October 22

So, this is it! Will & I decided and booked the Western Hills Country Club for our wedding and reception last Friday. So, Sunday it is!!! It was really something because I had heard so much about it and as we pulled up, the beauty of the site was overwhelming - especially as the sun was setting behind the mountains and there were rays of light peeking out. Then, the rolling hills, and the club itself is very regal - they combine architecture that I believe is Spanish and then modern American. I was picturing myself walking through the arches and into the banquet room... It gives me chills! WOW! The wedding will happen right outside (which is something else we wanted from the beginning, although we did love the idea of getting married in a little chapel somewhere), so there will be no traveling once the guests arrive at the location itself, which is nice! The coordinator on site is a fun, spunky lady. She's good at what she does, positive and great at making budget-friendly suggestions. I also asked for business cards for the vendors that she works with often for the things we still need to decide on... But making this decision is MONUMENTAL! PRAISE THE LORD for peace!! I sent many people and e-mail, which was an informal invitation. Oh, that reminds me, we'll need to start thinking about the wording for the invitations... Gosh, there are so many features to this!! One of the ladies at work commented yesterday that in planning a wedding, you're planning (one of the) greatest events of your life, and because most people are pretty young when they get married, they have little to none experience... It's true. I keep joking with Will, "I've never done this before!"

We're in Phoenix now. We arrived last night around 10:00 and greeted Sharon, Shannon and Brent (Shannon's beau and practical husband!). I warned Will as we approached that there may be a fair amount of squealing during the greeting. He was okay with it. =) Will crashed. I guess getting up at 4:30 in the morning, working all day, and then driving to Phoenix really tuckered him out! j/k. =) Sharon and I did some homework together (just like old times!) while everyone else went to bed. She paused in her reading, looked up and said, "I remember trying to sleep to that typing! It's strange what you remember!" Wow, we were roommates like 7 years ago! WHEW!!

The wedding, the reason we came out here this weekend, is later today - 4 o'clock. As I was trying to fall asleep last night, I was thinking about how anxious I would be if this was the last night I was single, living life as I know it. And then with the new dawn, walking into a totally different arena/experience of life. Change is on the horizon for us all... WOW!!

Will got a very fun phone call from someone who lives in AZ as we entered into the state. Jim left a message, but because he was driving, it wasn't very clear who called or what he was saying. So, Will called back and this person answers the phone and starts giving him a hard time. Will, still trying to figure out who this was, was told, "Dude, you're a dork, you have always been and will always be" and I think that's when he said, "Can you tell me what this is all about?!" There was a pause on his end and the an excited "DUDE!" I needed no further explanation. This old friend of Will's had been trying to get a hold of him for quite a while, but for one reason or another, it didn't happen. The ironic part is that while we were entering into his home state, that mission was accomplished. We probably won't be able to go see him. He lives about 3 hours away and this is pretty much a turn around trip...

Thanks for your prayers for our discussion with the missionaries. It went well; one of our most focused talks yet. But, they also announced as they came in the door that they wouldn't be coming again - changes in responsibilities of the mission & they were also in trouble since they were supposed to be reaching out to the Spanish-speaking community in Rialto, and instead they were working with us white folk!

Anyway, so I guess that's the big news - Sunday, October 22 is the big day!