Thursday, December 31, 2009

Perfect wedding, perfect husband, perfect apartment :)


So, all of the hustle-and-bustle is over. The wedding was a blur - a beautiful blur. Everything went so smoothly -- and ALL OF OUR GUESTS SHOWED UP! Can you believe it? There were NO "no-shows". I am so grateful to our parents (and sweet Allan) who emotionally, mentally, physically and financially supported us on the day of our wedding. I don't really have words to describe it - but it was so beautiful.

Jeff and I wrote our own vows, without conversing about them prior to the wedding, and they said the same things (Jeff's, of course, were much more eloquent.) A main theme through our engagement and hope for our marriage was the idea of "choosing" each other. Eventually, the butterflies of being in love will subside, and we are going to have to continuously choose to love each other. This love, of 'choosing', is similar to the agape love of Jesus Christ.
In spite of our imperfections, Christ CHOOSES to love us, unconditionally - just as a husband and wife are called to love each other.

After the wedding, I immediately went to the Social Security office to change my name
- I am officially Laura Chin! Then, we headed up north to Crystal Mountain. The family I babysit for blessed us with their cottage at the resort - it was a real treat! Since I didn't have health insurance yet, skiing didn't seem like a wise decision. We spent an entire day at the spa (couples massage, sauna, outdoor hot-tub in the snow.) It was fabulous. We headed home on December 23rd (a day earlier than anticipated) because a big ice storm was supposed to hit Northern Michigan on December 24th (when we were planning on coming home for family parties.) Christmas Eve was spent with my mom's family and Christmas day was spent with my dad.

Jeff and I woke up at 4:00am on December 26th to head to our new home. It was so bittersweet. I cried ALL day on Christmas (the 25th), the 26th and the 27th. It's weird because within the past year, my brothers have become some of my best friends - and now, I'm gone. A little part of me wishes that we could stay in Detroit to live, but I know NYC is where the Lord wants us (for now!) I miss my mom (she is my best friend and closest confidante) and my dad. Nothing compares to the closeness I have with my family.

I'm trying to enjoy NYC while I'm here (don't worry, no more tears) but am looking forward to the day when Jeff and I can head back to the midwest.
Jeff has been diligently working on our apartment - building LOTS of ikea furniture :) It is officially looking like our first home :) It's in a great neighborhood, and is perfect for us. I am so grateful that Jeff desires to provide for us, and has saved money to allow us to make this teeny apartment our home (i'll post some pictures later.) One thing living in a small apartment forces you to do is DE-CLUTTER! It's fabulous. Living simply should be the only way to live ;)

Tonight, we are having Jeff's best friends over for New Years Eve (I hope they know how intimate this gathering will be!) I have cooked the past three nights - it hasn't been a TOO MUCH of a disaster :) Practice makes perfect, right?

Thanks for all of the prayers and support in regards to our wedding. Please continue to pray that I learn to embrace NYC as my home - that I would be affirmed this is where God wants me NOW - that I would not spend my time worrying about my family back home in Michigan. Ahh, yesterday I enjoyed a long run in Central Park - it makes me love NYC even more :)

Much Love.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Almost there!


Ahhh! I cannot believe we are only 5 days away from the big day! Please pray for Jeff, he is feeling a little bit under the weather and needs to drive to MI on Thursday.

I spent all day Sunday with Ashley making our wedding programs - they are so beautiful! Honestly, our wedding would have no details without that girl. We are so blessed to have her as a part of our wedding (and as one of our best friends!) I'll post some pictures of the programs soon.

So, I packed up my room this past weekend. It was a little bittersweet. I am so excited to move to New York - when I watch TV shows and movies that take place there, I get butterflies in my stomach (that's MY city!) When I tried to move away last time (to Taylor University, my first semester of college) I came home rather quickly. There's no backing out this time! Haha. Several people have told us that being away from family is the BEST thing for the first couple years of marriage. Just know - I hope and pray I can have babies (in 5 years or so) near my momma!

My brothers, Zak and Pete, have been so great during this planning process. Zak is letting all of the guys (Jeff's friends and brother from NY) stay at his condo downtown. They are also our ceremony musicians - mm m mm, so talented! I think our wedding has drawn us closer.

Jeff comes in Thursday - we will be heading to David and Heather's home with Jen and Clark to have a dinner party (celebrating the end of graduate school classes!) I'm so excited for this dinner party, but it too will be a little bittersweet. Heather and Jen have become two of my best friends over the past year and a half, and BAM! Now I'm leaving! Boo! Their friendship reminds me that it WILL be possible for me to meet new girlfriends in New York. God has been so faithful and has provided me with the most beautiful, intimate friendships with other young women.

Well, I have a couple things to do, so I need to scoot. Please pray for our wedding day and our marriage. Pray that God would use us to teach others about Him and His Son. Please also pray for safe travels (Jeff's family is coming in from New York, Florida, Boston and California!)

Our pictures will be up on our photographers website a few weeks after the wedding.
www.karapurtell.com Click on "proofing", then click on "Jeff & Laura". The password is: chinjl

Much love.