Ahhhh....just off of a nice four day weekend. Mr. Nate was smart and took today off too and while I am jealous of him, I'll be joining him a little later today to go to the Whiting Clinic for his Lasik consultation. We'll see how that goes.
Honestly though it was the best kind of weekend, a mix of fun, a little work on house things and relaxing. I found myself staying away from my computer for most of the weekend too and it was kind of nice to be a little unplugged for a couple of days. I love being connected to people via the internet, I'm the first to admit to being a social networking junkie, but sometimes it's nice to take a little break too.
My favorite day was Friday - our anniversary - we just kind of did what we felt like doing all day, visited an awesome winery we've never been before (Woodland Hill in Delano, MN) and had an awesome dinner at the Melting Pot downtown. It just might be my favorite anniversary celebration to date. And Nate got me the most awesome gift ever - he found the new Muppet Movie teaser poster and had it framed for me. It's in our basement now and it looks so awesome. So awesome.
So overall, it was a very awesome weekend and just nice to relax and be a little unplugged for a bit. I don't mind being "plugged back in" so to speak now though!
5/31/11
5/27/11
Five
And just like that another year has gone by. I find myself wondering how it is possible that not only has another year gone by, but that we've been married five years. FIVE. That is half of a decade.
But these have been the best five years - even in the not so great times when Nate didn't have a job, I have loved every moment of being married to this wonderful man.
Each year that passes I find it harder to remember every detail of the actual day, but thankfully through pictures and a wedding DVD I'm able to remember most of the important stuff.
Things that still stick out to me even five years later:
It was hot. In the 90's. I do not like heat. It made me a mildly cranky bride, though one of my friends still tells me she can't believe how laid back and zen I was. It has never been that warm on this date since by the way.
I remember I wanted to come off like I was not nervous, but when the moment arrived and my dad walked me down the aisle, my flowers were shaking. Though I clearly remember the first face I saw was actually the best man's wife, who gave me the biggest smile ever and it made me relax.
I remember right in the middle of the ceremony, at a quiet reflective moment, the air conditioner in the church quit. And my wedding coordinator walked to the back of the church as quietly as she could in heels to go trudging up the stairs to turn it back on.
After the ceremony, I remember we couldn't find the limo and panicked for a moment, borrowing my hostess's cell phone to track him down to discover, he was just in the parking lot.
In the limo, I remember Nate's cousin bringing a diaper bag, which considering he had a one month old baby wasn't terribly odd except that this diaper bag, contained bottles of beer. We drank the beer and went to the Wild Onion to kill time before the reception and drank horrible free champagne and someone had the brilliant idea that everyone should do a shot. Queue drunk wedding party.
Back in the limo, being a bit tipsy, I remember chatting with the other bridesmaids, who all had serious boyfriends at the time, about who would get married next and then letting the alcohol talk I spilled the beans to my maid of honor that her boyfriend intended to propose and had already sought her father's permission to ask her. Oops!
Arriving at the reception, we were all pretty well, let's still just say "tipsy" and did the procession in and everyone tells me they knew I was in that state because I was "bouncing".
I remember dancing, laughing, celebrating and leaving feeling so blessed and full of joy to have had such a wonderful day shared by so many people.
I hold on to those memories each passing year, but I don't dwell on it either. Everyone has moments of "if I could go back I would change this", but what is more important to me is where we are now. I love the life we've built together thus far. I love all the things we do together and share with friends and family. I love where we are going in this journey called life.
Plain and simple, I love us.
But these have been the best five years - even in the not so great times when Nate didn't have a job, I have loved every moment of being married to this wonderful man.
Each year that passes I find it harder to remember every detail of the actual day, but thankfully through pictures and a wedding DVD I'm able to remember most of the important stuff.
Things that still stick out to me even five years later:
It was hot. In the 90's. I do not like heat. It made me a mildly cranky bride, though one of my friends still tells me she can't believe how laid back and zen I was. It has never been that warm on this date since by the way.
I remember I wanted to come off like I was not nervous, but when the moment arrived and my dad walked me down the aisle, my flowers were shaking. Though I clearly remember the first face I saw was actually the best man's wife, who gave me the biggest smile ever and it made me relax.
I remember right in the middle of the ceremony, at a quiet reflective moment, the air conditioner in the church quit. And my wedding coordinator walked to the back of the church as quietly as she could in heels to go trudging up the stairs to turn it back on.
After the ceremony, I remember we couldn't find the limo and panicked for a moment, borrowing my hostess's cell phone to track him down to discover, he was just in the parking lot.
In the limo, I remember Nate's cousin bringing a diaper bag, which considering he had a one month old baby wasn't terribly odd except that this diaper bag, contained bottles of beer. We drank the beer and went to the Wild Onion to kill time before the reception and drank horrible free champagne and someone had the brilliant idea that everyone should do a shot. Queue drunk wedding party.
Back in the limo, being a bit tipsy, I remember chatting with the other bridesmaids, who all had serious boyfriends at the time, about who would get married next and then letting the alcohol talk I spilled the beans to my maid of honor that her boyfriend intended to propose and had already sought her father's permission to ask her. Oops!
Arriving at the reception, we were all pretty well, let's still just say "tipsy" and did the procession in and everyone tells me they knew I was in that state because I was "bouncing".
I remember dancing, laughing, celebrating and leaving feeling so blessed and full of joy to have had such a wonderful day shared by so many people.
I hold on to those memories each passing year, but I don't dwell on it either. Everyone has moments of "if I could go back I would change this", but what is more important to me is where we are now. I love the life we've built together thus far. I love all the things we do together and share with friends and family. I love where we are going in this journey called life.
Plain and simple, I love us.
5/25/11
Wordless Wednesday: Five Years in photos
2006
(25th birthday party)
2007
(New Years Eve)
2008
(Bowling night with friends)
2009
2008(Bowling night with friends)
2009
(Pedal Pub)
2010
2010
(Oktoberfest)
2011
2011
(Winterfest)
Oddly, you notice I'm almost always on Nate's right except the last picture - I find that kind of funny. These are only SOME of my many favorite moments of the last five years of our marriage, there are so, SO many more, but we'd be here all day as this post would get wayyyyy too long. :)
5/24/11
A letter to my former self
So, this week Nate and I celebrate five years of marriage - this Friday to be specific. Today through Friday I'll bring a series of posts reflecting on this as five feels like a significant number to me! Today's post, a letter to "bride to be" me.
Dear Bride to Be Beth,
In a few short days you will marry the love of your life and all of your dreams will finally come through. You've waited a long time for this day and I promise you it will be everything you ever wanted and more. However, I'm writing you from the future to offer a bit of advice in these final days. You did nothing wrong, but these are things I wish you'd known then that would've helped just a little bit as you prepared to be someone's wife.
First of all, stop stressing out so much about your current job situation. Yes your church job is being cut to part time. Yes you won't have benefits anymore if you stay. And yes, the job you have interviewed for and really, really want is taking their sweet time getting back to you, but guess what, when you get home from your honeymoon, they are going to call and offer you the job - so relax! Stop thinking about it so much and instead revel in the fact that you are a bride!
Second of all, stop stressing out about the purchase of your house. It might take you a few months, but you and Nate will get everything all figured out and worked out and you'll be homeowners by summer's end. You won't be homeless, you won't have to go live in an apartment. That is your house baby, ain't no one will be taking that away from you!
Third, stop and smell the roses. These moments, they will pass you by so fast. You will be amazed at how quickly it is all over and done. And I know you will cherish every last minute, but the above stresses may hinder you just a little bit. So just try your best. You'll have pictures and videos that will allow you to relive the day, but nothing compares to being there. Being present. Try hard to stay in the moment.
Fourth, it's going to be hot on your wedding day. After a spring filled with rainy cool days (that seemed to fall on every single day you had a wedding shower) it will be in the 90's on May 27th and there is nothing you can do about it. Deal with it. Oh and stop being a brat and go take pictures outside with your bridesmaids. Nate and the boys did it and you're going to regret the fact that you didn't.
And fifth, more for your actual marriage, just remember this boy you are marrying is not a boy. He is a man. He is not perfect and neither are you. Your relationship will be different now that you are living together. There will be moments that you frustrate one another or endure difficulties. But honey, it's normal. And for every moment like those, you will have double in moments of joy and excitement. You'll have wonderful and amazing adventures. Five years into your marriage you will find yourself loving Nate more than you ever thought possible and still growing every single day. And that's what it's really all about.
Love,
Happily married five years Beth
Some of what I wrote to myself is a little tongue and cheek and I just want to say here and now I have ZERO major regrets about our wedding day - but many of those things I wrote about are true and if I could change them, I might. But it truly was the happiest day of my life and I look back on it with nothing but joy in my heart.
Dear Bride to Be Beth,
In a few short days you will marry the love of your life and all of your dreams will finally come through. You've waited a long time for this day and I promise you it will be everything you ever wanted and more. However, I'm writing you from the future to offer a bit of advice in these final days. You did nothing wrong, but these are things I wish you'd known then that would've helped just a little bit as you prepared to be someone's wife.
First of all, stop stressing out so much about your current job situation. Yes your church job is being cut to part time. Yes you won't have benefits anymore if you stay. And yes, the job you have interviewed for and really, really want is taking their sweet time getting back to you, but guess what, when you get home from your honeymoon, they are going to call and offer you the job - so relax! Stop thinking about it so much and instead revel in the fact that you are a bride!
Second of all, stop stressing out about the purchase of your house. It might take you a few months, but you and Nate will get everything all figured out and worked out and you'll be homeowners by summer's end. You won't be homeless, you won't have to go live in an apartment. That is your house baby, ain't no one will be taking that away from you!
Third, stop and smell the roses. These moments, they will pass you by so fast. You will be amazed at how quickly it is all over and done. And I know you will cherish every last minute, but the above stresses may hinder you just a little bit. So just try your best. You'll have pictures and videos that will allow you to relive the day, but nothing compares to being there. Being present. Try hard to stay in the moment.
Fourth, it's going to be hot on your wedding day. After a spring filled with rainy cool days (that seemed to fall on every single day you had a wedding shower) it will be in the 90's on May 27th and there is nothing you can do about it. Deal with it. Oh and stop being a brat and go take pictures outside with your bridesmaids. Nate and the boys did it and you're going to regret the fact that you didn't.
And fifth, more for your actual marriage, just remember this boy you are marrying is not a boy. He is a man. He is not perfect and neither are you. Your relationship will be different now that you are living together. There will be moments that you frustrate one another or endure difficulties. But honey, it's normal. And for every moment like those, you will have double in moments of joy and excitement. You'll have wonderful and amazing adventures. Five years into your marriage you will find yourself loving Nate more than you ever thought possible and still growing every single day. And that's what it's really all about.
Love,
Happily married five years Beth
Some of what I wrote to myself is a little tongue and cheek and I just want to say here and now I have ZERO major regrets about our wedding day - but many of those things I wrote about are true and if I could change them, I might. But it truly was the happiest day of my life and I look back on it with nothing but joy in my heart.
5/23/11
Too close for comfort
Well the "Rapture" may not have come this weekend as I predicted it wouldn't, but Mother Nature's wrath sure did!
Saturday wasn't terribly bad, it rained a bit off and on, we did a church gig and grabbed some pizza afterward, got home, heard the sirens, but it never really did much more than rain some more by us. So that was all fine and good.
Sunday, we slept in and had a hard time waking up and getting going because it was still damp and drizzly. We decided to get up and make breakfast and just kind of put off our walk for a bit because it was gross out. The cats were acting strange, just picking on each other and being skittish, like they just knew something wasn't right in the air. And it did just feel kind of off.
I went and grabbed us some Caribou and the sun came out - we easily could've walked, but by then Nate was pretty far into making breakfast and so we decided to wait. By the time we were done eating, the sun had gone away again and it was back to raining. While we were eating, Nate asked me what I wanted to do, if perhaps there was a movie I wanted to go see. I really wanted to go see Bridesmaids so I suggested that. We found it was showing a couple of different places and settled on the Roseville AMC for their 1:30 show.
Got all showered up and ready to go and headed off. It wasn't really raining anymore, but the air still felt thick and gross. I was glad we were going to just be inside in a comfortable movie theatre. We decided to park kind of across the mall from the theatre and use the distance as part of our walk. It must have been super humid, by the time we got to the theatre, we were both sweating. The inside of the theatre didn't feel all that nice and cool either.
So we watched the movie, running time was about two 1/2 hours with previews - I really enjoyed it though, it was a hilarious movie. At one point, it sounded like it was pouring outside. I figured if it turns out to be pouring we'll just go walk around the mall when the movie is over. But, it wasn't raining at all when we left, but you could tell it had definitely poured quite a bit.
We headed home and the sun was coming back out, so we did a quick stroll around the neighborhood since it was nice and clear. Came back and needed to waste some time before going to dinner at Nate's parents, so I hopped online to check in some places and discovered there was a tornado while we were at the movie. A pretty bad one in North Minneapolis. And then I started seeing reports of damage in areas of Fridley - areas that were sounding closer and closer to my parents' neighborhood as I continued to read. I started getting a little nervous and was just getting ready to call my mom when the phone rang.
It was my mom - I swear we have this mental telepathy thing or something. The first words out of my mouth were "are you ok?" She said "yes, it was scary for awhile, but we're fine, are you ok?" So I was like yes, we're fine, it only rained over here. She then told me about how her and my dad had just left the house, he was going to drop her off at St. William's to help Marie with her student piano recital and as they were driving, the storm came up behind them. They barely had time to get into the church and down into the basement there. My mom laughed a little because Marie had said "Well, at least we're in a good place if something happens!" She said between the church and my their house though there was damage, many trees down, shingles and siding from other homes strewn about. My dad went and took pictures, I'll be anxious to see some of those.
I hung up with her satisfied that they were ok - but I continued to read the reports from North Minneapolis and the Fridley area and I was SO thankful that my parents were spared. It was just too close for comfort for me.
My office was also spared and I did joke that I guess that means I have to work now, but in truth I'm glad it was ok. Overall just feeling thankful today and hoping the rest of the summer calms down a bit more in the weather department!
Saturday wasn't terribly bad, it rained a bit off and on, we did a church gig and grabbed some pizza afterward, got home, heard the sirens, but it never really did much more than rain some more by us. So that was all fine and good.
Sunday, we slept in and had a hard time waking up and getting going because it was still damp and drizzly. We decided to get up and make breakfast and just kind of put off our walk for a bit because it was gross out. The cats were acting strange, just picking on each other and being skittish, like they just knew something wasn't right in the air. And it did just feel kind of off.
I went and grabbed us some Caribou and the sun came out - we easily could've walked, but by then Nate was pretty far into making breakfast and so we decided to wait. By the time we were done eating, the sun had gone away again and it was back to raining. While we were eating, Nate asked me what I wanted to do, if perhaps there was a movie I wanted to go see. I really wanted to go see Bridesmaids so I suggested that. We found it was showing a couple of different places and settled on the Roseville AMC for their 1:30 show.
Got all showered up and ready to go and headed off. It wasn't really raining anymore, but the air still felt thick and gross. I was glad we were going to just be inside in a comfortable movie theatre. We decided to park kind of across the mall from the theatre and use the distance as part of our walk. It must have been super humid, by the time we got to the theatre, we were both sweating. The inside of the theatre didn't feel all that nice and cool either.
So we watched the movie, running time was about two 1/2 hours with previews - I really enjoyed it though, it was a hilarious movie. At one point, it sounded like it was pouring outside. I figured if it turns out to be pouring we'll just go walk around the mall when the movie is over. But, it wasn't raining at all when we left, but you could tell it had definitely poured quite a bit.
We headed home and the sun was coming back out, so we did a quick stroll around the neighborhood since it was nice and clear. Came back and needed to waste some time before going to dinner at Nate's parents, so I hopped online to check in some places and discovered there was a tornado while we were at the movie. A pretty bad one in North Minneapolis. And then I started seeing reports of damage in areas of Fridley - areas that were sounding closer and closer to my parents' neighborhood as I continued to read. I started getting a little nervous and was just getting ready to call my mom when the phone rang.
It was my mom - I swear we have this mental telepathy thing or something. The first words out of my mouth were "are you ok?" She said "yes, it was scary for awhile, but we're fine, are you ok?" So I was like yes, we're fine, it only rained over here. She then told me about how her and my dad had just left the house, he was going to drop her off at St. William's to help Marie with her student piano recital and as they were driving, the storm came up behind them. They barely had time to get into the church and down into the basement there. My mom laughed a little because Marie had said "Well, at least we're in a good place if something happens!" She said between the church and my their house though there was damage, many trees down, shingles and siding from other homes strewn about. My dad went and took pictures, I'll be anxious to see some of those.
I hung up with her satisfied that they were ok - but I continued to read the reports from North Minneapolis and the Fridley area and I was SO thankful that my parents were spared. It was just too close for comfort for me.
My office was also spared and I did joke that I guess that means I have to work now, but in truth I'm glad it was ok. Overall just feeling thankful today and hoping the rest of the summer calms down a bit more in the weather department!
5/20/11
Random thoughts for Friday
It's Friday and I am glad. It hasn't been a bad week, just a long one. And today feels like a good day for a Random Thought post, so that's what you are getting!
~First things first, a brief rant - I am a religious person and a faith filled person and all of that. But I just have to say - I do not believe that the "Rapture" is coming tomorrow. And really, that is not how my religion teaches us anyway - we have been taught that "we know not WHEN the son of man will come" so I just have a hard time believing that it will happen at 6:00 pm on May 21st. I full intend to still be around on Sunday, May 22nd. I guess if I'm wrong I'm going down to the fiery pits of Hell or will be one of the ones "Left Behind" or whatever, but I'm really betting on being right. End rant.
~Rock the Garden is less than a month away. So far we've been trending towards rainy days on Saturdays. There is a few short weeks for that to turn around. And it better dang it!
~Next week we have our fifth wedding anniversary. FIVE. Five years. I will have many reflections on this coming next week - probably a series of posts in fact. Because five just feels like a big important number to me.
~I have so many things I hope to do this summer, but unlike last summer, I am not going to make a list. I made a "bucket list" for my summer if you will last year and ended up slightly disappointed when I didn't get to everything on that list. So instead I plan to enjoy the things I already have planned - and there are quite a few of them - and take everything else as it comes.
~We have started harvesting rhubarb. I plan to really stay on top of it this year. We are freezing it for now. There will hopefully be jam, pies and maybe muffins and then at the end of the summer - we just might attempt making rhubarb wine. It will need to ferment a heck of a lot longer than any of the beer we've done so far, but I really want to give it a try!
And that's about it for the day. Like I said, long week, brain is a bit mushy. So there you go.
~First things first, a brief rant - I am a religious person and a faith filled person and all of that. But I just have to say - I do not believe that the "Rapture" is coming tomorrow. And really, that is not how my religion teaches us anyway - we have been taught that "we know not WHEN the son of man will come" so I just have a hard time believing that it will happen at 6:00 pm on May 21st. I full intend to still be around on Sunday, May 22nd. I guess if I'm wrong I'm going down to the fiery pits of Hell or will be one of the ones "Left Behind" or whatever, but I'm really betting on being right. End rant.
~Rock the Garden is less than a month away. So far we've been trending towards rainy days on Saturdays. There is a few short weeks for that to turn around. And it better dang it!
~Next week we have our fifth wedding anniversary. FIVE. Five years. I will have many reflections on this coming next week - probably a series of posts in fact. Because five just feels like a big important number to me.
~I have so many things I hope to do this summer, but unlike last summer, I am not going to make a list. I made a "bucket list" for my summer if you will last year and ended up slightly disappointed when I didn't get to everything on that list. So instead I plan to enjoy the things I already have planned - and there are quite a few of them - and take everything else as it comes.
~We have started harvesting rhubarb. I plan to really stay on top of it this year. We are freezing it for now. There will hopefully be jam, pies and maybe muffins and then at the end of the summer - we just might attempt making rhubarb wine. It will need to ferment a heck of a lot longer than any of the beer we've done so far, but I really want to give it a try!
And that's about it for the day. Like I said, long week, brain is a bit mushy. So there you go.
5/17/11
Running up that hill
Blog title stolen from a song by Kate Bush of the same name.
So, here we are. We're into good spring weather finally. We're both healthy. And we're actually moving along nicely on our running program so far this year!
I was worried in the first few weeks because it just didn't seem like it was clicking as well as I thought it would and we seemed to have problems being able to go out every day due to weather. Yet somehow, we have managed to get pretty far into our program.
We're doing the Nike "Walk to Run" again - it builds you up in a really nice way. Right now we're on a week where on the "Run" days, we do two sets of six minutes at a time. So 12 minutes of total running. And it's beginning to feel pretty good. I am remembering why I liked doing this last year.
So, because it's going well and also because I think we might just be crazy, we're going to attempt our first 5K in July. Yes that is right, July. Two months from now July. We're going to try to do the Torchlight 5K that takes place during the Minneapolis Aquatennial. In two months. Eek?
If all goes according to plan though and no one comes down with H1N1 like someone who shall remain nameless (yeah, that was me...) did last year throwing us off our entire schedule, we should be more than able to handle a 5K by mid-July because our current program has us pretty much running that amount by the end. And right now we're on track to finish our program by the end of June.
I also like having a goal. It gives me focus. I am not going into this 5K with any kind of expectations whatsoever - I will be happy to just complete it. I don't care what my time is. My goal is simply to do it. And now I feel like I'm working towards something as we continue on with "Walk to Run."
So let's hope for continued good health and good weather as we keep moving forward!
So, here we are. We're into good spring weather finally. We're both healthy. And we're actually moving along nicely on our running program so far this year!
I was worried in the first few weeks because it just didn't seem like it was clicking as well as I thought it would and we seemed to have problems being able to go out every day due to weather. Yet somehow, we have managed to get pretty far into our program.
We're doing the Nike "Walk to Run" again - it builds you up in a really nice way. Right now we're on a week where on the "Run" days, we do two sets of six minutes at a time. So 12 minutes of total running. And it's beginning to feel pretty good. I am remembering why I liked doing this last year.
So, because it's going well and also because I think we might just be crazy, we're going to attempt our first 5K in July. Yes that is right, July. Two months from now July. We're going to try to do the Torchlight 5K that takes place during the Minneapolis Aquatennial. In two months. Eek?
If all goes according to plan though and no one comes down with H1N1 like someone who shall remain nameless (yeah, that was me...) did last year throwing us off our entire schedule, we should be more than able to handle a 5K by mid-July because our current program has us pretty much running that amount by the end. And right now we're on track to finish our program by the end of June.
I also like having a goal. It gives me focus. I am not going into this 5K with any kind of expectations whatsoever - I will be happy to just complete it. I don't care what my time is. My goal is simply to do it. And now I feel like I'm working towards something as we continue on with "Walk to Run."
So let's hope for continued good health and good weather as we keep moving forward!
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