Here's the latest news

Okay so not writing for FOUR months just doesn't work.  There has been A LOT going on since I last posted.

First, Joshua and I have taken all of our engagement pictures.  We split them up between Dayton and Cincinnati.  Part of them were taken around a friend's farm.  We had a GOREGOUS day to take them in April.  Our awesome photographer got some great shots of us around the fields, barns, hay bales and property.  It was a lot of fun and we had a great time taking the pictures.  Our second set of pictures were taken at the beginning of June.  We wanted to get some pictures around Great American Ball Park and by the Ohio River.  The day was just as nice down in Cincinnati for our pictures.  We wore our Reds jerseys and our Converse shoes.  The Reds were out of town so the stadium was empty and great for getting pictures around the outside of the stadium.  We got the pictures back a few weeks after our second session and they are AMAZING!  I can't help but smile every time I see them.  Thanks Lydia for such great pictures :-)

Second, Joshua and I have picked our save the dates, wedding invites and programs.  Now when I say Joshua and I picked them, I really mean that I found them, liked them and showed them to Joshua.  He then said to me they looked nice, they were fine and that was all that was said.  So, they've been ordered, addressed and were officially mailed out today.  When I got them in the mail I just stared at them because it made it more real that yes indeed there is a wedding coming soon.

Third, THE dress has officially come in and been picked up.  Earlier in the week I received the phone call that my dress had come in finally!  I ordered it back in December and was excited that it was FINALLY in.  I picked it up that day because I was having foot surgery the next day.  It felt SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD to put it on and walk around in it.  It's as beautiful as I remember and still my favorite dress I've ever seen.  Now to hide it for 8ish months until the wedding so Joshua doesn't go peeking :-)

Other than that, Joshua and I have been taking care of little things here and there.  While things for the wedding are 90% planned, Joshua and I have more things ahead of us to take care of that are for our life planning.  While out and looking at places to live, we discovered that it will probably be in our best interest to pursue a home as opposed to an apartment.  While this seems to be like a rather large undertaking for us, we believe that in the long run it will be better for us.  We can grow into a home and have a long-term investment.  As we get into the late summer and early fall, Joshua and I are going to begin talks with a real estate agent and will begin looking at houses.  We have a specific part of town we're looking that will be the best for both of us with our jobs. 

When we first were engaged and the wedding date was set, it seemed like it was so far away, and in many ways it still is.  However, while we have the wedding planned, it's what happens after the wedding that is taking more planning.  Discovering what God has in mind for us as a couple takes time, which is what we're taking the time to do now.  I'm still job hunting for a teaching job and Joshua is beginning school in August.  We have a lot on our plate in the midst of getting married.  Joshua and I are in this for the long haul and only want God's will for our lives together. 

Just 231 days until the big day!