The day began with everyone heading to their rooms between one and two this morning! Dawn crept in on a chilly and rainy note, but spirits continued to be high and lists were long.
The kids have several things to accomplish from finishing decorating touches for the reception to setting up said decorations at the venue. Picking up a rental car, checking on rehersal arrangements (my one responsibility), more guests checking in, finding an easily accessible cafe for breakfast, finding and easy route to the church, then deciding that UBER was a better choice, and visiting and catching up with family and friends. A full day.
What I find heartwarming is everyone's willingness to pitch in, give rides, run errands, and trouble shoot when something isn't panning out as anticipated! We are all in this journey of life, and it so rewarding to travel that journey together.
Last evening the groom had his bachelor party and chose to return to hotel and continue celebrating with his siblings, uncle, and grandmother. The ladies had a bride's bash that resulted in creating signs from distressed wood. Everyone returned to hotel with smiles and excitement. Some were moving a little more slowly this morning, but everyone was smiling!
Friends and family are traveling from several states and farway locations to celebrate Allie's and Mark's big day tomorrow. The weather is not as lovely as we had hoped, but the Hilton Garden West is a great facility, and we feel very welcome taking advantage of their lobby sitting areas and the nice rooms. Hopefully we can enjoy the great patios later today or this evening. No one seems disappointed or concerned about the cool damp weather.
More family and Mark's godparents are due to arrive within a couple of hours. Our really close friends from Fulton will be here late this evening, and a neice arrives around midnight. A great many people have rearranged schedules, taken off work, spent money on hotel accomodations, offered to help, and have wished the kids many congratulations.
A wedding is an excellent reason for everyone to come together and celebrate. Too bad we don't just pick an ordinary day every few months and "celebrate". It seems we only make time to include other family and friends for a big blowout when it is a "big" event. This life we have been given is not something we should ever take for granted, and these type celebrations remind of us of those who have finished their life journeys and cannot physically join us today.
We should travel ordinary and exciting journeys with a spirit of rejoicing. We should travelthese journeys together.
Friday, October 5, 2018
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Exciting New Journeys
Most often people look at autumn as a season of harvests, more enjoyable weather, and new beginnings for those who are students. Teachers often look forward to cooler weather, yet dread the Harvest Moon and the approach of Halloween. This year I have looked at the second half of the 2018 as a season of many new and exciting journeys.
First off our oldest son, Mark will be marrying a wonderful young woman in October! The planning, mostly accomplished in Omaha, by the bride and groom and the bride's family, has been an eye-opening and intense process. Little details and big decisions have been in the forefront since last spring. Dress and tuxedo selections, table center pieces, venue searches, instructions with the parish priest, choosing a photographer, and much more have all been handled and the big day approaches.
Last month, a couples bridal shower was hosted in Fulton by the Best Man, the grooms brother, and a Bridesmaid, the groom's sister. The decorations alone were perfect. Both the bride and groom enjoy gaming and Harry Potter, so the decorations and cake reflected these tastes.
Another new adventure this fall finds me making a serious career change! After many successful and fulfilling years at St. Peter School in Fulton, Missouri, I decided I needed a change. A serious health scare last fall that took several months to diagnose as stress related issues motivated me to take a very honest look at my life habits. While it was hard to move from a community of wonderful students and life-long friends, I am very excited to be working for St. Joseph School in Martinsburg, Missouri!
The forty minute drive each morning is refreshing and absolutely beautiful. Suprisingly, I find the drive home relaxing, allowing me to return home each evening focussed on my husband and our home and family. I also find myself spending more time with concentrated efforts to really enrich my friendships. The change in career was a little scary, but I am truely enjoying the teaching and the rural parish community.
So, two big, huge changes this fall, and I couldn't be happier. I am a creature of estalished habits, and now, I am having to step out of my comfort zone and look at things with a new focus. We are welcoming Allie to our family next week, and she will make Mark's life more fulfilling. We are not an easy family. We are exceptionally close, loyal, passionate, opinionated, loud, fun-loving...you get the idea. What is amazing is we have not scared Allie away! She has a very clear perception of how this Jacobsen family works, and she is willing to join us!
Choosing to work at a different school after nearly 30 years of teaching at St. Peter School was not in my "life plan". I had always planned on retiring from St. Pete's, but when the new opportunity was presented, I knew I had to take a chance. I am very excited to be teaching, and that excitement had been missing for a long time. I now have time for me, time for Keith, time for my grown children and the adventures they bring.
Keith and I are planning some travel adventures and some healthy, life changing goals. Today's journey? Shopping for a mother of the groom outfit for the wedding!
First off our oldest son, Mark will be marrying a wonderful young woman in October! The planning, mostly accomplished in Omaha, by the bride and groom and the bride's family, has been an eye-opening and intense process. Little details and big decisions have been in the forefront since last spring. Dress and tuxedo selections, table center pieces, venue searches, instructions with the parish priest, choosing a photographer, and much more have all been handled and the big day approaches.
Last month, a couples bridal shower was hosted in Fulton by the Best Man, the grooms brother, and a Bridesmaid, the groom's sister. The decorations alone were perfect. Both the bride and groom enjoy gaming and Harry Potter, so the decorations and cake reflected these tastes.
Another new adventure this fall finds me making a serious career change! After many successful and fulfilling years at St. Peter School in Fulton, Missouri, I decided I needed a change. A serious health scare last fall that took several months to diagnose as stress related issues motivated me to take a very honest look at my life habits. While it was hard to move from a community of wonderful students and life-long friends, I am very excited to be working for St. Joseph School in Martinsburg, Missouri!
The forty minute drive each morning is refreshing and absolutely beautiful. Suprisingly, I find the drive home relaxing, allowing me to return home each evening focussed on my husband and our home and family. I also find myself spending more time with concentrated efforts to really enrich my friendships. The change in career was a little scary, but I am truely enjoying the teaching and the rural parish community.
So, two big, huge changes this fall, and I couldn't be happier. I am a creature of estalished habits, and now, I am having to step out of my comfort zone and look at things with a new focus. We are welcoming Allie to our family next week, and she will make Mark's life more fulfilling. We are not an easy family. We are exceptionally close, loyal, passionate, opinionated, loud, fun-loving...you get the idea. What is amazing is we have not scared Allie away! She has a very clear perception of how this Jacobsen family works, and she is willing to join us!
Choosing to work at a different school after nearly 30 years of teaching at St. Peter School was not in my "life plan". I had always planned on retiring from St. Pete's, but when the new opportunity was presented, I knew I had to take a chance. I am very excited to be teaching, and that excitement had been missing for a long time. I now have time for me, time for Keith, time for my grown children and the adventures they bring.
Keith and I are planning some travel adventures and some healthy, life changing goals. Today's journey? Shopping for a mother of the groom outfit for the wedding!
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