The Ranch Club Breakfast

Not only was the table setting gorgeous, but so was the view from the patio at the Ranch Club!

My lovely bridesmaids! (Minus Meaghan)

My best friend from college, Mel! I was so excited she was able to come out for the wedding and came early for hanging out!!

From L-R: Aunt Cheryl, Glenda, me, and Aunt Eddie. These are Jason's aunts and mom, but I'm so happy to call them my own family now! Wonderful women!

This is my friend and wedding coordinator Kylie and her daughter Cora, who was our adorable flower girl!

My Grandma was able to come too!

And of course my own mom and sisters! I love you girls!

In the very back you can see Grandmommy - the host and planner of this lovely event!

It truly was a treat! The food was soo delicious and the fellowship was wonderful! What a great way to relax just days before the wedding!

Thanks Grandmommy!!

**Most photos by Mel Haidle, a few by Mary Cross

A Shower of Blessings

I'm finally gonna start the official "wedding posts"!! But this does mean I have to start pre-wedding, so no wedding pics yet! They will be coming soon though!

In June Kylie and Heidi hosted a lovely bridal shower for me at the Hartzell's house. If you remember, this was my second shower, because Jason's family hosted a surprise one for us in May.

Josie loved to help open gifts! I received many gifts to stock our kitchen! It was quite a blessing!

The food served was delicious! Chicken salad with all sorts of toppings! And very yummy raspberry-limeade, plus berry cream puffs!

I'm so thankful for Kylie an Heidi who put a lot of work into planning and hosting the shower! And I'm thankful to all the ladies who came. Kylie had them all tell a story about me or tell how they knew me, and many of the "stories" really blessed me!

Each lady also gave me 2 notecards, one with a recipe and one with marriage advice - two of my favorite things!

This shower was definitely one of the many ways God blessed our marriage.

The Second Best Week of My Life

I know that a lot of brides are so stressed out they are miserable the week of the wedding. Or some brides have gone of the deep end and just want the wedding to be over with. I did not want to be "one of those" brides. Yes, I know that a lot of work is done this week, people are tired and tensions can be high. But I wanted to embrace it all. I wanted to make the best of it all - so that it was the second best week of my life (the honeymoon should be the best week). And so far it's working!!

Why is it working?

REASON #1: Prayer and time in the Word.

REASON #2: AWESOME HELPERS...

AWESOME HELPER #1 - MY MOM. She should be a wedding planner! Seriously! This wedding is coming together better than I thought it would...and it's largely up to her! She has worked on soo many projects, arranged soo many things, and given ton of her time and energy! I am so thankful for all she's done, and I know this week is going smoothly because of all the work she has done in the weeks before. She has...

Made our awesome favors (This is the sign I made to explain them).

Made our awesome pennant flags... And SO MUCH MORE!!

AWESOME HELPER #2 - My dad. He has surprised me with with the wedding planning business, because he's soo handy and soo willing! We need a dance floor...my dad says he'll build one and finds the wood for free!

We need ladder golf...and he whips not one, but TWO up.

We need hand painted signs...he finds legit barn wood AND offers to paint them!

He has done so much more too!

AWESOME HELPERS - OTHERS. There are TONS of other people who have helped in little or big ways, and everything is soo appreciated. Jason does his fair share, and he is planning ALL of our honeymoon so that I can be surprised! Lucy helped cut a bunch of fabric for us. Darlene made mints. Anna, Whitney, Karen, Rosemary & Corie are helping with decorating projects. Kylie is our day of coordinator...which is a big role. Kate is taking photos and videoing! Peter and Amanda are doing music and being the emcees. Stephanie is making and cutting the cake. The Heges are wonderful hosts to some of our guests, as well as helping on the actual wedding day. We have guys for a parking crew and guys for a tear down crew. Britten is painting our nails and Brandi is doing a spa night for the girls. My grandparents have helped with little projects and my grandma is hosting a bridal breakfast for us! The list goes on and on.

REASON #3: FOUR DAYS OF HAVING A GOOD TIME!!

Tonight kicks it all off... Tonight is a "spa night" for the girls and I. We our getting our nails painted, having snacks, and "pedi-soaks."

Thurdsay - bridal breakfast and my bachelorette!!

Friday - the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner!!

Saturday - THE WEDDING!!

It's all a blast! I'm soo excited and so thrilled to become Jason's wife!!

THE week

I love Jason. And it was meant to be! God even wrote it on this sandstone rock for me at the beach! (Yes, I just found the rock this way!!)

I'm still getting used to the idea that my wedding is within sight. It's not that I thought we wouldn't get married or anything. It's just that our wedding has always been so far off... Remember when I had a celebration cause our countdown was finally out of triple digits? Now I'm so close I could start counting the hours...which would be approximately 159. That's how close I am to taking on the married status, becoming a "Mrs.", being called a "wife", sharing a bed, paying bills, buying groceries, and cooking meals. And you know what? I'm crazy excited! It's going to be such an honor to be Mrs. Koemans, to be Jason's wife, and to share life with him. The thought of being a wife absolutely thrills me!

On a slight rabbit trail... My ring finger is kinda sad now, because I've gone back to wearing my old purity/promise ring - the matching band to Jason's. Now don't get me wrong, I love the meaning of my purity/promise ring, but I miss this pretty thing:

(Pretend my nail polish isn't chipping off...)

This beautiful ring is at the jewelry shop getting soldered with its gorgeous partner--the wedding band!! And in 159 hours Jason will place it on my finger as a symbol of forever--we will be soldered together!

This brings us back from the rabbit trail to the main topic-- I'm see my marriage to Jason as "limitless." Many people have been asking me questions like, "Lauren are you nervous?" or "Lauren are you ready for the big change in your life?" Yes, I wasn't born yesterday. I realize marriage is one of the biggest choices you make in your life and that it takes work. But I'm completely thrilled to be married and to work at it! I'm looking forward to these changes! These changes mean Jason doesn't go home at the end of the night. These changes mean I have the opportunity to love, bless, serve and satisfy Jason in a way that no other earthly person can. These changes mean we can embrace life together. These changes mean we can grow old together. The best is yet to be!

**All pictures by the great Mel Haidle, taken at Lincoln City beach in Oregon on a very fun trip with the distance girls! Someday I hope to post more of the pictures with the girls!

Roll with the Punches

There's been a lot of that lately - just rolling with the punches... Or the other way I like to look at it is - there's nothing God can't handle.

This week, and especially Saturday, was one of those "just roll with it" kinda weeks. Early in the week we suddenly found out some interesting information from the managers at our wedding location. There were new fees, policies, and they seemed less than excited about the number (165) of our guest list, when previously they had seemed welcoming and willing. Um, hello!! 16 before the wedding is NOT a good time to surprise us! My mom and I were pretty anxious, but I was trying to just roll with it. We feared they were getting "cold feet" and might close the doors completely...but we tried not to think about it. My dad called, they didn't answer or call back. My dad emailed, they didn't email back. Then on Thursday night at 10pm, they finally called back. It was a quick phone call. He said everything was great, nothing was changed, everything was a go. WHAT?! How could it go from being so bad to perfectly fine?? I'm still not even sure, but I do know that nothing happens that God can't handle!

Then on Saturday I was supposed to get my nails done at 8am, run errands and go to the bank at 10am, get my hair done from 11-12, and be at my bridal photo shoot by 1pm. I get to the clinic, where Britten was gonna do my nails, and Heidi is also working as the second receptionist. Well the first receptionist is suddenly very sick and has to go to the hospital, leaving Heidi alone. I tried to pitch in a bit, but I had places to be, so I couldn't stay long. The clinic doesn't close till 12 on Saturdays, and Heidi was supposed to help me get ready for the photo shoot. Now being the only one, chances were slim she'd get out in time to help. On my way back to get my hair done I get a phone call from them moving my appointment back 15 minutes. So I just pop over to help Heidi again at the clinic. I also call and move my photo shoot back 30 mins because I know there is no way we will now get there one time. I finally head to get my hair done, and then go back to the clinic to help Heidi finish up. We scramble to go as fast as we can, rush home, lace up my dress and get in the car, already late for my moved back photo shoot. I put my make-up on in the car! Thankfully my photographer is gracious and the weather also cooperated (the hour and a half of my photo shoot was the nicest weather all day!) I had a blast, felt so pretty, and really felt like a "bride." Although a lot of things happened that day that could have been extremely stressful, I was telling Heidi how you have to stay positive and "just roll with it," since the only thing you can control is your reaction or attitude to circumstances. I actually enjoyed the day, even though it was crazy!

I'm thankful to God for being in control and for already blessing our marriage. I'm thankful to Heidi for being tough and rocking the receptionist roll AND the maid of honor roll! I'm thankful to Britten for doing my nails...they look so awesome! I'm thankful to Krista for doing my hair...her suggestions and adaptations made my "bride look" better than I ever pictured! And I'm thankful to Jess and Booba for the fun time taking pictures!

Less than two more weeks!!!

Preparation

It's amazing how much preparation can go into something...like a wedding...or a marathon... Try preparing for both at the same time! Actually, it hasn't been that bad! I'm enjoying both! Tomorrow is the big day. No, not the wedding day - although our countdown is at three weeks!!!!!!!!!!! Tomorrow is the big marathon day!! We will wake up at 3am to eat our oatmeal with strawberries and an egg. At 5am we will head to the start in Frenchtown. At 6am we will be running... And hopefully by 10am we will have crossed the finish line on the Higgins Street bridge! My "good" goal is to finish in under 4 hours. My "best" goal is to finish with my dad, who hopes to clock a 3hr30min or less to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

This is the dinner my mom and I made to help prep our bodies with a bunch of carbs: Caesar Salad Pasta with chicken, diced potatoes (my potatoes have Caesar dressing and Parmesan on them) and garlic bread. (We were gonna make green beans but ran out of time). It was a new recipe and it was yummy!!


I spend the rest of the evening prepping for my other big day---THE WEDDING!! My mom and I worked on our table names! They're coming along great! Jason did the first half of them when he helped get them started the other day, and he did an awesome job!!

Anonymous Blessing

Jason and I were really stressed, I mean really stressed, about the groomsmen situation for Friday night. In fact, it might have caused a bit of frustration and conflict. You see, my mom had graciously paid for one hotel room at the Hawthorne for the guys on the Friday night before our wedding. This was super convenient because it's within 5 miles of the wedding cite, and all the guys could stay together (fun!). But there would be a total of 9 guys needing to sleep that night, and the hotel wouldn't allow that many in one room. So we could get a second one, but we had no clue how we would pay for it! If we canceled both rooms then the guys couldn't all stay togther (they'd stay and get ready at their own houses), which was never how I pictured it going! Plus, I wanted my getting ready photos. We kept going back and forth...get just the one room and make a few guys stay somewhere else -- but that's rude!!...get the two rooms -- but who will pay??!!...get no rooms -- but where will they stay?? Will there be getting ready pictures??

Most of these conversations took place at 11pm at night (tip: don't have stressful conversations at 11pm at night) or threw text while we were both at work (tip: don't have text conversations about something super stressful). As you can guess, this had become a heavy burden on our shoulders. All of the sudden I got a new text:

"There is an extra room reserved and paid for at the hawthorne for groomsmen as a wedding gift for the bride and groom..."

It was from a number I didn't have in my phone, and I, nor anyone else, still don't know who it was. But I thank God for anonymous blessings, and since the person was so humble as to send an anonymous gift, I'm going to brag about them on my blog.

Dear Anonymous Giver,
THANK YOU! As you can tell, you relieved a HUGE burden on our shoulders. We were already feeling silly for being so frustrated over something so small, but your text brought so much peace to the situation and our hearts. Thank you so much.

Everybody's Doing It

Ok...I know that practically every blog, magazine, tabloid, and home is talking about the Royal Wedding...but why not? Weddings are great, and I love love, so I'm gonna talk about it too! Or rather show you a few pics that I found so precious. Enjoy!

Photos 1-3 & 5; Photo 4

And the Bishop of London preached a great sermon, beginning with these words, "'Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.' So said St Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today. Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be, their deepest and truest selves."

Did you follow the Royal Wedding at all? Or did you not even know it was happening?

99

So, I meant to post this YESTERDAY! But time got away from me!! Anyway. Pretend this is yesterday. Friday, April 22, 2011, is 99 days until our wedding!!! Finally in double digits!! So I had a mini celebration with some of my girl friends last night! We had dinner together, went to a great Good Friday service, then got frozen yogurt and watched Life as We Know It (good movie!) It was fun! To honor Jason, the soon-to-be best husband ever, I wanted to write 99 things I love about him!! (In no particular order, except the first one.) Ok here goes:

1. Definitely first and foremost, I love his relationship with God. He always seeks to know God more and more and to live for God, in everything He does. His relationship with God dictates everything he does. God is first in His life!

2. The way he tells stories.

3. His competitive-ness.

4. When he plays guitar.

5. When he leads worship.

6. The way he sings.

7. His pure, natural athleticism. He's one of those studs that is good at everything he doe

8. The two little scars on his face (above eyebrow and above lip). And especially the story behind the eyebrow one...lol.

9. His hands. Especially when they are holding mine! They are big and strong!

10. That he is left handed...but shoots and golfs right handed!

11. His boldness to evangelize.

12. His ability to remember things, especially scripture and theological things. (He's gonna be a great pastor!)

13. His heart for youth ministry and missions.

14. His laid-back way of planning (it compliments me well!)

15. That he finds joy in his ranch work!

16. His hair color...the perfect shade of brown.

17. His clothing style!

18. His tenderness towards me.

19. They way he relates to my family.

20. His ability to admit to mistakes and even ask for guidance.

21. His complete honesty.

22. His protection of me.

23. His leadership in our relationship.

24. When he wants to pray with me.

25. His support of my gifts and dreams.

26. The way he cares for others.

27. The way he makes friends so easy, and often with the kids who wouldn't normally make lots of friends.

28. His laugh

29. His smile.

30. His silly smiles

31. That look.

32. His desire to learn.

33. The way he treats me.

34. The way he talks to me.

35. The way he talks about me.

36. The silly things he says.

37. His ability to make people laugh.

38. That he is a hard, committed worker.

39. That he is involved in planning our wedding and planning our whole honeymoon!

40. That he is extremely faithful!

41. That he is getting to know me very well.

42. That he makes note of my needs and tries to meet them.

43. That he spoils me!

44. His ability to not let small things become big things.

45. That at the end of a long, kinda "blah" day, he can be super loving to me.

46. That he is patient and understanding of my stress.

47. When he texts me "little" things just so I know he's thinking about me and loves me.

48. His servant heart.

49. His relationship with his mom and dad.

50. His love for his birth dad.

51. The emphasis he puts on his schoolwork and learning.

52. That he builds relationships with his professors.

53. That he wants me to finish school.

54. That he is saving his first kiss for me!

55. His integrity.

56. His testimony.

57. His passion for doing God's will.

58. His enjoyment of outdoors and activities!

59. The way he enjoys life!

60. His desire to go to Poland.

61. That he thinks I'm the most beautiful girl in the world, just the way I am! And he tells me this at least once every day!

62. That he thinks I'm amazing!

63. When he hugs me!

64. When he calls me "Els". (It's because my initials are LC, like the name Elsie, so he calls me that sometimes too, but sometimes shortens it just to "Els")

65. That he first called me "Babe" was on accident. But it was perfect timing!

66. That he gets way more tan than me!!

67. That he values me.

68. That he looks for my opinion, guidance, and advice.

69. That I can encourage him.

70. That he prays for twin girls!

71. That he respects me.

72. That he likes to be clean and organized.

73. That the first time he told me I was beautiful, was on one of those days when I wasn't even trying...

74. That he worked hard and saved all summer just to buy me a gorgeous diamond engagement ring, which is just what I wanted!

75. That he likes to surprise me!

76. That he'll do anything for me!

77. That I told him "I love you" first!

78. The silly things he does with the boys.

79. His promise to eat whatever I cook! (I'll try not to take advantage of that!! *Wink)

80. That he's my best friend.

81. That he's beyond my wildest dreams!

82. His last name, Koemans. It'll soon be mine!!!

83. That he's a teeny bit more emotional and tender-hearted than most guys.

84. His grace and forgiveness.

85. That he's not perfect.

86. That he loves me so much that I can be imperfect.

87. That he will go running with me even though running is not his favorite thing to do.

88. That he is learning how to be a good listener.

89. That he wants our marriage to honor and glorify God and be the absolute best it can be.

90. That in everything he does he seeks to honor God.

91. His integrity with music and movie choices.

92. Our memories!

93. The way he proposed!!

94. When he takes me on dates!

95. How he loves to bless me!

96. His heart for the homeless and broken.

97. That he encourages me.

98. That he is going to be an incredible husband and father.

99. That he is always growing.

I love Jason Paul Koemans so much. He is absolutely perfect for me, and I can't picture spending the rest of my life with anyone else! God is so good, to give me such a treasure!

Now I challenge you to "Join the 99 club" and see if you can write 99 things (or as many as you can!) you love about your significant other, mom/dad, friend, sibling, etc. Then give it to them! Comment here and tell me how it goes!