Opening Day!

I have been a baseball fan since I was a little girl...it all started with Dad watching the Cubs games on WGN and was further encouraged by a trip to see the Iowa Cubs vs the Chicago Cubs when I was in fourth grade. In the recent years I have recaptured my love of baseball and Chicago Cubs. And who knows...this could be the year, with Lou at the helm! Go Cubbies! I'll be listening today at 1:10 as the Cubs take on the Reds. We will also be at the game on Friday night watching the Cubs take on the Brewers. Here's a little photo essay dedicated to the greatest game on earth.

Shower in Dubuque

Our church, Asbury Community Chapel, sponsored a shower for us this past week. It was a wonderful time. My parents came up for a visit at the same time so that my Mom could attend the shower. In addition to attending the shower, we completed several wedding details! The shower was hosted by my bridesmaids, and was held at the home of our good friends, Ken and Jan Murray. Ken is my boss at Emmaus, and Jan and I love to take long lunches together (I guess you can get away with it when you are with the boss's wife!) They have also graciously offered their home for our wedding reception.

Me with Jan

Bridesmaids Linda and Kati - two sisters-in-law looking nice and tan! Some of the lovely ladiesKimmie organizes the gameKathy Van Dine shared a devotional and some great advice!Grace gave me a bouquet with different color roses -
each rose represented a different part of our friendship

mmmmm....food

A favorite gift!

Jason and I are so thankful for our church family in Dubuque. They have supported us and prayed for us throughout our engagement. We are looking forward to attending ACC as a married couple!

Shower in Atlantic

The lovely ladies of the E-free Church and Atlantic Gospel Chapel threw me a shower this weekend. It was so much fun!

With Shannon, Addie, and Mom

Addie and I sampling the foodLinda Johnson shared a wonderful letter she
had written to me and made me cry(and everyone else!) Addie was such a good helper
Diggin' in to those presentsLinda - what a wonderful friend!Karol, Minerva, and Joyce
Joyce hosted the shower with Linda -
she is a very close friend of my mom.Cristin - this one's for you! :)
(That's Cristin's grandma in the black)
Heather, Sharon, Mary, Glenda, and Judy's arm :)
Amanda, Danielle, Karen, Jenny, LindaI wish I had taken a picture of Christina -
she took all of these wonderful photos.
Thanks, Christina! :)

The Stars of the Show (Meet the Wedding Party, Part 3)

Addison DeArment, FlowerGirl
Addison Maggie DeArment is one of my precious nieces. Meeting Addie for the first time is forever grained in my memory! She was wrapped up in a bundle of blankets and a pink hat. On the first day of her life, I held her for hours, I was a bit of a baby hog! It was wonderful. Since then I have loved watching her grow up and blossom into a little girl - who loves playing outside, coloring, pretending, dressing up, learning, and talking talking talking! Addie will be 3 1/2 years old at our wedding. She's very excited to come to "Buke" (Dubuque) and wear her "princess dress." Addie is the daughter of my brother, Nathan, and sister-in-law, Shannon. Reese DeArment, Flowergirl
Reese Jo is little sister to Addie, and another of my precious nieces. Without Reese, our family would not be complete. She came only 13 months after Addie, and not a moment too soon! Reese is easygoing and sweet - she'll do whatever her big sister is doing - but she also stands up for herself and won't take any bullying! Good girl! Reese loves to dress up and pretend, read books, play with grandma and grandpa, go outside and visit the neighbor's dog, and talk to Aunt Angie on the phone! She is an angel with her blond hair and big blue eyes (and she's never naughty - right mom and dad?) I don't think Reese is as excited about coming to "Buke" as Addie is, but I'm sure the excitement will catch on. Reese will be 2 1/2 years old at our wedding. Garrett Keith, Ringbearer
I had the privelege of meeting "the G-Man" minutes after his birth, and he captured my heart right away! What a handsome, sweet boy. He loves his cars, trucks, trains, John Deere tractors, and gum out of my purse! Of course, the day that Garrett met Jason, I knew our friendship was a thing of the past. Garrett will walk right past me to go to his best buddy. I can usually lure him back for a second with some sort of treat, but then he's right back to Jason. I don't mind being his second favorite. The two of them are just too cute together, it's hard to be upset! :) Garrett is the son of David and Grace Keith. He'll be one month shy of his third birthday at our wedding, and oh-how-handsome he will be in his tux!Want to meet the groomsmen? I do, too!!! Jason has already informed me that his descriptions will not be as long, detailed, and sappy as mine. Oh well. Coming soon...

Meet the Wedding Party, Part 2

Here is what I am finding as I write these summaries of my closest friends:
1 - I am shaking my head at all my different hairstyles...
2 - I am finding myself getting a little teary-eyed...
3 - It is so hard to sum up in a paragraph all that your closest friends mean to you! I had to go back and edit the last blog because I thought of more to say...sigh...

Continuing on with the bridesmaids...
Kim Williams
I can honestly say that Kimmie was my first Emmaus friend. We met and instantly clicked. Kim is the social queen - she introduced me to everyone by saying "This is my friend Angie and she has naturally curly blonde hair" - she's a hoot! Kim has a gift of making people feel comfortable and like they belong. We often joke that we "share a brain" - I can tell her anything and find she feels the same way as I do! Occasionally she finishes my sentences! One of Kim's many hobbies is coordinating weddings - and she is phenomenal at it! She's also my current roommate - and thus has provided a wealth of support for this bride-zilla! :) In Dubuque, Kim attends Capri College for Massage Therapy - another one of her wonderful gifts.
Kati Glock
Kati and her husband, Jon (a groomsman) are our double-date buddies. As Jason and I began dating, the advice, counsel, and support of Jon and Kati was priceless. They have continued to counsel us through every stage of our relationship and we value their practical wisdom. In turn, I found a wonderful friend and confidante in Kati. Kati and I can pick up right where we left off, no matter how long it's been, and can accomplish an amazing amount of talking in a short time! I cherish every get-together with Kati, especially if she brings her precious baby girl, Anna Kate. I would trust her with my deepest, darkest secrets - and I have! Don't ask her to tell - I know her lips are sealed! Kati and Jon live in Dubuque with Miss Anna Kate, and are a vital part of the ministry at Emmaus.
Linda Johnson
I don't even know where to start. Linda is the bridesmaid that has known me the longest - and has quite possibly influenced every single major milestone in my life after the age of 16! Linda has allowed herself used by the Lord in my life - she influenced my decision to attend Emmaus, which was a life-changing decision - and she encouraged me to grow in the Lord and took an interest in my spiritual well-being above all else. Linda and her husband, Stefan, started off as my youth leaders, but I quickly found that Linda was not your typical pastor's wife! For starters - she's absolutely hilarious - don't "dare" her to do something because she'll DO it without hesitation. I've done more crazy, silly things with Linda than I would care to admit. She's an absolute blast. I have to post the picture of us from Williamsburg, VA because it just illustrates what weirdos we are. We bought authentic bonnets and wore them every day - and embarrassed her kids. They call this picture "scary!" Linda and Stefan live in Atlantic and have four kids - you've already met Amanda. They are about to move to Dubuque and join the ministry of Emmaus - and I can't wait!
Grace Keith - Matron of Honor
Grace and I became friends the instant I coaxed her daughter, Lexi (who was 1 year old), to sneak across the aisle at church and come sit with me. Grace has since tolerated my spoiling of her kids - and in turn, I've learned a lot about parenting! Grace and her husband, David (groomsman) and their kids have been a source of stability and comfort for me while living in Dubuque. She has a gift for hospitality, she's a fabulous cook, and she's graciously opened her home to me on countless occasions. If I ever needed a place to go, all I had to do was call. I've sat at her table on many an evening or afternoon, stuffed with food and happy with life! Grace has been there for me through so many trials and joy. I can always count on her support, encouragement, and care. She suffered through hundreds of phone calls and e-mails when Jason and I first started dating, and she had the patience to rehash every detail with me! Grace and David live in Dubuque with their kids, Adrianna, Lexi, and Garrett (all of whom are in the wedding!).Adrianna and Alexis Keith - Junior Bridesmaids
These two sisters are like sunshine and spring flowers to me - they bring an instant smile to my face! Cheesy, but true! Adrianna (AJ) is eleven and in sixth grade and Alexis (Lexi) is seven and in second grade. They are so well-behaved and sweet, you'd wonder if they were Stepford children :) AJ and Lexi love to come over to my house and clean. You read it correctly. They love to clean my house. I have enjoyed watching these two grow up, and can't believe how fast it is happening. Jason won them over, although it took time. AJ was a little hesitant at first, as she figured that if Jason and I got married, then he would take me away from Dubuque! They always have a great big hug for me whenever they see me, sometimes they even hug Jason :) We both love these little sweethearts. Here's a picture with proof that they are hard little workers. One fall afternoon they helped me clear a tree that had fallen into the driveway - they were thrilled to help!
Still more to come! You need to meet the real stars of the show - the ringbearer and flowergirls! And of course, the groomsmen...although Jason has already informed me that his descriptions of his groomsmen won't be nearly as detailed or sweet as mine! :)

Meet the Wedding Party, Part 1

I thought it might be fun to write a few blogs and introduce our wedding party. (Be patient with me, I'm going to do this in phases, we have a rather large wedding party!) These people are our closest friends and have impacted our lives tremendously...we are so thankful for the role they've played in our lives as friends, and as mentors and cheerleaders as our relationship grew. I apologize that I don't have pictures of everyone - especially the guys! Apparently guys don't take pictures of each other the way girls do?

BRIDESMAIDS
Jenna Mathew
Jenna and I knew each other in Emmaus days, but didn't become close until she moved back to Dubuque a few years ago. We bonded over beaded jewelry and lo-o-o-ng walks around Dubuque, talking about everything! Jenna is a genuine, sweet, and thoughtful friend. Jenna also has the spiritual gift of encouragement - she is one of my biggest fans, always excited about what's going on in my life. She was so excited for me when Jason and I had our first date - at the end of the evening when I checked my cell phone, I had five missed calls and three voicemails from her! She also suffered six hours of wedding dress shopping with me while she was seven months pregnant - what a trooper! Jenna and her husband, Ben, have a newborn son, Elias, and live in Dubuque. Stephanie Esson
Steph was another acquaintance from Emmaus, but we didn't become close until she moved to Dubuque and started a teaching job. It didn't take long for our friendship to form, and becoming roommates for a year just sealed the deal! Steph and I would laugh and giggle and paint our nails and watch "Friends" together for hours (we still do!) Steph and her husband, Matt, live in Miramichi, New Brunswick. Steph and Matt are the main reason that Jason and I even started talking. When they were still dating, Matt would invite Jason over to our place every once in awhile. We all took a road trip to Chicago for an Easter service two years ago, and that was the first time Jason and I even had a conversation! I'd like to say the rest is history, but it still took him another eight months to ask me out! Almost two years ago, I had the privelege of being a bridesmaid in Steph's wedding - and I can honestly say that standing up in her wedding was one of the proudest moments of my life. Steph is a huge source of joy in my life! Shannon DeArment
Shannon is married to my brother, Nathan, and I couldn't have handpicked a better match for my big brother! Shannon and I can talk about anything, and we see eye-to-eye on everything! She fits in our family perfectly. I love her to pieces, I've never had a sister and I wouldn't trade our relationship for anything. Shannon is completely excited about every single wedding detail - she might be more excited about the wedding than I am! She is also the mother of Addison and Reese, my two favorite princesses in the whole wide world! Shannon manages to juggle two toddlers, a hubby, a household, and a job. She's a hero as far as I am concerned! Nathan, Shannon, and the girls live in Atlantic just a couple of blocks away from my parents.Amanda Johnson - Junior Bridesmaid
I am proud to say that I have had the privelege of changing Amanda's diapers :) She's been my little friend ever since I was introduced to her family (when I was a senior in high school, and Amanda was 2 years old!). Amanda is the daughter of Stefan and Linda Johnson (you will hear more about them in a later post). She is in the eighth grade at Atlantic High School. She loves the Lord, soccer, chatting on the computer, music, babysitting, just to name a few. I love seeing what the Lord is doing in her life! Amanda and I actually toured the western Carribbean together! In October of 2005, Amanda was allowed to go with me (without her parents!) on a cruise for seven days. We had such a blast - she was a great travel partner!
Another post coming soon! More bridesmaids! More junior bridesmaids! Don't forget the Groomsmen! Stay tuned!

Mid-Semester update

We've been keeping busy around here and, as always, counting down the days to our wedding! I am caught up in a flurry of wedding details. I've been suffering from a "wedding day nightmare" every now and then - where I dream that our wedding day is here and I oversleep and it just goes downhill from there! This nightmare usually encourages me to wake up the next morning and complete several tasks related to the wedding - which leads to a good night's sleep the following evening!

Jason is almost to the halfway point of his final college semester. Spring break starts next Friday and then it is just short of two months until graduation. He's still working hard, completing papers and tests, and working nights at Emmaus on security. He does a great job of managing school, work, and a fiancee!

We've both been trying to stay healthy - and I have not been successful. Emmaus students and staff were hit by a major sickness last week. It was so bad, classes were cancelled. I caught the bug and was down for about a day, but fortunately Jason is still healthy. On the tail end of the sickness came the snow, so we were stuck at home for a few days (on the weekend, of course!).

Despite the snow, SPRING is coming - I promise! I can prove it - as I type, I am listening online to the Cubs first spring training game of 2007. I have been whining about wanting baseball season to hurry up and get here - probably some of the most fruitless whining that I've ever done - but I can stop now (Jason is thankful). We were hoping to get one set of tickets to Wrigley Field this year, but after spending eight hours on the computer, we managed to get tickets to three weekend games in Chicago and one in Milwaukee! This baseball fan is very excited.

I can't post a blog with out pictures, so, to sum it all up, here are some pictures of someone else's kid! :) This cute little fashion statement visits me in my office every now and then...It's always a treat when Miss Anna Kate Glock comes to visit! Her Mommy and Daddy are both in our wedding - Kati is a bridesmaid and Jon is a groomsman. Visit Anna Kate at the Glock's blogspot!