Showing posts with label marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marriage. Show all posts
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
changes
In the last two months my life has been shaken, stirred, simmered and sheared. I had a beautiful life before, and now it's been transformed into something else, beautiful and new. Walter Breuning was 114 years old when he died earlier this year in Montana. One of his tips for a long life was, "Every change is good, Embrace change." I've never been very good with change. It is something I crave and something I need to remain interested in life, but I always approach it reluctantly. When you are blessed with so much good, how can one be sure change won't bring something less good?
I started packing and moving my things in May. Mike got a job in Bellingham in April, and suddenly, things were changing in earnest. I knew change was a possibility when I accepted Mike's marriage proposal new years eve, but here came the change, gaining momentum and moving forward. I've lived in Seattle since I was 19. I've lived with Melissa since I was 19. From 1998 at UW to 2011 at Exteriorscapes, I've been following the path of landscape architecture in Seattle (minus the time I left and went to travel the globe, which was a long set of exciting and fun changes). But here I was, having committed to living in a new city and marrying a man I didn't want to be without. Change!
Melissa, Claire and I packed and packed, cleaned and patched our home of 4+ years. It was the longest I've lived anywhere since being home with my parents. Load after load, and finally we were done and we left. My single life! Working for me, weekends for me, wine or steak, whatever I wanted! It was fun, and I had great friends to share my life with. It was hard to go.
Our wedding was really great. All of the events and celebrations leading up to the big day, were very, very special to me. I've never felt so celebrated and supported. Mike and I met for some photos at the Ballard locks, and he looked so handsome. We boarded our wedding sailboat at 4pm with our families and a few friends. My sister made me the most beautiful bouquet and a charming boutonniere for Mike. We sailed, and I was nervous. I don't think I said much to anyone and my mind was traveling on the wind elsewhere. It wasn't until Mike was looking into my eyes and calmly saying that he would love me forever that I was able to really be present. We had a nice dinner afterwards and people said some great things about us. What an amazing day. We had a blast camping on Orcas the rest of the weekend and appreciated the time we had to spend with our friends and family.
Now, we are here! Bellingham. I am at home, playing housewife for the summer. I am cooking and baking, unpacking and hemming curtains. I slept 10 hours a night for 10 days. My neck seems to be working out the rest of the kinks that give me my headaches. Mike works all day, then we have dinner and say hi to the chickens together. It's a pretty simple life. Eventually I'll get a job, or start my own consulting business, but until then, I'm trying to rest and become re-inspired about what to do in this short life. What a blessing to have some space to embrace all these changes. I'll be 114 before I know it.
I started packing and moving my things in May. Mike got a job in Bellingham in April, and suddenly, things were changing in earnest. I knew change was a possibility when I accepted Mike's marriage proposal new years eve, but here came the change, gaining momentum and moving forward. I've lived in Seattle since I was 19. I've lived with Melissa since I was 19. From 1998 at UW to 2011 at Exteriorscapes, I've been following the path of landscape architecture in Seattle (minus the time I left and went to travel the globe, which was a long set of exciting and fun changes). But here I was, having committed to living in a new city and marrying a man I didn't want to be without. Change!
Melissa, Claire and I packed and packed, cleaned and patched our home of 4+ years. It was the longest I've lived anywhere since being home with my parents. Load after load, and finally we were done and we left. My single life! Working for me, weekends for me, wine or steak, whatever I wanted! It was fun, and I had great friends to share my life with. It was hard to go.
Our wedding was really great. All of the events and celebrations leading up to the big day, were very, very special to me. I've never felt so celebrated and supported. Mike and I met for some photos at the Ballard locks, and he looked so handsome. We boarded our wedding sailboat at 4pm with our families and a few friends. My sister made me the most beautiful bouquet and a charming boutonniere for Mike. We sailed, and I was nervous. I don't think I said much to anyone and my mind was traveling on the wind elsewhere. It wasn't until Mike was looking into my eyes and calmly saying that he would love me forever that I was able to really be present. We had a nice dinner afterwards and people said some great things about us. What an amazing day. We had a blast camping on Orcas the rest of the weekend and appreciated the time we had to spend with our friends and family.
Now, we are here! Bellingham. I am at home, playing housewife for the summer. I am cooking and baking, unpacking and hemming curtains. I slept 10 hours a night for 10 days. My neck seems to be working out the rest of the kinks that give me my headaches. Mike works all day, then we have dinner and say hi to the chickens together. It's a pretty simple life. Eventually I'll get a job, or start my own consulting business, but until then, I'm trying to rest and become re-inspired about what to do in this short life. What a blessing to have some space to embrace all these changes. I'll be 114 before I know it.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Coming out
It's time that I make things official. I'm moving to Bellingham. We're moving to Bellingham, Mike and I. It's our big adventure. It's been in the works for a long time, but it's pretty much a done deal at this point. It's terribly exciting! And also a big change.
My grandpa passed away about a year ago. I still miss him all the time. He left us with quite a legacy. People all around are still talking about him and his zen ways. His thrifty genius. His generous spirit. His deep faith. He also left us with his house - a very special place built with his own hands and he and my grandmother's dreams. It's up in the woods, it's near the salt water, it's a home for having guests. It's been there since before I was alive. I've always known it as a relaxing destination full of family and food and comfort - and unconditional love. I had fun there, playing in the trees.
Mike and I were up there about 6 months ago, just visiting. I adore the architecture, the wall paper, the garden. The cabinets. The furniture. We were sitting up late, enjoying a fire and chatting. We had been talking about maybe trying a new city together. A smaller place where things are cheaper, more simple and more quiet. Ilwaco. Waitsburg. Cle Elum. I said, "Hey do you think you might want to live here?" A process of pondering, asking, figuring and hoping took us from that to where we are now. Mike just moved up last week. He got a job. We painted a bedroom this last weekend. I put my name on the utility bills. I'll head up there after we're married.
We are terribly excited. We bought chickens. We bought posts for the garden deer fence. We planted seeds. Living in a place like this is something we both have always wanted to do. And now we get to! Together! We are also a little scared of moving out of the one city we've both ever lived in. I've been living with Melissa for over 10 years. I have things on hold at the library that I may not be here to pick up. I will have to leave my job (ssshhh). It's different. But it's going to be good. If we can soak up any good energy from Earl and Dorothy in their home, maybe we can hope to be half as cool as they were.
My grandpa passed away about a year ago. I still miss him all the time. He left us with quite a legacy. People all around are still talking about him and his zen ways. His thrifty genius. His generous spirit. His deep faith. He also left us with his house - a very special place built with his own hands and he and my grandmother's dreams. It's up in the woods, it's near the salt water, it's a home for having guests. It's been there since before I was alive. I've always known it as a relaxing destination full of family and food and comfort - and unconditional love. I had fun there, playing in the trees.
Mike and I were up there about 6 months ago, just visiting. I adore the architecture, the wall paper, the garden. The cabinets. The furniture. We were sitting up late, enjoying a fire and chatting. We had been talking about maybe trying a new city together. A smaller place where things are cheaper, more simple and more quiet. Ilwaco. Waitsburg. Cle Elum. I said, "Hey do you think you might want to live here?" A process of pondering, asking, figuring and hoping took us from that to where we are now. Mike just moved up last week. He got a job. We painted a bedroom this last weekend. I put my name on the utility bills. I'll head up there after we're married.
We are terribly excited. We bought chickens. We bought posts for the garden deer fence. We planted seeds. Living in a place like this is something we both have always wanted to do. And now we get to! Together! We are also a little scared of moving out of the one city we've both ever lived in. I've been living with Melissa for over 10 years. I have things on hold at the library that I may not be here to pick up. I will have to leave my job (ssshhh). It's different. But it's going to be good. If we can soak up any good energy from Earl and Dorothy in their home, maybe we can hope to be half as cool as they were.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
the great lake state
Michigan! There's only one thing better than visiting a friend who knows you like the back of their mitten. It's if that friend could just be right there so you wouldn't have to go so far to see them.
I've been tense lately. Wedding planning and I don't get along very well. Either do design clients with unreasonably high expectations and I. I needed to go and be free, for a short time and commune with loved ones away from all my stuff. Kristen and I spent all the time we could, talking and drinking coffee (withdrawal when I got home wasn't as bad the second time). I met her newest baby, who was all smiles and faces and tiny kicking feet. Being there felt like taking a hot bath for 4 days.
We went out cross country skiing one night with Kristen's skiing group. 5 ladies that get some time away from their kids one evening a week to drink Hot Damn cinnamon schnapps, right from the bottle, and scoot around on ski trails. Luckily, one of the women loaned me her headlamp, since I've only skied a few times, and it was really dark. It was a blast! These women laugh and laugh! It was great medicine, and the schnapps were delicious also. Later in the week, we skied again in a different part of town, and we went across a frozen lake!
We drank and ate. Drove up to a lighthouse. I saw a cardinal out the front window! Made a snowman when it was warm one afternoon and spent a lot of energy knocking down icicles off the eaves. DJ resorted to hacking at the biggest icicle with a snowshovel on top of a ladder. Then the icicle almost fell on his head, and did knock him off the third rung from the top. Landed on his feet though! Cat-like, that DJ.
It was such a great time, and I was so pleased to see my friend so happy and doing well. I didn't want to leave again, but had to get back to the timesheet. Can't wait to go back though! To Michigan.
Monday, January 17, 2011
like
So far it's fun being betrothed. People get very excited and sometimes jump up and down in front of you. They write you emails WITH ALL CAPS!! They offer to take you out for Prosecco. They send you links with ideas for a fun celebration or a dress. I'd recommend it, but only if people like your fiance'. I can imagine a very different list of reactions if people think the guy is a sleeze.
Wikipedia says engagement started in 1215: Pope Innocent III decreed that "marriages are to be ... announced publicly in the churches by the priests during a suitable and fixed time, so that if legitimate impediments exist, they may be made known." 800 years later people announce the engagement on Facebook and the only option is for others to "like" it. Mike and I decided not to announce our plans on Facebook, because we'd rather tell the people important to us one at a time and give them the opportunity to dislike. Everyone else will have to find out the old fashioned way, through the grape vine or 10 years later at a reunion party (unless you found out on this blog, which means I haven't called you quite yet).
I am finding myself mostly disliking the idea of weddings and $29,000 and favors and bridesmaids. I have very few ideas about what we will do or when. I can't see it involving 290 people, parking attendants and an event insurance policy. I also can't see it involving a drive through chapel. Hopefully, whatever it ends up being is fun and somewhat related to who we are and how we plan to live our lives. Pool party? Camping trip? Flotilla?
Wikipedia says engagement started in 1215: Pope Innocent III decreed that "marriages are to be ... announced publicly in the churches by the priests during a suitable and fixed time, so that if legitimate impediments exist, they may be made known." 800 years later people announce the engagement on Facebook and the only option is for others to "like" it. Mike and I decided not to announce our plans on Facebook, because we'd rather tell the people important to us one at a time and give them the opportunity to dislike. Everyone else will have to find out the old fashioned way, through the grape vine or 10 years later at a reunion party (unless you found out on this blog, which means I haven't called you quite yet).
I am finding myself mostly disliking the idea of weddings and $29,000 and favors and bridesmaids. I have very few ideas about what we will do or when. I can't see it involving 290 people, parking attendants and an event insurance policy. I also can't see it involving a drive through chapel. Hopefully, whatever it ends up being is fun and somewhat related to who we are and how we plan to live our lives. Pool party? Camping trip? Flotilla?
Monday, January 03, 2011
marry me?
I wonder if anyone reading this blog is awaiting my 2010 year in review. It's January 3 afterall! Well, 2010 was difficult, so I had been putting it off. It's easy to remember all the difficult things. I'll list them first, so that we can move on after we read them:
5. Changing jobs 3 times, and still being under-employed.
4. Having a potential business acquisition fall apart, which was very stressful, especially since it involved my boyfriend as a partner.
3. Being depressed for 11 months of the year.
2. Getting mononucleosis that dented my health for 7 months.
1. Grandpa dying, which feels so unfair and disappointing for all the rest of us.
The great things are indeed great. Life is beautiful and mine especially so. In spite of what feels at first glance like a tough year, it had it's share of joy and positivity.
8. I gave up daily coffee, except for recreational and social use.
7. So many babies born to so many friends. It's good to know that some of the kids to inherit the world will be raised by capable, intelligent, loving parents.
6. Several great hiking and camping trips, although no surfing on account of the illness.
5. I turned 30. This could be on the bad list, but I'm going to choose to put it over here.
4. Fantastic trips to Sayulita, Whidbey on the boat, to Waitsburg, to Italy.
3. I started going to counseling, which I sense has been a great and permanent shift in my ability to live as a happy, well adjusted adult.
2. My niece Bereket's arrival. She is magic to me and I can't imagine not having her little soul a part of my family. She is undescribably lovely and fascinating.
1. Mike asked me to marry him! And I said yes! From friends to life peeps. January 26, 2007 to today. I am humbled and grateful to have found someone that understands me so well, accepts me so completely and supports me with a generosity that doesn't make sense. He asked me on the road to Bellingham for a New Years family gathering. He didn't plan it ahead, it was just the right moment and I had told him that I was finally ready.
I feel excited and relieved, anxious and amazed. I knew it was going to happen, but then again never really thought it would happen to me. I know it's the right thing. Even though we are a challenge to each other sometimes, we come out closer at the end of every day. It's going to be wonderful to wake up with such a passionate, motivated, and faithful person next to me for the rest of my life.
5. Changing jobs 3 times, and still being under-employed.
4. Having a potential business acquisition fall apart, which was very stressful, especially since it involved my boyfriend as a partner.
3. Being depressed for 11 months of the year.
2. Getting mononucleosis that dented my health for 7 months.
1. Grandpa dying, which feels so unfair and disappointing for all the rest of us.
The great things are indeed great. Life is beautiful and mine especially so. In spite of what feels at first glance like a tough year, it had it's share of joy and positivity.
8. I gave up daily coffee, except for recreational and social use.
7. So many babies born to so many friends. It's good to know that some of the kids to inherit the world will be raised by capable, intelligent, loving parents.
6. Several great hiking and camping trips, although no surfing on account of the illness.
5. I turned 30. This could be on the bad list, but I'm going to choose to put it over here.
4. Fantastic trips to Sayulita, Whidbey on the boat, to Waitsburg, to Italy.
3. I started going to counseling, which I sense has been a great and permanent shift in my ability to live as a happy, well adjusted adult.
2. My niece Bereket's arrival. She is magic to me and I can't imagine not having her little soul a part of my family. She is undescribably lovely and fascinating.
1. Mike asked me to marry him! And I said yes! From friends to life peeps. January 26, 2007 to today. I am humbled and grateful to have found someone that understands me so well, accepts me so completely and supports me with a generosity that doesn't make sense. He asked me on the road to Bellingham for a New Years family gathering. He didn't plan it ahead, it was just the right moment and I had told him that I was finally ready.
I feel excited and relieved, anxious and amazed. I knew it was going to happen, but then again never really thought it would happen to me. I know it's the right thing. Even though we are a challenge to each other sometimes, we come out closer at the end of every day. It's going to be wonderful to wake up with such a passionate, motivated, and faithful person next to me for the rest of my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)