Our Wedding Story

I guess the best place to start is the Thursday evening before the wedding, it was 3 am after a crazy fun and even at some times scary Bachelorette Party (all that one should be) and we had all finally decided to get some rest before the crazy weekend began.  After lying there wide awake for what seemed like ages, I decided to do what helps the most when sleep never comes - call Cal.  I went out on our dock over a quiet lake and I remember asking him "You really want to do this?" with a heart filled with anxiety that had been building up for months now.  "More than anything babe, we've finally made it" he told me.  I smiled and we let each other in on tid-bits of each other's party - like how he got food poisoning, and how we got a little too into Single Ladies.

Now I didn't realize it fully until we got to the Honeymoon, but my stomach was in knots (like barely able to keep down food knots) for the entire week before the wedding... and for really no reason.  Things went incredible smooth, especially considering we set up the entire venue in a little over a day.  It blew me away how many loving and thoughtful people we have in our life who selflessly gave up their time to help us out.  I could not thank them enough - our day was made oh so special because of them.

Friday was a bit rough and a tad surreal.  Going on about 2 hours from the night before and a few bites of food, adrenaline is what really brought me through.  Showing up to the Rehearsal Dinner was so strange because for the first time in the whole wedding process I was done planning.  Done!  Not that the nerves were done, of course, no they were still going strong.  It was so nice to see family and friends from out of town and to spend time together.

Then the morning of the wedding finally arrived.  My dad took me out to breakfast at Sam's Diner - our favorite spot. As we sat down and ordered our orange juice, he handed me a letter.  Now I would tell you what's in that letter but it probably wouldn't make too much sense - but I will tell you that that was when the first tears were shed that day, and they were plenty.  I am so thankful that I have such a loving dad with such a sweet heart, who knows how to make time stand still when it should and, although it doesn't happen often, knows how to have a good cry when reflecting back on all the crazy places life has taken us.  We hugged for a while and then both laughed at how short of time it took to get us both to cry and talked out the little details of the wedding to get our minds off the fact that today was the day.

Then the girls, the curling irons, bobby pins, and the mascara all started to arrive.  I was relieved when the photographers arrived because then I could think of shots and angles for them to get my mind off things.  (Always the photographer, never the bride! lol) It was also a blast to be pampered, I'm not going to lie.  I must say that my mom was a rockstar the whole morning (the entire wedding process really) but she was offering coffee and sandwiches and her smiles and gentle reminders made the day go by so smoothly.  Emily and I headed to the venue convincing each other that this was no big deal and that people literally get married every day. Nbd. We got this.

There were several tearful moments in the final hours before the wedding, and my wonderful ladies did everything they could to keep me laughing.  Yes, corny blonde jokes were told.  I love them all oh so much.

Then the moment came.  The processional music started, and my dad ran to grab me an umbrella because a light rain had started.  I laughed because that was literally the last thing on my mind.  I squeezed my dad's arm a little tighter to hold me up from the shaking and also the huge dress.  And then I remember seeing his face.  That face I had seen a million times before, and yet, now for the very first time. We choked through our vows and all I can vividly remember is this surreal nervous feeling I was just in a room with Cal and our Pastor... except EVERYONE we knew was there witnessing it. I had to look around a few times just to make sure.

We kissed (twice, I think) and the party began.  It was so cool to spend time with everyone we love, all in one big tent.  Hours felt like minutes, and I remember the DJ telling me "It's time to cut the cake" and thinking there was no way that it was 7:30 (yes, I had our schedule memorized).  We danced and talked and grabbed a few more photos as the night slipped away and then Cal and I headed to our car.  We said our goodbyes, honked a million times and left... and then I realized I had nothing with me.  I had Cal run back and I guess no one saw him so it was our little secret.. or not :) . Once we were on the road we looked at each other and I said "did that just happen?" Haha man that FLEW by.  How did 12 months of planning turn into 4.56 minutes??

What happened after? Uh oh no, internet, not going there. Not at all.


I guess what I can say after all of it, was that year of planning was one of the most challenging years of my life.  Because it was a year of intense waiting, intense worrying of what the heck it married life is like, and intense planning. It was a lot.  Married life, though different and a bit more difficult than what I thought it was, is so so worth it.  So yes. Do that crazy DIY project for your day even if it takes several late nights, because it's a labor of love, for your day and for your future.  Do go out to coffee after dress shopping with your ladies, because that may be one of the few times you will have them all together. Enjoy it more, and try to let the little things go, because it's not worth having your stomach in knots or getting mad that a little thing isn't just as it should be.  Marriage is a whole different roller coaster, but be sure to ride the one your on.  Even if it does mean you have to throw your arms up and scream ;)

Well that is my version of events.  We'll see if we can get Cal on here to tell his side - wouldn't that be fun?

So yes, we are finally with one more C.
Cathy and Caleb Craft - 07.26.14

With love,
Cath

Few More Days

So I wanted to drop in and update just a bit before it's full time wedding mania.  Like has been so wild the last few weeks, it's so hard to even recall all the little "emergencies" we've taken care of.  I am moving out this week, which seems to add a whole new level of it all.  I seriously love my MOH who has been doing ALL my laundry this week to help me pack... she seriously takes this title to the next level.

And you know with each new change comes a whole range of emotions, too.  In some ways, this day couldn't come soon enough, I feel like I have wanted to be married to Cal for ages now.  But then there's other things that freak me out... like how little kids may call me MRS. Craft and how I feel like my friendships may change in some ways.  But then sitting in our apartment on our couch talking to Cal makes me realize how much I NEED this in my life.  Generally, I'm just overall pumped.  I can't wait to get this wedding on!

Anyways, just stopping by... until next time!

With Love,
Cathy Huntington (... for 11 more days)

Not My Strength

From my journal

 
So many moments of my life I focus on how to be a better woman - how to respond in a way that they know what I mean without seeming rude, how to be a better fiance, a better friend.  This is based on my shallow perception of what love is and trying my best to be that.  But that's the problem, I'm trying to do it all on my strength and my perception of love. And that can get depleted fast.  I can find myself getting easily frustrated with my life, my situation, anything that isn't completely going my way really.  But I am so so thankful for God's gentle reminders to love Him, and He will take care off the rest.  To stop thinking about it and just start living.  And loving. And to fight the good fight and keep pursuing Him.

Twenty Fourteen.

So I must admit that I am surprised that I haven't been blogging this much over Christmas.  I thought I would be full of little Christmas DIYs and gifts... but honestly I spiraled from my insane semester into a Downtown Abbey Coma.  And I'm ok with that.
Christmas was wonderful, had about a week full (I mean full) of seeing family and friends.  Cal and I got a bunch of appliances and things for the apartment which will help a ton for when he moves out. The new year has come and we are now in full time wedding planning mode: playing hard ball with vendors, meeting with the DJ, and figuring out which champagne glasses we really want to use.  With Cal and I pretty distracted with all that, it's pretty easy to forget to slow each down and be with each other... which is why we are doing all this, so we can be with each other forever!  So we've decided that and sit-down get-to-know-each-other date was in order. Pronto.
I love how Cal can remind me to slow down and enjoy life just by a simple smile, or giving long hugs right when I walk in the door.  And man could I use the reminders, too.  I am planning a wedding, my wedding with the man of my dreams, and I want to soak up every moment.  So although there may not be too many DIYs here in the near future (I pretty much have a DIY wedding on my hands here), I want to blog more.  To enjoy more.  To cherish more.
Bring it on 2014, you are gonna be the most exciting year of my life.

Ice-skating on New Years! ...goofiest picture ever.

With love,

Whatever you are

So I've been wanting to write for a while, but I wasn't quite sure how to put my thoughts into words... or at least good ones.  So for the past few weeks the weeks and the semester draws to a close, I am starting to feel the end of the semester blues.  I don't really know what to do with myself now without my head stuck in a book or in a project non-stop.  It's funny because the whole time I just wanted life to slow down.. funny how life works that way.  As I now face my last semester, I am faced with that terrifying reality that every graduate faces: doing what I want to do for the rest of my life (aka: finding a job). I know that the first job I get is not somewhere I have to stay for 30 years or anything, but it's just the thought of this huge change and transition in my life.

I feel like God has been growing and stretching me for some time now.  It was actually a big transition for me to go from dating to engaged, having the most intense semester of my life, and some highly emotional situations, but God has shown me His way through it all.  But I feel like I just finished that hurdle and I have another one right ahead.

Well I must say thank God for the scriptures (literally.. thank you, God) because they are such an encouragement, better than any pep-talk.  My facebook friend posted today Colossians 3:23-24 which states:

 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

 

 This is such a great reminder... I just have to worry about serving the Lord, and He will take care of the rest.  And He has proven it time and time again.  This also reminds me of the quote by Abraham Lincoln which states:

"Whatever you are, be a good one." 

 

It doesn't matter what I do, as long as I work hard and do it for the Lord.  Lemmetellya, change is hard.  But we have the Creator of the Universe to help us at any moment of any day.  I'm pretty sure you can get through anything with Him. Actually I'm 100% sure.

So I'm thankful for these little reminders and encouragements, they sure help me, and I just thought I would pass it along~

With Love,

The Good Life

So I know it's been a while.  Life has been... busy, to say the least. (I actually should be writing a paper on climate change right now... why would I ever want to put that off??) This has been an insane semester for me... 20 credits and 3 studio classes for me and a full time (big boy) banking job for Cal.  We get to see each other most evenings while I'm buried in my home work and he's calling venues and caterers (he's the best fiance ever).  But you know what? I love it.

Sometimes Cal and I get too caught up in whats ahead.  How AWESOME will it be to go home together instead of parting separate ways at the end of each night.  How amazing will it be to wake up next to each other.  How we can cook oriental foods together and watch New Girl or do whatever we want because we won't be distracted with boat loads of work.  The good life. But then we have to remind each other how awesome our life is now too.  There is only this point in our life once.  We are only going to be engaged for a short time, and then we'll be married till we're old and gray (which will be awesome in it's own way).  This is such a special time in our life and so was dating.  It was when we became friends, when there wasn't the other stresses of marriage.  And I know that being in school is awesome, too.  I have done so many projects that I just love and enjoyed, and I have loved collaborating and working with other people.  I need to stop wanting to rushing it along and wishing for whats ahead.  I want to love every single minute of this life.  And also not be too naive about the future.  I know that marriage will not be a "... and they all lived happily ever after.." and will present it's own challenges, but I know God has given us the tools to face those challenges.  So here's to a non-idealized future and a messy but perfect present.

The Good Life.

With Love,

And I am going to marry that man.

Sometimes, he just blows me away.  It doesn't always hit me at first, sometimes it's in the drive home at night when I really think about how loving and selfless  and all around awesome he really is.  And it's in so many ways.

It's in the way he will volunteer to do something even though it scares him half to death because he feels God told him to do it... and then he ends up nailing it.

It's in the way he will not only give a homeless man money at McDonalds, but will talk with him about his journey and his past.

It's in the way he will use his day off to look for internships for me online.

It's the way he loves to play trivia in the car on long car rides.

It's in the way that all he requests for his birthday is that I watch the Star Wars Saga with him.

It's in the way people come up to me and tell me what a blessing he is.

..... and I am going to marry that man.

 

Happy birthday to the best man on the planet.

With -MUCH- Love,

Maybe when we're 80 things will slow down...

You know, one thing I really like about blogging is that you can make all your recent memories stand still with a single blog post.  Cal and I were talking about how if we don't really take time to soak in and enjoy the happy little things around us, life is just going to fly by without really knowing what hit us.  So here is just a pile of recent pictures and memories of things that I don't want to forget...

Cal and I went out to ice cream last weekend with my family.  We joked and laughed and played games all night and it was wonderful.  I love when we're all just goofs! Side note: figured out that sundaes are just not my thing - the plainer the better for this girl! (lol I know it's sad that it took me 20 years to figure this out.)

 Fishing is the must boring/frustrating/rewarding thing one can do.  I enjoy to fish because it reminds me of fishing when I was a little girl with my daddy.  Good times!

Bahaha and Cal makes some pretty accurate (and hilarious!) fishy faces!

A warm and cuddly little max.  Mmmm.

Campfires with my bestie on summer nights. Now that's what I'm talking about.  Also - that is an awful fire.  Paper and logs apparently doesn't really work.  Gasoline? Now were talking...

I love this man more than words could say.  This picture reminds that even when things get tough, or busy, or confusing that I have the most wonderful man for me on this planet.  I am so blessed to have him.

 And here's a little video of us being goofs and showing off our "moves."  I think this one will make me laugh for years! :)

With Love,

Lately.

    Well I can finally crawl out from underneath my large pile of assignments, study flashcards, and final projects and make a blog post.  I finished my last final today and it feels wonderful.  All I want to do is create, photograph, spend long hours on the beach drinking on an Arnold Palmer, and do DIY projects galore. Thankfully, I have all summer to do so!

Our last Tuesday Lunch together

Cal will be graduating in a couple of days and it makes me pretty emotional when I start to think about it.  It's been so nice having my best friend, lunch buddy, and one I complain to about my insane professors with right there with me.  He added a smile to the middle of my day, when I'm all stressed out.  BUT! I couldn't be more proud of him!  You're GRADUATING baby!  I couldn't be more happy for you. You are one dedicated little turtle (sorry couldn't think of a better animal), and your hard work sure has paid off.

Other than school, Cal and I have been hanging out in all the in between times. It's been so nice.  We love to dream and talk about the future on nice spring night walks on the canal.

Also... my brother got married!! I am so happy for the both of them! It was such a beautiful wedding - so nice to see family and get down on the dance floor.  If there's one thing you need to know about me and Cal it's that we love to get funky on the dance floor at a wedding! And of course, me and my family LOVED the photo booth!

Arrriba!

LOL! Me and Dad! <3

~FAMILY~

It's been crazy but so so good.  God has been so faithful to both me and Cal.  We've had some relationship and personal things to pray about and work on and God continues to show how faithful He is to us.  So glad that we have his constant and eternal love to be grounded in.  It's so awesome that the closer you grow to God the closer you grow to each other.

Alright well I think I am going to celebrate finishing up this semester with a cheesy Netflix movie! Peace!

With Love,

Proverbs 4

Guard your heart above all else, For it determines the course of your life.

  -Proverbs 4:23

     Last weekend Cal and I went to a Basic Conference, which was full of good teaching and worship.  The conference focused on dating, singleness, and relationships.  We we're both pumped, for we needed some encouragement and just some solid Biblical views on relationships.  Let me tell you, we weren't disappointed!  Something that has helped and encouraged me recently is Proverbs 4.  Seriously, this stuff is great.  Not only does it push you, like 4:13 - "Take hold of my instructions; don't let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life." it will offer great encouragement, like 4:12 - "When you walk, you won't be held back; when you run, you won't stumble." And Proverbs 4:23, the scripture above, really hit home.  Your heart determines where your feet go.

    This chapter is such a refreshing encouragement to me, and I hope it may be to you as well.  Hope you are having a great week! 

~Read Proverbs 4~

My two lovelies and I, enjoying our weekend in Rochester!

With Love,

Artbursts!

So even though I go to school for art, I keep finding myself randomly and somewhat impulsively having artistic outbursts - or, artbursts.  They don't always happen at the best time (like when a topic proposal or something like that is due), but I find that I can focus better if I can utilize my creativity rather than pining things on pinterest all night anyways.

So here's what I've been up to the past week:

Here's just some sketches

and here is a maxi skirt that I randomly decided to sew one night. I'm not kidding when I say outbursts! It really wasn't too difficult, but I decided not to do a tuturial because I am just plain awful at sewing, even though this is just basically a rectangle, haha.  But you can use this easy tuturial that I looked at but foolishly thought I knew better followed here!

 Lastly, I did this watercolor, which I am quite happy with.  I am starting to find how much I enjoy watercolors.  They seem like a simple medium, but can produce an organic but soft affect with your art.  Oh my word can you tell I was in a 2 hour long art critique today or what?!

Anyways, here's a little view into my life and how I create.  Hope you enjoyed my artbursts :)

So, is that how it is for you?  Or do you "de-stress" other ways? Would love to know!

 May you have a lovely week, filled exciting and new outbursts.

With Love,

Thoughts.

So Cal and I were at church last week and the pastor said this above quote.  This got me thinking... and designing.  As Christians, we are to be our true selves, the broken sinners saved by the grace of God.  Why are we to caught up in the mundane, the appearance, the thoughts of others?  God made us the way we are for a reason.  I don't know about you, but I appreciate a person who is completely genuine and will admit their flaws and weaknesses.  I feel completely comfortable around them, for I know if they can admit their weaknesses, they will not judge mine.  In turn, I want to be as genuine.  I think it's time for me to strive to be more real and genuine and to show God's real meet-you-where-you're-at kind of love.


With Love,