Movin' on

Nick and I are combining efforts as soon we will be officially one!

If you'd like to keep following me (and Nick) go to our new blog:

http://bikebuiltfortwo.blogspot.com/

See you there!
Jen

Lots of photos, fewer words

Instead of blogging. Let's do photo review of life lately.

Trip to Los Angeles for the wedding of my friend Jess:

Babysitting...lots of babysitting:

My niece Molly who can now WALK!

Babysitter Nick wooing little Luke, our friends Krista + Jimmy's son.

I chased down this car... it's one of the Google Map cars that takes all those "Street View" images. I met the guy who was driving it... he showed me the computer and GPS in the trunk and told me he got the job when someone approached him in a cafe... he's a retired steel worker. Oh, and this is actually his house.

Nick's birthday! He'll get to use his new Wall-E sheets for only a short time (until June 19th to be exact)... but he still loved getting them for his bday!

Engagement Photos
(Thanks Krista, we love them! You made us look so lovely!)

Bought a WEDDING dress! This is all I can show for now :).

Just generally in love

Yes, yes, yes!

Most of my readership (I wonder who you are) has heard the happy news...if you have not, great! Read on!

Nick and I are engaged to be married!!

Here's the story... from my perspective. I hope to have a very special guest writer who can share his unique perspective too...

Nick and I have been pretty open with each other about how we want to spend our lives together, especially in terms of when we'll move in that direction. So about two weeks ago, as I sometimes do, looked over Nick's work schedule for the next few weeks. I happen to notice how on Saturday, September 13th it was marked "time off" instead of the usual "available"- meaning he had asked for it off. With the most innocent of intentions (honestly!) I wondered why he had it off. Had I forgotten something we were doing that day that he needed it off? Was I suppose to be somewhere that day? Feeling forgetful, I checked our shared Google calendar. I discovered that he had entered in that we might go hiking that day. At that point it dawned on me that I may have discovered something that I shouldn't have. :( I contemplated if I should tell him that I found out, I prayed that I wouldn't be a ruin-er of surprises. The next day his schedule was laying out again and without thinking I blurted out and pointed a finger "Why does next Saturday say 'Time off' on your schedule!?". The next thing I knew Nick's face revealed the truth- I had figured out his first plan to propose. I was gitty to learn that it was coming, but so sad that I had figured it out! Nick was bummed and had to scrap his plans. I vowed to try to turn off my awareness of all details around me.

Fast forward to one week ago today- the original proposal date- September 13th. I had planned to go help our friend Drew load up his grill so that I could borrow it for a party I was having the following day. I woke up to pouring rain, which I loved, but I felt a little down knowing that today was suppose to be the day I would be engaged to Nick, but I had ruined it. I lounged around for a while that morning, then put on a raincoat over my PJs and headed over to Drew's house to help load the grill in the midst of a stormy day. I arrived and was greeted by Drew who was finishing cleaning his house- it looked and smelled wonderful! His wife and three kids where no where to be found. He invited me to have a seat on the sofa for a bit. So I sat. But then he told me to sit on the other sofa. I thought that was weird, but did so anyways, not suspecting a thing at this point. Drew sat on the other sofa for 2 seconds, then stood up, pressed play on the nearby CD player and asked me to listen. I knew for sure that this point what was happening! I was tricked! Drew left the room, snuck out the back door and the next thing I knew he was driving away down the street! The CD began to play and for several minutes Nick poured out his love for me in what I now call the "Love Speech". As his speech ended, I was trying to piece together what was happening, wondering things in my head like "Where's Nick's car? Where are the kids? Where is he hiding? Is he looking at me right now? Oh my gosh, I'm in my PJs and have not showered yet! . I found it difficult to remain in my seat as I was instructed, but I did. Finally, on the CD Nick asked me to close my eyes, acknowledging how hard this would be for me (twice). I shouted out with excitement and joyful impatience, "No!". I sort of put my hand over my eyes, but looked for where Nick would appear from through my fingers. He then descended into the living room from upstairs (waiting all along in the "chair of contemplation" at the top of the stairs, out of sight). He sat down next to me and hugged me- note: he was completely trembling with nervous excitement! Then he gave another mini "Love speech", hugged me many times, then picked up a thermos he had been carrying. Inside was a little box. He told me the thermos had been sitting on his dresser for a long time, the perfect hiding place that would go unnoticed by a girl who notices most things (great work Nick!). He now entered into the proposal position, down on one knee! He opened the box, took out a beautiful ring and asked me if I would spend the rest of my life with him and marry him. I said yes! In quiet excitement, still processing the last 5 minutes we hugged and kissed and were just in awe of it all.

You may be wondering, "Did you cry?". No, and yes. Through the proposal I didn't, but through out the mini "love speech" and the popping of the question, all of my favorite songs were playing in the background. It was so perfect- I felt like it was the perfect sound track for the perfect moment. After I said yes, I began to tear up as this song by a folksy group called Eastmountainsouth sang this song in the background (listen to it here on YouTube- please ignore the cheezy slideshow- not my creation!):

as the music at the banquet
as the wine before the meal
as the firelight in the night
so are you to me

as the ruby in the setting
as the fruit upon the tree
as the wind blows over the plains
so are you to me

as the wind blows over the plains
so are you to me
so are you to me

We spend the next 15 minutes or so alone together, before we called Drew and his family back- they were all camped out at Barnes and Noble! They returned honking with excitement all the way down the street. They also had flowers, champagne, and cake for us to celebrate. It was such a wonderful morning. Thank you so much to the Hunter family for helping Nick and making it so special for both of us! We're so happy that they could be part of it all!

Oh, I forgot to mention...Nick had spent the early morning with my parents. Over homemade waffles my mom made, he asked in the good old fashion way, for their permission to ask me to marry him (they said yes too).

Check out photos from the day here.

I so blessed and grateful to have my Nick. I prayed that God would bless me with a husband years before I even met Nick. Great is Thy faithfulness!

My life in photos

The past month has been the busiest season I've had in years. I moved, went to Wisconsin twice, circumnavigated Lake Michigan (Detroit to Chicago to Milwaukee to northern Wisconsin through the upper peninsula of Michigan to Traverse City and back to Detroit), went on a staff retreat to Indiana, went to a conference in Chicago, another one in Detroit, celebrated my niece's 1st birthday, my dad's 62nd birthday and tried to work between in all. It's all been great and failed to burn me out, much to my surprise.

This fall is proving already to be packed with activities, parties, classes, and one big exciting trip to LA with Nick for my dear friend Jess's wedding in October.

Here's a quick photo summary of the past month or so:

The busyness started with a staff retreat to Indiana. We went for the 2nd year in a row to one of my co-worker's parent's renovated farm house. (Complete with 4 floors, an elevator, plenty of flat-screened TVs, it's own pond, and field of cows.)

Everyone on the retreat brought their immediate family along.
This is one of the 6 children who came along- Nora on the porch swing with me watching the sunset.

1st trip to Wisconsin: waaaay up north in Wisconsin. At his grandparent's cottage on a lovely lake, Nick tests his snorkeling mask for later.

Out boating with his Grandpa

On the lake: Nick's mom and grandma

Driving through the upper peninsula of Michigan-
stopping to explore the beach and lighthouse

Keeping the sand on the beach.

2nd trip to Wisconsin for a wedding
(In this photo: Bethany, Nick's sister-in-law, his brother Chris, his sister Melissa, Nick and me)

Ahh, the wedding dance floor. There's nothing like a good slow dance
under the laser beam lights and disco ball.

"It's Suntory time" (Bill Murray, Lost in Translation)

Why I really like going to Milwaukee...visiting my favorite coffee shop; Alterra.

Irish at Irish Fest.

Molly turns 1

She's got an addiction for stair climbing
(Also in photo: Grandma & pa and brother Fritz)

62 years young

My family got him a tandem bike for his birthday (me and Dad)

And finally...a quick snap of the kitchen in my new pad, which I am sharing with 2 other fine ladies. It's cheap, comfortable, and convenient (literally around the block from my old apt.).

Whew.

Summer Update

I can't believe the 4th of July has come and gone. I can't believe I turned 30 a month ago already. I can't believe summer is nearly half over! I feel good about summer so far though. I feel like it is summer, like I've been doing appropriate summer activities; biking, running, eating lots of ice cream, garage-saling, BBQs all the time, watching Wimbeldon, fireworks, roadtripping up north, outdoor concerts, relieved at the coolness of an air conditioned building on a hot day, reading lots of delicious books, spending long days doing all of the above with my wonderful man Nick, family and friends.

Here are a few photo highlights from the past month or so, including a few that are only a few hours old.

My sister Heidi out for ice cream...Superman apparently. She's so cute.

I live only a few miles from my parents house...
I love playing around on my mom's little mac computer, complete with camera and special effects.

My big brother's birthday was last weekend;
Here is his son Fritz helping him blow out his birthday candles.

Road biking at Stony Creek with Nick- looking through the sunroof on the way there.

Lots of rain in June has made everything green green green. Plants outside my door.

"Exploring" Indian Springs Metro Park with Nick

Fireworks last night in Clawson! We were literally directly below them- it was frightening at times as we saw a few not go up but go side ways (an ambulence followed moments later). They were pretty great though besides all the injuries.

Filling My Tank

Recently I attended my long awaited volunteer orientation at the Michigan Humane Society. I entered a room packed with people anxiously awaiting the session to begin. A very exuberant yellow lab worked the room for the entire two hours of Humane Society information-fest 08. I couldn't help but think that it was some sort of test to see how attendees would respond to the strategically chosen animal planted in the room. Those who couldn't handle the slobbering bundle of joy would be asked to leave one by one, where I would be left to be the super-star-animal-loving volunteer of ALL time and they would reward me with my own matching orphaned puppy and kitten. Not surprisingly, everyone stuck around and soaked up all the love that wiggle monster could dish out. About half way through the orientation, the speaker stopped to give the dog a treat to munch on. Moments later, it appeared that the dog's mouth was stuck open by the flat, raw-hide like treat. It was nearly an emergency situation. He started to whimper (the dog), the speaker started to panic and all the crazy animal loving people started to freak out. One lady bucked her way out of her chair, pushing by all the other volunteers with her cell phone and other personal items flying in the air to rescue the struggling dog. I sat in the back and observed the whole thing trying not to burst out in laughter at the entire situation. The dog was fine, but it was as if we were on Candid Camera featuring a bunch of over-zealous animal-lovers get nutty when they see furry friend in distress. I giggled a little wishing someone else saw the silliness of the situation, but was relieved to see the dog bounce back with even more joy as he received a treat that was not a choking hazard.

This is all besides my main point really. Here's the truth: I'm one of those nutty, knock-people-out-of-the-way, stop-the-car-in-the-middle-of-traffic-doing-some-kind-of-McGyver-moves-to-save-a-lost-pet kind of animal lovers. (Actually I really did that on a freeway ramp leading down to the 210 freeway in LA...some poor little fluffy white dog was scampering down the ramp- it probably had dementia or something- at 12am one night...I had to jack knife the Saturn to stop him from going any futher! I saved him and took him home that night to his owner, it was glorious!).

It's unexplainable to me at times how I simply can't shut it off, this passion, concern, empathy, and absolute love of animals. I haven't done much with this fiery passion in my life thus far in terms of action, in order to help the animal kingdom. My only claim could be remaining a vegetarian for over a decade now. I decided back in 1996 that I had a choice in the matter, that if I wanted I could make some small dent in reducing animal suffering with my consumer powers. But not eating meat separates me from animals and doesn't allow me to dump my love on them! Enter Ari, the Hebrew Lion lover of my life (aka, my pet cat). She has for about 2.5 years been the recipient of much of this love. But having a pet just isn't really doing my part with what God gave me.

So now onto this tank I refer to in the title of this entry. I've always struggled with finding my purpose in this life, what direction to take, and really honing in on the passions God has created me with. Most of the time, I struggle with all three in much frustration, to the point I feel like I'm sinking into a life of apathy and uselessness. The past five months or so have been rough in many ways due mainly to some big changes and transitions at work. As the fog begins to clear and the weight of it all is lighten, I've begun to pay attention to what fills my tank since it's really felt empty for quite some time. I decided to dig into this animal passion I have and not just let it sit there rotting away. Thus the orientation for the Humane Society. I knew about two minutes into the orientation that this was it. I was IN my sweet spot. I couldn't get enough. I wanted to get to the animals immediately and comfort them, love them, walk them, and just make sure they know that they are valued, creatures of God that deserve to be treated well. I signed up to be a dog walker and hope to be one of the volunteers who gives presentations at elementary schools to teach kids about humane treatment of animals. I should start in about two weeks.

The feeling and excitement was unlike anything I've felt in a very long time. My tank is starting to be filled. It has been keeping me going all week!

I think it's a struggle for other people to understand this love for animals, but Nick has been so great and supportive as he encourages me in this passion. After much prodding and convincing he decided that it would probably be a really good idea to try to test our future dog to be a therapy animal through an organization like Therapy Dogs International. Also, in celebration of my passion, Nick bought me the most wonderful, I mean the most wonderful book about the emotional lives of cats. It's page turner for me as I discover the inner world of my cat...why they do what they do, how they are so different from dogs, but so interestingly wired as independent creatures filled with love and concern for their humans.

A few nights ago, Nick really became more of a heart-throb than ever to me, as he mended Ari's most beloved toy, an old beaded bracelet that broke into a jillion pieces. Watch his progress below and try not to fall in love if you can...

Notice Ari spying from behind the chair, peaking through the legs.
Wondering what the heck is going on with toy.

She emerges to supervise...

The master pet-toy-fixer moves to the table for some serious stitching and mending.

Fixed and sealed with a kiss!

The queen with her revived bling
(she seriously LOVEs this bracelet, shake it and she comes running from anywhere, and oh does she ever love to fetch it.)

Anyways, I love doing what I love, which kinda makes sense. More to come...

P.S. Don't I have the most wonderful man??!! Ugh. He's so delightful to me.