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

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Supak!

Anna and James Supak became husband and wife on May 7, 2011, so all my love and prayers go out in thanksgiving for them! Their wedding was in Taylor followed by the reception at The Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall -- so fun! So fun, in fact, that I'm now ready to buy my first pair of cowboy boots! I know -- I've lived in Texas now for 16 years (crazy!) and have yet to own a pair. Well, I'm on my way, friends.

In any case, I'm excited for Mr. and Mrs. Supak as they begin this next chapter of their life together, and I wish them a lifetime of joy, peace and laughter together. Congratulations!

Anna and James Supak -- May 7, 2011

Pope's Advent Message to Newlyweds: Follow Mary [2010-12-01]

"...and for you, dear newlyweds, may the Mother of Jesus be your guide in building your family on the solid rock of faith." Love it.

Pope's Advent Message to Newlyweds: Follow Mary [2010-12-01]

** Don't forget to vote for my blog to be one of the top 10 marriage blogs of 2010!

Surrounding yourself with uplifting, encouraging couples

As a married couple, I've found it's so important to surround ourselves with other uplifting, encouraging couples as often as we can.  I was just talking to some friends last night about how important I think it is to surround ourselves as individuals with uplifting, encouraging people who challenge us to be better people, who help us grow in holiness.  I don't see why it would be any different as a couple to not do the same.

I understand the need for a good balance.  It's not as if we'll desert our dear friends who are single or religious (i.e. priests); I just think that, especially as a newlyweds, Mark and I have a lot to learn about what it means to be good and loving spouses and it would do us good to see how other healthy couples have built a life together.

We are very blessed to already have several loving couples in our lives, which makes this idea easy to practice.  One of our favorite things to do is have friends over for dinner and spend some time catching up and hearing about what's going on in their lives, really focusing on them.  I dearly love small groups of friends over large groups, as I feel I can offer my full attention to them.

Our church has a ministry for couples that are in their first five years of marriage.  Part of this ministry is that all of the women and all of the men, separately, get together monthly and build each up other up as husbands and wives.  It's a great time for group accountability in learning how to live out our vocation.

As long as Mark and I remember that there will always be something to learn about being better spouses and are open to new ideas or ways of doing things, I think we'll be on the right track.

My 27th birthday, April 2008

Marriage enrichment blogs

I talk often about the many blogs I read daily -- ranging from blogs about Austin, marriage, fashion, home life, volunteerism, living, event planning, faith, blogging and my friend's blogs.  That's actually exactly how they're categorized in my Google Reader.  Now, I don't think everyone needs to go out and read the plethora of blogs that I do.  I read so many because I enjoy the tidbits of helpful information so many of them share.  I have a hard time sitting down and reading a book cover to cover as I always get distracted and start thinking about what else I could be doing with my time.  Therefore, the short, get-to-the-point blogs work for me.  Thank goodness for Google Reader, too!  I just have to go to the one portal to receive all of the information from one site instead of having to visit each and every blog.  The reader highlights all new posts, so you can quickly find them.

What I want to feature this morning are the marriage enrichment blogs I find inspiring.  Some of them are faith-based while others come from a general point of view:

• Dr. Michelle Gannon.  Psychologist specializing in relationships, wellness and women issues.
• Engaged Marriage.  From marriage preparation to an awesome family life, Engaged Marriage provides candid marriage advice to help today’s active couples achieve the extraordinarin their lives.
• For Your Marriage.  Daily marriage tips (a few sentences).  An initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
• The Generous Wife.  Short daily tips on becoming a more generous wife.
• Golden Wives Club.  Points on the style, grace and poise of a wife from a Christian perspective
• Life Gems.  Encouraging and strengthening marriage and families.
• The Marry Blogger.  Christian perspective, talking about real life issues like sex, communication, money and kids.
• Project M.  Musings on love, marriage and the madness that ensues.
• She Just Got Married.  The journey of married life as a newlywed.
• Simple Marriage.  Aimed at individuals involved in a committed relationship who wish to experience more passion and adventure in life and relationships.
• Zen Family Habits.  Living simply with presence of mind. Cultivating healthy, meaningful, relationships with loved ones.

Check one or more of them out!

April 2008, my 27th birthday

Valentine's Day 2010

Our first married Valentine's Day!

God is good.

Top 10 things I'm thankful for as a newlywed

10. Having someone with whom to start and end the day together.

9. The opportunity to cook for someone and try out new recipes as much as I want.  It's harder to do that as a single person (difficult to cook for just one person).

8. The growth of your family (in-laws and, God-willing, future children).

7. Always having a date to bring to special occasions.

6. Public displays of affection

5. Making our house a home

4. The intimacy of sharing and growing in our faith and holiness

3. The excitement we share in having children someday

  

(With our niece Violet)


2. Always having a dance partner

1. My loving husband, the one God intended me for, Mark Crowley.

Theme: Wife-hood

It all started with a Facebook status post ...

"Jennifer ... would like to start a blog but wants it to have a purpose. What do you think I could focus on that would be interesting? Young adult ministry? The adventures of being a new wife and setting up home? Ministry in general? Etc.?"

Most everyone who responded agreed that a theme on the ministry of being a wife, home life and setting up home was what they wanted to read.

I'm excited about the different directions in which I can take a blog themed on the topic of being a newlywed, its trials and tribulations, adventures and inspirations! So I won't run out of topics for a while, I've made up myself a little list of the different posts I can make. As I mentioned before, I appreciate blogs that have a purpose, so I hope this medium achieves that and isn't just a group of ramblings. Feel free to send me topic suggestions!

So, here we go ...