An Announcement

Dear family, friends, casual acquaintances, and sworn enemies,

It is with great pleasure and giddiness (and more than a little impatience) that Daniel and I finally have the privilege of making this announcement to you all...



We're going to have a baby!

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, the fuzzy blur with the over-exclaimed caption is our happy, healthy, little, lime-sized son or daughter. The due date is a special one...February 3rd. This date is not only Daniel's birthday, but it also marks the day that my wonderful mama left this broken life for a much sweeter one when she went home to her Savior.

We're excited.

I've joked that this baby, only 12 weeks along, is already earning a spanking...taking into account the miserable, miserable morning sickness, the headaches, the bizarre food aversions (chicken, coconut, and coffee), the routine acne breakouts, the crazily vivid dreams, and the sciatic nerve s/he LOVES to pinch, this kiddo seems out to get me. Fortunately, I'm told babies like these typically ease up on mama going into the second trimester. Maybe Baby Timberlake just needs some time to get to know me...?

Despite all the aforementioned crimes against me, I already love our baby dearly. Not all the dreams I have are crazy...sometimes I just dream about giving our little one a bath, or snuggling on the couch. I've been knitting a baby blanket and I *love* being able to pour all my love and effort into something that will protect my little winter baby from the cold when we come home for the first time.

I suppose the REAL question this lovely situation begs is...do I have to change my blog title?

Romance has kicked the bucket

So, in honor of this oft-despised (yet generally over-appreciated) holiday, I thought I would share these verses I wrote the year before Daniel and I started dating. Enjoy...

A Cautionary Tale

Romance has kicked the bucket
Just when she was wanted most.
While waiting for the coroner
To tell us what the causes were,
I'm nearly...almost...yes, I'm sure:
Cupid gave up his ghost.

Young men and ladies weep now!
Search your closets, dress in black.
Black coats and dresses, slacks, and gloves.
O lovebirds, turn to mourning doves,
For I just heard that Puppy Love
Died of a heart attack.

Now hear this--even sadder!
When I thought the worst was over,
I was stricken with the blues.
At 6 o'clock, the evening news
Left my poor heart quite soundly bruised.
Guess who died? Russell Stover.

There is no joy in Mudville.
Alas! No sun will shine.
I'm told the blame, in whole or part,
From mournful end to wretched start,
Lies on the lonely, single hearts
Scorned by St. Valentine.

The theory that I've heard from
My old neighbor down the hall
Is that the fates of the departed
Were met when singles, brokenhearted,
Simultaneously pity-partied
Till they killed 'em, killed 'em all.

(The moral of this fiction--
Be it sober, steep, and scary--
Is, though you want a Valentine
So much, your poor heart peaks and pines,
And though you're single--as am I...


...Please don't hate February.)

***

I actually forgot that Valentine's Day was coming up until Daniel mentioned it on Saturday. Thus, I did not remember to ask the manager at my night job if I could have the night off to celebrate.

I know. Bad wifey.

Especially since this is a special one: our first Valentine's Day as husband and wife. That's a big one, right? Well, fortunately, I have a very understanding, very flexible employer and he took my name off the schedule as soon as I told him what happened.

And thus began the last-minute scramble for date plans. The dinner reservation has been made and we have agreed to exchange gifts next weekend...y'know...since I forgot to buy him a present, too. (Man, I'm a winner. Lucky he loves me so much, or I'd be toast.)

Daniel and I are returning to the site of our first Valentine's Day date this evening: Benihana. I've only been there one other time, and that was the night Daniel popped the question. I'm quite excited about this.

I hope all of you enjoy your evening, whatever your plans entail (Several of my single friends are enjoying ladies nights in, complete with margaritas, chick flicks, pajama bottoms, and other single buddies. Not a bad alternative to flowers and candy, if you ask me).

Be loved and loving, blessed and fulfilled, happy and well today. And may the great Lover of your soul make his presence known to you on this day that celebrates His greatest attribute.

Happily Ever,
Ashley Michele

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-11)

"I have not seen the righteous forsaken."

Sing for joy, O heavens and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the LORD has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted
Isaiah 49:13 (ESV)

I have been young and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
Psalm 37:25 (ESV)

***

The Lord has comforted his people. The righteous have not been forsaken.

Let me tell you...there are some days when remembering these truths is all I need to keep pressing on. Thank you, Lord, for sending out the light of your word in the midst of the darkness we step out into each day.

Why I Will Marry Him Anyway

On Sunday, I will marry Daniel.

Marrying him means there are some plans I had for my life that I have to lay down--perhaps forever. But I will marry him anyway.

Marrying him means there are some favorite dinners of mine that I won't be cooking much because he's not as fond of them. I will marry him anyway.

Marrying him means there are some very special people who will choose to step away from my life. I will marry him anyway.

Marrying him means I won't go to the coffeehouse I love as often as I used to. I will marry him anyway.

Marrying him means knowing the pedestal I put him on got knocked over a long time ago. I will marry him anyway.

Because marrying him means learning that sometimes there are other things besides myself which should be important to him. It means loving each other through the times that we want to yell our faces off because each of us thinks the other is being so, so bullheaded.

It means understanding that vowing "till death do we part" means forfeiting the lone escape clause. It means choosing to vow "till death do we part" anyway. It means loving each other through better and worse, even when the "worse" is unthinkable. It means understanding that "worse" can be a tired heart, another love, an addiction, a habitual sin, or a fervent desire to just walk away.

It means laughter and happiness and heartache and frenzy and grief and fear and compassion and empathy and companionship. It means being there through the 19th nervous breakdown...and the 20th...and the 21st. It means watching football on the couch, even though I don't like football. It means chick flicks on the rug, even though he doesn't like chick flicks. It's washing dishes and sweeping the floor. It's midnight feedings and taking turns helping our kiddo figure out the potty. It's seven-year itches and mid-life crises and lovingly symbiotic senility.

But it also means, "it is not good for man to be alone". It means, "he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD". It's, "wives, respect your husbands" and "husbands, love your wives". It's, "my lover is mine and I am his". It's, "many waters cannot quench love" and, "rivers cannot wash it away".

I understand the great cost of binding my life to that of another. But I love Daniel, I trust him, and I trust the Lord's wisdom in providing me such a wonderful, wonderful man...


...so I will marry him anyway.



**********

Happily Ever,
~Ashley Michele~

I've Not Failed

"I've not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
-Thomas Edison

Edison had the right idea, y'all. This is my new mantra. I will carry it with me into my happy place whenever something dreadful happens...like when I pick the perfect park for my wedding--one that has charm and sentimental value and is very conveniently located--and Dallas Parks and Recreation evidently has only ONE person in the entire city that can reserve the park for me. And then that lady takes my reservation and tells me there won't be any problem. And then that lady doesn't return any calls for two or three more weeks.

And then that lady tells us that our wedding reservation has been canceled...in favor of a children's soccer game. (Yeah, really.) And I will continue to repeat Edison's words of optimism to myself even as I am told that she was going to tell me earlier, but she wanted to see if the principals would change their minds about the game first.

Then I will set that mantra to music and sing, hum, and whistle the dickens out of that thing in order to pacify my nerves as I make phone calls and order frequent brainstorming sessions with my fiance and wedding planner in an effort to scramble and find a new venue that suits our needs in time to have the invitations printed.

And then maybe it will set in...that indeed, I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that my carefully planned and lovingly crafted wedding ceremony will NOT work. And then I might decide that that's just too much optimism for one month, and then I'll have my melodramatic fit anyway.

**********

I finally have another wedding venue that's gonna work. The only thing is, it's in Oklahoma. I guess that makes this something of a hillbilly destination wedding, yeah? *shrug* While Daniel and I were furiously trying to find a Plan B for the wedding (which is now just a scant 17 days away), one of us had the idea to call the reserve where we planned our honeymoon. The manager had mentioned that they've hosted some small weddings on the property. It's a lovely area, set in the hills with the Ouachita National Forest just off to the side. Scenic highways, rustic cabins, and a beautiful creek that runs through the property are just a few of the reasons why we love this place. I'm getting excited about my wedding again.

Now, unfortunately, this does mean that we won't be able to celebrate with as many people as we had once wished (see my previous post for more on that), so we're currently planning a second wedding reception, to be held right here in Dallas. It won't be the formal to-do that accompanies the wedding day...we're currently thinking a potluck fellowship would be less of the "look at us!" kind of party and more of the "celebrate with us!" environment that we wish to create. The upside to this plan is that we will be able to host many, many more of our loved ones than we would've initially been able to invite, had we held an entire wedding here in Dallas. Check back with the blog periodically for more details on this. We're excited. :-)


Happily Ever,
~Ashley Michele~

To Everyone I Know: An Open Letter

Dear All,

Due to several determining factors, it is with great chagrin that we inform you that we will be cutting back our guest list. Unfortunately, our venue will only accommodate a limited number of guests--many fewer than we initially anticipated--so we will be celebrating the day with a much smaller gathering of friends and family. If we are unable to extend you an invitation, please know that it was with regret and that your presence truly will be missed on our big day. It is our hope that you will still celebrate with us in spirit and remember how dearly loved you are.

With much love and appreciation,
Daniel and Ashley

Engagement Pictures Are Here!!

...and not a moment too soon. I was getting antsy, but they were worth the wait. The full photo album can be seen here. But if you favor the highlight reel over the play-by-play, here are some of my favorites:


















This one might be my favorite:



The reason? Well, dear readers, this is not any ordinary spot in Addison Circle Park. This is THE spot. As in, the spot where Daniel dropped to one knee the first time. The spot where he produced a little Taco Bell hot sauce packet from his back pocket. The spot where he put a ring on my finger and danced with me under a streetlight even though there was no music. The spot where we stopped dog-walking strangers so they could take a picture of us on the most awesome night of my life (so far). But this is what it looked like the first time around...



Yikes, I'm just so happy with him...what did I ever do with myself before I had Daniel?


**********

I suppose that concludes my post for today. Until next time, beloved, I remain...

Happily Ever,
~Ashley Michele