Wedding Venue: Check

We have selected and locked in our wedding venue! Where might this grand experience be occurring you ask? Well, we have two beautiful locations...

The Portland Temple
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

This is where we will be wed for time and all eternity. The marriage ceremony and sealing will take place in this beautiful house of the Lord. I can hardly wait to stand hand in hand with my sweetheart in the Celestial Room.

The Salem Kroc Center 

Built and operated by The Salvation Army

(The windows on the right side of the right image are where we will be.)

Their goal is to provide reasonably priced facilities so that everyone may have the opportunity to experience that million dollar wedding of their dreams. They have a beautiful meeting and banquet room wherein we will hold our ring ceremony and reception. They provide tables, chairs, linen, and technology. They also assist in the set up, clean up, and they cater!

I'm so excited we found such a perfect venue! I look forward to sharing this special day with all of you!

It Just Gets Better

Marshmallows. Croutons. Cheese.

Talent. Technique. Skill.

Love.

Don't forget love.

It just gets better with time.

I would also like to add this married student housing deal seems more and more perfect each day. I would like to add another couple to the list of known neighbors should we get an apartment here - Roseanna & Jonathan!

This lovely couple is such a wonderful blessing in my life. I have (at last) found an awesome study/tutoring group! I met Roseanna in September. She is in my Weight Training class. Jonathan is in my physics and A&P courses. He was also in my bio sequence last year. He and I are on the same level - perfect for studying. And then Roseanna...well, Roseanna is just amazing. She helps us get out of those sticky situations when we just aren't sure which way to turn with our physics homework.

I have spent many hours in their apartment the last couple days. Some of that time was spent visiting, while much time was spent studying and working on physics. So far - I love it! The apartments and company more so than the physics, of course. But the physics might not be quite so bad now.

I definitely see myself living in one of these apartments with Jason for the next 1 1/2 years about. Everything about it just seems good and feels so right. I don't know that we could find somewhere to beat it. Of course, however, whatever is available will win out. I submitted our application Monday and now I am definitely praying there will still be apartments available when the wedding bells ring.

Home Sweet Home

"The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home. " -Confucius

Jason and I have begun the hunt for a place to call home. We spent a few hours looking for apartments yesterday, trying to get a feel for pricing, location, size, parking, and what utilities are included. We found a few really good possibilities - assuming there are openings come March or April.

We are primarily looking in the area surrounding campus. This will put us close to school and church - and hopefully a new job for me and various internships. It will add only 10 minutes to Jason's commute to and from work and cut mine by, well, it should cut my commute down all together. Ideally, I'll be able to walk just about anywhere I need to go on a regular basis. Hmm...that might open up an hour or two in my schedule! It will certainly be nice to be so close to school. Study groups will be significantly easier. As will be crazy class schedules.


We are also finding most places to be cheaper out there with decent interiors as many have undergone some degree of remodeling, including newer carpet/paint, appliances, doors, etc. Cheaper rent & less gas overall? Sounds like a good plan to me!

But it gets better...Our favorite place so far is married student housing: Two bed, one bath, kitchen with appliances, dining area, living room with a fireplace, laundry facilities, utilities, internet, and cable all inclusive for $615 a month. Not bad at all! Not to mention we already know we would have some awesome neighbors! (Von & Maggie and Josh & Callie)


There is usually a waiting list, but there are a couple openings now. We have our application all filled out and ready to submit to get on the list for Spring!

From My Sweetie

I believe it was on Thursday - I was just sitting at home studying and working on various assignments when my doorbell rang. These were on the other side...

Jason sent me these gorgeous flowers!! Awesome vase, frog prince, and all. He is such a sweetheart! I absolutely love him <3

  

My mom comes from a Prince family and I am happy to announce I have found my prince! This little frog prince just happens to be guarding a sweet message.

 

& His kisses are the sweetest!

My mom came home and the words we exchanged went a little something like this:

Mom: "Ooo! Pretty flowers! Whose are these?"

Me: "Mine" with a huge grin

Mom: "Awh, you have a sweetie. You know, your dad did stuff like that all the time for me."

Extra Note: We are  planning to incorporate these colors on our lovely wedding day ;)

 
Have a wonderful day :)