it's on

Ok, we have seriously begun the plans for marriage. well, we've discussed it before amongst the two of us...sure...but now we've also put the engagement party date on my parent's calendar, estimated the cost of a wedding with my sister, and are now actively looking at websites and locations, and working on creating the all important guest list. The ball is certainly rolling now.

The other day in the financial group we're in, our teacher was describing how his life changed once he was married and how they handled different things, like who would pay the bills, how the marriage becomes bigger than the both of you.

I'm finding it difficult to concentrate on work today, my mind being overrun by wanting to surf through wedding sites. We do have more than a year, which helps.

Another plus side is that I have my wedding veil. My cousin had gotten it from the Philippines, as she is getting most of her wedding stuff from there (invitations, dresses, etc), but its shimmer didn't match her dress, so she had to get another one. So, she offered the first one to me.

I again spent last weekend at another family party, a baptism for my cousin's daughter. They're Baptist, so I find it the rituals quite fascinating as they differ from Catholicism. There's a lot more prayer (a LOT more prayer) and no pouring of water. The parents just get a jar of it. Marriage and motherhood have been really good for my cousin, who was looking stunningly happy. Lots of little girls and babies running around which is becoming more of the norm at parties.

Spent most of the baptism ceremony watching another niece each Pringles chips, the way she would open and close the container just hoping that maybe the next time there would be more chips, instead of the last crumbs she poured onto her hand or the ones she picked off of her shirt. 3 year olds still believe in the magic of something coming out of nothing.

Right now, I'm taking a few breaths attempting to gather a few moments before I answer my mother's email about primary sponsors.