I really should be working ...

It's kind of strange actually ... here I am, sitting in my less than cool office in Colorado Springs, staring at wrestling video from the last week and I don't feel the least bit nervous.

Of course, I'm speaking about the life-changing event that's set to take place May 8 in some state in the upper Midwest known for cold weather, ice fishing, cold weather and walleye. And cold weather.

As Abby last wrote, she is sans ring right now, but that's because I'm bringing it back prior to the wedding. The folks who designed her ring and then our bands have finished it, so I'm eager to head up during my lunch hour and pick them up. They do great work and are very friendly. My friend and co-worker Gary recommended them and we haven't been disappointed.

So why have I not been nervous? Abby and I were talking last night, going over some pastoral things that Kevin had sent us and at one point, I just said "Yikes ..." and then I said it again. I don't know if there's a shock factor in getting married or not, I mean, I've never been married before and will never be married again. This is it, I know it, you know it and if you don't know it, allow me to beat some sense into you.

Only kidding. I might cover a combat sport, but I'm in no way "like that." I'm just all talk. Abby can also say, "yeah, he's all talk."

Anyway, what I believe has kept me sane is the same thing that drives me crazy. My job. Now, I love what I do and I love having the ability to impact a sport and the participants in it. I don't do it for me, although it's been nice to pick up some awards along the way. But when I work tirelessly on weekends and don't have time to even think about myself, that's been a real annoyance. But on the other side of the coin, it's also allowed me to keep my mind from stressing about the wedding.

For the record, if I wasn't marrying someone with such a way with planning, this would be a complete disaster. So Abby's been the rock behind all of this.

I'm a bit disappointed, but understandably aware, that many of my friends from back home won't be able to make it. Much of my extended family will also be absent from the wedding, but they all sent kind words with their RSVP ... that is, those who sent back the RSVP.

I'm still trying to track down some folks to let them know.

So while Abby was here the last time, we scoped out some places. Well, come May 18, when I arrive back from our honeymoon, I'll have a place that isn't a 12x12 room with a coworker. We HAVE a place to live out here. Now there's all the fun in trying to figure out what stuff to move, how to move stuff, where to move stuff, how we'll move stuff and more stuff to figure out.

That's alotta stuff.

We're working through the distance, which believe me, has been the most difficult part. It's not my stubborn nature or my complete lack of couth that drives Abby nuts, but the distance. We can't really work through every day things like most engaged/married couples can. We've spent more time on the phone than you can imagine.

It's hard, especially when I'm working a 16-hour day at a tournament. But things are looking up. We're set to go and while every marriage has trials, we know that the biggest one for us is dealing with the distance. We'll be fine. I don't know how, but I know it'll all work out. God has been so great to us and blessed us with extreme amounts of patience and understanding that I never knew I had the ability to use.

So, I will now tell you I will temporarily have my "man card" revoked. I'm going tanning tonight. For the first time ever.

I will NOT be lobster boy during our honeymoon.

VIVA ARUBA! Or something.

Back to work ...

Under 20 days...and I don't have my engagement ring...what?!?!?

We are certainly counting down the days until the wedding and I can't really speak for Jason on this, but I think we are looking forward to the honeymoon much more than the wedding (and no, not for that reason...get your mind out of the gutter!) I spent last weekend in Colorado after not seeing Jason for nearly 5 weeks and was reminded how quickly weekends go (even a 3 day weekend!) We knocked out one of our biggest wedding-related tasks over the weekend which was to order our wedding bands. Since mine is custom made, the jeweler kept my engagement ring in order to make the perfect companion band for it and solder them together for me. So I won't have it back until Jason arrives for the wedding (which is less than 48 hours before the actual ceremony!) After rarely taking it off for the past 4 months, I find myself having temporary freak out moments when I feel that it is gone (like in the bathroom at work today...)

We also went house hunting (well, rental house hunting, anyways) in Colorado Springs over the weekend and found one we both really like (Jason veto-ed my first choice - a pool house for rent in the hippie district of town with a million dollar view of the city - who would've thought he'd be the practical one in the relationship every once in awhile?)

So...things are falling into place for the wedding, reception, honeymoon and life beyond and we couldn't be more excited to start our life together.