Mistakes from which to learn

I've never been married before. I have no idea what I'm doing. Each day, month and year brings a new experience that allows me to either succeed or fail grow as a wife. Following are some experiences I've had that have enlightened me and perhaps might help others, too. (Thank goodness for the sacrament of reconciliation!)

1. Comparing our marital journey to others' marital journeys. I know, it seems kind of ironic to say that this is a mistake in marriage when I'm writing a blog on the topic of marriage for others to read and potentially take some advice from, ha! We've already established I'm clueless when it comes to what it takes to have a long, healthy, holy and successful marriage. Regardless, it is not healthy to compare yourself to others in any way other than growing in holiness, really, and that might even be a stretch. One couple's journey is not your own, so putting yourself on any kind of timeline or checklist of perceived accomplishments sets you and your spouse up for a rocky road full of unnecessary rushing of things and potential envy or jealousy. No bueno.

2. Forgetting to let Mark relax and veg in his free time. So my husband works up to 10 hours a day, five days a week and sometimes on weekends, especially when he's traveling. There is no "comp time" in his company; they all work their tooshies off. To describe Mark as hardworking is probably an understatement. More often than I care to admit, I get annoyed or don't understand when all my husband wants to do after coming home from a long day at work or finding a few days' rest during the weekend is relax and rejuvenate himself. I have to remember that it is in my general nature to be a busybody; I have an extremely difficult time sitting down in front of the television and not doing anything but watching whatever's on. I have a hard time sitting still while I'm at home because my eyes eventually start wondering around and my mind is triggered by seeing things I need to work on. That's fine for me (though I need to learn to slow down, too!), but not everyone needs to be just like me. While my husband certainly enjoys being a handyman and working on projects around the house, every night or every weekend does not need to be project time, and he more than deserves time to just do nothing. Doesn't everyone from time to time? This is my opportunity to bless him by loving him, serving him and giving him the time he wants to not think. Thank you for all you do to support our family, honey!

3. Wanting to be recognized for every sacrifice or extra effort I put into blessing our marriage and home life. "I have never wished for human glory, contempt it was that had attraction for my heart; but having recognized that this again was too glorious for me, I ardently desire to be forgotten." ~ St. Thérèse de Lisieux. Oh, to be that holy! It is a mighty thing to swallow your pride (if that's what this is?) and do what needs to be done, or even giving that extra umph to make things special, without wanting Mark to notice. It's not that I even do this as much as I should, it's just those times when I long to receive praise for behaving or serving in a way that is really already expected as a woman trying to grow as a Godly wife.

What kind of mistakes do you keep making in your marriage? Are there any you have stopped making? How do you do that?

Oct. 25, 2008, Jessica and Jamon Copeland's wedding

Port Aransas vacation

Mark's parents planned a recent mini-vacation to Port Aransas, Texas, which was fabulous since I haven't been to the beach in two years! Whoa, I was overdue. This was supposed to be a Destin year for us (you know I generally go every other year), but we couldn't swing it this year. NEXT YEAR, we are going, come hell or high water. Seriously.

Ha, but our Port A Crowley trip was full of good times! We, unfortunately, just missed Katie, Paul and Kenna as we arrived a couple days after everyone had gotten there, and it was also when KPK needed to head back home for work. We were able to spend a few days with Veronica, David and the girls as well as Peter and Judy and Rich. I was having such a wonderful time soaking up the sun that I stayed a day past when Mark left and instead rode home with Judy and Rich. I fell asleep on the beach one day and was lucky Mark and his parents came out to find me before I completely roasted like a lobster. I don't remember ever having done that!

I'll be headed back to a beach in just a few weeks when I go on my sister's bachelorette cruise to Cozumel, Mexico ... yippee! Ah, how I adore the beach. Vacation is just good for the soul.

 Jen and Veronica

 Peter and Jen

 Violet

 Violet and Olivia

 Mark and Jen

 Jen and Mark

 Mmmm....seafood boil

 Beautiful day!

Judy and Rich

Date Night Recap 9/11/12: Sushi Night

I'm so excited that even though my husband's least favorite food is seafood, he'll still take me out for sushi! Last night was his night to plan Date Night, and he picked Mikado Ryotei, rated No. 3 on Trip Advisor's top sushi restaurants in Austin (after Uchi and Finn & Porter).

Tuesdays are great to go to Mikado Ryotei because they have discounted prices on Tuesday for their sushi, which was delish! We got two orders of sushi and four rolls (I think), edamame, a beer for Mark and sake for the both of us, and the total was only $37. Nice!! It's not too often we get away with a total price of Date Night under $40.

After sushi, we headed home to watch "Courageous." I really enjoyed the movie, which was about a group of small town law enforcement officers who realized how important the role of fatherhood plays, and they all make a resolution to strive to become holier fathers and husbands. A tear jerker at times with a meaningful message and reminder to everyone -- everyone because we all have a father.

I recommend both the restaurant and movie!

June 13, 2009. Cheers to us!

Date Night Recap 3/27/12: Andiamo's Wine Dinner

What a fun date the other night for Date Night -- the idea courtesy of my father-in-law, Rich Crowley! Mark and I went to a Wine Dinner at Andiamo Ristorante, where I had rabbit for the first time! I enjoyed it, but I don't think Mark was a big fan (of the rabbit). The four-course dinner was led by an Italian gentleman who was a wine sommelier, so that was neat, too. He gave some good background and explanations of the wines. I believe these wine dinners are monthly, so you should definitely check them out! At $45 pp, it wasn't as expensive as most wine dinners normally are, but it is more than we usually like to spend on Date Night. Regardless, what a fun date. When it involves wine (and it usually does), it always is! :)

Oct. 10, 2008; Dad's and Debbie's wedding

Date Night recap 3/20/12

So last week's Date Night was Mark's, and here were the evening's events:

1. Hemingway Restaurant & Bar, 500 Cypress Creek Road, Suite 170, Cedar Park, Texas 78613
We headed out a little bit later than usual as Mark was getting ready to go out of town for work, so he worked late. We grabbed dinner at this new place, which is just down the road from us. Try their squash with dill -- delish! I also had their mussels, which were pretty good but there weren't enough to fill me up. I ordered the squash for dessert, ha! So healthy of me. Cheap bottles of wine here!

2. The Dig Pub, 401 Cypress Creek Road, Suite 600, Cedar Park, TX 78613
We headed across the street from where we had dinner to this bar, which is always pretty swinging every time we pass by. After having been Cedar Park residents for about three years now, we figured we should finally check it out! I thought it was going to have the atmosphere of a dive bar inside, but it was much different than I expected. I was pleasantly surprised! It was pretty nice and spacy inside. It had a nice bar area then another area that had a stage where some amateur comedians were taking the stage. I ordered a glass of rosé and we played a game of darts while we listened to the comedians. We eventually grabbed a seat near the front of the room close to the stage. While we didn't exactly have the same sense of humor as some of the gentlemen who were showcasing their talent, it was entertaining, and I had a good time. I definitely think we'll be back!

June 13, 2009

Litany of St. Joseph

On today, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us ask for St. Joseph's intercession in asking for blessings upon our marriages, for husbands and wives everywhere, that we may all be given the grace to continually grow together in holiness and ever more reflect the love of Christ for His Church ...

Litany of St. Joseph
Taken from Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers

Lord, have mercy...Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy...Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy...Lord, have mercy

God our Father in heaven...have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world...have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit...have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God...have mercy on us

Holy Mary...pray for us
St. Joseph...pray for us
Noble son of the House of David...pray for us
Light of patriarchs...pray for us
Husband of the Mother of God...pray for us
Guardian of the Virgin...pray for us
Foster father of the Son of God...pray for us
Faithful guardian of Christ...pray for us
Head of the Holy Family...pray for us
Joseph, chaste and just...pray for us
Joseph, prudent and brave...pray for us
Joseph, obedient and loyal...pray for us
Pattern of patience...pray for us
Lover of poverty...pray for us
Model of workers...pray for us
Example to parents...pray for us
Guardian of virgins...pray for us
Pillar of family life...pray for us
Comfort of the troubled...pray for us
Hope of the sick...pray for us
Patron of the dying...pray for us
Terror of evil spirits...pray for us
Protector of the Church...pray for us

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world...have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world...have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world...have mercy on us

God made him master of his household.
And put him in charge of all that he owned.

Let us pray. Almighty God, in your infinite wisdom and love you chose Joseph to be the husband of Mary, the mother of your Son. As we enjoy his protection on earth may we have the help of his prayers in heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

August 2008

What I loved in 2011

30 days of gifts | babies | Bahamas | beaches | big yellow sun hat | blessings | blogs | Blondie | brunch | cappuccinos | Coach purse | cookbook club | cooking | cruising | dancing | date nights | encouragement | engagements | entertaining | family | feeding exotic animals | fireplaces | friends | Ft. Lauderdale | gardening | God | godchildren | happy hours | hot tub | hubby | hugs | kisses | Lady Gaga concert | laughs | littleness | long hair | love | Mark | marriage | mother and daughters weekend retreat | movie nights | mussels | neighbors | needing to go to sleep | New York at Christmastime | nieces | parties | patio | podcasts | prayers | rooftop bars | Sarah's Hope | sequin dresses | smiles | St. Maarten | St. Thomas | scuba diving | support | tiredness | travels | Vegas | vino | weddings | working out

Cruise, July 2011

Introduction to Natural Family Planning...Which method is right for you?

Want to start practicing Natural Family Planning but don't know which of the three methods would be best for you? Avoid hours of research and attend an evening of introductions as the three different methods of Natural Family Planning -- Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System, Sympto-Thermal Method and Billings Ovulation Method -- are introduced at St. John Neumann parish! I'm helping plan this event with our Culture of Life Committee. We'll have teachers from these three methods give a brief overview of how their method works, and they'll be available for questions and with an upcoming schedule of classes that will be offered throughout the coming year at SJN.

The event is Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. in the St. Timothy Room of SJN. All diocesan-approved methods will be available to discuss this great gift from the Church. Come see which method will work for you and your marriage! RSVP here.

Not yet married and are wondering why you should come to this event? Engaged couples can start taking classes at any point before marriage, but we usually recommend that you start taking classes and charting at least four to six months before you get married. NFP isn’t just Catholic birth control either – it offers a great overall picture of a woman’s health AND her fertility. It’s not just for married women and not just for women in their prime childbearing years. NFP charts in the hands of a physician who knows what he’s looking at are an incomparable tool to help diagnose many health issues. Many single women have taken an NFP class simply to gain more knowledge about their own body! There's no such thing as starting too early.

If you're already practicing NFP and are happy with which method you've chosen, please attend to support our event and Natural Family Planning awareness campaign and / or invite your friends to help us spread the word!

5455 Bee Cave Rd.
Austin, TX

Books I'd like to read

I'm not a big book reader these days, but whenever I run across a title or review that looks worth my while, I make a note of it. Books on marriage that I'd like to skim through sooner rather than later include:

1. "The 100 Day Promise: Radically Transforming your Marriage by Living with Complete Concern for your Spouse's Happiness" by Brian King
   See what happens when a regular husband and father of four promises to totally love and serve his wife for 100 days. What will happen to him, his wife and their relationship? Is it really worth the effort? More than just just hearing marriage platitudes, this book shows the reality of the stresses family life can bring and demonstrates the power of trusting someone enough to love them completely.
2. "Married Saints and Blesseds Through the Centuries" by Ferdinand Holbock
   Countless saints have been priests or religious, living out lives of penance and sacrifice for the good of the Church. But many Catholics don't realize that married couples are called to holiness as well. Fr. Holböck's tells the inspiring stories of over 200 married saints and blesseds from the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph to Margaret of Scotland, King Louis of France, Thomas More and modern examples like Gianna Molla and Louis and Zélie Martin, parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The example of these holy men and women is essential to living a truly Catholic married life.
3. "Designing Your Dream Husband: How to Build Your Husband Up and Release Him to His Full Potential" by Amie Dockery
   God has given women a gift that is so woven into their nature that they approach everything—from homes to husbands—with the thought, “Wow, I could do great things with that!” To see potential is a great good, but the downside is the propensity to compare reality with the expectation. This is especially harmful in marriage if a woman tries to “show” her husband his potential in all the wrong ways, such as comparison or suggestions for change. So how does a wife encourage her husband to become what God has placed within him to be? It requires an understanding of her own need for repentance and restoration, as well as working with the right team and the right tools. The right team is God as architect, Jesus as supplier and the Holy Spirit as builder. The right tools include prayer, declaration and action that bring restoration and that also reveal her own need to change. Each chapter will explore a case study of a biblical character’s life in the areas of “Making the Mantle”--an action that gained him authority, “Missing the Mantle”--an area of vulnerability, and “Modeling the Mantle”—the most memorable moment this person wore the mantle. There will also be a pattern for prayer--questions from which a woman can build the blueprint for repentance, restoration and declaration. There will also be application in the form of “Putting Your Words to Work”—a written vision statement or declaration, and “Seal it with a Gift”—practical ways to gently yet generously introduce revelation of a husband’s skills and abilities through a tangible gift.
4. "The Respect Dare" by Nina Roesner
   Ephesians 5:33 in the Bible says that wives shall always respect their husbands, but most women struggle with this concept. Are you one of them? The truth is that women get married with dreams, hopes and aspirations that are often never fulfilled. More than half of marriages end in divorce in the United States, and many women that stay married are unhappy. "The Respect Dare" is a 40-day devotional guide that will take away the mystery that is keeping you from speaking the language of respect with your husband. It provides real life examples from women who have developed closer relationships with God and their husbands. In it, you will learn how to build confidence, methods to positively handle conflicts, keys to better communication, how to develop a more intimate connection with your spouse, ways to deepen your relationship with God and much more!
5. "The Love Dare Day by Day: A Year of Devotions for Couples" by Alex Kendrick
    "The Love Dare Day by Day" encourages and challenges couples toward new steps in faith and love with 365 marital encouragements, reminders and action points worth repeating year after year.Unconditional love is eagerly promised at weddings but rarely practiced in real life. As a result, romantic hopes are often replaced with disappointment in the home. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Whether your marriage is hanging by a thread or healthy and strong, "The Love Dare Day by Day" is a journey you need to take. It’s time to learn the keys to finding true intimacy.
   
6. "The One Year Love Language Minute Devotional" by Gary Chapman
   Are you and your spouse speaking the same language? He sends you flowers when what you really want is time to talk. She gives you a hug when what you really need is a home-cooked meal. The problem isn’t love—it’s your love language. The Love Languages Devotional is your daily guide to how to express heartfelt love to your loved one.

Have you read any of these? Any sound interesting to you?

Aug. 17, 2008 at the Iguana Grill in Austin

To Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Rose!

Congrats to friends Sarah and Jimmy Rose, who tied the knot Oct. 1! They were married at St. Thomas More Catholic Church just this last weekend, and they seemed deliciously happy. Sarah was an Osman, and those weddings are always fun because you get to see folks you haven't seen in a while -- like the Scaperlandas! It was awesome to see Mary and Chris and meet their precious daughter. I haven't seen either of them since they moved away a few years ago. In any case, Sarah and Jimmy are a fun couple to know, and I'm so happy for them as they start their married life together. May you experience abundant bliss with each passing year! Be blessed, friends.

Sarah and Jimmy Rose; Oct. 1, 2011

Prayer Buddy reveal

...and an explanation of what Prayer Buddies are!

I've been following a particular segment of Catholic blogs over the last year and have discovered a fabulous group of women who never cease to inspire and amaze me with the strength of their faith. They are so good to one another, encouraging and praying for each other.

I don't know how it started, but these ladies do what they've dubbed the "Prayer Buddy" exchange a couple of times a year. Dates are selected, and one lady collects all the names and contact information from those wishing to participate. Participants get matched up with each other, and during the set dates they specially remember their prayer buddy in their prayers. I kept hearing about this over the last year and was so excited to be able to participate this time!

I prayed for Nicole, who blogs at MomAndThenSome.blogspot.com. She's currently expecting the birth of her second son this December, so my prayers especially went toward her pregnancy, per her request.

I was honored and humbled to find out that Emily at mostuncapto.blogspot.com was praying for me. I received the most beautiful card from her in the mail today, telling me how she'd been remembering me in prayer over the last couple of months during the exchange and I feel so loved! This faithful Catholic woman has been offering up me and my intentions in prayer, and I can definitely say I've felt strength from it, especially over the last week.

What a wonderful community of which to be a part. :) Thanks for letting me participate, ladies!

June 13, 2009

Prayers for couples going through divorce

I want to ask for prayers for some friends and family of friends I have going through divorce. Divorce is so painful, and sometimes it's hard to know what to pray for in regards to such turmoil.

I ask that you lift up these troubled couples in prayer and ask for God's grace, peace and will be done.

Prayer to Saint Joseph
Based on Matthew 1:18-25

We ask your prayers, St. Joseph, an upright man, a spouse who planned to divorce Mary in secret and who, by God's grace, was able to see his role in God's plan.

We ask you in our behalf to pray to God that our loved ones' marriages be healed. We are enveloped in pain and despair as you must have been when you learned of Mary's pregnancy. Be for and with us, Joseph, in our hour of doubt. Let us listen to and heed the voice of God as you did.

Be our intercessor to your Jesus, to give us the blessings to change, to listen, to forgive and most of all to hope that their marriages will heal and their families remain whole and holy.

We give you honor, quiet St. Joseph, for you are a spouse like us, who while knowing pain, did not divorce. By God's grace you nourished the Holy Family and the Savior of all families throughout the ages.
Amen.

*Taken from Retrouvaille, marriage help for couples with marital problems

Top 10 favorite dates

As you know, Mark and I have date night every Tuesday, come rain or come shine. We never make other plans on that evening; our marriage is top priority.

What's fun about having our date night on Tuesdays is that it forces us to be creative about our dates; there's not as much obvious stuff going on on a Tuesday as there is a Thursday, Friday or Saturday! Luckily, I married a creative date planner, so I've had to try hard to match par with his ideas.

Here are my top 10 favorite dates so far (not in order):

1. Cooking class at Artisan Bistro
2. An evening at the Elephant Room, Ken's Donuts and Spider House Cafe (our first date, which we've recreated a couple times!)
3. Painting With a Twist
4. Paella cooking demonstration at Malaga
5. Ventana, restaurant for Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, followed by Viva Chocolato, which is, sadly, no longer around
6. Dinner on a Lone Star River Boat cruise for two on Lake Austin (one of our dating anniversary dates)
7. Painting our own wine glasses one Valentine's Day at a ceramic place, followed by dinner at Gumbo's
8. Getting engaged during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (that's a date if it's just the two of us and we had the get together scheduled, right?)
9. One of our dates just before we went to Europe in 2010 when I made a French dinner, followed by Italian dessert, followed by watching "Wizard of Oz" since we would be seeing "Wicked, the musical" in London. A little foreshadowing of our soon-after trip to France, Italy and London!
10. Wine tasting classes with Wine for the People. We've taken classes from Rae at the Whip-In, House Wine and St. John Neumann Church. Always a fun time!

Think about how you can go beyond dinner and a movie to create a memorable dating experience!

The day we got engaged: Aug. 29, 2008. Out celebrating with friends!

Couples of Faith panel

Mark and I have been asked to sit on a panel of married couples for this month's Couples of Faith night at our parish. I think it is a beautiful opportunity to witness what's been revealed to us, so far, about marriage and Christ's plan for this vocation of ours, but I have to admit we're also a little hesitant. Most of the audience will be couples that have been married for quite some time, while Mark and I will be sharing our two years' worth  of reflections. We've been assured, however, that we're thought to have some valuable input on what it means to be intentional about including Christ in our marriage, so, with prayer, may every purpose God has for including us on this panel be fulfilled. Keep this event and our witness in your prayers, if you will, and, if you're in town, come to it! It's this Friday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

We have given a similar witness on our vocation before; hopefully having more time under our belt will allow us further insight.

St. Joseph, patron saint of married couples, pray for us!

June 13, 2009

Representing Jesus in your marriage

As Christians, we're taught that marriage is supposed to reflect the personal and intimate union between Christ and his Church. That's a huge call!

If your marriage is one that publicly displays discord on a regular basis, think about what that means in regards to reflecting the union between Christ and his Church. I'm not talking about a low profile disagreement here and there but more about those times it makes others uncomfortable to be around you because you're not being discreet with each other about your negative feelings regarding something in your relationship.

It seems that while we should be sincere and real about our marriages in public, we should also be making the extra effort to be on our best behavior, to put on a good face and be positive about our relationship especially when in public. You're representing Jesus here, folks.

Besides, being on our best behavior is bound to be good for our marriages, anyway. It can most certainly soften our hearts if we're harboring negative feelings or need time to cool down before reacting to a situation.

I almost always kick myself after a situation when I've poorly and too openly displayed my negative emotions to Mark in public. It's embarrassing for everyone, and it leaves a poor taste in everyone's mouth. You especially don't want your spouse's loved ones to think you don't honor your spouse in a holy way.

Next time you're around friends or in public with your honey and feel like snapping at him / her, making a negative comment or even using ugly body language, think precisely about that -- honoring your spouse in a holy way. It can only improve your marriage and draw you closer to the Lord. Not saying it's easy, but it's definitely something to be aware of and work on.

Aug. 29, 2008, the day we got engaged -- a celebration dinner at Pappadeaux (yum!)

Great podcasts about marriage

I'm all about marriage enrichment. Whether it's through experienced couples, blogs or talks / seminars, I enjoy learning how to be a better wife, how to have the best marriage possible.

About a year and a half ago, I discovered podcasts. I know, a little late on the bandwagon there. Still, I subscribe to a ridiculous amount of them through iTunes and listen to one after the other on my work commute. I've learned a lot about gardening, travel and even marriage (among other topics)! If you spend a good amount of time in your car or enjoy listening to audiobooks and haven't discovered the world of podcasts, do some perusing. There's a world of knowledge out there that's just waiting to be heard.

Podcasts on marriage I'd recommend
Subscribe in iTunes

• Building relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman: Building Relationships is a weekly 54-minute program offering life-changing insight and realistic advice rooted in the Word of God. Hosted by bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman, Chris Fabry and Andrea Fabry, Building Relationships is designed to provide fun and informative, practical help for your marriage.
• Focus on the family: focus on marriage 
• Love language minute with Dr. Gary Chapman: A Love Language Minute is a daily one-minute program. In a world where life is so busy that most people forget to care for their closest relationships, Gary Chapman is there to help individuals refocus and recalibrate.
• Marriage today with Jimmy and Karen: Marriage Today with Jimmy and Karen is co-hosted by best-selling author, Jimmy Evans and his wife Karen. Jimmy is author of the best selling book Marriage on the Rock and Our Secret Paradise.  Marriage Today with Jimmy and Karen is a national television program that missions to enhance marriage and family relationships all across America.

Got any other recommendations?

 June 13, 2009

Video on Catholic marriage

Yay Catholic marriage! Ha, here is a little video I ran across on the good ole' You Tube.

A Colorado wedding: Mr. and Mrs. Steven Blewett

Emily and Steven Blewett were married June 25, 2011 in Denver, Colo., and what a beautiful wedding it was! The wedding and reception were at a timeless mansion. Mrs. Blewett was a gorgeous bride, and her flowers were breathtaking. We were among a handful of great friends who traveled from Austin to celebrate this couple, which made the trip that much more fun.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Steven Blewett! Here's to a lifetime of abundant blessings, joy, good health and laughter. Y'all have so many wonderful things ahead of you.

Emily and Steven Blewett; June 25, 2011

Congratulations Eileen and Andrew Van Wart!

One of Mark's confirmants, a total sweetheart, got married June 4, 2011 at St. Thomas More Church. Eileen Mennitt wed Andrew Van Wart! Her dress was beautiful, and I especially loved her lacy and intricate veil. While Mark has known Eileen since she was in high school (maybe even before then?), I got to know this fabulous woman better while we were at another wedding (Rachel and Carl Johnson's) last summer. Eileen and Andrew make an adorable couple, and I wish them all the joy-filled happiness in the world! Weddings are my favorite. :)

Eileen and Andrew Van Wart, June 4, 2011

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Poehl ... looking good!

While I knew Nick in high school, him and I really became better friends in college. He was so kind as to drive me several times back and forth to Houston when I didn't have a car my freshman year, and I have him to thank for helping me ease into college life and being away from home for the first time. He was the only person I knew when I moved to Austin to go to UT. He introduced me to his friends and was a great friend overall.

Since those college years and after he completed law school, he's moved back to Houston where he met the love of his life, Melinda. I was honored to witness their wedding on May 13, 2011. It was a beautiful celebration, and Nick looked deliciously happy.

They've been husband and wife now for just a little more than a month, and I wish them all the joy, peace and laughter in the world for many years to come.

Congratulations friend! Be blessed.

Melinda and Nick Poehl; May 13, 2011