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

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

Reminiscing about the proposal

A coworker's daughter is soon-to-be-engaged, or at least that's what we think. The daughter's boyfriend contacted my coworker and her husband a few days ago and is taking them out to dinner tonight; it's all we could talk about this afternoon every time I popped my head in her office! (Ha, I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog, considering I've never met her, so I'm not ruining any surprises!)

Naturally our conversations turned to wedding planning, which usually brings me back to the fun, once-in-a-lifetime experience of getting proposed to, myself, and the nine and a half month engagement Mark and I lived while planning the next chapter of our lives together. So fun!

I'll never forget the morning he proposed (does anyone really?) -- the worry I felt when he left the Adoration Chapel to take a phone call (at 4:30 a.m.), the confusion I felt when he strolled back (unhurriedly, so it could not have been someone sick or dying) into the chapel with his backpack and a piece of paper in his hand, the silence that fell when he told me to "come here" and held my hand to pick me up off the floor (I had been prostrated) and sit me into a chair, the love I felt when I began to read his beautifully written and sincere letter he handed me, the way my heart skipped a beat when he looked at me with focus just before he knelt down on one knee, the sound of his voice when he asked me to marry him, the embrace we shared after I said "yes," the blessings I felt as we prayed the joyful mysteries of the rosary and the enthusiasm with which I had in proceeding to call my family and best friend as we left the chapel and headed to IHOP to take in what had just taken place.

What joy I feel for my coworker this evening as she begins to dream about her daughter experiencing, in her own way, what I've just described!

How could I have been so lucky?

Aug. 29, 2008 -- the morning Mark proposed. Fancy IHOP breakfast following.

30, flirty and thriving

I have so much knowledge about being 30 years old -- a whole 11 hours worth of knowledge so far, only four of which have been while awake. :) So far, however, it's been fabulous! I've got the best loved ones for whom anyone could ask, and I've been blessed way more than I deserve. Here's to this year and all the years following, please God, being the best yet. I'm so thankful I have a loving, generous and kind husband with whom to share them.

Recapping the 20 most memorable experiences of my 20s (not necessarily in order, except for No. 1!):

20. Graduating from the University of Texas at Austin Journalism School.
19. Founding the Catholic 20-Somethings Ministry.
18. Owning my first house.
17. Buying and paying off my first car -- my fabulous Toyota 4Runner.
16. Going through the Christ Renews His Parish Retreat experience.
15. Kidnapping my best friend, Angela, from her husband and galavanting around France together.
14. Experiencing heartburn for the first time and going to the doctor, aka Rico Suave, in Monaco.
13. Traveling to Europe with the hubby -- Italy, France and England.
12. Developing a love affair with wine.
11. Becoming a godmother to the three most precious children -- Austin, Reagan and Anderson.
10. Becoming an aunt to the three most beautiful nieces -- Violet, Kenna and Olivia.
9. Living with the best sister for whom anyone could ask, Allie.
8. Working for the Catholic Church.
7. Working for a country music magazine that provided me the opportunity to meet countless famous music artists.
6. Getting certified to scuba dive and diving in Cozumel, Cancun, Destin and the Barrier Reef in Belize.
5. Raising my adorable, little, tired pomeranian, Blondie.
4. Being within 30 feet of and blessed by Pope Benedict XVI.
3. Going on a mission trip to Monterrey, Mexico.
2. Seeing, with my dad, U2 in concert.
1. Marrying the love of my life, Mark.

 June 13, 2009