It's been forever!

But there is a reason! :)

I know. It's been forever since I've posted anything here. I've been slightly occupied with a few others things that are involved with this event: Luke & Serena--Wedding Day--May 21, 2011.

And it's almost here! Less than a week! I can hardly believe a year has gone by already!

And yes, it will probably be a while before I'm back to blogging. First wedding week, then honeymoon week, then moving week. I'm looking forward to all three!!! :)

Two months....

...until I get to marry this wonderful guy that I love!
...until all the plans put into place over the last ten months become reality!
...until I'm living in Colorado permanently!

Only TWO months left!! (See the last two months of details here...)

Photo credit: Heartland Photography

Really?! I really thought I was losing my mind!

My goal is never to lose my mind. But there are times when it seems like that has happened. Like this particular moment.

I had been walking back and forth between the kitchen and schoolroom several times, my mind on a million things running through my head when I saw this on my way out of the kitchen. I took a few steps back thinking, "Did I put that can of Mt. Dew there?"

On my last trip through the kitchen I had just opened a can of that favorite drink of mine, but I didn't do that with it, did I? And no one else in this house touches that stuff!

I turned to look at Dad who was sitting on the couch and saw his smiling face! Ahh, ha! The culprit! He's trying out some tacky tape to hold up fabric for my wedding reception and he's testing the weight. And it's working--that can has been up there for five days and it's still in the same exact spot!

Sometime I may question his methods of operation, but the end result is always just as I want/need it to be! So in figuring out the best way to drape fabric and lights for the reception--I'll leave it entirely up to him! He knows the effect/picture I'm trying to create and I have no doubt he'll know just how to do it!

To stay up-to-date on the latest wedding events, check out my wedding blog!

What Colorado Springs has that Dodge City doesn't!

Right after Thanksgiving I spent five days in Colorado Springs. Why? Well, there's just quite a few things that that massive city contains that Dodge City just doesn't have!

Cold, freezing air - The first thing you notice about Colorado Springs is the air. It's colder. Much colder. It's really hard to document this in a photograph, so just picture freezing and shivering. THAT'S what it looks like!

Mountains - Yes, those rather large hills are called mountains and I have to admit that seeing this sight while driving around takes a little bit of getting used to. The good thing?! Those mountains always tell me that that direction is west--it helps to keep my sense of direction!


Current Factory Outlet - In my searching of shops for invitations, I found this store! Ohhhhhhh---I love that place already! I knew I'd love that place once I walked in the door and saw a spinning rack of stickers.


My intent was to look for invites there, which I did do. But I also had to wander up and down each aisle to look at everything else as well. Paper, stickers, cardstock, notecards--all that fun stuff!

Shopping, shopping and more shopping - I came to CO Springs with a list. A rather long, organized, detailed shopping list. And this city contains many more shopping opportunities than DC! And Luke and I spent a great deal of time shopping, looking and registry shopping!

See this cute little, itty, bitty casserole dish?! Isn't is sooooo cute?! I love it! It's the littliest thing, but it's so adorable. Granted, it was at JCPenny's which we do have here, but believe me--they don't have that.

Kohls - This store is neat! Especially their kitchen dept. It's filled with fun stuff. Like these cute snowman dishes. Aren't they fun?!?! Yes, you only use them once a year, but still.....I love them!

Parking meters - Oh yes! And then this---the parking meter! One of the places where I was looking at invitations was downtown and you had to pay for parking. And believe it or not, I have never paid for parking in my entire life. Another thing Colorado Springs has that Dodge City doesn't.
Luke - Perhaps the most important thing, or rather person that DC doesn't contain?! Yep, that would be him!

November whirlwind weeks!

November has seemed like a flurry of activities! Not only was I in three states (in addition to Kansas!) this month, but there just seemed to be plenty going on!

Week 1 - I made a quick trip to Oklahoma City over two days. My main reason for going was to do some specific wedding shopping, but it also was a fun opportunity to spend a little bit of time with Jena. I have to make those times count--her schedule keeps booked up enough that it's tough to find a couple days that she has free! Jena is training to run the Dallas marathon in December. That Saturday I was there, she was up and running by 5:30 am til about 8:30--16 miles! Glad it's her and not me! I'd never make it!

Week 2 - Kansas City, Missouri! Yep, you guessed it--wedding shopping! Erinn and I spent some time in Kansas City specifically shopping for wedding gowns, which I am soooo, sooooo happy to say I finally found! Yay!! Yay!! Cross that 2000+ mileage search off my list! Believe it or not, I actually was able to find just what I wanted! Hooray! Plus the days spent with Erinn, Noah and some of her family were a treat!

Week 3 - At church we had a Fall Festival meal instead of our annual traditional fellowship meal the Sunday before Thanksgiving. I always love being able to help with that. Saturday and Sunday were busy days getting everything prepared, then serving the meal and then cleanup. But definitely good times!

at Joe & Karen's wedding!

Some friends at church, Joe & Karen--their wedding was the 20th! That is the first of three weddings coming up in the next year in our church (mine being the third!). For some strange reason I look at weddings a little bit differently now than a year ago--can't imagine why! ;) It's fun to see the different ideas in decorations, flowers, tables, programs, etc--anticipating what I'll do in May!

Luke was here the third weekend this month! He was here just as long as he usually is--Saturday night through Monday, but it seemed like a short trip for some reason. Of course, I had lots on my list to discuss and do. That always seems to be the way it is.

We found these invitations that fit Dodge City perfectly
but not quite the theme of my wedding!

Week 4 - Thanksgiving week! This was the first Thanksgiving in two years that we've been home! And a first that just Dad and myself were here. Last year we went to Kentucky to visit Ryan and Krissa and the year before we went to Alabama to visit Krissa who was working there. This year Jena had to work all weekend and since Ryan and Krissa were just home in August, they stayed in Kentucky. So Dad and I spent a nice, quiet day at home and then went to Tim & Erinn's house for dinner. Perfect day!

And then this last weekend in November I'm in Colorado spending several days with Luke and doing more wedding planning/shopping!

What a fun, exciting and busy month!

Quick trip to Oklahoma City!

A couple of weeks ago, I was still in full pursuit of a wedding gown, so I made a quick trip to Oklahoma City to visit a couple of bridal shops. Jena and I spent a couple hours trying on gowns and bridesmaids dresses and then started searching out invitations.

Then, Jena's birthday was on Saturday, so after she ran 16 miles that morning in freezing cold weather (she's training for another marathon in December!), we spent a couple hours shopping at the mall--fun times!! It's been a while since we've done that together!

It's so nice having a sister living in a bigger city where I can break into her apartment and spend a few days there!!! And I'm sure I'll be back to do more shopping there in the coming months!

Six months!

Luke and I have been engaged an entire six months! Looking back on the months gone by, six months does not really seem that long! The past few months have flown so unbelievably quick!

A year ago, I never would have believed that I would have been engaged in a year's time to such a wonderful, Godly man! But God has blessed me so much in having Luke in my life--forever!! :)

LukeandSerena.com! :)

I love the fact that I'm getting married in an age where technology is so, well, ummm....in my case, necessary! :) Therefore one of the things on the top of my list in regards to wedding planning was to create a wedding website for Luke and myself.

Once I had engagement photos and wedding colors decided, I went to work! Hours later, here's the result! I love it! Most of my wedding blogging will be on that website instead of here, so check there for wedding updates and news! :)

www.lukeandserena.com