I got married.

And it was everything I hoped it could be.

My husband is:

1. Patient

2. Organized

3. Handsome

4. Funny

5. Smart

6. Kind

7. Handsome

8. Conservative

9. Motivated

10. Thoughtful

I really didn't know if men like Jeremy were still available, you know? Every night I go to bed thinking that I really got lucky when I found him. Lots of those qualities that are listed above are not things that I consider my strong suits. Its cliche, but as a wife to Jeremy,  I am far better than as myself on my own. I won't speak for Jeremy, but I hope he feels the same way. 

And, I know its only been three weeks, but he hasn't disappointed me yet. :) And no, we are not yet expecting. ;)

Another Shower!

Have I ever mentioned that I am blessed with a staff of wonderful ladies at my Huntington practice?


Don't believe me? Check out http://www.huntingtonpediatricdentistry.com/

Those cool ladies threw me an amazing bridal shower at Melini's in Huntington...I did not deserve it either; I am totally bridezilla at work right now...and at home...but at least Jeremy knows what he's getting into...

They bought me thoughtful gifts -- like canning supplies (!), utensils galore, and Hannah Montana CD's!! (Now I have even more songs in my reportoire to entertain the kiddies during their appointments!)

Jessi made these homemade bottles of dipping oil. YUM! Thank you, guys for all the thought and hard work over the past months! I couldn't do it without you!

You Know, Blogging Only Takes a Minute...

    

But recently this was me...

...taking this cool bus with these cool ladies....

and this wonderful mom/florist/therapist/wedding planner, the only person in the world right now who isn't annoying me...yes, its true, I am officially bridezilla...
...for my fantastic bachelorette party at the Dayton Dragons game! When I got back to Ironton,  my garden was really starting to take off...

...and I made this homemade pizza sauce with ONLY garden-grown ingredients (okay except for the olive oil...), in our new cool pot from Meredith & David! 

Whew! I'm exhausted! And very, very excited for our wedding! Less than 10 days! :) 

Ten Things from the Past Two Weeks:

10. Welcomed my wonderful family (two parents, two sisters, two brothers-in-law) to our home in Ironton. This involved eight bottles of wine, three giant fallen tree limbs, two cornhole boards and one amazing chocolate cake (the link reveals an awesome, awesome, blog, BTW...). Thanks for coming, ladies; it was incredibly special to host you here.  Come back soon!

9. Nursed a very sick dog back to health. No more munching crab apples for this beast! Said tree also was felled along with its neighbor, who suffered from the incident described above. Sniffle. Our lush backyard is now little more than grass and chain link fence. Sniffle.   

8. Harvested my first efforts from our little garden.  More pictures and thoughts about my garden to come!

 

June 11th...

                                                         

July 18th...

7.  Drove from Ironton to Columbus to Ironton to Ft. Loramie to Columbus to Ironton to Columbus to Ironton to White Sulphur Springs to Ironton. Whew. This type of vehicle is looking so good right now...really, I want this car so bad!

6. Finally got my wedding invites out, much to the thanks of grand efforts from my mom and sisters. Thank you so, so much, girls!

5. Read a fantastic book: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver. I can't believe I hadn't read it sooner -- thanks, Kaye. I had read a number of books by this author (The Poisonwood Bible is my favorite!). As many of you know, food production science and agribusiness, and the ethics and sustainability thereof, is one of my pet interests. Jeremy calls it most recently, "my latest obsession." Ha. But really, over the past years, learning about what really goes into making my meal or McBurger (and I'm not talking calories and fat at all) has influenced to some degree the way I buy and prepare food. I think part of it stems (pun intended) from growing up in an agricultural community, but another part is certainly social conscience. Think about your neighborhood farmers the next time you get the chance to make a choice for your dinner table. 

Incidentally, I learned Ms. Kingsolver is #73 in one of my dad's coffee table regulars, 100 People Who are Screwing Up America. Who knew?

You be the judge.

4. Visited one of West Virginia's jewels, the Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The drive to this classic hotel and resort was nothing short of spectacular. Amazing mountain vistas, blue skies, and well-maintained roads made the lonely traveling hours a breeze (NPR helped, too). In one day, I made the six-hour roundtrip drive to attend the West Virginia Pediatric Dental Association meeting.  After the meeting, I did some nosing around the hotel and grounds. The hotel and grounds were simply amazing, like taking a step back in time to a place where substance wins over convenience. Too bad I forgot my camera (photos below from my iPhone). While staying at this five-star hotel you can enjoy or take lessons in golf, off-road driving, hiking, white-water rafting, kayaking, equestrian activities, movies, and my favorite, falconry (no joke). Customary swimming pools and dining as well (no falconry involved).

Jeremy's dad, Randy, told me that the hotel was constructed in part to house our President and Congress in case of nuclear winter. Yikes. Read all about that here. 

If you can swing it, visit the Greenbrier! 

3. Cleaned the entire house. It was still recovering from the Schafer-Miller-Rindler visit and the simultaneous Incredibly Sick Dog. 

2. Made a very, very long list entitled, "Things to Do Before Our Wedding Day."

1. Counted my blessings for a rested body, clean house and happy attitude as our special day rapidly approaches, and the coming weeks fill up, up, up with preparations!

Happy Retirement, Terri!

Jeremy's mom retired last week -- after 36 years of working within the same school district! According to Jeremy, she held the position of "Title I Grant Coordinator" but she also put in many years teaching Special Education, all at Jeremy's alma mater, Rock Hill Schools.

Unfortunately for her, Jeremy and I have already put her to work this week at our place. Seriously, when furniture is being delivered, don't they understand that some people work, and NO, I can't be there for delivery between the hours of 11 and 4 no matter what day you suggest.

Anyway, we celebrated at Austyn's, Ironton's best restaurant...

Jeremy's little sister, Erin, made an appearance, too!
Then we munched on the obligatory cake...not a Cakewreck by any stretch! Thanks for all you do for us, Terri, my soon to be Mom - in - law! Love, Kara

An Embarrassment of Riches

This past weekend my bridesmaids threw me a FANTASTIC shower at my mother's house. It was wonderful -- lots of my favorite things -- mimosas, strawberries, family and friends. 

My favorite moment: Opening my white, handmade afghan from my Grandma Hoying. Her crocheting skills are amazing...and she only makes white blankets for future brides. Mine was a long time coming. 

Here's my favorite gift: The CUTEST lil' deep fryer EVER.

Just perfect for two.

Said chocolate-covered strawberries...mmm...

My bestie, Katie, who is a lovely and talented dentist practicing in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

Family gathered...

Friends perched high on a lofty tower! (The floating head is my bridesmaid and friend, Kaye, of earlier posts). She was so great that day (and every day!) helping and facilitating the whole she-bang. From left to right: Katie, Lori, Brandie, Jessica, Jen, Jamie, Nicki, Theresa. Thanks so much, ladies! I have the best friends in the world. Thank you thank you thank you for celebrating our special day!

And Jeremy is thankful, too! Especially for the fryer. :) 

Birthday Greetings!

Happy Birthday, Holly!

This past weekend was SUPER BUSY but I still have time to make an online birthday greeting to my bestie, Holly. (drumroll, please...)

My Top Ten Holly Memories and Moments 

 

10. Our eighth-grade trip to Washington, DC. I'll just leave it at that. Let's just say I was very insensitive and she probably should have never spoken to me again. Thank God for forgiving friends.

9. Painting her toenails at the James Cancer Center during her treatment for thyroid cancer

8. Having the BIGGEST crush on the same guy during our freshman year; I was at her slumber party the night he called HER and asked her out to a wedding--NOT ME. I was crushed. But like lots of things we've shared over the years, I dated him later that same year.

7. Singing David Allen Coe's "The Greatest Country and Western Song Ever Written" anytime its played in our presence

6. Cheering together for 6 years on the same cheerleading squads. She has put up with LOADS of my bossiness and perfectionism -- but we were GREAT cheerleaders and led GREAT squads.

5. Her wedding day -- getting our hair done by the same hairdresser who did our hair for our Eighth Grade Farewell Dance.

4. Holding her first son, Clayton, when he was one day old at the hospital. When I arrived at their room, I waited in the hallway , listening to her cries of pain as she tried to get up out of bed. ( I believe she had 20 hours of labor before they FINALLY took Clayton by Caesarian; you'd be sore, too.) 

3. Cooking dinner for our boyfriends on a double-date our Senior Year. The bf's were from rival towns, and we wanted them to be friends. I don't think they spoke to one another the entire night. But maybe it was our cooking that left them speechless.

2. Her description of one of the dresses I tried on for my wedding, "Its clean and white, just like a tooth." 

1. I have a motto that I often write on cards and envelopes, it says, "True friends know the song in your heart, and they sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." Holly had it embroidered on a blanket for me when I left for college. Its still on my bed in my home in Columbus. True friends are like honest mirrors: they show us the good, bad, and ugly in ourselves, and they inspire us to be better people.  Thanks for being that friend, Holly. Lastly, Holly have me a Precious Moment figurine for a birthday in Junior High -- its an elephant with a "don't forget" ribbon tied around his trunk. The figurine's title is "How Could I Ever Forget You?".

Inspired words, indeed, to my dear friend on her special day.