Spring Break 2012 - Part 1: Downhill

Back in the fall, Jason felt like God wanted us to lead a small group (8 others) of students from Frontier to Missoula for a Spring Break Mission Trip. There would be Jason and I, plus 4 guys and 4 girls. The guys stayed at Jason's house in Florence and the girls stayed at my house in Missoula. Our team left Friday March 16 for mission trip that did not go at all how I would have planned or expected... Arriving in Missoula Saturday evening, our first project was scheduled for Sunday. Sunday was the start of things going downhill. I started struggling spiritually in a way I never had before. I knew I couldn't stop believing in God, so it wasn't that I doubted God that week, it was just that the spiritual "light" in me was really really dim. I felt spiritually numb. I couldn't really do a devo or pray, except to pray things like, "God what's going on? If there is any sin/barrier/etc please show me..." Sunday was the first day Jason and I struggled. There were a lot of new experiences for our marriage this week - staying at separate houses for 9 nights, only seeing each other around at least 8 other people, and having to lead something together for the first time. Sunday was when we started having needless conflict about...I don't even know! And usually we are pretty "careful" in our conflict, and try not to have conflict over nothing. But I found myself saying rude and hurtful things, even though I knew they wouldn't help. I found myself telling him, "I don't care anymore!" What?? Where did this come from?? We don't treat each other like that! But those couple days...we did! Sunday was also the day we showed up for our first project...and they didn't even know we were coming and already had something going on. Sunday was the start of a downhill week. I felt like a failure. I felt like I couldn't be a leader or the wife I should be or the "Christian" I should be. Inside my head all I could hear was lies about who I was and it felt like a war going on in my heart....

{to be continued...}

It's Been Too Long..

Hello there dear blog, blogging world, and readers! It's been way too long. Let's just way a lot of things complicated my ability to blog, the main two being 1) no internet at the apartment 2) 60 hour work weeks = only about 38 hours at home (not including sleeping hours). Needless to say blogging took a back seat for a while. But I'm going to attempt to start up again!

My first blog is going to be in response to Teesha's challenge: to choose one (or more) of the items from our pinterest to actually DO by April 7. Now, I give kudos to Teesha, because her blog not only inspired me to do something from my pinterest, but it also inspired me to BLOG! Here's what I chose:

My goal was to do this little workout every day. Sunday I didn't because I ran 10.5 miles and was WIPED OUT! Monday and Tuesday I did! And then I noticed I was getting really sore, which is bad news because I'm running a half-marathon this Saturday (tomorrow) and it will not help if I'm sore. So Wednesday and the rest of the week I took a break. Yes, I know, taking a break from something I just started! All in all, I think I "accomplished" my goal, at least to the best of my ability considering the circumstances. And starting Monday (I'll give myself one day off from the half-marathon.) I am going to begin this daily workout again. It only takes 10 minutes or so. I might adjust it a little thought because I'm not a huge fan of having to count so high haha. But I will do a daily mini-workout!

Thanks Teesha for the motivation!

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.

Our First Dinner Together

Here is the only picture we took on our "wedding night" weekend. This is our first dinner as Mr. and Mrs. Koemans! From Sunday night.

Jason cooked the steak and I made potatoes and green beans! It was yummy!

A Forever Kinda Love

"Marriage is a taste of heaven on earth"

Eric & Leslie Ludy

Being married to Jason is the best! God has blessed me and us so much. I can't believe I married such a handsome and wonderful, godly man. We have all the furniture we need, all the appliances and dishes and decorations. We have groceries. I have a job. Jason has a job. We have a great job and a forever love. We are so blessed!

Our wedding day was absolutely perfect! I loved every minute of it! And the whole week was definitely the second best week of my life, like I hoped! I will post pictures of it all soon, but I can't get on the internet much and my laptop won't get on at all, I'm using Jason's. Plus I don't have our wedding pictures yet, although I can offer you a sneak peak!

This is a summary of our wedding week and all the days since, when you haven't heard from me:

Monday, July 25: My best friend Monica arrived to town, so she did errands with me and we got to talk and hang out.

Wednesday, July 27: Spa night with my bridesmaids and friends. This night was a blast! Mel, one of my close college friends, and Kate, my college roommates, arrived for the party. I got to be with Hannah, Monica, and Heidi too! My good friend from work, Britten, who is a rockstar at painting nails came to do the bridesmaids and Mel's nails. Another lady I work with, Brandi, did a MaryKay spa treatment on our feet! Kate, Mel, Josie and I spent the night in my room, which was a lot of fun!

Thursday, July 28: My grandmom hosted a beautiful bridal breakfast at the Ranch Club for us! The food was soo delicious, the view was spectacular, and the fellowship will be cherished! This was also the first day we could be at Butler Creek Lodge, our wedding site. So we moved a bunch of stuff up there, started setting up rentals and other stuff. Thursday night the girls spoiled me with a lovely Bachelorette Party! Meaghan and Kate Gillett were there too, it was so good to all be together!

Friday, July 29: This was more setting up at Butler Creek! Jason and I were able to steal away for quiet moments at the creek or walking down the road. The rehearsal and dinner was a good time. Most of our family arrived in time for dinner and we got to spend time with them. My college friends Courtney, Amy, and Jen arrived after dinner and we spent the evening as a big group of girls hanging out in the loft of the Lodge! I love all my friends so much! Heidi, Josie and I slept in a queen bed together. I didn't get much sleep, but it was worth it to spend the night with my sisters!

Saturday, July 30: Was THE BIG DAY! The girls and I went to get our hair done in town at Burtons. We got there super early so I bought us all coffee at Florence Coffee Co and we went to Ft Missoula for a bit. Burtons did a marvelous job on our hair! We all looked soo pretty! Once we got back we all got ready with our dresses and make-up. Then there were pictures and lots of hanging out and laughing. Our bridal party was the absolute best! Our ceremony started a little after 3. From here on out you will have to wait until I post the pictures with the details of everything else that happened! =) For our wedding night we went to a secret location that held special memories for us.

Monday, August 1: We arrived back in Missoula and opened gifts. We also just hung out with my family and went to Mackenzie River pizza. We stayed the night at Red Lion on Broadway, because in the morning we were flying to....MAUI!!

Monday, August 8: At midnight my mom picked us back up from the airport and we spent the night in a TWIN bed at my house!

The rest of the week was spent with our families, playing baseball with Josie, and shopping and packing for WYOMING! Heidi got back from Germany on Friday, so we spent some time with her too.

Saturday, August 13: Jason in his Honda led my mom in her Yukon plus trailer and me in my Ford on the 13 hour drive to La Grange, Wyoming! We did stop at Goodwill in Billings, that's why it took a couple extra hours.

My mom stayed till Tuesday morning and we all worked hard to clean, unpack, and set up our new apartment! We have a cute apartment on campus, an 8-plex with 7 other married couples/families (Yes, half of them have kids/babies!) as neighbors. Our apartment has two bedrooms, a kitchen/laundry room, a dining/living room, and one and a half bathrooms. It's perfect too! All our furniture is from Jason's mom...either her old stuff, her mom's stuff, or garage sale stuff. The only thing Jason and I paid for is our desk, which was like $15 at an auction! We are soo blessed!

Jason started classes and work at a ranch yesterday. I started work yesterday as a veterinary assistant at a vet clinic that is about 47 miles away in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Yes, the drive is long, but the job is a blessing. I will work 40 hours in 4 days, then get three days off, although I will work every other weekend.

We are loving married life and aiming to keep Christ the center so that our love will be the forever kind.

I will post more about each event mentioned above, including adding pictures, as I can. It's a bit tricky with working so much and with our internet being sketchy, but I will get it done eventually!

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!!