Madonna is so down to earth

I just saw this comment on FB and decided it needed to live on. My fiancé will attest to the fact that I've already had some moments of 'Bride insanity' he refers to it as crazy bride meets mellow Kelly and as long as I keep laid back me dominate then we're good. I figure if the world is at a place where "Madonna is so down to earth" then I've got a bit of space to spread my wings in crazy bride category.At this stage in wedding planning (14 months post engagement! can't believe it's been that long) we've set a date and found a location. We've asked our dear friend to officiate and lined up our wedding party. I have growing files of colors, flowers, fashion and so forth. Parent's of the Bride come in early October when I will finally try on a dress followed my many more. I'm actually ready for this part. I have to admit the dress is the first thing I started looking at pictures of, but I really wasn't ready to try one on till about a month ago.
I've planned many events before, many ceremonies, many parties so in a lot of ways this has so far felt like just another 'show'. Given a show in which Joe and I are writing, Directing, Producing, starring...but a show. The dress makes it really real. More then plans, locations, invitations and colors -but a type of clothing I will only shop for once. I've never invited people to go shopping for me with me before - but I need help with this! This is BIG!
So, me and thus my blog have entered wedding mode. I'm addicted. I'm obsessed. I love it. I'm so glad I didn't spend my entire life dreaming and planning for this day -how do people handle that?! This will be so much fun for the next 7 months -then I'll be so happy to be on Honeymoon!!

PS..since I know you're wondering. Madonna was declared 'so down to earth' by one FBer due to a sighting of her with kids in tote on a NY subway and rumor that she lets her children ride their bikes to school!! Well, I guess she's human at least.

Sometimes the little things in life are so big and the big things in life so little and the rest just floats around in the in between. I'm surrounded for the 14th time in my life and 7th year in a row by boxes. Yes, count them 14 1/2 moves in 28 years. El Paso, Virginia Beach condo, VB house, Phoenix rental, Phoenix house, Tucson, TCU dorm, (my parent's move to Austin), TCU house, (2 summers in Wisconsin), DC, Austin Apt, Austin Apartment 2, Berkeley house, Berkeley dorm, Dallas apartment, North Richland Hills. I've slowly moved boxes of books over the last couple of weeks, but it really all comes down to the next two days and I'm out of location 13 for good. This phase of life on my own comes to an end. And so something that should be a little thing in life considering the experience I have in moving is BIG.

In the midst of this preparing to move and incorporate my life with someone else, I've spent two weekends at the lake with family and another week in Austin. Yesterday I had a job interview.

One of those big things that becomes small. I wonder what other folks experiences with recent job interviews are because it seemed I had the job before I even got to the room. I was asked one question - what kind of teaching have I done since none is reflected in my resume. The interviewer then told me all about the program asked if I had any questions and I was off to fill out the paperwork. So, what happened there? Is my resume so stunning? I've spent a lot of time on it, but I'm not that convinced. Did my black skirt, white t-shirt and flip-flops seal the deal? What is it? I am actually a bit disappointed. I was ready for the challenge. I want to be quizzed. I want to have to think and deliver on the spot for the unexpected question. Where was the what do you do when the boy wants to be a princess and the girl want to be a southern Baptist preacher? How do you manage a room of 18 participating kids and 1 disruptor?

Then there is the small things in life that are big. My fiance climbed the tree in his front yard last night to save a cat. I love it!

may be a little

if a diamond ring is part of growing up, then I have to admit to growing up a little more Sunday night.

Seven years ago in the spring of 2002 I started dating a boy named Joe. We worked together in the scene shop at TCU. We dated for a year and half until I left for AmeriCorps *NCCC in October of 2003. We attempted a long distance relationship following winter break, but realized that wasn't for us at the time. Over the next years we stayed in touch and took a few vacations together between dating other folks. During my last year of seminary we began talking more and more and spending more time on my trips back to Texas together. Joe came to Berkeley for my graduation last May, I traveled for most of the month of June. Then, out of the entire country, I happened to find a job that actually uses my degree in Dallas and we slowly began dating again in July. The last year has been the run of a relationship that is a few months going on seven years. There was a lot we knew of each other and a lot we're still learning (about ourselves and each other).

Sunday night I was asked to come over to his house for dinner at 9pm. I walked in the front door to find an empty (and clean) house. I made my way to the backyard assuming he was working the grill to find him sitting at a candlelit table set for two in the middle of the yard. As I sit down at the table and we begin chatting Joe pulled a card out and handed it to me. He recently fell and I'd spent the early part of last week making him dinners and rubbing his back. He says he wants to thank me for taking care of him and I mean a lot to him. As I open the thank you card and begin to read the inscription what is really happening starts to hit. There is a heart shaped paper attached to the side of the card. I asked what the characters on the card say and he snatched the heart of the card and lit it on fire! The heart flamed and then flashed so bright creating a blind spot that once I regained sight in that spot he held the most beautiful ring. He is still saying wonderful romantic things that through magic, fire and jewelry I can't remember except the last line, "I want you to be my wife." I stood up to hug and kiss him, at which time he says, "Is that a yes?" Of course! Yes! Apparently yes was the cue for the friend in the field behind the house to light the fireworks. We watched the fireworks and he placed the ring on my finger.

Today I wear a beautiful white gold ring. The ring is his great grandmother's and the center diamond is from a brooch of his mother's. Joe designed the ring and had it built by the jewelry

store his father worked in when Joe was growing up.

To answer the first of your questions:

Yes, I am thrilled

I had hints, but did not completely expect it to happen last night. Really I thought it be at least another year until I got some of the clues lately, even then I thought I had six months or so.

The shock has not quite worn off yet.

I am still constantly looking at the ring and the card.

We do not know when the ceremony will be, we're in no hurry at all.

Joe works in the film industry and offices about 3 miles from my apartment, he owns a home in North Richland Hills -about 30 minutes from my apartment.