A Wedding Update

Wow, how is it Saturday already? Time is flying, people. Flying.

Chris and I went to a wedding this morning for a girl that we work with. It feels very different ... attending a wedding after you're engaged. Before, every time I was at a wedding, I thought "Oh it would be fun to do this someday. Someday far in the future." Today, as the wedding started, it was like "This will be US in a few weeks. Holy crap."

We both got a little nervous for a while. :)

Plans are coming along. The biggest question mark right now is the catering. We're trying to pick a caterer and choose what kind of food we're going to provide. This may not seem like a big decision, but believe me ... it is. Both Chris and I really like to eat and want to have creative, high class food, but this gets very pricey very quickly. It's a challenge to balance quality and presentation and stick to our budget.

Another thing I'm finding challenging is choosing bridesmaid dresses. I've heard the jokes about horrendous bridesmaid dresses, but now I kind of understand why it happens. Really, how does one go about finding a dress that works for four completely different body types? On top of that, the bridesmaids are in three different states so it would be best if I find them at a store found in all three states. On top of THAT, I don't want strapless, which for some reason is the trend in bridesmaid dresses and so non-strapless choices are severely limited.

That's all I've got to update you on right now. You'd think with the infrequent posts I'd have more to share, but really, I'm not even sure you want to hear all this stuff.

Ah well. If a blog is truly an online journal I should write about whatever is on my mind, right? And right now, we all know what's on my mind these days.

The Emerald City

I'm alive! (In case any of you were wondering.) I haven't driven off the side of a cliff or been eaten by a big hairy monster.

We were on vacation in Seattle. We flew out to visit our buddies Robert and Wendy. It was a much needed time away from the craziness of life, work and wedding planning.


(I'd like to take a moment to give a shout out to my friend Jamie for taking my dog for the week. She's mom to Tilla (Havana's sister) and when those two get together, they tend to get a little crazy sometimes. Jamie, here's to you. You're a brave soul. And a HUGE blessing.)

Anyway, Seattle. It's been gorgeous weather the whole time. Sunny and mid-70's. This place is beautiful! Being born and raised in Colorado sort of taints your idea of what trees are, but now I know better. Those puny little excuses for trees that we have don't even begin to compare.

We went to Pike Market. We sampled some fantastic cheese and olive oil.


Chris ate a 1.13 pound apple. Then he felt sick.


Sunday after church we went on a picnic.


Here's Mocha, the cutest little rescue mutt you'll ever see.


Then a stop at Snoqualmie Falls. They're taller than Niagara.


Yesterday we went downtown to a Music and Arts Festival. Which, we found out, is secret code for Where the Weird People Gather. Because the place was packed with more bare skin, cleavage, stretch marks, tattoos, piercings, hemp clothing and dreadlocks then I have ever seen. Apparently Seattle has quite a large population of very hurting people who are desperate for attention.


Last night we went out for seafood at this great place called Chinook, right on the water. Fresh seafood is the BEST. Afterwards, we walked along the docks and checked out all the yachts.


So tonight we return to real life. Back to C. Springs ... the land of cookie cutter housing, strip malls, baby "trees" and urban diahhrea.

Home, sweet, home.

Worst Decision Ever

Dear Mr. and Ms. Big Wigs of the city of Colorado Springs,

I understand that the economy is in the crapper. I know our country is trillions of dollars in debt. I agree that it is wise to cut back on spending and exercise some restraint in our budgeting decisions.

But I think you are making a huge mistake. Let me be clear ...

[ahem]

Eliminating the fireworks show on the Fourth of July is a terrible idea.

It's pretty much the worst idea in history of the world.

Of all 365 days each year, the Fourth of July is my favorite one. Why? Because of the fireworks. I look forward to that holiday more than any other one. (Even the Christian-y ones like Easter and Christmas.) I get all giddy and excited and do silly things like wear red, white and blue and put flag ribbons in my hair.

When I am watching fireworks my heart races. I have a smile on my face a mile wide. I revert back to my five-year-old self and for a while my "adult" cares disappear. For 40 minutes each year I'm allowed to be a kid and no one cares because everyone else is too busy being a kid themselves.

Of all the years to stop doing fireworks - something that makes people so happy and carefree - you pick this year when stress and anxiety are at an all time high.

So to whomever made this decision, for the sake of all who need our annual break from adult world, I'm begging you to please reconsider.

I'm sure there are plenty of other ways to save money without ruining the best day of the year.

Sincerely,
Becky Tschamler

It's All In the Details

It's a drizzly, gray Saturday morning. It's not a depressing kind of drizzle, though. It's very peaceful. The perfect day to stay in my pajamas a read all day.

(By the way, I just this morning finished the best book I've ever read. If you want a quick, easy yet deeply profound book, check out The Wet Engine by Brian Doyle. My cousin Peter recommended it. It's my new favorite. Thanks, Pete!)

But I can't have a lazy day. I have lots to do! I have appointments today at two bridal shops to try on dresses. My friend Amber is coming with me, and I'm so glad, because all of my bridesmaids (including all three sisters and my BFF) and my mom are currently in other states. And I can't think of many things I'd like to do alone less than shop for a wedding dress.

I've very thankful for Amber. She's already done SO much to help me plan this wedding! She's done all kinds of research and come up with a long list of ideas.

Unique ideas. Crazy ideas.

Like the other day I told her I had no idea where to start with decorations. She hopped online and soon sent me this ...

It's all in the details! Replace the toilet paper in the bathroom stalls at the reception venue with our stylish Damask Toilet Paper. A beautiful design to further add style and elegance to your wedding day! Available in Black & White, Silver, or Gold.

Oh! And no need to worry about chaffing ...

Our toilet paper is 3 ply and a roll contains 200 sheets.

Wedding planning ... it's all in the details, people.

96 Days

As if my life weren't busy enough before, I have added full-time wedding planner to it. Because I'm not exaggerating when I say it's a full-time job.

Oh but good news! We finally figured out the date ... August 16.

Of 2009.

Yes, I'm serious. 96 days, people. I'm trying not to freak out. I have woken up in the middle of the night for three consecutive nights with a thousand things running through my head. I have to keep a notepad on the table beside my bed so I can get some sleep.

I am super excited about where we're getting married! I really wanted to hold it somewhere I'd never attended a wedding before, and living here so long, those places are few and far between. But this is the first and only place we looked at. We loved it.

We got our wedding rings a couple weeks ago. That was fun and
totally spontaneous. One day after church, instead of heading to my place like we normally do, Chris turned the truck the other way and drove to Jared's. Within 30 minutes, we had picked both of our rings. Mine is absolutely gorgeous and it made me even more excited to get married. (As if that's possible.)

My first foray into dress shopping will be this weekend. I've made appointments at four different places over the course of two days. I'm sure I'll have lots to share from that experience, based on my previous experiences doing this with sisters and friends.

Basically at this point we both eat, drink and breathe wedding stuff. 24/7. We actually have to purposely designate times not to talk about the wedding. Chris has been great with all this, especially considering the fact that he was not too crazy about the idea of fitting it all into three months. He hasn't said "I told you so" once, although I'm sure he's been tempted to. I'm hoping that things will slow down soon once we get a few more things figured out.

You know ... stuff like flowers, catering, band, vows, colors, cake, decorations, invitations, musicians, ceremony, wedding dress, attendant gifts.

Oh my gosh what the heck am I doing writing on this blog?

I have a wedding to plan.

Who Said the Flute is for Sissies?

I dedicate this video to my cousin, Peter.

(If you can watch the whole thing, do it. You won't regret it.)


Happy Friday!
P.S. Sometimes I wish I worked at Google. :)

Stop the Roller Coaster

I feel like I'm on a roller coaster that's going way too fast. It's making me nauseous. Can it be stopped to let me off, please?

I [[heart]] being engaged! I'm way excited to plan the wedding. We kind of started the process, but with so much family stuff going on, it's suddenly had to take a backseat for a while. I'm okay with that, though. There are more important things than my wedding.

Following my brother's daily updates from Reno is rough. I feel absolutely helpless and even though I'm praying for him pretty much non-stop, it feels like I should be doing something. And I'm not. I can't.

I'm having a hard time not being angry at God. I'm struggling because I know how powerful He is. I know He could heal him. Today. Within the hour. Right this second. But He's not. And that makes me angry.

Blech. I feel like I just threw up on you.

I've always hated roller coasters.

The Wedding I Never Dreamed Of

The first question everyone asked after we announced our engagement is "Have you set a date?" We haven't. So the first thing I've learned is: try to figure out a date before you announce it. If that's not possible, at least agree on a standard party line.

As far as our date, we've talked about a lot of different ideas. Things change a lot when you're thinking about a real wedding verses a hypothetical one. My "priorities" suddenly don't seem that important anymore. If having a summer wedding means waiting for over 12 months, I'll just wear a coat. If being on the beach means the girls from my Faith Group can't come, I'll get married in Pueblo. Having the picture perfect wedding isn't what it's about.

Stupid Hollywood, you've got it all wrong.

Up until last Friday I thought that I wanted a destination wedding. I'd keep it really small and simple with just close family. But now that it's actually happening, I find I don't want that at all. There are so many people over the last 30 years who have been an important part of my life ... who have encouraged me, prayed for me, laughed and cried with me and walked through life with me. I want them there with me when I walk into this next season of life. I want them to witness and celebrate God's goodness.

Plus, it's gonna be a rockin' party. Maybe (before Heaven) the biggest party of my life.

I'm not missing that.