Where has the time gone?

The wedding is rapidly approaching and sometimes I feel like I'm totally lost. Where has the time gone? Feels like I blinked at the wedding is right around the corner. Others told me that this would happen and I knew it was true... but still, geez!

I think that I have everything under control. I'm working my tail off to stay organized and to get as much work at the church done ahead of time. That means preparing the weekly bulletin and PowerPoint presentations for the announcements and sermons. Seems easy, but I am short on time and am already staying way past my scheduled hours working on other stuff.

Well, I can't write much more. I have to go edit a wedding... another project I'd like to have done before the wedding. I don't want to have any work waiting for me when I get back. I want my mind to be clear and trouble free. I am going to relax and have fun with my husband on our honeymoon! Yep, it's going to happen!

Only 15 days until the wedding!

Something from Jessie 2009

This year's Something from Jessie Memorial Scholarship Spaghetti Dinner was a huge success! We had amazing weather (so the moonwalk and beanbags were up and running), delicious food, a wide variety of sweet desserts, and an awesome praise and worship band! We were greatly blessed in every possible way that evening.

The dinner started at 5:00 p.m. and about 30 minutes into the dinner Jessie's family was trying to quickly put up more tables and chairs in the gym for guests! We were overflowing with support! Then, during the special program (featuring music, door prizes, and a brief statement from Olen Johnsen, the Associate Director at Phantom Ranch) many stuck around to participate. Over all, it was an amazing evening!

I would like to give a special shout out to everyone who supported this special event! To Jessie's family - Thank you for organizing such a blessed event every year! To our Parker Road Bible Church family - Thank you for bringing so many delicious desserts, I'm sure I ate too many, they were all amazing! To the Praise Band- Thank you for coming early to practice and for putting your heart into every song, I had a blast with each of you! To the Youth Group - Thank you for volunteering your time and energy into serving at the dinner, it really helps us a lot! To everyone who made a contribution through prayer or financially - Thank you for helping us change lives for God's glory!

We are still waiting on an official dollar amount raised [money is still coming in]. While the recession may have effected our numbers, we are still confident that God has provided every penny needed for the campers he wants us to send to camp.

Now that the dinner is over my focus has returned to the wedding. I've got a lot of little details to take care of and sometimes wonder if I will actually get everything done. I guess I waited too long to take care of a lot of details, but I've seem to have a grip on everything now. At least, I hope so.

Only 17 days until the wedding!

Gettin' Up Off the Floor

Another big step for the future Mr. and Mrs. Nelson... we now have a new bed! That's really good news for Dan, he no longer has to sleep on the floor on an air matress. He is very happy about that!

We did some shopping around before we made this purchase (yesterday). My folks put us in the right direction when they brought us to Back to Bed in Tinely Park. It's the same place my folks and I got our matresses about two years ago. The sales man actually remembed us! He was very helpful and got us some great deals. Dan and I are very happy with our new purchase. We even bought some super sweet pillows that we got a special price on as well.

We purchased the matress yesterday and it arrived this afternoon. I had to bounce out of work for a moment to go and let the delivery guys drop everything off and set it up. Dan and I bought some organice sheets from Target last night... thanks to Mandy and Cale for their gift card from our Wedding Shower. They fit great and are super soft! For right now Dan's twin-sized comforter in on th bed until we can pick out some new bedding. As long as it is just him, it'll do just fine.

In other news, this past weekend was my cousin Jessica's Bridal Shower. It was held at her house on Sunday, May 31st. I had a wonderful time with friends and family at this shower! I made my special punch for the event... it turned out great and there was very little left after I made two batches. Kimmy (Jessica's Maid of Honor... as well as one of my Bridesmaids) did a wonderful job throwing this special party! Jessica and Andrew are getting married on July 25th of this year. Kathleen and I are both Bridesmaids for Jessica.

Looking ahead, Friday, June 5th is the Something from Jessie Memorial Scholarship Spaghetti Dinner. Everyone involved are super busy as we finialize the details before the big day. We are so excited to see how many students from the inner city will be able to attend camp through this blessed ministry.

Here are all of the details...

When: Friday, June 5th
Where: Parker Road Bible Church
Dinner: 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Special Program: 7:00 - 8:00 PM

Featuring...

1. Full Spaghetti Dinner with Beverages
2. Delicious Desserts
3. Live Praise and Worship Band
4. Door Prizes
5. Moonwalk for the Little Ones (Weather Permitting)
6. All Donations are Tax Deductable
7. Every Penny Goes Directly to Benefit Students

How can you help?

1. Pray for the event and the students who will be positively effected by each donation.
2. Attending and participating in each of the events that will be taking place on Friday, June 5th.
3. Bring a dessert to be shared at the dinner.
4. Make a donation.

Here are some helpful links...

http://www.somethingfromjessie.com/
Something from Jessie Homepage

http://www.phantomranch.org/
Phantom Ranch Bible Camp... the camp that students will attend through this memorial scholarship fund. Jessie was a camper and staff member at Phantom Ranch.

http://www.prbchurch.org/
Parker Road Bible Church... where the dinner is being hosted. This is Jessie's home church.

I know that I've had a lot to say in today's blog, but there is just some many wonderful things going on! I'll be sure to share more later.

Only 24 days until the wedding!

Memorial Day Weekend

This past weekend was pretty busy. On Saturday, May 23rd I went to my cousin's for his to celebrate his graduation from high school. Congratulations, Kevin!

Sunday, May 24th was a long and busy day. I had to run AV at church, lead the praise and worship, and spoke about the Something from Jessie dinner. After church I went to work at Williams-Sonoma. I worked there until close. Once I got home I had dinner with Dan and the family and then went for a nice, long walk with Dan.

Monday, May 25th (Memorial Day), Dan and I both had the day off so we took the time to run errands and then met up with his mom in Wisconsin. We played some golf (my 3rd time playing) and then went out for dinner and rented a movie. The weekend was full and busy, but also very nice!

I still have so much to get done for the Something from Jessie Spaghetti Dinner, but things are really coming along. I will share more later. but right now I've got to run.

Only 30 days until the wedding!

Dan's Graduation from Lewis University

On Sunday, May 17, 2009 Dan graduated from Lewis University! A day that once felt so distant has quickly snuck up on us. It was a great day... the sun was out and the weather was warm (in the sun at least).

Much of Dan's family was able to attend his graduation. Below is a picture of his mom (Carol), Dad (Dan), and one of his sisters (Mandy). Mandy's boyfriend, Cale, was in attendance as well.

Congratulations to Dan and the entire Lewis University Class of 2009! Dan, I am so very proud of you! You never cease to amaze me with how hard you work and remain dedicated to each and every project to take on! You're awesome!

Another shout out and massive Congratulations go to my sister, Kathleen! On Friday, May 15th she graduated with her Masters from NDSU. Unfortunately, I could not make it to her graduation, but I proudly looked through photos that were taken by my father. Way to go, Kathleen! You're the best and I am super proud of all that you do! Now... please come home soon! I miss you!

And... as promised... here are a few photos of mine and Dan's new apartment! These were taken the day that we signed the lease. As of right now, Dan is all moved in.

Our fireplace in the living room! It's a gas fireplace, so it turns on and off with a switch.

From this angle you can see our dinning room and part of our kitchen. To the right is the rest of the kitchen and our pantry/laundry room and to the left you'll see the door that leads into our master bedroom and master bathroom. How nice!

Here is a view from the dinning room so you can see the rest of the kitchen. Through that white door is our pantry/laundry room (with a full size washer and dryer). We got lucky, not all the units have a washer and dryer in them.

Our apartment consists of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, pantry/laundry room, balcony (we're on the 3rd/top floor), dish washer, walk-in closets in both bedrooms, and lots of other little goodies.

While Dan is all moved in, there really isn't much furniture, but we'll have some more once I move in and we are planning to buy some new furniture before or after the wedding (depending on deals that we may find).

I'm still waiting on quite a number of RSVPs from guests. I'm not really stressin' over it. They're due Saturday, June 6th. Wow! Time is going by so fast! How exciting!

Only 36 days until the wedding!

We Have A Winner!

Dan and I have successfully found an apartment! It is a two bedroom, two bathroom, with a gas fireplace and a washer and dryer in the unit! A little bigger then we were originally looking for, but we got a sweet deal. We are both very excited about our new home. While we are in the process of getting our new things moved in, Dan is really the only one who will be living there before the wedding.

Dan is finished with school (as of last week) and is currently working full-time. He graduates this Sunday! YAY! This week his is still in his dorm, but he has to be all moved out by Sunday. He'll have everything out before then. Everything has worked out nicely. Now Dan has a place to go after graduation. That means, less moving for him. Phew!

I have pictures of our new place, but I do not have them on me at the moment. I will try to post them soon!

Only 45 days until the wedding!

Apartment Hunting

Dan and I have been on the hunt for a lovely new place we can call home. We've been doing lots of research for the past couple of weeks, talking with friends and family (and their friends and family), and viewing some of our favorites in hopes of finding the right place for us to share.

We found one apartment that is a little bit bigger then we've been looking for and a bit more then we were planning to spend, but it looks like we may have found a real jewel! It's on a special right now, so if everything works out we will get a sweet deal! So we are praying that everything will work out. We really like this apartment and we both felt very at home while we were there.

As of right now we're looking to lease an apartment for at least one year. We are not sure where we will be next year and until Dan is done with his extended schooling we really cannot commit to any place more permanent.

Apartment hunting with Dan is so exciting! Just thinking that in less then two months we will be married and sharing a lovely new home together makes me smile!

Only 52 days until the wedding!