What a Difference a Year Makes...

Tomorrow marks the day I met my partner (in life and for life) and I am one giddy girl! Thinking back to this day last year, I can safely say I wasn't expecting to be planning a wedding only one year later. Hell, I can safely say I didn't even think I was going to meet a guy the very next day that was able to see straight into me while singing every Cher song imaginable with Lisa Lisa (the girl so nice they named her twice! Is it wrong that I want to find a way to incorporate B&Bs into the wedding celebrations? Engagement photo shoot perhaps?!)

I walked away that night knowing I had met someone so special, someone that was going to make a huge difference in my life. Within 45 minutes of knowing each other, we had covered so many life stories that it's no wonder, one year later, it feels like we've known each other forever.

Aunt Sue in the house!

One of my favorite roles in life is the one of "aunt". I adore all 6 nephews and my one very special princess (aka niece). They all rock and are incredibly fun, smart and super cute (even the 19 year old though he'd yell at me for saying he was "cute").

Marrvelous and I are off today to my brother and sis-in-law's house in Quakertown for a celebratory engagement dinner consisting of steak, copious amount of vino and perhaps a ridiculous amount of drunken guitar hero or Wii bowling. We haven't seen the munchkins' since before the holidays so pretty pumped to do crafts and play mario kart.

This is what we're headed into...

Working 'round the clock

So I saw this quote today "Love is a feeling, Marriage is a contract, and a Relationship is work." and it stuck with me. I've often said that the wedding - it's just a legality. I honestly believe if you plan to commit yourself to someone, you do - a piece of paper isn't going to force someone to make it happen. That has a larger influence on insurance and taxes, or as it will be in our case - your residency status. The bigger reward lies in the relationship and in the work that makes that relationship so great that you want the contract, and you want to continue that feeling of love each day forward.

As I've gotten older and gone through other relationships, as well as watched friends enter into marriages (and out...), the importance of the word "work" becomes much clearer. For the first time though, I really feel like I not only understand it, but truly accept what lies ahead.

Just like my day job, there are days when the "work" will feel like a breeze and I'll be proud of what I've accomplished and feel like I was made to do this - who wouldn't want to hire me?! And then there will be the days that end in near-tears, wondering am I going crazy and am I any good at anything.

Those will be the days I remember that feeling - Love. And those will also be the days I focus on the contract - the Marriage. And through the good days and the bad, I hope to always smile at the choices we've made and at my co-worker in all this. Because it's been a true blessing to find a partner who is as committed to the work and excited for our shared days ahead!

And so it begins...

I've thought about it for awhile. And always stepped back and put it off for another day. But a new year has brought a new resolve (and a serious push by the Mr.). So here I am, on the interwebs to inundate everyone with random thoughts on the meals I eat (there will be a lot of bacon discussion), places I travel, and continuous ideas on how to become independently wealthy and leave the world of work behind (huzzah!). And of course it will be a forum for the life Marrvelous and I are building together so our family and friends, near and far, can keep tabs on us ... beginning with that whole wedding thingy. Let's do this!