Shower

JP's Grammy threw us a shower this weekend so I could meet some family members I hadn't met; it was lovely. Here are a couple pictures showing off the spread of food and the pretty cake. Grammy made that custom apron for me.

Planning

We're getting a lot of planning done and even checking things off the ol' to-do list here and there; one thing I'm slacking on is double checking my address list for updates...If you've moved recently and you don't mind sending me your new address, I'd really appreciate it-I'll be checking in individually this week but I just wanted to get this posted to get me moving on it!

Kaye

John Paul and my Mom and I did so much together; we really enjoyed each others company and would always find time to have weekly lunches (at our favorite vegetarian pizza place) go on walks with the puppy, and spend holidays and birthdays at the coast. She loved JP like a son and called me her 'little daughter' and him her 'little son', she called him that on her birthday when we went up to the rhododendron park. We went on a lot of birthday road trips over the years, it was a tradition to spend the day having an adventure together.
We had many many good times together and I know that she's still with us on our daily adventures and will be walking beside us on our wedding day. Having someone who is that special in the first place is a real blessing, as is knowing how much of a blessing they are and knowing to tell them that. This whole experience, growing and learning how you'd like to treat everyone else who you care about is another blessing.
In March in her backyard

At our Engagement Ceremony

On her birthday this year

On a walk in our neighborhood this spring

Engagement Ceremony

We decided to start a new tradition and have an “engagement ceremony,” so that my mom could participate in our union while she’s feeling well. Our engagement ceremony was a huge success; we had a wonderful day in our backyard in the (breezy) sunshine!

Grammy gave us a ceremonial gift, a little house that she had given her late husband for their wedding. We read poetry by Shelley & Rilke, JP's siblings played beautiful songs which were so sweet. JP played There will Never Be Another You, which we learned together in high school jazz combo. D played trumpet while A sang a love poem about the sea mollusk, then E & R played Nancy's Waltz on flute & guitar as the ceremony came to an end.

My friend Carz who is a chef in Bodega Bay & in culinary school in Santa Rosa catered. To start we had salad, bruschetta, & my dad's potato salad, then for the main course we had vegetable pesto lasagna and golden beets with grilled asparagus in cabbage bowls. For dessert we had angel food cake with berries and freshly whipped cream that R made using her secret recipe.

It felt great to be both literately and figuratively surrounded and supported by JP's family and my parents, a local community that is behind us & our marriage.