I found a fatal flaw in the logic of love.

Thank You...

For waking me up every morning.  You're so much better than an alarm clock.
For making me the perfect bowl of vanilla ice cream with Sander's hot fudge when I request.
For helping me to find my balance.
For being part of that balance.
For playing the devil's advocate.
For knowing when I'm pmsing.
For not taking my feisty comments personally when I'm pmsing.
For loving our dog and for sticking up for her when I make fun of her new haircut.
For bringing a turtle into our marriage.
For getting me, REALLY getting me.
For making me laugh.
For taking out the garbage and getting rid of spiders.
For seeing Sex and the City on opening day (your birthday) with me.
For loving my cooking.
For being honest with me when you don't love something I've cooked.
For loving my friends and for understanding how much they mean to me.
For having a sense of obligation that aligns with mine.
For adoring Charles & Evelyn.
For allowing me to spoil them rotten.
For respecting my parents.
For calling me out on my neuroses.
For comforting me when my neuroses get the best of me.
For inviting me into your family.
For letting me play your DS more than you do.
For enduring hours upon hours of "Jon & Kate Plus Eight"
For doing your part to help us to score like 90 something % on our pre-marital compatibility test.
For loving me so well, so unconditionally.

I love you my husband (and I still love calling you that!) Happy Birthday and many more!

PS:    Happy Birthday to my baby sister Andra!  I'm sorry you have to share your day.
PPS:  Thanks Mom R. for bringing Evan into this world!  Love you.

My Internet Soul Sister

I would have never thought when I started this blog that I would meet someone that having only met once, I still can call one of my dearest friends.  Today is Ms. Sizzle's Birthday.  Someone who brightens my world daily, supports and challenges me beyond the call of duty, and one who I lovingly refer to as my "Internet Soul Sister".

Happy Birthday Darling, if we didn't live so many miles apart, I'd buy you a whiskey & coke!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Head on over to her place and wish her well today.

A Perfect Union

Sometimes you look back and see how perfectly the path was set to find your soul mate.  Sometimes you laugh at how perfect two people are together, it almost seems unbelievable that two people could be so well in sync, and could compliment each other so well.

When you find that your dear friends have found the perfect match in each other, and that everything is exactly how it should be.

You celebrate.

Congratulations on your Union John & Katie.  I couldn't be happier that two of the people we love the most, will now be united together for a lifetime.

Cheers!

Wedding fabulousness (or: the biggest smiles EVER)

Hi there. Sandra here, filling in for the fabulous Alissa, who is happily honeymooning with her brand-new HUSBAND, the equally fabulous Evan.

I had the supreme pleasure of attending -- and participating in -- Alissa and Evan's wedding this past weekend, and it was (as you'd guess) amazing. The incredibly happy couple was surrounded by their incredibly supportive and happy families, who very clearly adore each other and are more cohesive already than some families who've been 'together' for decades (I spent a lot of the weekend being amazed at how well the in-laws all got along -- all of the four kids are married -- and how well everyone knew one another), and their friends -- or urban family members, depending on how you want to look at it -- and were so relaxed, happy and excited about the weekend that it put everyone else in an equally good frame of mind.

Couple that with gorgeous colors, courtesy of Fall in Northern Michigan, fantastic food and drinks, well-designed everything (yay, Evan!) and impeccable planning (I'll give that 'yay' to Alissa, who should really organize everyone's life) and a lack of worry about stuff that just doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, and you get a pretty friggin' perfect weekend -- which is exactly what I wanted for one of my best friends, who I love and adore more than I can possibly express, and her amazingly fabulous husband. As I said on Saturday, may both of them continue to cherish, respect and love every single part of each other, and continue to grow both their biological and urban families; we're all so happy to be a part of their lives. <virtual cheers!>

A few photos (I took almost none at the reception, due to the dancing and talking being a bit distracting, but this should give you a taste)...

View from the bridal/honeymoon suite

Walking into the rehearsal dinner (check out the sign above the door) and showing off their wedding tats at the dinner.

The night before the wedding, chilling in the room with Kerri -- and us cheering in the room, just before we left for breakfast on the wedding day.

Breakfast, the morning of the wedding (she was a GREAT bride and ate all her oatmeal)

Alissa and her fabulous new mother-in-law, and the bride (and Momma S! and hairdresser) during various hairdo stages.

The gang, getting ready in the bridal suite -- and the bride, diving into her dress with the help of the Jens (sister and bridesmaid)

The back of the dress, and a pic taken right before we went downstairs for the ceremony; Alissa saw Evan from the balcony (he couldn't see her) and this is how happy it made her...which is somehow making me tear up right now.

This is how happy both of them were all weekend (seriously, I thought Evan was going to break his face, he was smiling so widely!)

All in all, an absolutely amazing weekend which I was absolutely honored and thrilled to be a part of. Congratulations, Evan and Alissa, and I'm excited to hear all about the honeymoon when you get back in two weeks!!!

xxoo

She's Going to be One in TWO DAYS!

High Five for Someone's Birthday!

A couple years ago we were out on your birthday.  We had not started dating yet, we had barely become friends.  We each joined our friends (each their own half of a couple) and attended the Electronic Music Festival in Detroit.  After the music, we had dinner in Greek Town.  I sat there feeling guilty that your birthday hadn't been special enough for you, so I bought your dinner and I think you were a little surprised by the gesture but appreciative.

Who would have imagined two years ago would be the first of a lifetime of birthdays I would get to celebrate with you.  I am filled with joy each time I see how our paths crossed and how oblivious we both were to the significance of events at the time, at how the universe was setting us up all of these years to meet and build a life together.  This type of a hindsight is a gift that I treasure.

Happy Birthday Evan - my partner, my best friend and my "mate elect".

I look forward to celebrating the day of your birth for years to come!

PS:  Happy Birthday little sister!  I'm sorry you were now trumped for birthday wishes on the blog by my fiancé! 

Family

I've tried to figure out how to sum up a week of events into one or two posts for your pleasure, but I just can't find the words.  There is something so wonderful about family and I have to say that was my favorite part of the trip. 

I am so glad I got to wake up everyday for a week and see my niece and nephew.  They are growing more and amazing me more everyday and I had moments with them that I will remember always.  It was also great to see, really see our family portrait for the first time.  To see that this is my clan.  We have all found our soul mates and this will be us now. 

I laughed so hard, harder than I can remember in a long time.  I don't know what it is about siblings, but they can make you laugh like no one else.  In fact, there were a few times when I was afraid I was literally going to pee my pants from laughing so hard.  Now that is some good times.

Some highlights?

• Sunrise Biscuits in the morning - there was this tiny little shack I spotted on the side of the road one of the first days that had cars lined up into the street.  I thought "wow, that must be some good biscuits" and Holy Cow were they!  There was a big speaker with a hand written menu underneath it and that is where you placed your order if that tells you anything.  It was a jewel for sure and I believe we ate there 2 times?
• Quality Time with my Sisters - my older sister's in-laws attended the wedding and kindly watched the kids one day for a couple hours so we could have some time just the three of us.  We drove around listening to music and stopping in to different stores.  We laughed, sang and ate Chick-Fil-A.  Can you think of a better day?
• Driving with my Mom and singing along to all of the songs on the "EZ Movin'" station on her satellite radio.
• Watching Mary Poppins in the back of the van with my nephew on the drive home - singing all the songs together and sharing one of my favorite movies with my favorite nephew.
• Dancing with Evan at the wedding and talking about how in a few short months it will be our wedding.  Being so excited together and anxious to continue the planning.
• Getting a text message from my younger sister who was with the bride while my older sister and I were on our way that read "Mom is crying, Meg is doing tequila shots and hasn't eaten anything today".
• Watching Evan bond with my brother and brother-in-laws throughout this weekend and the entire wedding process.  Seeing him become truly part of our family.
• Climbing into hotel beds at night to watch American Idol or Dancing with the Stars with my nephew and not even caring that I was actually watching American Idol or Dancing with the Stars.
• Getting to know Meg and her friends and family better, getting to see a different side of her and being excited to get to know her even better now that she's moving to Michigan!

It truly was a great trip.

Sandra

The other day I was asked to name one of my closest friends and explain why they hold such a position in my life and what exactly makes them so special to me.  The first person that came to mind was Sandra and I found it so difficult to put into words what her friendship means to me.

She has seen all of my flaws, she has seen me at my weakest and my strongest.  She has been a voice of reason and comforting shoulder for 14 years now and I would like to think she knows me about as well as just about anyone could.  We have weathered many a storm together and she is the first person that comes to mind when I think of my "Urban Family". 

What makes her so special?  Her wicked sense of humor, her ability to give sage-like advice to all of her friends and the way she makes everyone she comes into contact with feel like part of her world and her world although it stretches from Australia to San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, New York and beyond, feels very small when she makes you a part of it.  That is truly one of her gifts.  She forms relationships and builds a life that spans the world and takes you along on the journey.

Sandra is one of the smartest women I know as well as one of the humblest.  She will wow you with her knowledge of Lifetime movies and Britney Spears and is an endless source for the latest gossip; in the next breath she'll give you her opinion on current events, explain the latest tech craze or give you a report on the 5 books she just finished last week.

She makes me laugh and makes me think and I am honored to call her my friend, to have shared 14 of the last 30 years of her life and I look forward to an ever growing, ever changing friendship for years to come.

Today is the 30th birthday of one of the most amazing women I've ever had the honor of calling a friend.  Join me in wishing her a very happy birthday and many more!

Happy Birthday

Today is the fabulous Ms. Sizzle's Birthday!

Believe me when I tell you that she is even more fabulous in person.  Case in point?  I've met her once in real life, yet I talk to her everyday and consider her one of my dearest friends.  She's invited to my wedding!  She is an amazing, loving, gifted and strong woman and I am honored to call her a friend.

She's also hosting a Love Fest over at her blog today in honor of her birthday, stop by and wish her well. 

Happy Birthday my dear friend!

Till He Appeared and the Soul Felt Its Worth