Save The Date!

Can you believe it? We went to speak to my pastor and then my therapist. <laughter> Way bak in the beginning of our relationship, I told Marty that if we were ever to marry, therapy was nonnegotiable. I explained that I would never again let anyone keep me from going to therapy nor would I let anyone make me feel like a horrible person for going to therapy. I also said that he would have to meet my therapist and go to counseling a few times, too. He lived up to his end of the bargain here.

I made save the date cards complete with a note on the back making sure everyone knows we are not going to have a registry and we do NOT want any gifts. We already have too much stuff and really just want people to come celebrate our joy with us. We are truly happy and very excited about this next step. I’m over the moon, for sure. Still can’t believe it. I had fun making the cards and have almost designed the invitations. I had all I needed to make the save the date cards, but ordered a stamp set to make the invitations.

We set the date after we talked to my pastor a few weeks ago. October 12th is the big day. We’ve got a lot to do before we get there. Videos, meetings with my pastor, we have a one day retreat to attend and some sort of survey to fill out before our next meeting with my pastor. Then all the wedding details. Whew. It will be a fairly simple wedding. At least I think so. <giggle>

Marty picked up my ring on Friday. It’s really kind of cool to have been able to pick out diamonds. We narrowed them down together and then Marty made the final choice. He picked the best one, of course. He captured my love of sparkle perfectly!

The guest list….. it might be a long one. When Father asked how many people we planned to have, I told him, “I have a lot of friends,” and Marty said, “I know she will have more people than I will.” I really do have a lot of friends AND I want to invite my sister. Everyone on my guest list is one of my people–they are the people who stood by my side as I rebuilt myself. They prayed for me, physically helped me — so many people that I cannot ever repay. I try to pay it forward when I am able, but I know that I have many friends out there whom I cannot ever repay their kindness, love and prayers. This makes for a long list. I am blessed.

I told Marty that instead of a rehearsal dinner, I want to come back to my house (soon to be our house) and just visit with the folks in from out of town. I also told him that I don’t want to rush away from the reception — I want to be able to see and visit with all the people who are literally responsible for my survival and making my way back to happiness. They prayed me out of the darkness! Of course many did more than just pray. I can’t even list it all. Friends helped me fix the lawn mower, taught my middle and I how to repair the fence, helped replace broken things, helped me get a decent used car, brought food when my middle was in the hospital, used their hotel points when my middle had his surgical follow up in Cincy etc….. I/we have been so blessed. I will never be able to repay all of the kindness, but I do try to pay it forward.

We want to invite people who will celebrate our joyous occasion with us — friends and family who love us and share in our happiness. The most important thing is that the wedding is in church and the second most important thing (to me) is to be surrounded by friends and family who love us, share in our joy and who will pray for us.

It’s going to be a great adventure! We were able to get out on the water this past weekend and have a few kayaking camping trips planned in the months to come. I probably won’t get to write much about any of that, either! <smile> Rolling out a new client over the next 6 months while planning a wedding is going to be an extra special adventure……..