it gets so much better.

This past weekend was so fun for Danny and I.  Now that school is over, we are fully focused on the upcoming wedding and, more importantly, our upcoming marriage!  We were all over the place this weekend, getting gifts for our loved ones and getting some last details for the big day.  We felt so accomplished!  Only a couple things left on our "to-do" list.  So satisfying.

If you live here, you  know how hot yesterday was.  I heard in the 100's?  And it was dry heat, too.  Gross.  So we ended the day by jumping in the pool and sitting the spa.  It was perfect.  The sky was orange and the moon sliver came out early.  We played for a while, then just sat in silence enjoying one another and God's presence around us.

On the way home we were talking about God and theology and science- pretty typical for us.  We started talking about heaven and Danny expressed how excited he is for it.  I gulped down the lump in my throat and admitted how scared I am for it.  Maybe scared isn't the right word.  I'm not scared to be there- it's just sad to think about leaving all this behind.  

By that time I had big ol' tears rolling down my face.  We are so in love.  So happy.  So full of joy and so complete.  We laugh, we kiss, we hold hands, we disciple one another and others, we really really really love life.  The thought of it all ending...isn't is sort of sad?  Danny smiled so sweetly and wiped my face clean.  He whispered, "Kay, one day I will see you in heaven and I will know you better than anyone there (with one exception) and I will point to you and say, 'That was my wife!'  And we will be glorified and it will be paradise."  Yes, my love...you are right...

As I was lying in bed later last night I thought of this quote from C.S. Lewis:

Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.  We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea.  We are far too easily pleased.

I know so little of heaven, but what I do know is good.  I am certain that when I'm there, I won't miss life at all.  But for now...Oh, I don't know.  We keep on living, right?  And enjoy the little things like iced chais and sunshine and clear lip gloss and sunsets and holding hands and kisses on the forehead.  

And we remember that from here, it gets so much better.

dear APU...

Last night I e-mailed in my last paper for my summer school class. And then this morning I dropped off my last 2 library books on west campus. I drove away with a big grin knowing it will be my last time driving on the 60 and the 71 and the 57 and the 210 freeways in early morning traffic for the next 2 months. And the last time writing papers for 2 months. And the last time reading text books for 2 months. And the last time I have to sit in class for hours on end for 2 months. Boy, does that feel good.

30 out of 90 units done! Hip hip :)

On to other things...like toilets and toes and my fiance...
Kay

PS I want you to know that I will probably start missing you next week, so please don't be too hurt.

am taking a break

...from my 3-day study sesh. This summer school class has left me drained and tired. The stress reader is over the top and I am more than ready for a break. One more final, one more paper, then I can breath again. And scrub the toilets. And paint my toenails. And go grocery shopping. And trim my hair. And pick up my wedding dress. And do other little wedding details. And call my friends to ask their forgiveness for my negligence lately. And hopefully even shave my legs (debatable). And, and, and...

Those who know me will be very proud, though. Instead of starting my next class a week from tomorrow, I decided to drop it. I have never dropped a class from my 18-unit semesters and 16-unit quarters in undergrad (now 13-unit semesters in grad), but this was a must. I need to take care of myself physically, spiritually, emotionally before I enter into this marriage. Who wants a tired, stressed out bride? Not Danny. Or my wedding party. Or my mom. Or me. No more dry bones, please. I just want to be a tree by the stream. Just the thought of having more time to exercise and finish the wedding planning and read for fun and (ahem) shave my legs makes me one happy girl.

So excuse me this next week as I wrap things up in the school area for the next 2 months. 2 months. Oh, man...

program fronts

courtesy of my beautiful, God-fearing, talented, creative, gifted, artistic, and selfless friend Kaylyn...Thank you so so so so so so so much, Kaylyn! I can't stop looking at it! :)

quiche, anyone?

At my shower we had an incredible display of food- muffins, bagels, scones, yogurts, fruit, dips, chocolate covered strawberries, and quiche. My mom used to make quiche when we were growing up, but I never came around to making it myself. Let me just say...that has changed. The quiches at the shower were so incredible, I thought I'd share the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 pie crust (store bought works great)
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk (use the percent you want...we used 2%)
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 package of feta cheese
1/2 jar sun dried tomatos (plus some of the oil)
salt and pepper to taste

-Unfold crust in pie dish and bake for 7 minutes at 425.
-Meanwhile, crack 3 eggs in a bowl. Beat it, just beat it.
-Add your tablespoon flour (beat), milk (beat), and stir in your feta and tomatos. (I like to chop my tomatos so they're little, but you can leave them whatever way you'd like.) Shake in a little salt and pepper.
-Whip it. Whip it good. Then pour into your crust.
-Bake at 300 for 45-55 minutes. Shouldn't look wet or be too jiggly. (A little jiggle is okay- remember it's mostly egg.)
-Serve alongside a small salad. Good til the last crumb. Then eat that, too. And if any little specks fell onto the table, get those too. Trust me.

I made this earlier this week for my love and my father-in-law-to-be. They loved it. Goes to show that quiches can be man food, too.

Enjoy!

Because it's 50 days away...

here are just a few details I may have forgotten to share with you:

This is the song we are dancing to for our first dance as husband and wife. This album is probably our all-time favorite as a couple, and this song will forever remind me of getting ready before he came over to see me, and him of driving back home in the late night hours after spending an evening of cooking, dancing, eating, laughing, talking, and making memories.

It gets to be kind of on the fast side, but don't you worry. There is no problem too big for DJ Bunny. 

Also, I think I mentioned before, but we are flying up to the wonderful Portland, Oregon for our honeymoon. Why Portland, you ask? We are not fans of the sun. But we are certainly fans of museums, hiking, waterfalls, coffee shops, farmers markets, and riding bikes. So Portland it is. And Hotel Monaco is where we will start our lifetime marathon of best-friend-sleepovers! Hip hip.

Oh, and this is where we will be standing when we become husband and wife. Except there will be twinkle lights surrounding us. And different flowers.  And you dear friends and family. Oh man, I can't wait to see you there! I'll be the one in white(ish)...

Did I mention it is only 50 days away?

bridal shower - gifts

I received lots of lovely gifts at my shower. I've never been so excited for dish towels, tea light candles, and sheets! I think my favorite gift was the set of new silverware. I have a really bad habit of sticking dirty forks and spoons directly into the sink, forgetting, then turning on the disposal. Then Danny and I eat dinner the next night and the rigid edges hurt our mouths. No one wants that. So now I have brand spankin' new silverware that I am trying my hardest not to scratch. So far, so good. I also loved my Unterkofler sign that my lovely friend Kaylyn made...new mugs from Anthro...some unmentionables that will come in handy on the honeymoon...and a whole kit (including lessons!) to learn how to knit! I am so blessed. And Danny is, too...considering everything I got is pretty much for him also!

My favorite color!

Amazing, right?  So while I was opening someone wrote down all the comments I was making.  Then, they were read as "what I will say on my wedding night".  It was sort of embarrassing, but worth it, because it got everyone laughing.  Who would have known I would make comments like "oops, I broke it!", "oh it's the hangy things!", and "we need a new pair of sheets!"  Yikes...

dear fiance,

This movie comes out August 7, the day after we get home from our honeymoon. I think we will love it. Will you please take me to see it? We can make popcorn beforehand and sneak it in, along with some chocolate chip cookies and our nalgene bottles. Please say yes...

Love,
your wife in 55 days

p.s. i love you madly

just what i need to hear

my email to a friend...

Today I had a core leader meet with the associate pastor to say that not only does he want to step down from leadership but also step away from the church because he can't support a woman in ministry.
Yikes...I've never really experienced that before. In class, yes. But not in the church.
Thanks for always supporting me and encouraging me in ministry friend.

his email back...or maybe not so much his...

Kay,
I love you. Stay upbeat about this. I gifted you to lead and put you in the position that you are in! Let him go and be used elsewhere and don't harbor any ill feelings toward him. Hopefully, someday, he will learn from this experience as much as you will. Remember, I love him too.
Keep doing what you are doing and use this only as motivation to better serve me. I am going to do some amazing stuff today. Want to join me?
Love,
Jesus

bridal shower - decor

So my bridal shower...what can I say? It was literally one of the best days of my life. It was incredibly overwhelming to step back and realize that everyone was there for me! I felt special and beautiful and so blessed. More to come, but here are a few pictures for now...

dessert table. mmm.

our engagement pictures, plus fun papers for advice and sweet words.

flowers and lemons...yes please.

party favors. this is the groom (tuxedo) strawberry. i didn't get a picture of the bride one. they were adorable!

mom

my mom's update on my step-dad, Kevin

Hello Beloved Family and Friends...

Kevin was very insistent with the oncologist's office on Friday, so much that they agreed to schedule an appointment for him to see the PA today, as the oncologist is at a conference.

Basically the results of the PET/CT scan are good! Kevin’s lymph nodes are all clear, but he does not show NED just yet. There are a couple of small nodules, thought to be benign, that will require a follow up CT scan in 3 months, and a PET/CT in 6 months to document stability. Additionally, Kevin will not be considered “cancer-free” or in “remission” until he has had 5 years of clean PET/CT scans, which will be done twice a year. He will continue to see the oncologist on a monthly basis until early next year and then will have appointments every 3 months for the next 5 years. The PA said that she and the doctor have discussed Kev’s results and their thoughts are that the PET/CT report is to be considered “Good, overall”. There is no further treatment deemed necessary at this time. They are aggressive and thorough and will watch Kevin closely. If Kev notices any enlarged lymph nodes, they will see him in the office THAT VERY DAY. So, we are in good hands, and things are basically good! Most importantly, God is in control!

According to the doctor, Kevin’s job now is to work on regaining his stamina and get back to life as usual. He is currently anticipating returning to work on September 1st. We have the treadmill and recumbent bike set up in the garage, and we can both benefit from using them! Once Kevin has regained some strength, we will start walking around the lake and enjoying all the things we missed during our hibernation period.

Sooooo, the past six months are behind us, thankfully! The good Lord saw us through some pretty dark times and difficult days, and we are very grateful! Brighter days ahead!!!

We now look forward to our daughter Kaylyn's wedding, the third and first birthdays of our Grandgirls, the birth of our third Grandgirl in mid November, and just the simple, every day joys of life.

I would be remiss if I didn't thank you once again for your support, encouragement, love and prayers during these past many months. Truly, you will never know how much it has meant to Kevin and I, as well as our girls. Grandgirl Taylor says, "Papa is good now! Yay!" We agree wholeheartedly!

I would ask that in the coming days, weeks, and months, whenever Kevin comes to mind, that you please take a moment to lift him up in prayer. We still look forward to hearing the words..."Kevin is dancing with NED!" And when we do, you will be the first to know!!!

Much love and warm hugs to each and every one of you.