all obstacles removed

It shouldn’t be incredible when everything just works out but it is.

 This past weekend my parents, Jonathan’s parents and the two of us planned our wedding. I don’t think I could have imagined six people more in agreement with each other than us (except regarding flavour of soup to be served!!) Not only that but every single thing worked out which is especially good about the venues. I’m beginning to get very excited!

 Also, J and I were just talking about where we’ll stay in Australia when we arrive and in NZ where we’re going for three weeks on honeymoon. Literally within the hour we had offers from people in both places to house sit for them for the exact dates required!! Remarkable!

 My question is, though, that if things hadn’t worked out the way they did what would be my response? Hmmm

Anyway, we are very thankful people here!! Bring it on.

reality strikes

Well, I’m home which is good because it’s nice to see the parents and be at Stanley Mills, but bad because I miss NYC and suddenly it seems like we have a whole lot to do!!

Jonathan has now booked us flights to NZ and Oz. I’m very excited!! We’re going to Perth, WA for a week after we get married to sort out practical things and then we’ll have three wonderful weeks back in NZ – the perfect honeymoon!!

I’ve now been wedding dress shopping to three different shops with four different people (KJ and Julia in NYC, my mum yesterday and my dad today). How does a girl decide? And how much money is a wise amount to spend?

she said goodbye…

You’d think it would get easier to leave New York City. I mean it’s not as if I haven’t left a hundred times before and I know that I always come back. Somehow this feels different. Next time I come back I’ll be married!!

What a great trip I’ve had!! Made even sweeter by the fact that Jonathan could share it with me! The thing that makes it almost okay to leave is that I’ll see KJ and Cory again in two months!! This is just one of the benefits of a short engagement.

Thank you New York and my most favourite Cates people for spectacular hospitality… I’ll be back…

wedding dress shopping

I’m going wedding dress shopping tonight! How bizarre! Two of my very sweet New York friends have made an appointment at a big shop downtown. I guess this is the place to go?!

Other NYC things we did today:

took the little girls to Riverside Park

had lunch at the Hummus place

took Caroline to ballet class – oh so sweet!

got a pedicure (me and Kari Jo not Jonathan – he babysat!)

I am so so so glad we have had these five days here! I will blog later about the proposal which was amazing! Jonathan is loving being here too and is adored by all four Cates kids! I think I’ve lost my place of affection with those kids!

me, Jonathan and my New York friends

sunday

Oh how I love Sundays in NYC at the Cates!!! They always start with pancakes and bacon and maple syrup (and coffee for grownups – not me!) and then we have a slow start – some people read, others play games, others surf the net a little, some nap (that’s just Betsy!) At the moment Jonathan and Caroline are playing Heigh Ho Cherry-O so sweetly and Nathan and Henry are playing Pokemon. I just love being here!!

Incidentally I’m thinking through what it means in Scripture when it says that God sends bad things – 1 Kings 22:23 and 2 Thessalonians 2:11 have been my readings recently.

Off to rest and enjoy…

ENGAGED!

Yesterday

Central Park

in the rain

a complete surprise

beautiful stone

both quite terrified!

All good!

jonathan

he’s here
he’s here
he’s here!