private blog

Public world. Private blog. After over 250 posts, I have decided to make my blog private for the following reasons:

1. Many people read, few people comment. It seems almost like snooping to me if you read my posts, see pictures, know all about my life and never bother to say hello or comment on anything. What's up with that? It's like looking through other people's photos on facebook just to look, but never to offer a hello or comment.

2. Sensored information. Don't get me wrong, I'm not holding back on what I write about, but knowing potential bosses may be reading and seeing what a complete nut I am makes me a little nervous.

I can't begin to tell you the number of people who I bump into (after years for some) who say they've been reading my blog. I had no idea. Why not comment on something to at least let me know you're reading? To be completely honest, writing about our engagement and seeing that nobody, NOT ONE PERSON commented a congratulations...that was the decision maker for me. Maybe I'm turning into a words of affirmation love language person. Who knows.

So to those of you who have faithfully read and cared enough to make yourself known and offer support, I thank you, and would be happy to add your e-mail to the list of approved people who can continue to read. You just need to let me know so I can add you. I have appreciated your words of encouragement and love over the past year. This blog will officially be private next week when we're back from Idaho.

On a less 'crabby Amber' note, I had a great day today meeting with a potential photography couple, searching for a photographer for our wedding, enjoying a delicious home made smoothie courtesy of Kevin (I love how the seeds stick to the sides of the cup), and walking through the neighborhoods in St. Louis Park handing out grocery bags to collect food in on Saturday. Kevin and I raced to see who could do it the fastest. It was fun walking along the route mail carriers take. Seeing the bushes they cut through, the dogs they deal with, and the fences they wish didn't divide yards. Almost 2,000 bags were handed out. Fill 'em up people! A late night 6 mile rollerblade around Lake Calhoun made the day packed full. But it certainly was a good one.

dove shoot

Love shoot. Dove shoot. Whatever. Not sure if ya'll know how lucky I am to be marrying Kevin. What other non-photographer kinda guy would willingly take so many wonderful pictures with me? Today I got a new purple dress from Goodwill (for $1.49. not to mention the 3 pairs of shoes for the same price. One pair was a COACH pair)! Anyway, back on subject: when Kevin got home from work we went and sought out some funky photo locations and went to town with the tripod and remote doing all the work. I seriously wish we could just take our own wedding photos. The hunt continues in that department. Anyway, here are a couple memorable ones from our photo adventure!

loud shrieks

It's ok to scream in church. I kept telling myself that as Madison shrieked about 15 times during worship this morning. None of the back pews were open, so we had to sit in the front. Kevin was a trooper and smiled through it all. I brought Presley & Madison up for the children's message. Madison crawled up on the step to sit next to Kevin and kept looking at him and smiling. It was adorable. Kevin (during the message said), "you're just so cute, and distracting!" Our pew was extra full today with my family, and my first California family of visitors: The Reeds! How great to see some familiar faces from out west.

I had to take them out for lunch at Panakuken Haus! All three of them ordered their own special panakuken! Alec's looked the best: banana chocolate mousse! I wondered with 4 panakuken's at our table if the waitress would say "panakuken" 4 times. Just once, but in a very sing songy voice. Lots of loud shrieks today! Too fun! It was awesome to catch up and spend some time with such a great family! After lunch, I met up with my family again and we headed back down toward Worthington. A late night walk/run in the country with the girls was a great way to end the day!

blizzard of dresses

I can't lie. Having a day that is all about me is pretty fun! The wedding preparations are underway! Mom, Holly, Presley, Lynda, Andrea, & I all participated in the first real day of wedding dress shopping. We had a ball. I probably tried on close to 50 dresses in 3 different places. My favorite: The Wedding Shoppe on Grand Ave. in St. Paul. That place is right out of a movie. An old house, tons of gowns, a stage to walk out and model the dresses, and other excited brides! Presley helped me carry my train from the dressing room to the stage. Mom, Andrea, and Lynda would give the thumbs up or thumbs down on all of them. Most of the dresses there are size 10, which fits perfectly. It was so fun to actually get in all of the dresses and see what they're going to look like! We have a few good potentials in the running. All my helpers had their favorites. The best quote of the day came from Andrea when upon seeing her favorite she said, "The heavens just opened up when you walked out in that dress!" So funny. I can't share too many pictures from the day because I know Kevin will see them, so here are the ones I feel safe enough to show on here!

Presley tried on a few flower girl dresses. Although we haven't officially asked her, I think she knows she's in! :) There are no other candidates nearly as excited and perfect for the part. She told me yesterday, "I'm going to get married in the wedding too. I just need someone to get me a ring!" I think that'll be the perfect way to ask her! She'll be six by then and will be able to escort Madison and Mersaydes along with her. Because Gustavus does not allow flower girls to throw pedals, we're trying to think of something more creative for them to do and a better title. Right now my best idea is to call the girls "Belle Angels" and have them wear wings and ring bells as they walk down before me. Any other ideas?

Toward the end we felt like we had experienced a blizzard of dresses. Our legs were tired, and so were our bodies! We got home and felt like collapsing. Dave & Kevin were full of energy and hungry, so we went out for supper at Buca di Beppo, then back home for some bocce ball, and sprinkler fun. What a fun day! So thankful my favorite ladies could be a part of it!

wedding blog

Let the dress shopping begin! Girls weekend in the cities is underway. We were up and on the road by 8:00, and trying on dresses in Mankato by 10. Madison spent the morning with Grandpa Terry at his place, and Presley came with us to help! She tried on a couple of dresses too and on our way from the bridal shop said to Jason, "You should've seen me, I was the most beautiful princess ever!" Holly and I laughed for a good five minutes over that one! Even Holly tried on a few dresses today. I still have no idea what we're going to do for colors. Way too many to choose from, and lots of time to figure it out!

We enjoyed lunch with my dad before heading up toward the cities. Holly had never seen Gustavus before, so we stopped so she could see the church and her reaction was awesome. She loved it. We're just waiting now until August 1, so we can call and request our wedding date for next August. (Labor Day weekend is out given that it's new student orientation that weekend). We're hoping for the 14 or 28. Clear your calendars people! :) Presley and Madison practiced walking me down the aisle. Presley eventually married me, and Madison gladly looked on! Being on campus got me really excited for next year! Really only 13 months to go!

Chipotle for supper in St. Louis Park, then we picked up my love and drove up to Albertville for some speed shopping. On our way home we swung through Culver's to get a treat. Presley and Holly kept changing their orders after I placed them in the drive through, and eventually we started laughing so hard about it that I couldn't speak to finish our order. I apologized to the lady, and said, "Have you ever gotten the giggles in the drive through?" She replied, "Well, I never have, but other people do." Oops! My mom met us at the Bergeson's for our first night of the sleep over. Lynda let us all steam our rings and jewelry, and we all tucked in to bed to prepare for the blizzard in the morning!

storm central

Madison really has the life. She wakes up around 10:00. Plays for 2 hours. Naps for three more, and plays again. Once in a while we mix it up and take her to the pool. Presley and I usually have some good bonding time during her naps. Today I painted her toenails and fingernails and decked them out with little flowers. She loves girly stuff like that. Don't mess with her hair, but make-up and nail polish are ok. She managed to get into her own little princess make up kit this week and came out with purple stuff all over her face! Holly buys the two of them matching outfits. Presley loves picking out the ones that match with her sister, so when she does, she leaves me no choice but to take more photos of the two of them! They may dress alike, but they're both so different! Their attitudes, cries, words, and faces each tell a story different than the other. How fun to see them grow up to be their own selves. We did make it to the pool for a few hours this afternoon. I prefer going later in the day when there aren't so many kids splashing around. It's easier to keep an eye on Presley too.

The skies were pretty dark on the way home. We played outside for a while, but by the end of the night we were putting everything away and preparing for a storm. The storm cover looked awesomely scary out the back yard. We hardly enjoyed supper with all the clouds and potential funnels to look at. It's great living in the country where you can see for miles which town is getting pummeled with rain. We stayed near the radio and television just in case we had to hit the basement. It's amazing how freaked out we all get the minute the thunderstorm warning turns into a tornado warning. That usually means that a tornado has been spotted. And there was. About 20 miles away. Luckily, no damage here. A few tree limbs down, but that's nothing really. Thank God for our protection.

circus circus

Of all the things I cannot miss this summer: the Shrine Circus was one of them. I saw tons of people who I hadn't seen in years. Lots of old classmates of mine who now had children of their own. Apparently I'm a little behind on that. I didn't really know what to think about the whole thing. Sadly, I feel like the older you get, the more dirty the circus seems. Presley loved it. She was dancing, shouting, clapping. That's the circus for a four year old. I was taking unimpressive photos, wearing ear plugs, and eating $1 cotton candy to pass the time. That's the circus for a twenty-six year old. I will give it to them though that the elephants were great, and the contortionist made my back hurt. It was fun to see the arena so full of children. Most of them had no idea when to applaud, so no one did. I felt bad for the performers. They'd do some humiliating stunt and no one would acknowledge it. Even I clapped out of sympathy. I was reminded that even if my job is to spin 30 hula hoops on my waist, or if it's to walk circus ponies in a circle, it's a job. Maybe even a calling. I sure as heck could not do it. God has all different kinds of work in mind for us all, and my vocation is no better than that of a circus clown. And when I look back on some of the humiliating/strange stuff I did at Good Shepherd last year (theme intros), I realized that working in a church is much like working for the circus. Clowns all over the place!

scratch the sabbath

Bar-b-que, friends, sparklers, and a bonfire? Not this year. Ours looked more like an early morning 9 mile run around 3 lakes, 5 hours of sermon writing, supper at Punch Pizza, & wedding photo orders. At 9:45 we decided we better at least run to the park for 30 minutes of celebration. An entire hillside of people gathered for a wonderful fireworks show. The most low key 4th in a long time. I guess that's what happens when you're engaged to a preacher, and the 4th falls on a Saturday. So much for Sabbath rest. This is what the rest of our lives are going to look like. Lucky us! :)

awe-struck auntie

Are my nieces beautiful or what? I watched them this morning for a few hours before Holly came home and went with us to the Lakefield pool. I missed Easter this year, so I put them back in their Easter dresses and took some pictures outside of them. Only a crazy auntie like me would dress them up and take them outside for a play date with my camera! They’re so great. Smiling, posing, and just being adorable! I’m so blessed by them, and really in awe of their spirits! Here’s my favorite composition from the day!

Good News Nieces

The Holy Gospel according to my nieces, the first chapter.

Life as an Auntie is so much fun. The girls are getting so big and smart. The things that come out of their mouths need to be written down! So, here's the Good News from Presley & Madison.

As we were driving into Lakefield to go to the pool, Presley noticed a house with a long wheelchair ramp/deck on the front and said, "Auntie, we're going to put a new dick on the front of our house next year." "A DECK!" "Yeah, a deck on our house!" I just about wet myself on this one.

Talking about wedding stuff with Presley is tough. She still thinks Kevin and I are having a baby. But, we talked a little about it today, and at one point she said, "I'm going to wear a white dress too when I get married. Probably to daddy." So cute.

When outside taking pictures at 11:00 a.m. the mosquitoes were already out and biting. Presley said, "Gosh! These bugs need a spankin'. They're buggin' me!"

Madison isn't forming sentences quite as hilarious, but her single words sure are. Here are the latest:

mom

dad

ga-ga (tractor)

mi-mi (blankie)

shoe

mo (more)

peas (please)

up

ti-ti (Auntie)

As a special treat on our way home, we got some ice cream. Presley was in charge of the cotton candy dippin' dots in the back. Madison wanted some too. So, she kept on saying to Presley, "Mo, Peas! Peas!" Presley would give her a spoonful, and before she could swallow what she had in her mouth she'd say it again, "Peas!" Such polite little ones! I got out the two inch slack-line and Presley started trying to get up on her own. She even took a few steps. We've got a future circus clown on our hands!

We got to go to Panda House (my favorite Chinese Restaurant in Worthington) last night for some broccoli & chicken, and an egg roll. Delicious. Following that, we went to Grandma Sue's house to walk down to the park for the band concert and to play, to talk more wedding details, bumped into Patty Traphagen and got to catch up for a while, then back to Grandma's for another round of popsicles.