one year

Well, technically, one year and almost two months.   
I  have habitually blogged on anniversary dates... yet I procrastinated on this very special anniversary. 

Greg and I celebrated our 1st anniversary on July 31st. 
To celebrate, he arranged a trip for us to visit a cutsie zoo in NC that we had been watching on TV.
It was a great get-away.

One year of marriage.

It has been a full year.   We bought a house, moved, settled in, tended to all of the "money pit" issues that arose (and there were MANY.  The house in itself has been such a blessing, and a headache.)
The boys are settled in to their school and work routines.   Things are currently going smoothly.

I've jokingly/truthfully admitted that the honeymoon is over. 
I have been challenged this year.  I am relearning how to be accountable to another person.   Greg has been tolerant of my "I do what I want" attitude.   Because frankly, "I do what I want". 
And I think he's learning how to live with a woman who can be out of control at times. 
He has been gracious. 
Also, I think the graciousness might go both ways at times.  :)

This year has been full of laughter, snarkiness, sarcasm, traveling, working, playing, pool maintenance, swimming, hosting friends, celebrations, eating out, cooking in, watching TV,  and lots of yard work.   
We have a fine dose of reality here.   
Ultimately a large bounty of blessings as well.

Yesterday I referenced Greg in a meeting by saying, "I guess he's been pretty good for me." 
We chuckled at how flippant that sounded.
In actuality, Greg has been exactly what I needed.   He is a good man, a great provider and a wonderful addition to our family.    I know he will be my rock and my companion for however many years we have ahead of us.
I often get carried away with mundane and the irritations of life and I sometimes lose sight of just how important Greg is to me.    The gift of a husband should never be taken for granted. 
I, of all people, should remember that.   (And shame on me for losing sight of that at times!)
The other night I looked over, saw his wedding ring, and thought to myself, "he chose me.  How very lucky I am. Don't forget how much this means."

One year of marriage in the books.   
The starting over, the learning, the growing.   I know the best is yet to come.

I love you, Greg.

Am I ready?

People keep asking me, "Are you ready?"  or  "Are you excited?"..... and I say, "for what?"  
A friend today said, "8 more days!"..... and I replied, "till what?"
 (cue "dumb blond" comments)

It's my wedding they are referring to.  Of course!
 And YES!  I am SO ready to marry Greg.   The wedding itself is the easiest thing I have planned.     I am ready, ready, ready to say "I do" and run away on our honeymoon.

It's the process of combining households, and prepping for an eventual move, that has majorly distracted me from all of the pre-wedding giddiness.    For weeks I have been consumed with preparation.  
Purging, Goodwill-ing, yard sale-ing.     Furniture has been moved, carpets have been cleaned, walls painted.
The minimilist in me is feeling good.... but the amount of  "stuff" I have sorted through has made me a mess.    Clutter makes me freak out a bit a lot.   The amount of clutter I have handled  from closets and basements have almost put me over the edge.      The yard sale and my basement storage room have given me anxiety that I have never experienced before.  It's almost crippling.

But! I push through knowing that each step brings me closer to welcoming Greg into our home AND having things organized for a future move.    So many new and exciting changes ahead.

After a melt down earlier today (and probably every day prior to today) I had to remind myself that the house, the projects, the organization are not the important things.
My relationship with God, Greg, my family, my friends are the important things.
I vow to take it slower this week and revel in some pre-wedding excitiement.

Oh!  Side note:  Please read about our yard sale HERE.

mid life

I celebrated my 40th birthday this month.    40.    The cliche age for midlife crisis.  Men buy fancy cars.   Women start to get plastic surgery.  

 Me?  I'm getting married again.... and I couldn't be happier.

I never knew exactly how I would want to get married the second time.  I knew I didn't want fanfare. Something simple.  Something fun.   

It turns out when you have a fairly large family and lots of friends.... nothing is simple.    So.... Greg and I opted for what would make me happiest.
Plan A...courthouse wedding, just us.

Plan B....courthouse wedding, just us and our kids.

Plan C.... and the plan we're sticking to.... tiny church ceremony with only our parents and kids in attendance.   

This will happen at the end of July.

The wedding part is great.   Simple.  I'm excited.  Can't wait to marry this man.

In the meantime, we're cleaning out and organizing two houses, getting ready for a yard sale, thinking about moving, thinking about combining households/finances/ becoming stepparents.   

Getting married as an older adult is a lot of work!  

I'm looking forward to the day when the transition part is behind us and we can settle in to our new life together.
I know it will be bumpy for a while.   

So.... baby steps.  

First thing --yard sale on July 8th.  #ihateyardsales