We all have one. The only reason I feel comfortable enough to share mine, is because it took place when I was quite young. I can no longer be teased about it... right?
I still turn bright red as I remember it. In fact, my face might stay this color all day.
It was in 5th grade. I was kind of a smarty pants, and so I had made it into the spelling bee! I spent weeks going over the list of words, practicing constantly. I was set on winning. I was kind of a competitive child.
So on the big day I dressed up. I still remember. I wore a long black skirt, and a blue button up shirt with my favorite black shoes. I had this irrational fear of my voice cracking when I went up to the microphone, so I drank a ton of water.
Ah, it was my downfall.
About 20 minutes into the spelling bee, I realized I had to pee pretty bad. In my 10-year-old mind, I deduced that if I asked to leave for the bathroom, I would be disqualified! What if it was my turn and I wasn't there? I'd get kicked out for sure. Thus, I determined to hold it until the spelling bee was over.
Finally, it was down to me, and one other boy. A fourth grader. Psh, I had this thing in the bag! The only downside was, my bladder was really struggling to contain all the water I drank that morning. Fourth grader and I were going back and forth, neither one of us missing a single word. "How long are we going to do this?" I kept thinking. I started to pray he would mess up so I could just pee for crying out loud!
Then, I could not hold it any longer. Yep. I totally peed myself in front of the whole school, more or less.
The thing was, my skirt was kind of wide, so it didn't get wet at all. This puddle just kind of formed by my feet. I was so mortified, I ran off the stage and into the nearest bathroom, where I hid and cried until my mother came and found me. She then drove all the way home, got me clean underwear, drove back, and I changed. I assumed, while waiting in the bathroom for what must have been half an hour, that I had lost the spelling bee by default. Surely when I came out of the bathroom, everyone would be gone, and I could slip into my classroom unnoticed.
Not even.
They had WAITED. So I walked back out to a room of people wondering why the little girl had run out suddenly. My uhm, puddle was still there, so no one had put two and two together.
I was so torn up over my embarrassment, I misspelled the first word they gave me, and lost to the fourth grader. The word? Dandelion.
My mom took me to lunch, then home. I guess she thought I had suffered enough.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Blogtober Day 6: I Believe
I often receive a lot of questions and curiosity when it comes to my beliefs. Being as it is General Conference weekend, I thought this would be an appropriate blog post.
To those of you who have ever wondered what I'm all about, this is it.
I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and I am what is typically referred to as a "Mormon".
My whole life, my religion has been a subject of curiosity and opinion to those not of the same faith. I guess I am just writing this to simply tell you all what exactly it is I believe. No frills, no embellishment. Just the simple gospel truth.
I believe that we all lived before we were born onto this earth, in a time called the Pre-Existence. (Makes sense, right?) We all lived there as a spiritual family, with a perfect Heavenly Father who loves us. I believe that our Heavenly Father is more than just a spirit, but a real being, with a body. He created a plan for us to also receive bodies, and gain knowledge and experience so that we could be more like him. Perfect heavenly beings. He wanted us to live for eternity this way, in ultimate happiness.
In order for his plan to work, he needed us to have a leader who could show us the way, and be an example to follow. Lucifer volunteered first, saying that he would make sure that we would all make it back to our Heavenly Father's presence. No matter what. While that sounds well and good, Heavenly Father wanted us to have agency, or the ability to choose for ourselves. Without agency, we would never grow and learn through our experiences. It could not be forced upon us. So instead Jesus, another of our brothers, offered to lead the way, and do his best to show us how to live. Jesus was chosen, and Lucifer was obviously angry. He was cast out of heaven, and some of our brothers and sisters went with him. The rest of us stayed.
So basically, if you were born onto this earth, you stuck with our Heavenly Father. Congratulations!
Adam and Eve kicked us off in the good ol' Garden of Eden, and the games begun. We won some, and Satan won others. Finally, Jesus got his turn on earth to show us how it's done.
Jesus lived a perfect life. He founded his church based in the true gospel. He had 12 apostles, and there were prophets to help as well. Christ performed miracles beyond my understanding, and used the priesthood to work God's wonders.
When I use the word "priesthood", I am referring to the power of God. I'll explain more later.
None of the things Jesus did though, comes close to the greatest sacrifice he made. The night before he was taken to be crucified, Jesus went with his apostles to the Garden of Gethsemane. They waited outside, and he went in to pray.
Christ knelt by a tree and prayed to God, our father, to help him through what would be the greatest challenge.
Now, Heavenly Father is a perfect being. Do you think an imperfect being can live in his presence? Of course not. However, we are not even close to perfect. We all make mistakes all the time, so there had to be a way for us to repent and be rid of our sins. It was then decided that Jesus would be the one to suffer for all of our sins. He would take the pain and anguish and torment for every sin of every person that would ever live, in order for us to be made clean again.
So there, in Gethsemane, Christ suffered the pain of all mankind. The greatest pain, and most selfless sacrifice that would ever be. He atoned for us all. Which is why we call it the Atonement.
Because of my older brother, my Savior, I have been saved not in, but from my sins. If I ever stray, or make a mistake in my life, I know I can pray for forgiveness, do my part to repent, and Jesus's sacrifice makes it possible for me to wash my sins away. Forever.
And then, to top it all off, Jesus gave his LIFE.
John sums it up perfectly: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
After Christ died, his church slowly disappeared from the earth. Many different sects borrowed bits and pieces from the original church of Christ, but it's entirety no longer existed.
Until in the 1820's, in New York State, a boy named Joseph Smith came along. Joseph was a sincere boy, always in search of truth. When he was 14 years old, a group of religious sects came to his area and began preaching in behalf of their various congregations. Joseph attended many of the churches, but did not know which to join, as he was confused as to what was true.
Then, one day he was reading in the book of James, chapter 1 verse 5, and it said, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."
Well, that seemed fair enough to Joseph, so he went into the woods on a spring day, and decided to pray and ask God what church was the right one to join.
As Joseph prayed, a light began to grow, until it shone everywhere, and Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father appeared to him. They told him that he was to join none of the churches, for none of them had all of the necessary components of the true gospel. Joseph was then told that he was chosen to help them restore the church of God back on the earth.
Joseph spent his life in the service of God, doing his work. He was given the priesthood, and ordained apostles and leaders as well.
I'll take a moment to explain the priesthood. I recently heard it put very beautifully. The priesthood is the power of God, given to man to perform his work. A man with the priesthood is not granted power, per se. Imagine a man opening a window. He is not creating the light, or the warmth. He simply opened the window to allow the light in. That is how the priesthood works in God's church. He allows us to be the bearers of his gift, the we may allow the power of the priesthood to do good on earth.
Back to Joseph, he was also given gold plates with writing on them. A book. a book written by prophets that lived on the American continent in the same age as those in Jerusalem in which the bible takes place. With help from the priesthood, and spiritual inspiration, he translated them into what we now call the Book of Mormon. (Mormon is the name of one of the prophets in the book, now you know where our nickname comes from!)
Anyhow, I think the rest of the story is obvious. The gospel word spread, as did the members of the church. It grew and grew, and now, in 2013, there are thousands and thousands of members worldwide. We follow the same structure as the church Christ founded in his days on earth. We have apostles, and a beloved prophet, Thomas S. Monson, whom we love and revere. He is a mouthpiece of God.
In our church we also have temples, and in these temples we make promises to God, and receive blessings for those promises. One blessing is that of eternal families. I believe God wants me to be with my family forever. With my husband and children forever. NOT "'til death do us part", but beyond. So when I married the love of my life in the temple, we were sealed for time and all eternity together.
I believe as long as I live the commandments God gave me, and live in a Christlike way, I will have my loved ones forever, and I will live in celestial glory with my Father in Heaven forever.
I know in my heart it is true.
I could expound more, and perhaps in later posts I will, but if you have more questions about me, my faith, or beliefs, you can also visit this website or this website.
To those of you who have ever wondered what I'm all about, this is it.
I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and I am what is typically referred to as a "Mormon".
My whole life, my religion has been a subject of curiosity and opinion to those not of the same faith. I guess I am just writing this to simply tell you all what exactly it is I believe. No frills, no embellishment. Just the simple gospel truth.
I believe that we all lived before we were born onto this earth, in a time called the Pre-Existence. (Makes sense, right?) We all lived there as a spiritual family, with a perfect Heavenly Father who loves us. I believe that our Heavenly Father is more than just a spirit, but a real being, with a body. He created a plan for us to also receive bodies, and gain knowledge and experience so that we could be more like him. Perfect heavenly beings. He wanted us to live for eternity this way, in ultimate happiness.
In order for his plan to work, he needed us to have a leader who could show us the way, and be an example to follow. Lucifer volunteered first, saying that he would make sure that we would all make it back to our Heavenly Father's presence. No matter what. While that sounds well and good, Heavenly Father wanted us to have agency, or the ability to choose for ourselves. Without agency, we would never grow and learn through our experiences. It could not be forced upon us. So instead Jesus, another of our brothers, offered to lead the way, and do his best to show us how to live. Jesus was chosen, and Lucifer was obviously angry. He was cast out of heaven, and some of our brothers and sisters went with him. The rest of us stayed.
So basically, if you were born onto this earth, you stuck with our Heavenly Father. Congratulations!
Adam and Eve kicked us off in the good ol' Garden of Eden, and the games begun. We won some, and Satan won others. Finally, Jesus got his turn on earth to show us how it's done.
Jesus lived a perfect life. He founded his church based in the true gospel. He had 12 apostles, and there were prophets to help as well. Christ performed miracles beyond my understanding, and used the priesthood to work God's wonders.
When I use the word "priesthood", I am referring to the power of God. I'll explain more later.
None of the things Jesus did though, comes close to the greatest sacrifice he made. The night before he was taken to be crucified, Jesus went with his apostles to the Garden of Gethsemane. They waited outside, and he went in to pray.
Christ knelt by a tree and prayed to God, our father, to help him through what would be the greatest challenge.
Now, Heavenly Father is a perfect being. Do you think an imperfect being can live in his presence? Of course not. However, we are not even close to perfect. We all make mistakes all the time, so there had to be a way for us to repent and be rid of our sins. It was then decided that Jesus would be the one to suffer for all of our sins. He would take the pain and anguish and torment for every sin of every person that would ever live, in order for us to be made clean again.
So there, in Gethsemane, Christ suffered the pain of all mankind. The greatest pain, and most selfless sacrifice that would ever be. He atoned for us all. Which is why we call it the Atonement.
Because of my older brother, my Savior, I have been saved not in, but from my sins. If I ever stray, or make a mistake in my life, I know I can pray for forgiveness, do my part to repent, and Jesus's sacrifice makes it possible for me to wash my sins away. Forever.
And then, to top it all off, Jesus gave his LIFE.
John sums it up perfectly: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
After Christ died, his church slowly disappeared from the earth. Many different sects borrowed bits and pieces from the original church of Christ, but it's entirety no longer existed.
Until in the 1820's, in New York State, a boy named Joseph Smith came along. Joseph was a sincere boy, always in search of truth. When he was 14 years old, a group of religious sects came to his area and began preaching in behalf of their various congregations. Joseph attended many of the churches, but did not know which to join, as he was confused as to what was true.
Then, one day he was reading in the book of James, chapter 1 verse 5, and it said, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."
Well, that seemed fair enough to Joseph, so he went into the woods on a spring day, and decided to pray and ask God what church was the right one to join.
As Joseph prayed, a light began to grow, until it shone everywhere, and Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father appeared to him. They told him that he was to join none of the churches, for none of them had all of the necessary components of the true gospel. Joseph was then told that he was chosen to help them restore the church of God back on the earth.
Joseph spent his life in the service of God, doing his work. He was given the priesthood, and ordained apostles and leaders as well.
I'll take a moment to explain the priesthood. I recently heard it put very beautifully. The priesthood is the power of God, given to man to perform his work. A man with the priesthood is not granted power, per se. Imagine a man opening a window. He is not creating the light, or the warmth. He simply opened the window to allow the light in. That is how the priesthood works in God's church. He allows us to be the bearers of his gift, the we may allow the power of the priesthood to do good on earth.
Back to Joseph, he was also given gold plates with writing on them. A book. a book written by prophets that lived on the American continent in the same age as those in Jerusalem in which the bible takes place. With help from the priesthood, and spiritual inspiration, he translated them into what we now call the Book of Mormon. (Mormon is the name of one of the prophets in the book, now you know where our nickname comes from!)
Anyhow, I think the rest of the story is obvious. The gospel word spread, as did the members of the church. It grew and grew, and now, in 2013, there are thousands and thousands of members worldwide. We follow the same structure as the church Christ founded in his days on earth. We have apostles, and a beloved prophet, Thomas S. Monson, whom we love and revere. He is a mouthpiece of God.
In our church we also have temples, and in these temples we make promises to God, and receive blessings for those promises. One blessing is that of eternal families. I believe God wants me to be with my family forever. With my husband and children forever. NOT "'til death do us part", but beyond. So when I married the love of my life in the temple, we were sealed for time and all eternity together.
 |
| I got married here! |
I believe as long as I live the commandments God gave me, and live in a Christlike way, I will have my loved ones forever, and I will live in celestial glory with my Father in Heaven forever.
I know in my heart it is true.
I could expound more, and perhaps in later posts I will, but if you have more questions about me, my faith, or beliefs, you can also visit this website or this website.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Blogtober Day 5: Need a Laugh?
I wish I had time to write a "real" post, but I've been out of the house all day today! I thought I would just share some of my favorite funnies instead! Share it if you know someone who could use a smile. :)
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| If you never watched this movie as a kid, your childhood is not complete. |
Friday, October 4, 2013
Blogtober Day 4: Change and Being Yourself
I few years ago, I was returning to my hometown after being away for a while. I was excited to see my family, meet up with old friends, and hang out at old spots. It was familiar and refreshing, and more than a little strange. In the process of reconnecting with some people, I met up with an old friend named Meghan. We had been so close before I left, so I suppose it was surprising when something seemed off as we talked. I could tell something was really agitating her, and I was validated when she finally blurted, "Wow, it's just too bad. You've really changed."
I was really thrown off when Meghan lobbed that one at me, because from where I sat, I was just being myself. I mean, I suppose I saw things a little differently than I once did, but isn't that just a natural occurrence of life? I was still me. I had just gone through a bit of refining. But to Meghan, because I was not the me she was used to, I was not me at all.
Have you, dear reader, ever been accused of "changing" before? As if it was some deplorable act? I mean, how dare you.
As we move into each new phase of our lives, it is necessary for us to adapt. Sometimes that is really difficult.
For example, when I first got married, I came to realize that I didn't have the same passion for certain things I once did. I used to love dancing, acting, and playing the ukulele. Not that I still don't love those things, but they simply aren't as high on the importance scale anymore. This rearrangement of things confused me for a while. I simply didn't feel like myself. That is, until I accepted my new self.
Isn't it ironic that all the little clichés we learn as children end up being completely true? What was the advice every kid heard from their parents a thousand times or more? "Just be yourself!" I used to think that being myself just meant being honest. You know, saying my favorite color was orange, even though everyone else said they like blue. Time has given me a new perspective.
Being yourself is a far more inward pursuit. It is accepting yourself the way you are, and not being afraid to let the world see it. Through the changes. It is wanting the best for yourself, and finding the right ways to get it.
I guess what I mean is, only you can decide who "yourself" is. It takes a little self examination once in a while. You can't fixate on the past and continue being the same person your whole life. People just don't work that way. I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason. Usually not the reason we think, but still.
This isn't to say we shouldn't care at all what others think of us. Perceptions are still important. There is a fine line between confidence and ignorance. Don't compare yourself and your progression with others. No one is perfect, and they have their own demons you don't even know about.
I thought I would share all this, because one of my recent goals is to be more comfortable being me. It seems like lately there have been a lot of situations where I feel I need to adjust to someone else's definition of myself. Every time it happens, I can't help but get taken back to that conversation with Meghan years ago... I don't like how it makes me feel. So honestly, I'm stepping up and out.
Watch out world.
I was really thrown off when Meghan lobbed that one at me, because from where I sat, I was just being myself. I mean, I suppose I saw things a little differently than I once did, but isn't that just a natural occurrence of life? I was still me. I had just gone through a bit of refining. But to Meghan, because I was not the me she was used to, I was not me at all.
Have you, dear reader, ever been accused of "changing" before? As if it was some deplorable act? I mean, how dare you.
As we move into each new phase of our lives, it is necessary for us to adapt. Sometimes that is really difficult.
For example, when I first got married, I came to realize that I didn't have the same passion for certain things I once did. I used to love dancing, acting, and playing the ukulele. Not that I still don't love those things, but they simply aren't as high on the importance scale anymore. This rearrangement of things confused me for a while. I simply didn't feel like myself. That is, until I accepted my new self.
Isn't it ironic that all the little clichés we learn as children end up being completely true? What was the advice every kid heard from their parents a thousand times or more? "Just be yourself!" I used to think that being myself just meant being honest. You know, saying my favorite color was orange, even though everyone else said they like blue. Time has given me a new perspective.
Being yourself is a far more inward pursuit. It is accepting yourself the way you are, and not being afraid to let the world see it. Through the changes. It is wanting the best for yourself, and finding the right ways to get it.
I guess what I mean is, only you can decide who "yourself" is. It takes a little self examination once in a while. You can't fixate on the past and continue being the same person your whole life. People just don't work that way. I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason. Usually not the reason we think, but still.
This isn't to say we shouldn't care at all what others think of us. Perceptions are still important. There is a fine line between confidence and ignorance. Don't compare yourself and your progression with others. No one is perfect, and they have their own demons you don't even know about.
I thought I would share all this, because one of my recent goals is to be more comfortable being me. It seems like lately there have been a lot of situations where I feel I need to adjust to someone else's definition of myself. Every time it happens, I can't help but get taken back to that conversation with Meghan years ago... I don't like how it makes me feel. So honestly, I'm stepping up and out.
Watch out world.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Blogtober Day 3: Faith in Fear
Today's post could get a little layered, so you know.
The reason is, this post is about my children, and their children. Maybe even your children, living or yet to come.
I spent a lot of time watching my son grow. Watching him crawl, learn new sounds, places, foods, and people. I have watched him learn how to roll, get new teeth, and stand up. Right now, things are about as basic as they'll ever be for him. Lately, I've felt this dull ache in my chest spawned from the vain hope that things could stay this way. Uncomplicated, happy, and simple. Because the world is changing, and I don't like it.
It isn't that I'm afraid of change. I've come to understand that change is a necessary and important part of life. I'm simply conscious of the fact that the world we currently live in, is significantly more frightening than the one I grew up in.
I'm about to sound like kind of a geezer, but when I was a kid:
-My parents didn't have to worry about gunmen when they sent me to school.
-I was taught to respect my elders.
-We sat down and had dinner as a family every night.
-If someone was different from me, they were to be accepted, not compartmentalized.
-My 1st grade classmates didn't pass around playboys in class.
-Our President was not a decietful coward.
-Education meant something.
Well, that's a start anyway.
How can I protect him, when it seems the whole world is planning for his failure?
Will the things I teach him be enough?
I'm sure every parent has these worries. I'm sure I can't be alone in this.
But our children are.
Because for all that we do, when they leave our houses, they have to choose for themselves who they are.
My one comfort is knowing that my Heavenly Father is on my side.
Without him, we would all surely fail.
I am writing this post with a frustrating lack of solutions. It's not like I can "fix" the world for my children.
I just have to believe that God will not put us up against more than we can handle.
More than they can handle.
“Faith in something greater than ourselves enables us to do what we have said we'll do, to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid, to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is entirely uncertain.”
-Gordon B. Hinkley
The reason is, this post is about my children, and their children. Maybe even your children, living or yet to come.
I spent a lot of time watching my son grow. Watching him crawl, learn new sounds, places, foods, and people. I have watched him learn how to roll, get new teeth, and stand up. Right now, things are about as basic as they'll ever be for him. Lately, I've felt this dull ache in my chest spawned from the vain hope that things could stay this way. Uncomplicated, happy, and simple. Because the world is changing, and I don't like it.
It isn't that I'm afraid of change. I've come to understand that change is a necessary and important part of life. I'm simply conscious of the fact that the world we currently live in, is significantly more frightening than the one I grew up in.
I'm about to sound like kind of a geezer, but when I was a kid:
-My parents didn't have to worry about gunmen when they sent me to school.
-I was taught to respect my elders.
-We sat down and had dinner as a family every night.
-If someone was different from me, they were to be accepted, not compartmentalized.
-My 1st grade classmates didn't pass around playboys in class.
-Our President was not a decietful coward.
-Education meant something.
Well, that's a start anyway.
How can I protect him, when it seems the whole world is planning for his failure?
Will the things I teach him be enough?
I'm sure every parent has these worries. I'm sure I can't be alone in this.
But our children are.
Because for all that we do, when they leave our houses, they have to choose for themselves who they are.
My one comfort is knowing that my Heavenly Father is on my side.
Without him, we would all surely fail.
I am writing this post with a frustrating lack of solutions. It's not like I can "fix" the world for my children.
I just have to believe that God will not put us up against more than we can handle.
More than they can handle.
“Faith in something greater than ourselves enables us to do what we have said we'll do, to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid, to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is entirely uncertain.”
-Gordon B. Hinkley
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Blogtober Day 2: Jubilant Nuptuals, A How-To Guide
I remember when my fiancé-now-husband proposed. September 3rd, 2011. He took me to the lake at sunset, and led me out to the end of the docks. We had a perfect view of the water expanding out to the hills, and the sky was lit up in oranges and pinks. He knelt down, delivered a lovely little speech, and pulled out the ring. I stood there, smiled like an idiot, nodded yes, and received cheers from several families camping along the beach who had decided to watch. Then the lake patrol guy came up and yelled his congratulations, before noisily speeding away. The little things you remember, you know?
But as I woke up the next morning, I realized I was now responsible for the biggest event of my life. Like the very well thought out people we are, we chose December 17th as our wedding date. Yes. 3 months for me to plan a wedding. Yikes.
Long story short, I had a very lovely wedding day. It had all the important things, and I was helplessly, hopelessly happy. That's the goal, right? Was it an absolute fairy tale? Maybe not. But after going through the insanity of it all, I decided there were a few things I wish I would have understood.
Unless you are from another world where stress does not exist, every bride gets a little freaked out while wedding planning. Whether you are worried about the budget, decorations, venue, guests, bridal party, or all of the above... you've got a lot on your plate! I get you girl. Oh, how I get you.
So this is going out to the engaged ladies everywhere.
Don't sweat the small stuff. There is often a point in the planning where it all becomes one big blur. Flowers and colors and food and lighting... learn to separate. Are the name cards as important as the playlist? Take it one task at a time, and put the big stuff first. All the tiny odds and ends? Either delegate or put it aside, because it isn't worth a breakdown (or three).
Give yourself time. Probably my biggest/only regret is having such a short engagement. If you are thinking in that direction, stop. Allow yourself at least 6 months to put all the pieces together. There are so many aspects to a wedding you forget, or issues you didn't expect. If this is going to be a sweet memory instead of blatant chaos, trust me. Take it slower.
Delegate. The most stressful thing you could do is try to take it all on yourself. If you are a perfectionist, or a bit of a control freak (like me), this is going to be hard. Know it's ok. Your loved ones want you to have a beautiful day too. Get a group together that you trust and give them each one task. Simplify.
Stick to your guns (and budget). There are going to be a lot (and I do mean a lot) of people that want to give input for your big day. Depending on who those people are, it can really confuse you and cause you to lost track of what you originally wanted. Be courteous and kind, always, but stay true to your vision. Be open to ideas (who knows what you'll come across!), but don't feel obligated to let other people take the reigns. As always, money will be a big factor in play. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT go over budget. The end.
Enjoy the process. Set apart at least one day a week for you to get away from the planning. Take your man out on a hike, take a spa day, binge watch a new show on Netflix (my usual favorite). If you are always planning, you quickly lose enthusiasm.
Tone down your inner bridezilla. Not all girls become one, but there are moments... before you implode like a dying star, ask yourself what is important. No one can ruin your day but you.
Make it about the two of you. I save this for last because it is the most important thing to remember. This is not "the bride's" day. I don't care what the stigma is. This day is about you and your beloved, and the love you share. Let him be part of the planning if he's willing (even if he isn't, make him feel special too). Let him pick things he likes. You can't be selfish about your wedding. We, not me.
A little helter skelter, but that is my two cents. Take it or leave it.
(take it)
But as I woke up the next morning, I realized I was now responsible for the biggest event of my life. Like the very well thought out people we are, we chose December 17th as our wedding date. Yes. 3 months for me to plan a wedding. Yikes.
Long story short, I had a very lovely wedding day. It had all the important things, and I was helplessly, hopelessly happy. That's the goal, right? Was it an absolute fairy tale? Maybe not. But after going through the insanity of it all, I decided there were a few things I wish I would have understood.
Unless you are from another world where stress does not exist, every bride gets a little freaked out while wedding planning. Whether you are worried about the budget, decorations, venue, guests, bridal party, or all of the above... you've got a lot on your plate! I get you girl. Oh, how I get you.
So this is going out to the engaged ladies everywhere.
Don't sweat the small stuff. There is often a point in the planning where it all becomes one big blur. Flowers and colors and food and lighting... learn to separate. Are the name cards as important as the playlist? Take it one task at a time, and put the big stuff first. All the tiny odds and ends? Either delegate or put it aside, because it isn't worth a breakdown (or three).
Give yourself time. Probably my biggest/only regret is having such a short engagement. If you are thinking in that direction, stop. Allow yourself at least 6 months to put all the pieces together. There are so many aspects to a wedding you forget, or issues you didn't expect. If this is going to be a sweet memory instead of blatant chaos, trust me. Take it slower.
Delegate. The most stressful thing you could do is try to take it all on yourself. If you are a perfectionist, or a bit of a control freak (like me), this is going to be hard. Know it's ok. Your loved ones want you to have a beautiful day too. Get a group together that you trust and give them each one task. Simplify.
Stick to your guns (and budget). There are going to be a lot (and I do mean a lot) of people that want to give input for your big day. Depending on who those people are, it can really confuse you and cause you to lost track of what you originally wanted. Be courteous and kind, always, but stay true to your vision. Be open to ideas (who knows what you'll come across!), but don't feel obligated to let other people take the reigns. As always, money will be a big factor in play. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT go over budget. The end.
Enjoy the process. Set apart at least one day a week for you to get away from the planning. Take your man out on a hike, take a spa day, binge watch a new show on Netflix (my usual favorite). If you are always planning, you quickly lose enthusiasm.
Tone down your inner bridezilla. Not all girls become one, but there are moments... before you implode like a dying star, ask yourself what is important. No one can ruin your day but you.
Make it about the two of you. I save this for last because it is the most important thing to remember. This is not "the bride's" day. I don't care what the stigma is. This day is about you and your beloved, and the love you share. Let him be part of the planning if he's willing (even if he isn't, make him feel special too). Let him pick things he likes. You can't be selfish about your wedding. We, not me.
A little helter skelter, but that is my two cents. Take it or leave it.
(take it)
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Blogtober Day 1: 25 Things About Me.
So this is hideously, impossibly stereotypical. But there are 31 days of Blogtober, and not all of my ideas are going to be winners. Nonetheless, I hope someone finds this interesting. Maybe.
1. My 3 favorite words are probably: shenanigans, quixotic, and indubitably.
2. I was born on Friday the 13th.
3. My dreams are very vivid, and I remember them really well. 2 weeks ago I dreamed I was a first
grade teacher whose students were being kidnapped by an evil genius with a floating pet shark.
4. Along with peanut butter cups, I also don't like white chocolate.
5. Musical theatre is my not-so-guilty pleasure.
6. Adoption is something I have always hoped to do. My mom was adopted, and I also have a few aunts, uncles, and cousins who were as well. I'm not sure if that is where my attachment to it stems from, but if I'm ever able to provide a family for a child that might not get the chance, I'd love to.
7. Feet gross me out.
8. I did not go to a real concert until I was almost 18.
9. When I was younger, one of my brothers would tease me about having a "horse face". I am still sensitive to that to this day, even though it isn't true. Sarah Jessica Parker has a horse face. I don't. Seriously, let's compare:
<--- Normal face.
Actual horse face ---->
10. I can pop my jaw and my ears.
11. No movie can make me cry. I mean it. Just to give you a reference point, Cast Away. The part where Wilson is floating away from Tom Hanks? I laughed.
12. I can play/have played the flute, saxophone, piano, and ukulele. Also, I am a beast on the kazoo.
13. My "in-front-of-the-mirror-singing-into-a-hairbrush-song" is Here (In Your Arms) by Hellogoodbye.
14. If I could, I would absolutely drive a classic roadster.
15. Those dolls that have the eyes that move when you tilt them back terrify me.
16. I love being a spectator to a great prank.
17. A few months ago I chopped off most of my hair, and I swear, never EVER again.
18. I would not by any means call myself a "fashionista", but I do love good fashion.
19. I've been legitimately stalked before.
20. Ancient history is totally fascinating to me. The Crusades, Rome, Egypt, Greece, Persia, etc.
21. I drink hot chocolate year round! LOVE IT.
22. Scary movies and I don't mix. Ever.
23. I've never found Brad Pitt attractive.
24. I suck at math. Understatement of the year.
25. I am aware that I brag about my adorable son constantly. I can't help it. He's perfect.
1. My 3 favorite words are probably: shenanigans, quixotic, and indubitably.
2. I was born on Friday the 13th.
3. My dreams are very vivid, and I remember them really well. 2 weeks ago I dreamed I was a first
grade teacher whose students were being kidnapped by an evil genius with a floating pet shark.
4. Along with peanut butter cups, I also don't like white chocolate.
5. Musical theatre is my not-so-guilty pleasure.
6. Adoption is something I have always hoped to do. My mom was adopted, and I also have a few aunts, uncles, and cousins who were as well. I'm not sure if that is where my attachment to it stems from, but if I'm ever able to provide a family for a child that might not get the chance, I'd love to.
7. Feet gross me out.
8. I did not go to a real concert until I was almost 18.
9. When I was younger, one of my brothers would tease me about having a "horse face". I am still sensitive to that to this day, even though it isn't true. Sarah Jessica Parker has a horse face. I don't. Seriously, let's compare:
<--- Normal face.
Actual horse face ---->
10. I can pop my jaw and my ears.
11. No movie can make me cry. I mean it. Just to give you a reference point, Cast Away. The part where Wilson is floating away from Tom Hanks? I laughed.
12. I can play/have played the flute, saxophone, piano, and ukulele. Also, I am a beast on the kazoo.
13. My "in-front-of-the-mirror-singing-into-a-hairbrush-song" is Here (In Your Arms) by Hellogoodbye.
14. If I could, I would absolutely drive a classic roadster.15. Those dolls that have the eyes that move when you tilt them back terrify me.
16. I love being a spectator to a great prank.
17. A few months ago I chopped off most of my hair, and I swear, never EVER again.
18. I would not by any means call myself a "fashionista", but I do love good fashion.
19. I've been legitimately stalked before.
20. Ancient history is totally fascinating to me. The Crusades, Rome, Egypt, Greece, Persia, etc.
21. I drink hot chocolate year round! LOVE IT.22. Scary movies and I don't mix. Ever.
23. I've never found Brad Pitt attractive.
24. I suck at math. Understatement of the year.
25. I am aware that I brag about my adorable son constantly. I can't help it. He's perfect.
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