Thankful doesn't cut it!

Since my brother is the king of Facebook, I just learned - and then called to confirm - that Ken was told he is NOT being sent to Afghanistan! Wow! Happy Thanksgiving! :) Once I smack him for not telling his family first, I will be sure to hug him!

Flowers? Check! Rings? Check! Counseling? 1/6th checked! :)

Phew!  We had one busy Saturday!!! We got up very early - which was not much fun after having lots of fun drinking wine and playing Wii and Pictionary at the Blouchs - and Justin helped me buy tires for my car.  He set up the appointment, picked them out, and haggled, and all I had to do was buy them.  Works for me! :)

We had some time to kill before we had to leave for Maine, so we went to the mall and stopped in at Kay Jewelers since they were having a sale, and that is where Justin got my engagement ring.  We wound up buying and leaving with our rings, which we were not planning to do!  I can't believe all the things I have to wait until August to wear!  And they're all so pretty!  We had fun looking at and playing with the rings throughout the weekend.

Then it was off to Blooms and Heirlooms in Kennebunk, where we met with the wedding coordinator, who did not pressure us in buying lots of flowers, which was refreshing and much appreciate by us!  She had lots of pictures of weddings held at The Colony, as well as another "blue and green" wedding, and I found a bouquet I absolutely loved! We went with white roses and blue hydrangeas, and some other cute little flowers neither one of us can remember the name of.   The wedding coordinator did give us a total a little higher than we want, so Justin and I will decide as the wedding gets closer what reception and ceremony arrangements we think we can handle ourselves or have produced at a lower cost.

From there, Team Roy headed into Portland for our first pre-marital counseling session with Rik and Sarah.  It was very casual, a getting-to-know-you/interview type visit, and I think all those involved did a wonderful job :)  We drove up to Jim and Donna's for yummy dinner, and then drove back to Boston, where I tried very, very hard not to fall asleep, but eventually gave in and woke up refreshed from my power nap.  It was a great, amazing, exhausting, expensive day! And we were sure to spend today being as lazy as possible before I came back to New Paltz.

This might be it for awhile, and so - Happy Thanksgiving!  We love you and are grateful for all the love and support you have given us! Be well and travel safely - and Happy 21st Birthday, Alicia! :)

On the agenda for this weekend...

It's off to Maine again!  Justin and I have an appointment with a florist at noon on Saturday.  I have no idea what I want (uh....we want), so this should be interesting to say the least.  I did have a phone conference with the wedding coordinator there, and she was very thorough and had lots of ideas for reusing flowers, so I don't think she'll pressure us into spending eleventy billion dollars (give or take a dollar or two) on flowers.

We also have our first meeting for pre-marital counseling with a couple from Justin's parents' church.  I'd be a total liar if I said I wasn't a little nervous/apprehensive, but I know it will be fine.  I think I'd feel a little better if we'd watched any of this video I've been bringing back and forth to Boston for the past month or so...oh well.  I was nervous before we met with Mario, Jim and Donna's pastor who is going to officiate our wedding, and that went really well.  Good thing I used the blog to just give myself a pep talk. Go Team Roy! :)

More soon! Not tomorrow soon, but I think there's a strong possibility of a Sunday post.

Bye bye, brother...

Hi all.  So, bad news on the home front. 

As most of you know, my brother, Ken, is in the Navy and lives down in Virginia.  Due to a series of logistical things and manuevers and other things a civilian like me just doesn't understand, Ken will be serving in Afghanistan, beginning in early 2010, for about a year.  Which means...no only brother at my wedding :( Boo! Super boo!

So, this stinks.  A lot.  Ken is coming home next week for Thanksgiving, and that will probably be the last we will see him for a very, very long time.  He's been deployed for a long time before, but never been on the "front lines," so to speak.  It's a little stressful to even think about, so I can't begin to imagine how he feels.

Justin and I have some wedding stuff going on this weekend, and I will write another blog then.  Be well, everyone!

Thank you!!

Just wanted to let everyone know Briellah is home, and being described as "self-vaccinated." :) Thanks for your love and prayers for Shannon and her family!  More on the wedding front soon....things are pretty slow right now!

Here is a picture of this beautiful baby in the cute little hat I sent her:

Please Say a Prayer for Briellah

I've stuck to wedding stuff so far, but this is important to me and I'd like to ask for your prayers.  One of my roommates from Buffalo, Shannon, had a beautiful baby girl in September named Briellah.  Unfortunately, Shannon's boyfriend and Briellah's dad, Robert, came down with the flu, and Briellah is now hospitalized because she has contracted the H1N1 virus.  At under three months old, Briellah is obviously too young to have the flu! Please keep Shannon, Robert, and especially Briellah in your prayers.  I will keep you posted! Thank you!!!

November! It's only November?!?

Sorry for the lack of updates - my computer has been, shall we say, uncooperative.  Justin worked his magic and it turns on again, so I will take this opportunity to update my small group of dedicated readers.

This weekend, Justin and his parents traveled to meet my Dad and Pat in Binghamton.  I think all parties would agree that it went well. There were even hugs, to my delight :)  We ate way too much and talked wedding, and it was a good and delicious time! 

We're currently on the hunt for a florist, and I would love to hear from my recent bride friends about what types of arrangements they sprung for and what they found unnecessary.  I think we're going to go as basic as possible, but I definitely need all the help I can get!

Justin asked for a mission, and I gave him finalizing the cupcakes.  I think it was a pretty sweet deal...get it? Sweet deal? ;)

And in closing, I'd like to plug the website Zappos, since I bought my shoes there and they arrived within 48 hours - free shipping upgrade.  And, if I find something else, they have a 365-day return policy for unworn items.  So check it out :) and be well!