Robert and His New Bride

I stumbled across this picture on Robert's webpage and it is just perfect. These two are clearly meant for one another! Today is their 11th day being man and wife-- CONGRATULATIONS!

I will post more on their wedding later on... we traveled to Virginia then Kentucky within a 6 day time period BY CAR and then I had a stomach bug... so forgive me if I am low on energy! :) All I can say is it was wonderful to see this happy couple get married and to see the Blue Ridge Mountains in autumn.

Hair Cuts

I have gotten two, yes two, hair cuts since Brent and I got married in June! It's all gone now! Here are some pics:

Starting length post wedding updo:


First cut 06/29/2008:





Second cut 09/18/2008:

The past

It's strange how one comment on a blog can send you back onto Memory Lane. Someone signed "Jeremy" left a comment on my wedding post and my mind instantly went back to high school and the guy I spent 3 years dating. Without going into detail, he hurt me tremendously and it took 5 years for me to trust someone enough to love them. Brent has shown me that life goes on, and good things come to those who wait. I googled Jeremy and was pleased to see his life now... married with 3 daughters. They look happy and I am grateful for that.

We were never meant to end up together. I was meant to explore the North and fall in love with a Scandinavian hottie. We are truly happy in our marriage and I wish the same for Jeremy.

This picture taken on our honeymoon in June

Update on Daddy...

It has been 9 months since my father's heart attack and stroke on December 27, 2007. I am proud to admit my father is doing remarkably well. Seeing him in June for my wedding was difficult in many ways. He was much improved from my recent memories in January... but still very much a changed man. He would sit for hours by himself just staring off. Not napping, reading, watching TV, just staring. It was unsettling because my dad has ALWAYS been a social butterfly. We did things together to get him to interact more like asking for help with yard work (he has always enjoyed to get dirty outside), cooking his favorites, and going on walks. I tried to engage him, but for whatever reason I couldn't really connect as I always could in the past. When my friend Robert arrived, daddy lit up like a Christmas tree. He was Chatty Cathy yet again.

Maybe dad was just upset that he was losing his little girl, or maybe my lack of compassion in his weakened state had made it's mark.

Dad hasn't worked since his accident and will never work again. He struggled with depression as a result. Regrettably, I often reacted to his pity parties with disgust instead of understanding. I should have been more caring to a man that has always taken care of me.

Now my parents have relocated to Kentucky and they are acting as if both of them are retired instead of disabled. It's wonderful. They talk of the catfish pond, the family of turkeys that visit, and all the deer that roam the back field. They have chairs set up on the porch for easy viewing. They just love it.

Dad started perking up when he finally had income. His disability was awarded in August and since then his happiness has increased dramatically. I love hearing him bustle around when I talk to mom... just like old times. I know it's not all great and rosy, but at least a part of my daddy is back.

I am very happy to hear it, and next week we will be stopping in after Robert's wedding for a day to see the new place and visit. I can't wait to see them.

A Young Philosopher

While eating dinner, our family got into a discussion about teaching Sunday School that led into children growing up too soon these days. Brent's dad said, "I bet I would be surprised how quickly kids mature these days."

Our niece Jessica replied without hesitation, "Kids aren't getting more mature, they just know more mature things."

Brent and I immediately made eye contact at such a philosophical statement coming from an 11 year old girl. We were astounded. Jessica has a unique take on childhood. She is an only child and very bright for her age. I have seen her play with her cousins, but typically I have found her helpful and "mature" for her age. She thinks the average neighborhood children are dull and that parks are boring. Two traits among other that distinguish her from other children her age.

Of course, with Jessica's perspective in mind, she's only a kid. But would a kid really have that wisdom at 11? Definitely something to ponder.

Marital Bliss

I am married! I am officially Mrs. Lydia Johnson and it feels wonderful! The wedding was perfect from the weather to the people we shared it with. I have listed listed a few pictures... enjoy!




Picture taken on the pre-dinner cruise before the Groom's Dinner.

Picture of the table setting at our awesome Groom's Dinner hosted by the Johnson family. We had all of our favorite foods and it was simply lovely.

My bridesmaid and long time friend Michelle helping me get ready.



The Blushing Bride.



The Happy Couple.



A great picture of my Maid of Honor and sister Georgia and father Walter.

Taking One Day at a Time

It seems our lives have become a bit hectic and just stayed that way for months. My mom had a stint put in her heart on 12/26/07, then my dad had a heart attack and stroke on 12/27/07. Then I traveled to Virginia. Then I purchased my wedding dress. Then I purchased bridesmaids dresses and mailed them to my girls hoping they would fit. Then came the looking for a house. Then came our puppy Marty. Then the closing of our house. Then the moving in, painting, and setting up. Then came Ashley's first birthday party. Then came getting Marty neutered. Then came a girlfriends baby shower. Then came our Housewarming Party for the Johnson family. Last weekend we traveled to North Dakota for a graduation we didn't actually attend.

Breath, sigh, relax.

Now spring is in the air and it is the first week since September that my department has not had mandatory overtime. I am going to enjoy working in my new yard and walking my puppy. I am going to enjoy cooking my fiance dinner. I am going to enjoy singing to Marty before Brent has gotten home at the top of my lungs. Today's tunes came from The Phantom of the Opera. We will have to see what tomorrow brings.

Life is good.

Moved In! (Well, our stuff anyway!)

I tell you what, moving in a pain in the A$%! I feel like I have been kicked by a horse and I didn't even do the heavy lifting! The house is an absolute mess but we have all the time in the world to unpack. Well, not really. We both enjoy comfort so I am sure it will be a max of two weeks. But the painting may slow that process, who knows?!

All I can say is, thank goodness for friends! We had plenty of help and everyone was so nice about helping. The girls even helped me set up our bed, complete with bedskirt!! And since we have been living in the house since 3/3/08 on an air mattress… it's awesome that we got to sleep on a real bed again!

We did have a scare with our puppy Marty. We have a split-level house with stairs going up and down upon entry. He climbed out on a ledge through the wrought iron fence in the livingroom, tried to turn back around, and fell 10 feet to the stairs leading to the basement. Charlie rushed to get him and I quickly followed once I knew what had happened. He seemed like it knocked the wind out of him, but other than that he was unphased. No broken bones or signs of head trauma. Lucky little guy!

Sigh. That was scary.

But yeah, the move is complete. We still have to clean the apartment but the lease is not up until April so we are all good. Exciting times.

Meet Marty

Brent and I frequent a pet shop in town just for fun, I find it therapeutic to see all the puppies and watch them play. Well, today we fell in love. His name is Marty. He is a four month old Pom-Shi Tzu and is adorable. Marty will only be 15 pounds at the most so he is an ideal lap dog. He has a calm temperament but he is still playful as a puppy should be. He isn't potty trained yet so that should be a blast... but he is already part of our family.

Buying a House

Buying a house is a roller coaster of emotions. House hunting is like being given a chance to design your life in multiple locations. Because of course being female, if there isn't anywhere to store bathrooms items- or a place to put storage- that can't possibly be YOUR bathroom, can it!?

On the more serious, reasonable side... it is a very scary experience. My parents have never owned a home. They have always struggled financially so for Brent and I to be looking a few months before we are wed is incredibly hard for me. It's very foreign territory. Once I got over the shock of understanding that we can afford a mortgage... I started to get how nice it would be to have equity.

Can you imagine not throwing money away on renting an apartment where you have no space, no yard, noisy neighbors, and no real privacy? I mean, you pay hundreds of dollars for a roof over your head with nothing to show for it. I have been renting for years now and the prospect of the roof over my head actually helping to better improve my finances overwhelms me. Of course the mortgage and utilities far surpass what we pay in rent, but know we will KNOW where the money is going not just wonder about it.

It's a strange thing being 26, engaged, and a prospective homeowner in 5 days if all goes well. The offer has been made, accepted, and now we are waiting on the bank and a potential closing date of 2/29/2008.

We'll see. I have learned that there are many houses in the Metro for sale and to not put all your eggs in one basket... but I certainly want to start living the American Dream.

It's a real thing.

Wedding Dress Story

So this is the story of my wedding dress. I made plans to try on dresses at David's Bridal on Saturday, January 19 for the first time. Since I had never tried on dresses, I pessimistically assumed this would be the start of a long, drawn-out process. I picked up Sydney, my old roomie and long-time friend, and met Brent's family at the store in Roseville for a 3 pm appointment.

The store was crowded but once we were shown our area we were all much more at ease. We luckily got a corner location that allowed the 6 of us to spread out a bit and be comfortable. All except for Sydney and I who were hard at work getting in and out of the sometimes cumbersome dresses...!

After being embarrassed getting sized, the dresses started pouring in. The women favored the embellished dresses with bead work, trains, and little extras. I put many dresses on that we lovely but not me. I couldn't imagine wearing a dress that felt like a production to my small, outdoor wedding.

I kept seeing this ribbon, bell shaped dress out of the corner of my eye and after trying 10 different dresses on, asked if that came in my size. I had never noticed the dress in the catalogue or online... but it looked lovely hanging on the rack. They only had a size larger so I tried it on and was able to twist it around my body it was so big! But I loved it.

It was the only dress that made me feel emotional, like that was the one. It was simple and elegant. It didn't feel like a fuss. Needless to say, I wanted the dress. I found out the dress has been discontinued in "Women's" sizes so I couldn't just order it. My heart fell.

Since we were all getting tired, I decided to call it a day and go out to dinner where I continued to think about the ribbon dress. Sheri said it was Sue's favorite, and it was Syd's favorite because she saw my reaction to it. Sheri, Angie, and Jessie thought a different dress suited my figure more.

The next morning I called the other stores in the metro area to see what they had. I made an appointment in Richfield on Monday night after work to see if a size smaller or a large petite cut would work. All day I thought of the dress.

I arrived at David's Bridal with my friend Sugantha with a feeling a dread. I told her what dress I wanted and they only had one left, in a size too small. So now there was only one chance for this to work. By this time, I had convinced myself to just buy the dress and lose weight if it were doable. So when Sugantha pulled up the zipper with no trouble- I knew it was fate.

I purchased my bell dress that makes me feel like a princess with cash money (as daddy says) and am so grateful. If I lose 10-15 lbs it will be more comfortable, but it is not necessary.

So the story of my dress is this- I saw it out of the corner of my eye, searched for it, and now have it in my possession. All in 3 days.

Sometimes you just know.

Fun Christmas pictures a little late in coming...

Brent being silly...

Sheri with Roger (our gift to baby Ashley)

Ashley and Jessica with their matching robes...

Piano lessons with Sue...

Winter picture of the engaged couple...

Me being silly...

Ethel

Ethel is Brent's grandmother whose health is steadily failing. She is currently 90 years old and is one of the most independent women I have ever met. She mowed her own acreage, gardened, and lived without assistance until recently. She was able to safely drive a car until about 6 months ago. That is a huge achievement in life. When I met her she didn't want assistance climbing the stairs. She is the type of woman to tell like it is and that is hard to come by with someone from her generation living in reserved, Scandinavian Minnesota.

She is a painter, an artist of real talent. We have several of her landscapes hanging in our apartment. There are daily things that remind me of Ethel... a determined look, a light laugh, a reference to beer.

And yes I said beer. Ethel loves her beer. One family event she arrived with her mug of beer and had a few glasses of red wine. Brent and I watched her with amusement as we swayed to the carols holding a glass of wine in one hand and a puppy in the other. We thought for certain the wine would end up staining his mom's beige carpet... but luckily she kept it contained! Then the real crowd pleaser came when she chewed on some turkey for a while and then took it out of her mouth to feed to the puppy.

Adorable, right?

Or when a woman is brazen enough to say, "At least I'm not the oldest one here!" while slanting her head toward a dinner guest a few years her senior that was seated directly beside her. The guest had no hearing loss issues either! Wow. Shock. Awe.

She is such a breath of fresh air.

My hope is that her son, Brent's dad, be comforted by the fact that his mother has led a very full life and that her passing is a natural experience. This has been very trying for Brent's parents since they live so close and see the daily withdrawl from reality.

I will feel comfort knowing what an impact she has had on all those who have known her, and loved her.

We don't know what to expect as far as how long she will hold on, but please keep Ethel in your thoughts and prayers.

My dad...

My family experienced a blow... on December 27 my dad had a massive heart attack and stroke. He was in critical condition for days being kept alive by a respirator and was announced brain dead. When he opened his eyes and the next day started squeezing our hands, we began to hope.

Now dad is speaking normally but has lost most of his motor skills and short term memory. He can only get out of bed with the help of two nurses, one of either side, but his mind does not understand that his body is too weak to hold him. As a result, the first morning he was in a regular room (Wed. Jan 2nd) he fell out of bed. Mom and I had not yet arrived at the hospital and the first thing we saw was dad laying on the floor with a nurse over him. Four nurses were required to get him back in bed and the fall caused two stitches in the back of his head and a blood clot in his left leg.

The news that dad is out of critical care is wonderful, but the damage to his mind is extent enough that he has to have someone in the room with him at all times to monitor him. He keeps insisting to get out of bed, but he is slowly regaining some of his strength. For example, at first he was not able to hold the phone up to his ear and couldn't keep still enough for someone else to hold it for him.... now he can hold the phone for a few minutes.

I am thankful that my family pulled together in this trying time to comfort my father and mother. It is great knowing that people truly care. It is going to be a long road to recovery and since I live in another state, I will not be there to witness the small goals like understanding how to move yourself up in a hospital bed. I just hope that through rehabilitation he does recover the use of his body and memory.

Here are some notes I kept of his first night speaking again after the attack when the respirator was removed. Most of it is funny, but some of it is touching....

12/31/07

First words: I want to see my wife.

Shortly after: I'm sorry, I'm gonna die.

Then he just became ornery and said the following in repetition throughout the night:

I want to go home.
I want ice chips, no I don't want that.
I want to go home. (We say no.) Why not? I already had my heart attack.
Why can't I sit in a regular chair?
I want a tissue, no I don't want that.
Why can't I go home?
Where's _____? (He kept asking for people over and over)
Sit down Penny.(few seconds later)I want ice chips, no I don't want that.
I'm hungry, do you know how long it's been since I ate?
Is this the only bed they have?