A long time coming...

It has been almost 16 months since I last posted, and probably 5 months since I have even thought of this site. I honestly cannot believe it has been that long. The time just flew by. I had initially intended to post every so, but after the wedding, and then the honeymoon, we got down to the business of living as husband and wife. I’m sure many readers know that is not always the easiest of transitions. So, weeks turned into months and then a year. Lately, I have been reflecting on the last 16 months. There are a few reasons I have been looking back, but I digress…

Originally, when we sent the ‘save the date’ magnet, we listed this blog as our web site, just to notify folks about the wedding. On the blog, we listed where we were registered, information on our reception and our email addresses in case anyone had questions. I have a rough idea how many people visited our site, but I had failed to realize how many people had our ‘save the date’ magnets. This past Christmas holiday, we made the rounds to friends and families homes and I noticed that everyone still had that ‘save the date’ magnet on there refrigerators. So, I still think this blog still has some value, since the website is still on all of your refrigerators after almost 2 years!

I guess blogging has become passé' and has given way to Facebook and Twitter. Jos has a Facebook account and posts from time to time. I do not and I think it may be a generational thing. I feel with a blog, you can think about what you write before you post, whereas, with facebook and twitter, it is more reactionary and instantaneous. The down side is that anyone can read it so you need to be mindful of that and edit yourself accordingly.

So, when I got the renewal notice to re-up the URL, I decided, why not? I logged on today and changed the format and typed this up. Perhaps I will update the blog at some point in the next 16 months. ;)

-Mark

September is going to be a busy month!

I was just talking to Jos today, and we were going down the list of what is left to do to prepare for the wedding. We both realized we don't have much time left. Thankfully, Jos has been "Ms. Plannie Plannerton" (inside joke), and has kept things on schedule. Also, Jos has been planning this wedding for a long time!

I want to take this time to thank everyone that has expressed such kind words over the last few months. I was looking at some of the invitation replies yesterday and the comments were very heart-warming. I also want express my thanks to all of you that attended Jocelyn's bridal showers. Jocelyn was a little apprehensive, at first, about the showers. Believe it or not, she sometimes feels uncomfortable being the center of attention. (I know, can you believe it!) She thoroughly enjoyed gathering with you all.

We both look forward to the 26th (yep, it's that soon), seeing you all and sharing with you our first day as husband and wife.

-Mark

It's getting closer and closer!!!

I have officially had both of my bridal showers, one by the lovely ladies that I work with, and one by the two best bridesmaids a girl could ask for in her life. I was amazed and overwhelmed by the care and thought taken by everyone regarding my showers. They were both beautiful and fun. It was wonderful to see some of my friends and family that I haven't seen for a while and to get to spend some time being pampered and taken care of as the "bride". I still can't believe it's me who's getting married...that probably won't set in until I am marching down the isle, but I can't wait for it! Seems like its mostly the small details that are left to handle, but I am sure I will get more freaked out over those than any thing else...you know me, I'm a planner.

Thank you again to Sue, Debbie and LuAnn for my beautiful work shower, and to my sister, Jen and my bestest friend in the whole wide word, Jen, and my mom, for making my family shower so special and beautiful. They are both occasions I will have in my heart for the rest of my life!

Thanks so much for being such wonderful friends and family. I am truly blessed, and I know Mark feels the same way.

All our love!
J&M

60 Days and Counting!!!!

I am totally blown away by the fact that we could go get our marriage license today, since Summit County allows you to get it up to 60 days prior! I am so excited for the wedding and all the fun festivities that go along with it. Mostly I am excited to get to see some friends and family that I haven't been able to see in a few years, if not more. That's the best part about weddings is being surrounded by those that you love and that love you. I was going through some pictures of my sisters wedding yesterday and it made me even more excited to have my own wedding pictures soon.

Yesterday Mark and I had a great day together. We signed up to ride in the "Sweetcorn Ride" in Richfield, Ohio. It was a 10 mile course and it was rather difficult for me since I haven't been on a bike since last summer. During the race I was reminded of why I can't wait to marry Mark. We were about 5 miles into the ride and I started to get a cramp in my diaphragm and ultimately was unable to breathe without making a horrible yelping sound. Wisely I decided to pull over to catch my breath. Mark came up and as soon as he saw/heard me, was off his bike and by my side doing anything he could to try and help. I was in too much pain to try and tell him what the problem was and that I knew I would be fine in a few minutes, but the shear terror on his face let me know exactly how much he loved me and how concerned he was about me. He gave me water and helped me calm down and was just so helpful. Within a few minutes we were back on the bikes and on our way, but he never left my side from that moment on, even though I know he could have continued at a different pace. When we got to a section that had a lot of wind coming across the road, he rode in front of and to the side of me to help cut the wind down and make it easier for me to ride up the hill. That's the best part about Mark; no matter the situation, he is by my side and ready to make everything better. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with my true partner.

See you all soon!!!!

Where has the time gone????

Wow...the time is just flying by these days and it's getting closer and closer to our wedding day! We are still making progress in planning the details...going to taste some wedding cake samples this weekend, we just picked out Mark's ring last night, and the bridesmaids dresses are in and look great! I also finally went to try on my wedding dress that I ordered last August...and it fits...a bit snug, but it fits!! It seems like just yesterday when I was leafing through bridal magazines imagining what my wedding would look like, and now we are down to the point of actually getting things to come together. We met with a wonderful man who runs the campus ministry at Kent State University and he will be officiating our ceremony and we are delighted to have him. The first time Mark and I met him, he invited us to have dinner with his wife Emily and their two kids and we spent over two hours there just talking about our lives and how we met and how we knew we wanted to get married. Amidst all the planning of the details of colors and dresses and cakes and venues, it's sometimes easy to get caught up in all of it and lose the true meaning of a wedding, but that night with Greg and Emily reminded us that the thing we want more than anything for our wedding day is to be husband and wife. I feel so blessed that I have found my perfect match and so privileged that I get to spend my life with him. We are looking forward to getting to see all our friends and share our most special day with you. See you soon!!!! Jocelyn

It's been one year since we got engaged!

Hard to believe the time has flown by so fast. I remember thinking last summer that Fall of 2009 was never going to get here and now we are coming up on it faster than ever. The bridesmaids ordered their dresses last night so hopefully they will arrive before the end of July. When we were there, the sales clerk told us about a girl who was getting married TODAY, May 8th, and came in yesterday to buy a dress off the rack, because her custom designed wedding dress from Vera Wang was delievered to the wrong address and they can't find it, so she had nothing to wear for her wedding. The clerk said she was very calm about the whole thing and just tried on a few dressed and picked one in less than 30 minutes. I don't know about you, but I would be a little bit more freaked out if that was me. I am happy to know that my dress is safe and sound and just waiting for me to come try it on again. As for the rest of the details for the wedding...we are still working those out. I have a list now of all the little things I don't want to miss, so I need to going on those projects pretty soon here. We are very much looking forward to the summer to get out there and be in the sun again (althought I will be sure to wear plently of SPF per my dermatologist!) and I know that the next few months are just going to fly by. Can't wait to see all our friends on our special day. Thanks for being a part of it! Love Jos & Mark

Save The Dates

Well, hopefully you have received your "Save the Dates". They went out in the mail on March 26, 2009 which we thought was fitting since it was the 6 month mark until our wedding. We are both really excited about the next few months and finishing up the details for the wedding, but more than anything, we are excited to soon be Husband and Wife! See you in a few months!