waited for 3:00 to roll around. When the time started getting closer, we snapped a few pictures and I told my dad I loved him. I then followed my 3 sisters and walked down the grand staircase to meet Jason.

Only about 21 people surrounded us as we said our vows in the crowded living room. Pastor Margaret was able to make it to Worthington with the marriage license, for which we were very grateful, and she performed a beautiful ceremony. The snow was falling outside and our closest family members watched as we committed our lives to each other.

Afterward, we cracked open a few bottles of Little Swan Lake wine (where we were the night we got engaged), took some family pictures, ate linguine, salad & homemade bread compliments of my parents, and everyone had the place cleaned up by about 6:00, when the real snow was scheduled to start.
They all hurried out the door, while Jason & I were left to be snowed in at the Dayton House for 3 days.

It was more romantic, more perfect, than I could have ever dreamed. I don't even think I could make something up that was this good.

snow day numero dos.

the roommate and i woke up this morning around 6:59 and eagerly checked our e-mails just like kids waiting for presents on Christmas morn.

and Santa delivered!

no school. campus closed. day 2 of the blizzard of '09.

but we did decide the only unfortunate thing about a snow day is that the weather is actually quite terrible and it burns your face to step outside and you cannot even drive to the video store to pick up a Christmas favorite because your car is actually inside a snow drift.

so, we ventured down to the servery wrapped in every item of clothing we own, stole some bagels for snacks later, and are officially caved in. not leaving. until tomorrow.

how exciting!

my goal: finish all the homework i have for the semester so, i won't even have to think about it for the next week. we'll see...

it's a snow day.

big news - they closed the university. they make almost all the students here live on campus and so closing the university is a really big deal. so excited.

this is what i'm doing with my snow day:
- mini ab workout in my room.
- napping.
- reading 'moll flanders'.
- dressing up & going out with my roommates + katie.

not exactly earth-shattering business, i realize, but here at bv we're all thrilled.

as for the rest of my life, here's what's up:
- i am getting married in 15 days. 15 days, people.
- finals week is next week. i may or may not be insane for planning a wedding for the week following finals week, but we're just going to go ahead and do this thing.
- i am also in the process of moving, which people who get married sometimes do. and so i'm packing up my little, lovely, messy dorm room and moving to a real house. crazy business.
- i am also incredibly, amazingly not freaking out.

I don't know how this last point I mentioned is happening, but I am probably more relaxed now as the semester is nearing an end than I have been for the previous two semesters when I was not actually planning a wedding. I think a great portion of this non-freaking-out has to do with I sort of just realized what is important. And what is not.

I don't care if I don't get an A.

I don't care if all the details are perfectly planned out.

I am getting married to the greatest man on the planet (in my humble opinion) and we get to live together. Forever. And I get to hang out with him every single day.

Wow, my life is good!

december!

my absolute favorite month of the entire year.

no doubt about it.

a. Jesus' birthday
b. my birthday
c. snow
d. Christmas lights
e. Christmas cookies
f. Christmas trees
g. and.... the wedding!

the countdown is exactly 3 weeks from today.

holy cow.

i can't wait!