Tickets, get your tickets!

Dad has been on blood thinner all weekend to relieve the blood clot found on his lung on Friday afternoon. I tell you, God's obviously here and at work. Tomorrow and Tuesday will consist of heart and colon testing - fun! As exhausting as all of this definitely is, Dad is pushing forward. Slightly disgruntled by the minor speed bump - if blood thinner is what it takes, then blood thinner it is - some are on blood thinner their whole life. Maybe he has difficult blood - wouldn't surprise me - runs in the family, I dare say. Anyway, these are all steps closer to getting on "the list". Once these tests are complete, we are hopeful he will be presented to the surgeons and moved to the front of the line.

But onward we go.... and toward what he faces, we don't know but it's the straight and narrow kind, if you know what I mean.

So as hopeful as we are for Dad and his eventual life saving surgery, it's a hard fact that we have to face- the cost of surgery - even with insurance it is incredibly expensive. I don't think my mom, sister and I have ever wanted for anything. Surely there were things my sister and I weren't allowed to have. However, Dad never said "no" if it was within reason - if he didn't want to say no, he said "Ask your mom" and then we heard "no". Anyways, the point is, surgery is obviously reasonable, factually inevitably, and the final stop on this rough, rugged, and to be honest, confusing journey.

Our family, the loving and kind and supportive people that they are, have decided to hold a raffle for an iPad on August 1st to help mitigate the cost of the surgery. Tickets can be bought through anyone of us. They are $10 a ticket and whatever you can buy or help us sell is greatly appreciated.
Please feel free to contact me, my sister or my mom about a ticket or two or ten, or about selling some or one hundred. Anything helps!

You have all been incredible the past few weeks - who knew we would be the most well known family in a hospital in just a short week??? There is no doubt in your mind that what comes from this is nothing short of God's handy work. We might not know the "why"'s or the "how"'s or any other question relating to Dad's condition or reasoning, but we know there is a reason regardless. And we know we need your continued help and support.

Thank you and God bless you. You're the best friends and family we could ever ask for and that alone is blessing enough.

Sailboat Racing and Such

I’m a little behind. I’ll admit. A lot has been going on – I know I always have a lot going on but this time it’s different. This time it’s true….

I have to interrupt myself. I feel like I am in a Woody Allen movie – if you know me, you know how much I love Woody Allen. Let me paint you a picture, shall I? I’m at this quaint little Italian food place, tucked away off the road and along the lakeside. Italian gentleman for a waiter, light tinkering of Italian music in the background, lush bushes and palm trees surround me, roses blooming, quiet chattering, sail boat race currently underway – it’s dream like. Oh yes, and a glass of red wine to go with the scenery.

Apparently, Villa Capri is the place to be for the Wednesday Night Boat Races at Lakewood Yacht Club. Good size group of earnest onlookers, monotone man announcing the race status, and me – clueless as a clam. I will learn what to look and listen for eventually. I could get used to this Wednesday Night race deal. Maybe I will make a friend or two.

Anyways, back to the updates.

Dogs are all acclimating well to our new home – there are three of them now, if you remember, they outnumber us!!! We LOVE our home. I wish we could have bought it! It’s older – very “Brady Bunch” – but has so many cool characteristics to it. Our backyard is HUGE and has a HUGE deck – perfect for puppies and parties. It’s very open, surprisingly, and is more than enough space for me and G.

The job is going well. A bit tedious at times. The drive is what gets me…. But I have been told to “hang in there” and that is what I will do. As long as I can

Race update – I have no idea where G is…. Hahah oops! At least I am here, right? Being a supportive fiancé!

Wedding planning – so fun!...and so not as stressful as everyone says. I am cool as a cucumber (for now). Dress is being made. All major items booked. Now it is down to the details, the fun stuff. I can see everything coming together so nicely. As rushed as this wedding has been to plan – it’s been quite easy. God’s on our side for sure!!! We all know how bananas I can get.

Race update – just saw G and the Good News crew. Monotone announcer man must know his dad – called him by a shortened version of his name haha and he just said they are winning!!!! (Glad he knows what’s going on!)

ANYWAYS!!!!

So – the big update – (check out caringbridge.com and search my dad’s name or Facebook for the full update on all this).

I’ve been having a lot of thoughts lately, almost too man to write down – hence the reason I haven’t written in a while.

My whole world just changed. New job. New home. New city. New fiancé. New eye opener…..

Dad

You immediately forget the things you thought were important when you find out your parent has some untreatable, incurable disease and needs lung transplants.

We started a Facebook group and website (as I mentioned) to keep people posted on the progress.

I should be used to this because I’ve been through the “things like this don’t happen to people like me or my family” scenario a few too many times. It’s all very surreal. I can’t even say he is “sick” because the dude looks fine! Goes to work. Isn’t “broken”. It won’t hurt him if you hug him. It’s hard to wrap my head around.

With so much going on from wedding planning, to moving, to starting a new job, to anticipating life events (like a new niece) and wedding shindigs – we have all had to take a step back and wrap our heads around what is going on. All the while, not losing sight of maintaining as normal a life as possible.

Race update – free food for racers…. Uhhh what about fiancé’s of racers???? Haha I guess G can eat!

There is too much to look forward to for him to give up or not try to stay well enough.

He can’t miss those things. He wouldn’t allow it. God is looking out and he will be around for a very, very long time. Whether or not he likes it or not – we will all make sure of it. So “tough titty said the kitty” – as Dad would say. I know he will be around for a long time. Just like I knew it wasn’t pneumonia that he had, and that they were doing to tell me he needed lung transplants – as your parent’s kid (race just ended) you know these things!

Again, I don’t think it has all quite sunk in yet. I think it’s because I know God will take care of him and get him what he needs to get through this. It’s a speed bump and the outcome will be for God’s benefit and we might never know the WHY in this situation. All we can do is hope and pray for the best.

My dad is strong. He is stubborn. He won’t give up. He has carried us through trials and tribulations aplenty – even before the child rearing years. He will walk me down the aisle (the only good excuse is a new lung or two!). He will see his grandkids grow up. He will get to retire. He will go to Vegas a million more times. Too many people rely on this man, on his service, friendship, guidance, and love. Shoot, G & I can’t even get married without him so he has to stick around. And we all know Z needs her Papa. The list goes on…

Thank you to everyone who has been helping, supporting praying for, and loving on my family – especially Dad. He never needs anyone – but now he does. Prayers for good news from the transplant team. Prayers for new lungs. Prayers for peace and understanding. This is all part of the plan – I should know by now, and so should you, that God’s plan is best.

Until next time, lovely people.

Race update: These Clear Lake people love Jimmy Buffet and I have no idea who won but apparently it is over.

The End.

Famous.

We are FAMOUS!!!!

Kind of...

Check out this photography/wedding blog that our engagement pictures and story are featured on - how exciting!!!


A Love Thing Blog

Life updates and such

Well friends, I haven’t written consistently lately – I swear that won’t happen when I move, yes I am moving. I remember hoping and praying at the beginning of the job I currently have, for positive change and for my life to just start taking the course God meant for it to and now here I am – future bride to the incredible Mr. G Walker, moving to an area I never thought I would move to, and embracing all of the little things along the way.

First things first – you already know we are engaged – wedding planning has been pretty stress free. Obviously the date is set (most of you reading this should receive your save the dates soon or already have them). We have a venue, our bridal party is ready to go, caterer has been decided, photographer has been contracted, dress has been purchased, engagement party was a success, honeymoon is booked, lighting, DJ, attire and décor are all in the works.

Next up – dance lessons! Hahaha Not joking! But it’s not quite next. I have to move first. After much discussion and consulting with the future mister, we found the perfect little house to rent. It has two bedrooms and another room as an office. It is open and spacious, perfect for entertaining! It’s our first new home. I’m so excited to finally come home to the man I love so much. I also was able to land a job! I start April 15th!!! It’s going to be an adjustment – starting a new job and living in another city – but it will be perfect because G will be there every step of the way. He has been an amazing support system so far and we have only just begun.

I am actually just sitting down at home after an eventful weekend. Engagement party weekend!!! We were nervous about the weather as it was gloomy and bleak, but it turned out to be cool and not too windy. Best of all, it didn’t rain!!! Our parents met for the first time, finally, and it went really nicely!! Both sides of family and friends mixed and mingled well (good job everyone!). It started at 5pm and people snacked and had a few drinks and then around 6pm we ate an incredible Italian meal on the beautiful dock behind G’s parents’ house. The night was one to remember, that’s for sure! I named it “Frat boys & Winos” - lots of wine drinking and G’s fraternity brothers were used as my inspiration. We are really appreciative to those who were able to make it and celebrate the kickoff to the wedding festivities.

We have been told to enjoy the time before the wedding – and we are doing an excellent job, if I do say so myself. Not sure of many people who can remain sane, in love, and happy during times of so much change. Little shout-out/thank you to G for having an opinion on wedding stuff, helping make our future life decisions, and being by my side 112% of the way. We are so blessed to live the life we live, have the family and friends we have, and be overwhelmed with love for each other.

One of my BM’s asked me what I look forward to most about being married and I think it’s the idea and fact that I will finally have a partner, someone to experience the life God made for us with, and it couldn’t be with anyone more perfect for me.

Stay tuned for more updates – eventually we will have a wedding webpage (if I can get one up in the next few months). Wedding countdown – 145 days!!!!

Our Love Story

Our Love Story - this was written as a preface to our engagement pictures that might be featured on a wedding blog (still pending confirmation of when, but will let you know!). I just realized - why not post it on my own blog with a few of our favorite pictures???? Here you go:

The timid freshman and the second year frat boy

They met at the beginning of 2006, in the safest college class one can take, environmental science. She sat toward the middle of the room, him up a few rows and towards the outer edge. They were paired together for a few assignments and over time began to talk more frequently during lecture and lab. His first hint to her was an invitation to check out his MySpace page – very smooth move at the time – and she did just that, getting him in trouble with his current girlfriend at the time.

At the end of the school year she moved away. Both thinking about the other one here and there through the years, checking out each other’s facebook pages every so often, and of course, keeping tabs on the others “relationship status.” In August of 2012, the once timid freshman went back to the city where they met to visit a friend The frat boy noticed it on facebook and decided to reach out to her. They messaged back and forth a while and then texted and eventually talked on the phone.

They grew to love each other within this few week time span, and quite literally over dinner one night. At the end of August, he decided to make a move. He came to see her for dinner in her hometown, on a Monday night, and had sent her a huge bouquet of flowers the day of their dinner date. That night, they went for sushi (both of their favorites) and talked for hours. She didn’t want him to leave and he didn’t either. They knew after that first date who God made for them. That following weekend they spent together they became “facebook official” and two weeks after that said “I Love You” for the first time, even though they had felt it since date #1.

In February 2013, five months after starting this journey, they got engaged. He surprised her at her apartment February 15th with rose petals, candles and a ring. The two couldn't be more thrilled and all that is left now is "happily ever after" on 8/17/13!!!