after ring shopping:
Adam: Well, that was easy!

Me: Yeah! It was so easy!

Adam: And you didn’t go all girly.

Me: Well…but I am girly!

Adam: Yes, you are girly. But you shop like a man.

And I do. I must get this from my mother. Like my dad, it takes me 30 minutes to order at a restaurant. But it took me just a couple hours to decide on a wedding dress and probably 15 minutes to find a ring. I hope the rest of this wedding planning goes so smoothly.

Tuesdays, Adam and I spend a few hours of the morning together. Today we ate sandwiches, croissants (mine chocolate, his almond), drank coffee and ordered our wedding bands. I love our rings. They are just right. His is squarish with solid, clean lines. Mine is thin and simple and sweet. Something in the ring shop got to me and I almost decided on the one with diamonds. It sparkled! And the sales lady seemed to think it was a much better choice than that other one I liked (which was 5 times cheaper…not that that had anything to do with it). But then I remembered that I don’t really like diamonds and that ring isn’t me at all, no matter how sparkley and expensive it is.

I love our rings. I love wedding bands in general. Like Nick and Amy, Adam and I chose to forgo the engagement ring. I find ‘pokey-outie’ rings obtrusive for things like kneading dough and being messy and crazy and rough-housey. Adam doesn’t see a lot of meaning behind them. And really, neither do I. But the symbolism of wedding bands is wonderful and good. I’m so looking forward to having one on my finger.

So, tell me some stories about your wedding rings!  Or your grandparent’s wedding rings or your sister’s or your mamma’s.   I’d LOVE to hear them.

Also, I have a new page! Stop by and help me out with wedding plans.

I ran into Katrina twice today. No, not this Katrina- Katrina of the third grade three musketeers (Lindsey, Mallory, and Katrina)! The Katrina I played four-square with. The Katrina I chased “Mr. Guess-Who” around the playground with. The Katrina I learned to play the recorder with. The Katrina that Mallory and I had singing contests with. Mike would judge and Mallory would win. I used to think it was because Mike had a crush on Mallory, but her voice really was better. I haven’t seen Katrina for a couple years now. And today I got to see her twice and hug her twice. It was great.

Today, I also got to hang out with Katrina Brown. We had great conversation and ice cream in February. I am SO GLAD I have I have a friend like Katrina.

And I am so glad I had such a Katrina day.

Have you run into any old friends lately? Any Katrinas?

from Psalm 103

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children

Ash Wednesday is one of my favourite days because it reminds me of who I am and how fucking gut-shaking good God is. It reminds me that I am very very small and very very dear and that God is the best friend I have ever ever had and ever will have and that my heart is entirely, entirely his.

This day stirs me.

By February, 40 degrees is a slice of key lime pie.  Everyone is out on the streets this afternoon walking slowly and talking with mittenless hands.  Bikers with poodles and skateboarders with backpacks and puddles and little rivers are bustling around and some people aren’t wearing coats.

Just one dollar (two for both of us) bought an afternoon of summertime, canaries and orange trees.

(thanks for the suggestion, Bri)

Thank you all for your kind words. I enjoy and appreciate them.

This weekend has been full of cleaning, studying, coughing, and smiling. Friday, Monica spread ricotta cheese on her toast, which I had never thought of and found brilliant. Saturday, I found these socks online and I like them because it’s so annoying to always have to adjust one’s tights. And today, Adam and I are going out for brunch after church (thanks mum and dad!) and then I’m going to study my brains out.
As far as wedding planning goes, my mum has been brilliant and is keeping Adam and I totally on track. He and I are kind of crap at this, but in our defense, this is our first time. It’s still a work in progresss, but we have been working on our registry (which as of now, is Target and Crate & Barrel) and we both find it fun. Who doesn’t find presents fun? My favourite items thus far are these yellow creatures.

Oh, and check out this Decemberist’s video.

It’s official. I am engaged to Adam Lloyd Whitlock: owner of my favourite smile. I am super excited.

A lot of people are a bit confused about why it’s so fast. I don’t have any superb, dynamic reason to give them them, I just know that I’m not confused about it. I feel content. I feel sure. I really like that.

I’m stoked to share life with this guy. He’s wonderful.

The Gift

To pull the metal splinter from my palm
my father recited a story in a low voice.
I watched his lovely face and not the blade.
Before the story ended, he’d removed
the iron sliver I thought I’d die from.

I can’t remember the tale,
but hear his voice still, a well
of dark water, a prayer.
And I recall his hands,
two measures of tenderness
he laid against my face,
the flames of discipline
he raised above my head.

Had you entered that afternoon
you would have thought you saw a man
planting something in a boy’s palm,
a silver tear, a tiny flame.
Had you followed that boy
you would have arrived here,
where I bend over my wife’s right hand.

Look how I shave her thumbnail down
so carefully she feels no pain.
Watch as I lift the splinter out.
I was seven when my father
took my hand like this,
and I did not hold that shard
between my fingers and think,
Metal that will bury me,
christen it Little Assassin,
Ore Going Deep for My Heart.
And I did not lift up my wound and cry,
Death visited here!
I did what a child does
when he’s given something to keep.
I kissed my father.

— Li-Young Lee

This week we read the book The Rose by Li-Young Lee for Creative Writing class. My heart felt bigger and beat-ier when I finished. I cannot reccomend it enough.

5 Things I’m loving about 2007 so far:

1- Hanging out with my roommates more. Our hours had gotten so consumed with business and boys that we hardly saw each other. But, that’s been different lately. Angie is still pretty busy (and understandably so with work and school and a wedding to plan!) , but I get to hang out with Monica and Janelle almost every day. Lately, there’s been a lot of space to sit around and drink tea and make dinner together and talk and talk and talk. I love that.

2- My city. This will be my first full year as a student and as a Madisonian. I love school. I love Madison. I’m glad to be here.

3- The discovery of Japanese treats like Mochi and Yan Yan and Pocky. Thanks, Adam. Speaking of him…

4- My boyfriend.

5- All the good stuff to come this year. I think there will be a lot.

It’s not a big or earth-shattering list, but, the year has just begun…
What do you love about 2007 so far?