Eight Weeks from Tomorrow

Can you believe it?!? I am still touring in DC, and although my group is dear and I am enjoying them, at this point, I am excited to get home and GET GOING!

Actually, I think most of it is taken care of. I still need a videographer, and to nail down my programs, but the CONTENT of the program is largely set (just needs a sentence of two edited, etc).

I have my Jobs for people/Timeline for Wedding Party taken care of.

I need to get the candy for the Candy Bar, and make one more trip to Hobby Lobby, and contact the musicians to get them their music, but other than that, pretty much all is well.

I was going to self address all of the 200+ invitations, and then realized, that's DUMB, when it can be a great excuse for a get together with some dear friends. (And wine)

My Bridal Shower is set, my Bachelorette party is underway, and both of my Matrons of Honor have already worn their dresses to events.... (yes, I win in picking the best Bridesmaid dress ever, and I wasn't even trying.) I take this as a VERY POSITIVE SIGN that my Wedding, is indeed, going to be wonderful.

I plan on working 25 hours a week, the rest of the summer, so I can work out, visit with friends and enjoy the summer. (oh, and pack) Of course, COWBOY, sweetest man that he is, told me that I didn't have to work at all this summer if I didn't want to. But... I need to know that I'm covering my mortgage for the next couple of months, so not working would cause more stress than working.

My house gets ready to go on the market by the end of June. Not thinking about it, just doing it. I want to be with Cowboy, and so selling my house is just part of the Bigger Whole.

New Daughter just had her first Camp experience. Five nights, 2 1/2 hours away. School for the Blind, and apparently she loved it. Well, when she called me, she was talking to fast I couldn't understand a word she way saying, so I take that to mean she loved it. And.... she called me. All on her own. From her cell phone. Which means she thought of me in the midst of it all. That makes me really, really happy. (I won't even tell you that she didn't think of calling Other Mother from camp... that would seem like gloating, which I'm sure falls into a sin category somewhere... )

And she used her whole disposable camera. Can't wait to see THOSE pictures... It always cracks me up what kids take pictures of.

In Case You're Counting

In 72 days I will become Mrs. Sohailah Stou*t. Crazy.

How do I know it's 72?

Well yes. I've always been a counter, but there's actually a different reason.

When it was 150 days before our Wedding, we started reading the Psalms backwards, together. So, today we are reading Psalm 72. My good friend, Bob, gave me this suggestion, and I LOVE it. I have two other couple friends who also did it, at his suggestion. I'm so thankful to the friends I have made over the years of my life. Friends like Bob and the two couples who also did it.

And so many others. I've often heard, "To have a friend, you need to be a friend." I can only hope I'm as good of a friend as mine have been to me.

Honestly, it's a bit difficult to think of myself as the center of attention for the Wedding. Not that I have a hard time running the show. It's just odd to me that the "Show" is actually about me. And my wonderful man. But, honestly, me. Because I'm the bride. And, truthfully, aside from meeting with my florist, and picking things up and finishing and addressing invitations and following up with my musicians, everything else is in place.

And it hasn't seemed like that big of a deal. Aside from my two meltdowns with my mom about how expensive everything is... but she has been her typical self - no-nonsense and supportive and encouraging. (As is my dad, only he's not the one on the phone).

So... we'll see. I feel good right now about everything. Except trying on my dress. Can't bring myself to do it. Not sure why. It's just sitting in my closet. Waiting. I still have time.

72 days.

The Contest We're In

I entered a contest for Steve and I through Crate and Barrel. I am having a ridiculously difficult time posting the link. I'm even following the steps and it looks like it's right, but then it says it's not valid. So.... long story short. If you are on facebook, would you mind going to my Crate and Barrel event and voting for me? I hate adding extra steps... but... sigh... (SORRY!)

Thanks so much!


(This is Steve trying to not close his eyes for the picture. The Wedding Day photos may be tricky...and if I don't stop making faces when someone takes a picture of me I may be in trouble, too...)

Mount Vernon

This is my favorite oddity on tour.


Just thought I'd share it with you. It's in the Larder of the kitchen at Mount Vernon.

Cherry Trees and Whatnot

It's the weekend of the Cherry Tree Blossoms...


It's crowded.


And it was cloudy and rainy. And even hailed at one point. That would be the point when we were supposed to go UP into the Washington Monument...nice.


So, after dinner we went to the Capitol and ended our time by praying for our country and then sang Amazing Grace.


I love the Capitol ALL the time. But it seemed especially nice tonight. Well, I love it at night. I took a bunch of pictures.


Something sparkly seemed to get in the way.


A la Mork from Ork...




(yes, I really took these pictures)

I SAID YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes!!!!!!!!!! That’s what I said! Yippee!!!!!!!!! (He brought me these flowers when he came to visit, Tuesday night, because he knows that tulips and daisies are my favorite)

And…. He surprised me. Can you believe it?!

So, I got to Oklahoma City Sunday afternoon, where Cowboy picked me up (it had been 22 days… L-O-N-G time) worked Monday and Tuesday, and then flew back to Washington DC today.

Tuesday night he came to Tulsa, so we could spend a little more time together. We had dinner, and fell asleep watching TV at around 9:15… yes, we are that exciting. Wednesday morning, I heard him get into the shower at 5, so I got up to make him coffee. After his shower, he came into the kitchen and said, “Your bathroom mirror has a HUGE crack in it.” I said, “What?” And he said, “Yeah. Straight across.” So, as I’m walking in there, I’m trying to figure out what could have fallen, how much a new mirror will cost, and then I see that he has written in the steam, “Will you marry me?”

He got on his knees, there in the bathroom and said, “Will you?”

I said yes.


The ring is beautiful. Much fancier than anything I have ever thought I’d wear, but he said I am a fancy girl. I can’t stop looking at it and I’m sure it’s not a dream, but it does seem surreal.



So, ladies and gentleman, I got engaged at 5:30 in the morning, in the bathroom. And I LOVE it!

I know I shouldn't post these photos, since I look a bit frightening at 5am in the morning...


And apparently I have small fingers... and so he said he was limited in the choice of rings he had. But., didn't he do a great job? And he didn't even ask my opinion.

Way Too Long

I know it’s been way too long since I’ve posted. Not for lack of desire. I hate to even say it – the “Busy” card is so lame… but, with limited internet access at the end of 16 hour days…

So far my trips have been GREAT! I’m on Day 5 of the third one in a row. All three from California, all three I did last year and in 2008. I’ve actually led Redlands Christian School’s trip for so many years, it just feels like a big reunion every year. It was very VERY fun.

I took the first two trips to Carlo’s Bake Shop – yes – home of Cake Boss. The first group was one bus with 53 people. I felt much more confident taking Redlands – even though they had 84 people. My confidence quickly evaporated when I saw the line outside… fortunately, I was more aware of the intricacies of the ordering process, AND they have very on the ball teachers who facilitated the group. We were in and out in an hour! Which is no small feat with 84. The most fun part is not telling them where we’re going… on the last group, this girl who absolutely lives for Cake Boss recognized the name of the street… and she started counting down the block numbers… she couldn’t BELIEVE We were driving by. When we stepped off the buses, she started weeping. I am not making this up…

Redlands also does an amazing job with their website. They update it with trip pics, video footage and quotes every night. It’s so SO funny. AND…. we saw Wicked.
I get to see Cowboy on Sunday. It’ll have been 23 days. The same length of time from the very first time we met until he came for a visit. It’s long.