When it came time to plan my wedding, I hit the parental jackpot! My parents basically stayed out of it altogether unless I asked for help. Mom was available to run errands. Dad came, went, and did as I asked. They paid for the majority of the wedding, but never used that fact as a way to manipulate us into doing the wedding their way. Eric’s dad was also a gem! He came, did not give us any fuss over where to hold the rehearsal dinner, and kept a kind and jolly attitude throughout the entire affair! As stories of monster in-laws have emerged with our friends and clients, I realize how … [Read more...]

No matter how excited a bride is at the beginning of the wedding planning process, at some point, she wants to throw her hands in the air and yell, “AHHH!!! Should we just elope?!?!” Wedding planning is stressful. It can be fun stressful, annoying stressful, or nightmare stressful; but, one way or another, it is stressful. By the time the wedding happens, most brides are simply thrilled to have made it to the day! Even if every detail does not go exactly as planned, they think, “at least I am finally here and am getting married!” Even though it has been a few years since I felt the … [Read more...]

When it comes time to choose a spouse, do not let physical attraction seduce you into picking someone you would not otherwise befriend. My husband’s favorite author, C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Friendship ... is born at the moment when one man says to another ‘What! You too? I thought that no one but myself....’” We choose friends with whom we share common interests, common life stages, common struggles, or common personalities. There are many variables which create strong friendships; and, when we come across someone with whom we connect well, we put energy into making the friendship grow. … [Read more...]

"Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate." – Albert Schweitzer Just a Spoonful of Kindness Makes the Angry Girl Calm Down Several weeks ago, Eric and I were driving to Roanoke to celebrate Memorial Day when suddenly I found myself overcome by tears. It had only been three weeks since we said goodbye to Miss Betty and suddenly overwhelming grief hit me out of nowhere. Crying is not abnormal for me; and, though my tears do not make Eric uncomfortable, he is uncomfortable with me sobbing whilst … [Read more...]

“Do I look fat in this dress?” For centuries, women have been asking men catch-22, impossible questions. We want reassurance, but then we freak out when they give us the brutal truth. ~smile~ From early on in our marriage, Eric assured me that he would always tell me the truth. It sounded great! That is... until I asked him a question and he responded with an answer I did not appreciate. Thankfully, I cannot remember the first time this happened – I just know it happened. I asked a question looking for affirmation and instead received the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the … [Read more...]