9 Days

Todd and I went to the Village earlier this week!  It was a good break from the wedding work and planning.  It was lots of fun, and nice to just stop thinking about the celebration and spend some time with the reason for the celebration :)

And what adventure would be complete without a Superman logo? ;)

Not to say that all of the wedding planning has been bad, or that I am no longer excited about the wedding itself... but earlier this week it grew harder to be excited, and much easier to be frustrated and wonder why elopement wasn't more seriously considered.

It's been fine, really—but when Mom is stressed, Katrina is stressed!  So a day with Superman was great, and good timing because mom was in "recovery" from panic mode and feeling much better.  And then, suddenly I was feeling better too!

I can hardly believe that in less than 9 days Todd and I will be married, it has come so quickly (though, I confess, sometimes I have wondered if it would ever come!).
I'm excited.  The kind of excited that you feel right before you start at a new school, or maybe a new school year.  The excitement that brings butterflies to your stomach as you try to imagine a very different life.  The kind of nervous / sad that comes from leaving home and my comfortable routine, the constant presence of my mamma and the place that I have always known.  The excitement that brings a slight flush when you think of living in a new home, finding a new schedule, job and general way of life.  The kind of excitement that happens when something you have been waiting for for a long time is coming closer and closer, and the number of days are counted in a single digit!

It's going to be new, it's going to take some adjustment, some patience (and if I know myself very well), it's going to a lot of growth and forgiveness. But I am excited, and God will help us through the tough times that we will encounter.  I wish I could say everything that I am feeling the way I want to... I am a little nervous about the change that is coming, but I am also very excited :)



The kind of excitement that comes when I can almost, almost say that I am the wife of Superman :)

.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

Not So Much, Sleeping Beauty!

Lately I've begun having wedding dreams again.  It's funny, I'm really not worried about the wedding itself at all.
Will it all go smoothly?
Probably not.
Do we have back-up plans?
Yeah
Will it make everyone happy?
Likely not, but honestly, the purpose of the wedding is to CELEBRATE with Todd, myself and our families—if you're not happy with how we did something, then you are free to leave.

But regardless, every dream that I've had lately has something to do with the wedding—the other night Sienna (Maid of Honor) and I had to sneak into the school across the street because Connor and Hunter needed different shoe sizes for the wedding.  Connor also wanted some snacks and I remember being a little irritated because the snacks I found contained soy, and I can't have soy!  So I wasn't going to get a snack at the wedding.
Weird...

In one of my dreams last night there was a thrift store / game show with wedding items all laid out. Todd and I were desperately trying to figure out what we needed (apparently there was a timer or something?) and not having very good luck.  Our confusion was growing by the moment!  And I don't really remember anything else, just confusion and trying to listen to everyone give advice all at once.
Oye

And it has been so hot lately that sleeping hasn't been as "sweet" lately.  I'm used to sleeping through the night but now I'm waking up and tossing around and thinking over my weird-o dreams.  Honestly, I'm more worried about being a good wife after the wedding, about finding a job and being able to do everything that needs to be done as an *adult*, and just adjusting to a new life!  I mean, I'm excited about it and even impatient at times, but I am also nervous... it's a new adventure!

It's been good, and I'm far from dreading it—I don't want to give that impression!  Just the close date, and the reality beginning to hit about the change that is coming!  Experiencing some "firsts" and "lasts" now—last dental appointment under Dad's insurance... first bridal shower (picture above)... last time living entirely at home... first letter with "Mr. & Mrs. Crouch" referring to me!... first time moving items into "our apartment"(still packaged—he's not allowed to use them until we're married, lol)...

Only about 16 more days!

Busy? Me?

There is no way to describe the flood of emotions and happenings that have taken place over the past month, but before I attempt to give you a glimpse of what it has been like to be "me" over the past few weeks, I have a dozen blurbs of advice:

1. Don't try to plan your wedding right after the last semester of your college career
2. DO laugh off wedding nightmares.  It's one day, who cares if you remember to shave your legs or not?  The groom? psh
3. Don't go to Italy right before your wedding
4. DO be nice to your mom, she may just be doing everything for your wedding while you're in Italy
5. DO go the cheaper route when planning your wedding, because last minute expenses add up and it's better tot have a cushion.
6. Don't depend on friends to do everything, it stresses them out and it stresses you out.
7. DO find a super guy, because he'll have to calm you down as you look over your To-Do-before-I-Do list, and he'll need to help with a thing or too (it works best if this "super guy" is also "the groom")
8. DO take extra memory cards when going to Italy, you will fill every.one.you.have.
9. DO have a normal sleep schedule. Don't stay up writing blog posts about being busy / tired
10. DO eat gelato every day while in Italy, because American ice cream is just not the same
11. DO shop for wedding rings before the final month.  oops
12. DO plan some times for rest and friends, you will need it.


Italy was great, but it was the craziest three weeks ever.  Every city in Italy is so different than the others that we went through a small culture shock transition with each move we made (every 2–3 days or so).  I don't mean to sound negative, because I really did love it.  I was a little reluctant to leave at first, but once I was in Italy I was just excited to see more and more; to soak in the culture and the artwork that I was seeing.  However, as ready as I was to explore and see the sights, I was also very ready to return.  Three weeks is a long time, and to be honest, I would rather not leave the country again for the amount of time without Superman.  It was a hard and rather frustrating separation period.

 Me in Assissi—pardon the un-edited photo, I haven't had a spare moment to edit them yet :-/

The view was breathtaking in person—so green!

 In the Vatican <3

Hiking in the Alps :)

Once I was back from Italy, I spent time recovering from the time difference.  I returned at 5:00pm Detroit time, but it was 11:00pm Italy time (and I had been up since 5:00am Italy time!).  I was DEAD TIRED, I can't remember a lot of what actually happened that night—it is all a blur as I struggled to stay awake and soak up as much family, Todd and the English language as I could!

After a day of laundry and catching up on Emails, my mamma finally returned the next evening!  We talked for a little before I had another hang-out night with Todd and my sibs.  The next day brought another whirlwind, this time it was filled with Wedding-To-Dos.  After a moment of panic we got started.  And that's where I've been ever since.  I went today to help the new ADC summer staff figure out what the summer is going to look like for them and hang out with some camp friends for a little while :)  I also got my weekly baby-fix through some time with little Hayleigh!  What a sweetheart :)

Alright, I'm losing it now—my head keeps jerking back up as I recover from a small doze.
More later (hopefully)