Just 71 days til our re-dedication day. 67 days til we leave. So excited.
Last night Tim and I had a chance to see the wax mold of my wedding ring. Not very exciting until I put it on, and the jeweler placed the blue topaz in the setting. Having it right next to my engagement ring was amazing. It's gorgeous, cannot wait to see it in the actual ring, with the sapphires and diamonds, and then on my finger next to my engagement ring. It's going to be so beautiful.
Jennifer Smith with Turtle Bay Cafe/MarryMeAkumal is our wedding coordinator. She's meeting with the florist today to finalize the flowers for my bouquet and the arch. I'll be getting a final quote from her for everything once we have that worked out.
The day is shaping up quite nicely. The plan is this:
We will book a room for September 9th, our re-dedication day, at the Hotel Akumal Caribe (HAC), which is the hotel right on the beach at the location of our ceremony. This will be base camp for the day and evening.
After lunch, the two of us will head over to HAC with all of our stuff for the ceremony and for the dinner after. This is where I will have hair and makeup done, Tim will dress and after he has left, I will be helped into my dress.
At 5:30 will be waiting on the beach in front of the Akumal Webcam so the children and anyone else that wants to can watch, the camera updates every ten seconds or so.
http://www.locogringo.com/Upload/akumal-beach-cam.html
There will be an arch, decorated with coral chiffon draping, and flowers. The music will be played over the sound system at the Lol Ha restaurant right there on the beach. As the music begins, I will walk from the south end of the beach to the arch, that's a great aisle to walk down.
When I get to the arch, the music will be timed to change from the song I walk to, "Ill Stand By You" by the Pretenders, to some quieter background music by George Winston. We will both have our own prepared "vows", for lack of a better word, and afterwards, we will exchange rings, sealed with a kiss.
Then we will have a photo shoot, ending with a "trash the dress" session.
We can clean up, change, and generally freshen up in the hotel room at HAC, and then go out to the beach at about 7:00 ish, for our dinner on the beach, complete with torches. Not sure you will be able to see this on the webcam, but, will find out.
The time difference is one hour, Akumal is an hour ahead, so, it will be 5:30 for the ceremony for us, but, here in Utah it will be 4:30. So synchronize your watches for 16:30 hours on September 9th, and tune in for our big event.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Hekab Be wishlist
Wishlist Spring 2011 ( will try to get updated list for fall)
glue guns and glue sticks to use in them
foam craft sheets
paint brushes, various sizes for craft painting
any type of arts and crafts supplies such as feathers, glitter, pom poms, rhinestones, etc
tissue paper
crepe paper
stencils for drawing pictures
(the kind of things that can be easily transported, so nothing to heavy or bulky, we will purchase those types of items in Mexico)
they also want toys, craft kits, all with instructions in spanish, so, perhaps will also have to purchase those in Mexico. This is where any money donations would come in handy.
What they do not need is,
erasers
scissors
colored pencils
calculators
rulers
markers
pens or pencils
crayons
scotch tape
stickers
chalk
glue guns and glue sticks to use in them
foam craft sheets
paint brushes, various sizes for craft painting
any type of arts and crafts supplies such as feathers, glitter, pom poms, rhinestones, etc
tissue paper
crepe paper
stencils for drawing pictures
(the kind of things that can be easily transported, so nothing to heavy or bulky, we will purchase those types of items in Mexico)
they also want toys, craft kits, all with instructions in spanish, so, perhaps will also have to purchase those in Mexico. This is where any money donations would come in handy.
What they do not need is,
erasers
scissors
colored pencils
calculators
rulers
markers
pens or pencils
crayons
scotch tape
stickers
chalk
Donations for the Hekab Be library Akumal
I will be collecting donations of clothing and toys for the Mayan children in Akumal.
The Hekab Be library's mission is to promote literacy and learning opportunities for the children and adults in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
In the spirit of giving back to a place and a people that have given so much to Tim and I, we wanted to make a donation that would be just as meaningful to them as they have been to us. The Mayan and local Mexican families that live and work in and around Akumal have so little and yet they give so much of themselves. The donations collected by the Hekab Be library go directly to the children and their families, with very little spent on actually running the program. In-kind donations are of great value. Check out their blog at hekabbe.blogspot.com
On the blog you can donate to the library, to their summer school program, or check out the t shirts they sell.
The Hekab Be library's mission is to promote literacy and learning opportunities for the children and adults in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
In the spirit of giving back to a place and a people that have given so much to Tim and I, we wanted to make a donation that would be just as meaningful to them as they have been to us. The Mayan and local Mexican families that live and work in and around Akumal have so little and yet they give so much of themselves. The donations collected by the Hekab Be library go directly to the children and their families, with very little spent on actually running the program. In-kind donations are of great value. Check out their blog at hekabbe.blogspot.com
On the blog you can donate to the library, to their summer school program, or check out the t shirts they sell.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
73 Days and counting
It's hard to believe we're just 73 days away from our big day, and less than that til we leave for Mexico. I'm still working on my dress, and the veil is still not due in for a week or so. The wax mold for my ring is ready to approve, will be stopping in tomorrow evening to do that.
Katie is in London for her BYU Study abroad program and is loving every bit, well, except for the rain.
Mindy is working at Gymboree, and the UVU Norda theater summer camp. She was just accepted at the Sundance summer theater, not sure what she's going to be doing though.
Matthew just left this morning for the Priests quorum's summer week long adventure in St George. Hope it all goes well for him.
The girls are officially bored with summer, and want something to do every second.
So much still to do before I run out of prep time.
Katie is in London for her BYU Study abroad program and is loving every bit, well, except for the rain.
Mindy is working at Gymboree, and the UVU Norda theater summer camp. She was just accepted at the Sundance summer theater, not sure what she's going to be doing though.
Matthew just left this morning for the Priests quorum's summer week long adventure in St George. Hope it all goes well for him.
The girls are officially bored with summer, and want something to do every second.
So much still to do before I run out of prep time.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Significance of the date
I realized just in the past couple of weeks the significance of the date we chose for our re-dedication. It's 9-9-11, kind of interesting, 9 911, get it.
We will be in Mexico for the tenth anniversary of 9/11.
So, in preparation mode in a big way now, with the trip only 72 days away, and I will be gone from August 28th to September 2nd, and then I work all night on the 3rd on a work related training in Maryland for FEMA. I will have to be packed for Mexico before I leave for the FEMA trip, and just have to quickly make the switch from one suitcase to another. It will be good to not be focusing on the Mexico trip so much in the days leading up to it, but, if I had to choose, I would not have gone to Maryland just before. It will hopefully not be a big deal, but, I really don't want to be stressing at the last minute either for lack of feeling prepared.
We have our flights booked on United, we're really flying Continental but it was through United as a codeshare partner. Our room is booked at ABR for ten nights. We'll also be booking a room at Hotel Akumal Caribe for the day of the rededication so we have a place to have my hair and makeup done, get dressed, and then afterwards shower off and change into our dinner clothes, as we will be covered in sand and salt water.
The photographer, Blue Lens Caribe, is all set, I will be emailing them a week or so before we leave with the final arrangments.
Jennifer at Turtle Bay is our coordinator, and she is waiting to hear back from the florist about my bouquet and the flowers for the arch.
The dinner will be handled by the chef at Lol Ha restaurant on the beach.
We're making the final decisions about timing, based on where the sun is at a given time to get the best chance at good lighting without too much heat.
Tim's wedding ring is being made, and mine is still in the design stages just waiting on the wax sculpture to be finished to make the final decision on the finished design.
My dress was fitted to me months ago, and now I need to take it in, so, I'm half way through the adjustments, and will be adding sleeves after I get the satin and toulle I need.
We will be in Mexico for the tenth anniversary of 9/11.
So, in preparation mode in a big way now, with the trip only 72 days away, and I will be gone from August 28th to September 2nd, and then I work all night on the 3rd on a work related training in Maryland for FEMA. I will have to be packed for Mexico before I leave for the FEMA trip, and just have to quickly make the switch from one suitcase to another. It will be good to not be focusing on the Mexico trip so much in the days leading up to it, but, if I had to choose, I would not have gone to Maryland just before. It will hopefully not be a big deal, but, I really don't want to be stressing at the last minute either for lack of feeling prepared.
We have our flights booked on United, we're really flying Continental but it was through United as a codeshare partner. Our room is booked at ABR for ten nights. We'll also be booking a room at Hotel Akumal Caribe for the day of the rededication so we have a place to have my hair and makeup done, get dressed, and then afterwards shower off and change into our dinner clothes, as we will be covered in sand and salt water.
The photographer, Blue Lens Caribe, is all set, I will be emailing them a week or so before we leave with the final arrangments.
Jennifer at Turtle Bay is our coordinator, and she is waiting to hear back from the florist about my bouquet and the flowers for the arch.
The dinner will be handled by the chef at Lol Ha restaurant on the beach.
We're making the final decisions about timing, based on where the sun is at a given time to get the best chance at good lighting without too much heat.
Tim's wedding ring is being made, and mine is still in the design stages just waiting on the wax sculpture to be finished to make the final decision on the finished design.
My dress was fitted to me months ago, and now I need to take it in, so, I'm half way through the adjustments, and will be adding sleeves after I get the satin and toulle I need.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Just makes me sigh.........
This is my aisle for the re-dedication. I'll begin my walk from the farthest point in this picture. The sand really is that white, and it's powdery soft. The seaweed will be raked off the beach, so, it will be pristine for my walk.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
86 days
Wow, the time is really starting to fly. Just 86 days til we're standing on that beach in Mexico making our life together all new again.
I still have to take my dress in about 3 inches, maybe 4. I have lost weight since ordering it, so, it just has to come in. My veil is being made and will be here mid July. I have chosen Tim's wedding ring, and it is being made at Jared's as well. The design of the ring is a secret, but, it does have elements that tie it to mine.
We booked our room at Akumal Beach Resort in Akumal Mexico, 10 nights 11 days all inclusive on the pristine and powdery soft white sand beach of Akumal Bay, and all for just $1500. Our room will be on the top floor, so the view of the Caribbean will be spectacular.
Our airline tickets are booked through United, roundtrip for both of us is $780.
So, even if nothing else comes together for our re-dedication, we will be there, and can just punt. Jennifer at Turtle Bay Cafe and Bakery is a wedding coordinator, and she is handling the arrangments under my direction. Everything else is so simple, with only a few details being tied up right now, the flowers and the cake. We're almost ready.
I still have to take my dress in about 3 inches, maybe 4. I have lost weight since ordering it, so, it just has to come in. My veil is being made and will be here mid July. I have chosen Tim's wedding ring, and it is being made at Jared's as well. The design of the ring is a secret, but, it does have elements that tie it to mine.
We booked our room at Akumal Beach Resort in Akumal Mexico, 10 nights 11 days all inclusive on the pristine and powdery soft white sand beach of Akumal Bay, and all for just $1500. Our room will be on the top floor, so the view of the Caribbean will be spectacular.
Our airline tickets are booked through United, roundtrip for both of us is $780.
So, even if nothing else comes together for our re-dedication, we will be there, and can just punt. Jennifer at Turtle Bay Cafe and Bakery is a wedding coordinator, and she is handling the arrangments under my direction. Everything else is so simple, with only a few details being tied up right now, the flowers and the cake. We're almost ready.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Ring
The engagement ring, the center stone was taken from our original wedding set. the band is yellow gold and the crown is white gold.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday's Big Event!!!!
I'm engaged!!!!
Okay, so, I'm engaged to be rededicated, or something like that.
Last night Tim drove us up as far as I think you can go in Woodland Hills before you run out of road. He apparently had driven around looking for a good spot, and found this park that overlooks the entire valley. The view was amazing and it was so quiet up there. He unpacked from the car a blanket, a pillow, the video camera and a bag of KFC. I had just worked 12 hours and was pretty much starving, so I was pretty jazzed about that.
He plopped the stuff on a bench at the edge of the park, and kind of milled around a bit, nervously. He set up the camera and did a bit more milling about, and then he stood on the edge of the hill, stretched out his arms and shouted "To God and all the world, I Love this woman!" so, I may have the words wrong, it was kind of surprising, so, I will have to play back the tape to get the words right, but, that was the jist of it. Then he turned around and pulled a ring box out of his pocket, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. He was all teary eyed, and so was I. Of course I said yes.
My ring is so beautiful. The center diamond is the original one from my old wedding set. Along either side are six marquis diamonds making leaves with the center diamond being like the flower. Very pretty, and set on a white gold crown with a yellow gold band. I'll upload a picture later. I will also upload the video.
The wedding ring that Tim will put on my finger is currently being created by Jared jewelers. It's a white gold band, with a Swiss Blue Topaz set on a crown that is a bit lower than where my engagement diamond sits to not overshadow it. Along each side of the topaz will be a smaller dark sapphire set in a smaller crown and three little diamonds set into the band. When it's all done there will be thirteen diamonds, two sapphires and one blue topaz on my finger. Thirteen is not only my lucky number, but, is the date of our first wedding 28 years ago. We were married on Friday the 13th, and we just got re-engaged on Friday using the first seven of the thirteen diamonds.
Now I just need to get Tim's ring finished. That's going to be kept under wraps just in case he looks on this blog, I don't want to give it away.
Okay, so, I'm engaged to be rededicated, or something like that.
Last night Tim drove us up as far as I think you can go in Woodland Hills before you run out of road. He apparently had driven around looking for a good spot, and found this park that overlooks the entire valley. The view was amazing and it was so quiet up there. He unpacked from the car a blanket, a pillow, the video camera and a bag of KFC. I had just worked 12 hours and was pretty much starving, so I was pretty jazzed about that.
He plopped the stuff on a bench at the edge of the park, and kind of milled around a bit, nervously. He set up the camera and did a bit more milling about, and then he stood on the edge of the hill, stretched out his arms and shouted "To God and all the world, I Love this woman!" so, I may have the words wrong, it was kind of surprising, so, I will have to play back the tape to get the words right, but, that was the jist of it. Then he turned around and pulled a ring box out of his pocket, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. He was all teary eyed, and so was I. Of course I said yes.
My ring is so beautiful. The center diamond is the original one from my old wedding set. Along either side are six marquis diamonds making leaves with the center diamond being like the flower. Very pretty, and set on a white gold crown with a yellow gold band. I'll upload a picture later. I will also upload the video.
The wedding ring that Tim will put on my finger is currently being created by Jared jewelers. It's a white gold band, with a Swiss Blue Topaz set on a crown that is a bit lower than where my engagement diamond sits to not overshadow it. Along each side of the topaz will be a smaller dark sapphire set in a smaller crown and three little diamonds set into the band. When it's all done there will be thirteen diamonds, two sapphires and one blue topaz on my finger. Thirteen is not only my lucky number, but, is the date of our first wedding 28 years ago. We were married on Friday the 13th, and we just got re-engaged on Friday using the first seven of the thirteen diamonds.
Now I just need to get Tim's ring finished. That's going to be kept under wraps just in case he looks on this blog, I don't want to give it away.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
96 Days and counting
In 96 days Tim and I will be standing on the beach in Akumal Mexico re-dedicating our marriage to each other. We've been through a lot in our 28 years of marriage, and I think we have finally figured it out, or at least most of it. Now that we have come through some of the worst of times, we can start new, with a fresh outlook, and great expectations.
Our first wedding, on Friday the 13th in May of 1983, was such a crazy day, with everything that could go wrong, going wrong. We were both just making ends meet, and had no help from our families to plan or pull off a wedding, so, many of the things we wanted we just had to accept we were going to do without. So many people were trying to take control and make decisions for us, and we weren't strong enough to really stand up for what we wanted. When we look back, we can see how we were pulled and pushed from both our families. In the end, we were sealed for time and all eternity in the most amazing temple, the Washington DC temple, and that's all that really matters. Still, we have a second chance now to do things the way we want, and have the day be completely ours. And that's just what we're doing.
Starting with a full on white wedding dress with long train, not too long, topped off with a cathedral length lace veil attached to a silver and blue headband made of metal and rhinestones, very pretty. Tim will be wearing a cuban style shirt, with linen pants. Both of us in barefeet, after all , we'll be on the beach. It will be just the two of us, no guests, no reception, which would be wonderful if we could do it, but, again, the budget won't allow, so, we're focusing on the things we can control.
Our photographer is amazing, Blue Lens Caribe photography, and they'll be videoing the ceremony and taking pictures before, during and after, topping off with a trash the dress photo session on the sand and in the water.
The ceremony site will be in front of the Lol Ha restaurant where there is mounted a webcam, a live feed that updates every ten seconds or so. The kids and anyone else who might be interested can watch from home on the webcam,
www.locogringo.com/Upload/akumal-beach-cam.html
We'll be standing under an arch decorated with tropical flowers and vines. My bouquet will be star gazer lilies in pink and white to match my dress embroidery, and pink plumeria with a bit of greenery.
The ceremony will begin with Tim waiting under the archway, and me walking up the beach to him, to the music "Ill stand by you" by the pretenders. The ceremony itself will have George Winston playing in the background ever so softly. After we exchange our rededications to each other, we will exchange our rings and then start the photo shoot.
Since we will be getting very wet and covered in sand by the end of the shoot, we will head back to our room and change clothes for our private dinner/dance. We are booking a large round building by the beach at our resort. As it will be low season, there will be few people around at night, and that part of the resort isn't used at all that time of year, so we will have the place all to ourselves, except for a couple of wait and cook staff. We'll have dinner by candlelight, and then music to dance to with the sound of the Caribbean sea in the background. We'll just take a few snapshots and maybe some self recorded video, as our photographer is only for the ceremony photo session, but, that's okay.
All of this will be on September 9th, 2011 with the ceremony starting at 4pm Mexico time, 5pm our time here in Utah.
So, the planning is in full swing, and many details are still being ironed out. I hope you'll follow along.
Our first wedding, on Friday the 13th in May of 1983, was such a crazy day, with everything that could go wrong, going wrong. We were both just making ends meet, and had no help from our families to plan or pull off a wedding, so, many of the things we wanted we just had to accept we were going to do without. So many people were trying to take control and make decisions for us, and we weren't strong enough to really stand up for what we wanted. When we look back, we can see how we were pulled and pushed from both our families. In the end, we were sealed for time and all eternity in the most amazing temple, the Washington DC temple, and that's all that really matters. Still, we have a second chance now to do things the way we want, and have the day be completely ours. And that's just what we're doing.
Starting with a full on white wedding dress with long train, not too long, topped off with a cathedral length lace veil attached to a silver and blue headband made of metal and rhinestones, very pretty. Tim will be wearing a cuban style shirt, with linen pants. Both of us in barefeet, after all , we'll be on the beach. It will be just the two of us, no guests, no reception, which would be wonderful if we could do it, but, again, the budget won't allow, so, we're focusing on the things we can control.
Our photographer is amazing, Blue Lens Caribe photography, and they'll be videoing the ceremony and taking pictures before, during and after, topping off with a trash the dress photo session on the sand and in the water.
The ceremony site will be in front of the Lol Ha restaurant where there is mounted a webcam, a live feed that updates every ten seconds or so. The kids and anyone else who might be interested can watch from home on the webcam,
www.locogringo.com/Upload/akumal-beach-cam.html
We'll be standing under an arch decorated with tropical flowers and vines. My bouquet will be star gazer lilies in pink and white to match my dress embroidery, and pink plumeria with a bit of greenery.
The ceremony will begin with Tim waiting under the archway, and me walking up the beach to him, to the music "Ill stand by you" by the pretenders. The ceremony itself will have George Winston playing in the background ever so softly. After we exchange our rededications to each other, we will exchange our rings and then start the photo shoot.
Since we will be getting very wet and covered in sand by the end of the shoot, we will head back to our room and change clothes for our private dinner/dance. We are booking a large round building by the beach at our resort. As it will be low season, there will be few people around at night, and that part of the resort isn't used at all that time of year, so we will have the place all to ourselves, except for a couple of wait and cook staff. We'll have dinner by candlelight, and then music to dance to with the sound of the Caribbean sea in the background. We'll just take a few snapshots and maybe some self recorded video, as our photographer is only for the ceremony photo session, but, that's okay.
All of this will be on September 9th, 2011 with the ceremony starting at 4pm Mexico time, 5pm our time here in Utah.
So, the planning is in full swing, and many details are still being ironed out. I hope you'll follow along.
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