Whose Quirk Is It, Anyway?

I posted a few months ago about taking some time off from the wedding planning and working on the marriage. I have to say that I've (We've) been very successful! It's so nice to not think wedding all the time!
Greg and I have taken a little advice from two of the happiest couples we know. First, we are doing a little marriage counseling through my church with Deacon Rich (who will be marrying us). Even though it is required of us to be married in the church, it is also very very good to talk through things with an outside source. Deacon Rich has been an enormous help! Second, we are reading through some books on marriage. I've borrowed a few, but one that I got myself is "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love." I was a little sceptical because it's such a known title. It however has been super helpful as well!
One (of many) things we have taken from this book is..."Ask the Question: Whose Quirk Is This, Anyway?" In this excerpt the author talks about a woman who, newly married, got herself a fresh towel every morning before her shower. And every morning her groom would use the towel, and she would end up dripping to the linen closet to get another towel. Of course she was on the verge of an emotional meltdown, while her husband was thinking what a sweet wife he had to get him a towel every morning. Clearly some miscommunication as well as some quirks. Solution...get two towels out of the closet to begin with.
So...Greg and I have started to work through some of our quirks by using this example. Greg leaves the toothpaste on the counter every night instead of placing it back in the medicine cabinet. Makes me crazy! But...whose quirk is it anyway? I could get mad- but in the end he was simply thinking he was leaving it out for me because I hadn't used it yet. SO, before getting mad...now we try to stop and realize no one is at fault. Combining our family traditions has been a struggle. As I hear it is for all couples. I rinse pasta after draining, Greg does not. Greg likes Cincinnati Chili, I do not. I like to sleep with the TV on, Greg does not. Before, we would just got upset with each other for doing things differently, but we are working on combining lives. And learning they're just quirks!

8 months down, 8 months to go!!! <3

Thanks Giving

This year was the first year in 3 years together that Greg and I actually got to spend the day together! Two years ago we did separate on the actually holiday, and last year it was my Holiday to work! (No Holidays for me this year...I'm still in orientation!) I'm super thankful to spend the Holidays with Greg, my family, and my new family! And it is the last Thanksgiving before we are married...it's weird every time there is a holiday or birthday, thinking this is the last one I will spend "single". But it's also very exciting!
On Thursday we were in Cleveland with my family. My mom cooked and we took everything to my grandma's. We were the only one's there for dinner, but later on my Uncle Kenny, Aunt Diane, and Uncle Dan came over and it was a very relaxing day!
Friday we drove to VA to spend the weekend with Kevin, Selby, and the rest of the Fam!! Nancy and Selby are busy preparing as I type...smells yummy!! =)

I love Holiday Traditions and getting to spend them with Greg for the rest of my life. I love to have Greg as part of my family traditions, and I'm very excited about all the new family I'm gaining too!

What are you Thankful for??
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Love, C&G

270 Days and Counting

Today is 270 days until Greg and I are married. We started with 474 days in the beginning...its gone so fast and so slow all at once. It's slow because we haven't been spending many of those days together. But this weekend we spent 3 days together and (even though I'm breaking from the wedding planning for a while) we had some meetings for the wedding this weekend.
Saturday we met with Deacon Rich and it couldn't have gone better! We were able to talk about how hard it is to be apart. Interestingly enough, he told us (among other things) we need to skype more! He said phone conversations and texting are just not enough, there is something about face to face time that is very important. We are definitely looking forward to our next meeting with him because with every meeting we are a little more "married" then the last one.
After that meeting Greg's parents come up from Dayton to be with us at our entree tasting! We had a fabulous meal! Selby says all that really matters is photography and food...and I know after Saturday's tasting everyone will be very happy with the food. (And cake if I might add!)
This weekend also included dinner with great friends on Friday night, plenty of movie watching, and a photo shoot with the boys I babysit today! And because we had such a good weekend goodbye was that much harder. We are looking forward to the holidays though! =)

Marriage

Last week Greg called me out a few things...
First, I travel way too much. Since I work in Columbus I'm always going to Cleveland or Dayton to see my parents or Greg. And since I only work 3 days a week...I have plenty of time to do this. However, it was taking it's toll. I was super stressed and over-tired. And that wasn't helping my relationship with Greg.
Secondly, in addition to the travel, I spent any free moment planing for the wedding. Making appointments with caterers or florists, picking shoes, collecting addresses, scanning the web for more ideas, etc.
Greg is now putting a big halt to all of this. I was instructed to stay home (in Columbus) today and tomorrow and rest...take some "me" time. I was also instructed to put a hold on wedding planning. We have 9 months and I'm way ahead of the game! But that's what I do, I like to be as organized and as prepared as possible! And I enjoy doing wedding things, but I will admit it started to become a job. So, thanks to the best fiance in the world, I am slowing down. I'm super thankful he called me out on it too because I would never admit to it.

Now that I've had a day to step back and rest- I have a new perspective. I had plans for damask fabric, floating candles, umbrellas in case of rain, and dreams of limos, videographers, and chair covers. But that isn't important. And I really don't care about a lot of that anymore.

What is important is that on Friday August 12, 2011 I will be marrying my best friend.

I don't know where I would be in life without him. And even though it is extremely difficult to live apart, it will be amazing to finally be together. And that is what is truly important. Being married to my other half is the ultimate goal...not what the matches look like or what color the flowers are. I could go on and on, but my point is that I'm so happy Greg asked me to slow down. I can now see what is important. In the long run it is our relationship that is important, and the stress of being apart and planning a wedding was compromising that.
Now I am thinking more about our marriage rather then the wedding because the wedding will last a day and our marriage will last a lifetime.
I'm looking forward to seeing where life takes us!!

Long Distance

We are coming up on 9 months from the wedding in a few days, and it gets harder each day. I'm sure I don't have to remind any of you that Greg and I are living apart right now. And it's becoming harder and harder and more and more stressful. I did get to spend the weekend with him because we went to Virginia to visit Kevin and Selby. We had a very good time, and are looking forward to returning with the whole family for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to spend time with Greg, but as I drove out of Dayton tonight and back to Columbus I had some overwhelming feelings. I felt extremely lonely, and I felt that three days was horribly unsatisfying. I'm truly thankful for the time we get together, but it's never enough. It's so hard to kiss goodbye and drive away. One day, I hope, we will be together, and be wishing for some alone time. But for now, we take what we can get. Not much longer now.

Flowers

I had a meeting with the florist today to discuss everything for the wedding! And she gave me the samples to take home which was so exciting! The Cutting Garden is a flower shop in Uptown Olmsted Falls that is owned by a family friend. I met with Melinda and she was so nice and very helpful! In fact her wedding colors are going to be the same as mine! So...I want to tell it all, but I'll try to leave some things for surprise. The cake will have green orchids for sure! My bouquet will have mixes of greens, pinks and purples. The maid of honor will have a mini bridal bouquet. And the girls will be the same but smaller and no roses. Greg's boutineer is an orchid with a sprig of green hydrangas. And the groomsmen will have 3 small white spray roses. The centerpieces will either have hot pink gerbers or green fuji mums. We talked about mothers, and fathers, grandparents and readers too! It was a really fun time to see everything come together!
Oh and by the way...the matchbooks have been re-printed for free. So I'm going to have a TON of matches!!
I think that's it for now...up next entree tasting and favor tasting! =)

Elegant

The wedding plans are coming along nicely, and everything seems to be based around the word "elegant". In the beginning it was fun and casual. That is, when we were thinking cocktail reception. Over the past few months things have changed some because we are doing the sit down dinner. So...Windows on the River alone says elegant. My dress...although chosen when we were still in the fun and casual phase has now been made even more perfect because it too is elegant. Before I was worried it would be too much for a fun and casual evening. I bought my veil today and ordered my shoes today...another step toward elegant. The bridesmaids dresses moved from a fun and flirty cocktail dress to a long, black and elegant dress. And you all got a chance to see it on a previous post. The cake is crisp and clean and the DJs are classy. All adding up to hopefully the most elegant night of our lives. However...we have hit one bump in the road. I think I can say this is the first thing to not go quite right.
Greg and I ordered a few wedding things a couple weeks ago and they arrived today!! Yay! we got our toasting flutes, cake servers, and bubbles. And we got our napkins ans matchbooks!! The matchbooks are probably what we were most excited about!! But, they are very sloppy and "un-elegant", definitely not crisp and clean. Don't worry, I am working with the company to see what I can do. But as everything decided for the wedding has screamed elegant or been decided against if it was not...this has made that come to a screeching and disappointing halt.

I suppose this isn't a big deal, but I needed to vent a minute. Hopefully this is the worst thing to happen along the way...cause I think I'm doing pretty good!