So last night my fiancé and I watched “500 Days of Summer,” an awesome kind-of love story with a realistic but not unkind ending. It was funny, warm-hearted, sad, and very reminiscent of my past relationships.

Can I say that, relationships? I better, because it would be kind of sad to say technically Matt was my first boyfriend. At the age of 23 (wait, 24, because he asked me after the New Year).

 So. Divine plan, huh? Destiny, a path.  Life is planned out, right?  Let’s see how viewing my past relationships led me to Matt.

1. Mike: He worked for my family’s business, and I was swept away with his height, his hair and his deep brown eyes. We went on exactly three dates before he left for college an hour and a half away. Hadn’t kissed, barely hugged, grazed my hand in the popcorn bucket … let’s face it: he just wasn’t that into me.


2. Tim: He too worked for my family’s catering business (see a pattern here?), only we managed to hang out much more often, an entire summer in fact. We saw movies, got ice cream, drove around in his car … years later I discovered why he too never kissed me: gay.


3. Peter: Now this guy could actually be said to have been my first boyfriend, although when the situation came up, he always discouraged that kind of idea. I met him through my sister’s husband, learned how to flirt with him, kissed him many times, and basically gave him my heart before I knew he even wanted it.  He later hinted to me that he wanted a relationship without the responsibilities (“I’m not looking for a girlfriend, but let's hang out every night”), and after three months I discovered that I gave way too much away for a guy like that. He broke up with me (yes, I’ll admit it), and left me hurting inside for too long than I care to admit. He’s the one I learned the most from, and if I want to be honest with myself, the one who led me to my future husband.


4. Matt: I met Matt while still going out with #3, so obviously I was so entirely infatuated with him that Matt wasn’t even on the radar, especially after we broke up and I swore off men altogether (I wasn’t going to switch to women, I was just going to head to a religious convent).  I left for South Africa for school soon after, learned why I was hurting so much for a guy who didn’t care that much for me, and discovered the kind of guy I DID want.

Here’s a letter I wrote my friend before I came back from my trip:

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All right … let’s see here … is this what I’m looking for? No, I don’t think this is it. Oh wait, yes it is.

 FOCCUS.

The words seem to jump out at me from the computer screen, where I’m doing some research on the subject for my upcoming nuptials. Although Matt and I did get a sense of this from Fr. Jim when we met with him for the first time, I discovered afterward that I was so nervous that I didn’t hear a word he said.

Being the journalist that I am, I decided to do it on my own and get some much-needed answers for a life that I will soon be entering.

Oh heaven help me.

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Now that I have your attention, let me be the first one to tell you that it's not true. So far.      

However, I felt that my topic this week should be about the topic of children, something that apparently everyone I know who's married has to deal with at one time or another (and even those who aren't!).

Matt and I did discuss children last night, a continuing topic these past couple of months. While we are both in agreement that waiting for at least a year or two before becoming pregnant would be very wise for the two of us (we both feel we're childish enough as it is), we still feel excited at the prospect of having kids. 

Not only kids of our own, but adopting kids is also an idea for our family. I have a niece and nephew who were both adopted from South Korea (Hanna Cha and Jake), and ever since we picked them up one by one at O'Hare Airport, I've been excited at the thought of doing it again. Hopefully we can find a couple of kids from West or South Africa who are in need of a family. 

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When I imagined planning my wedding at the tender age of 14, I always thought it would be a magical time for my beloved and me. Leisurely trying on dresses while he chooses a suit, lazily holding hands as we eat cake that we both decide – simultaneously – that we both love…choosing flowers that just jump out at us.

Sadly, that couldn’t be further from the truth. God has been giving me extra graces this month to deal with all the stress!  

Don’t get me wrong. Some things are fun, like trying on wedding dresses and eating too much cake. But finding the perfect centerpiece? Puh-leeze!

After a long, long, LONG time of looking, I think I’ve found something that I like. Hopefully these flowers/foliage below:

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I'll be the first to admit it: I'm a push over. This can easily be seen when I'm out and about on a Saturday night with friends (not too often, mind you) ordering at a restaurant, or just deciding with my fiancé which movie to see (Hmm, "The Blind Side" or "Zombieland"...what do you think I want to see?).

Now that I have a wedding to plan, I know that I have to start thinking for myself and not let anyone talk me into doing something that I'm just not feeling. This includes, of course, finding that ever allusive bridesmaid dress. 

I have six girls standing up in my wedding: Maid of Honor Mary; Bridesmaid Faith; Bridesmaid Mara; Bridesmaids and Sisters Marya, Rosie and Anne.

All different styles, sizes, personalities, and well...all different everything. And I have to choose ONE DRESS for them? Not going to happen.

Here are a few samples that I'm thinking about. They are by:

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Good evening blog readers!

Right now I'm at my home in West Allis, safely inside from the windy and dangerous snow conditions that seem to have nearly everyone running scared (I can only hope that my work is closed tomorrow!). With a cup of coffee in one hand, and some fantastic music playing in the background, I can get down to business and let you know what's been happening in my life so far. 

Matt and I went to see the priest, and have been given "homework" by Fr. Jim: planning the ceremony. Amongst the natural family planning material (that will be fun!), copies of rules and regulations to pass out to the florist and photographer, and the complete set of dates for next year's "Engaged Enrichment Program," we were given the book "Together for Life," a special edition for marriage outside of Mass.

In it are sets of readings, responsoral psalms, vows and other such things to help us plan a ceremony as unique as we are. While we are still trying to figure out which readings to say, we have actually come up with at least one agreement: there is no way we are going to write and memorize our own vows (are you kidding? I got nervous asking a question during class! How am I going to memorize some of the most important promises of my life?!). No thank you! A simple "I do" is good enough for the two of us!  

All in all, while we both have a lot of work to get done when it comes to planning the ceremony, I know it will all be worth it. Not just on the day we marry, but more importantly for the impending years ahead. I'm so excited! -Amy

Music playing while writing this: "Calling Dr. Funk" by The Definitive Vince Guaraldi album 

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Last night Matt and I went to see the house we will be living in after we get married. Settled in a private neighborhood within Bay View, it's a two-story duplex with a huge kitchen, three bedrooms, a living room and pantry. Because the owner is Matt's sister, we are getting a fantastic break in the rent. Really. The price is unbelievable for all we're getting (including new water heaters!!).

It's huge. It's safe. Matt won't get held up walking home from work and my car won't get broken into while I'm taking a nap. I won't have to eat dinner on his bed and we can both be in the kitchen at the same time (I'm speaking of course about his apartment right now).

Even so...I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. 

The idea of living with my husband next year is a little daunting, to say the least. No more will I wake up to my mom making coffee and drawing the curtains, asking me about my impending day and calling "Goodbye, God bless, have a good day!" whenever I leave.

While this realization does make me feel a little sad, I do know that I have more good days coming. Recently I've been working on a MyFaith article about Theology of the Body. One priest I talked with described waiting for love not as saying "no" to things in life, but "yes" to what's to come. It's weird how this small area of teaching can put things in perspective.

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Name: Amy Elizabeth Rewolinski

Age: 26

Parish: Basilica of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee

Book recently read: "On Writing" by Stephen King

Favorite movie: ElizabethTown (2005, Directed by Cameron Crowe)

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Since we've decided to do cut down on our spending by creating our own wedding necessities, I've gotten quit acquainted with "Do-it-yourself" projects. My favorite this week? Wedding monograms!

There are a number of ways that you can use monograms to "spice up" your wedding. Invitations, menus, lighting (yeah, I wish!), floral, etc...the possibilities may not be endless, but you get the idea. 

It took me awhile to get the hang of using Photoshop for these, but once you work on a few, you discover that there is a basic pattern that match each one. Here is a great tutorial I found on the subject that is sure to help you as much as it helped me!

Honestly, is there anything you CAN'T find on the internet these days?

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Fact: You will never NOT argue.

As much as I wanted to believe that our relationship was a special, one of a kind friendship, where WE were the lucky ones … well, I know now that that is never true in any relationship. We’re going to fight (have been, actually), and fight about silly things that appear to really matter to only one of us.

While I would love to put my secret weapon to work (tears always worked on my dad), I know that that kind of reaction is NOT something that makes a strong Catholic marriage. Which brings me to that ever-loving question that I’ve heard since I was a child: What would Jesus do?

Hmm. What would Jesus do in this situation?

Obviously, we still have a lot to work on before we walk down the aisle, my case especially. I have to learn how to be both tired and non-cranky after work, as well as keep up my goal of doing something kind and thoughtful for Matt everyday.

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