Generations of love...

Today Nick and I attended our marriage workshop at the church we are getting married at, Long Grove Community Church. Basically you spend all day with several other couples who are either getting married as well or who are already married and learn about how to successfully lead a healthy christian  married life. We gained a lot of insight on the strengths and weaknesses we tend to bring into marriage but at the same time the assets and liabilities we bring with us from our upbringings. Our instructor was very informative with tying in marriage and spirituality, he made many good points and had Nick and I on the edge of chairs. We even dug deeper as to what different upbringings we have witnessed through out time. It was quite interesting to hear every ones opinions and experiences.
Aside from our history, the instructor taught us about the Greek way of Agape love (divine love), Eros (physical love), Philios love (mutual love) - how to choose words wisely, reflect it in our attitudes, and reflect it in our actions. I know this all doesn't seem like much, but we truly learned more than we could begin to write a small blog about. Needless to say Nick and I were the only ones that stayed afterwards to speak with the instructor about all the thoughts and curiosities we had. It was truly a fulfilling day for the two of us, we couldn't stop talking about it for quite some time.

 

I thought that today kind of set the tone for the pictures I posted... This is just a few pictures my grandma and I dug up of our family and their weddings through out time. Unfortunately a few of the oldest photos such as the one at the top right for example didn't have the dates printed on them, I would love to know when some of these were taken, the era... The neat thing though is they each have a Chicago photography company imprinted on their holders which I plan to do research on (Since most of you know my passion for photography). Anyway, my grandma lent them to me since she knew I was very intrigued by our families history and the photographs themself, so I am in the process of copying a large box full right now for myself of many generations through out our families history.  

 

 

*Soon to be posted our wedding party, need to know locations for our BIG DAY, and some hot spots for our out of towners :) Stay tuned....

 

 

Wedding Checklist Fun....

So we are officially 7 months 1 day 19 hours and 46 minutes away from our wedding day as of today (not like we are counting down the days or anything ;) ). We had a pretty productive Saturday this weekend!!! Nick and I made a trip out to Dalzell & Co. in Crystal Lake and officially ordered my matching wedding band from Tacori, I couldn't be happier its just so beautiful and so REAL now:) I think we both had that giddy look in our eyes, the giddy look where its really happening and we can't wait to be married already and spend the rest of our lives together!!! Nick also had a chance to browse the men's wedding bands and found three he really liked so we ordered samples for him to try when my ring comes in, so we think we may have found his too!!! Such an exciting moment for the two of us.

After some ring shopping Nick and I decided to continue on with the wedding mood we were in and went over to Woodfield. There we were window shopping/trying on Nicks possible wedding day apparel, he wasn't crazy about it at first but as it went on he was having a blast with all the options he had!!! Needless to say we ended up finding his wedding day outfit, he looked sooooo handsome! Afterwards, we went out for some Chinese and celebrated knocking some huge stuff off our to do list over Sake.


Other than that, we have just been working through some of the little details, and preparing for our full day marriage work shop at the church this month, which we have had fun with all the prior homework we have been filling out together for it. After 5 years of being together we still continue learning new things about one another, our marriage workshop has proven that point. :) Aside from that we are just waiting for this month of craziness to come to an end. We figured a semi wedding free month due to me being out of town for two weeks for training and the possibility of moving was just a lot to digest in addition to the wedding. Once I get back the wedding festivities remain back in full speed! :)

Soon to come our fabulous wedding party;)