Moving Away? (GBE2 #116 Topic: First Steps)

I have a huge decision to make.

I want to make a gigantic change in my life.

I want to move.

 

 Not just around the corner or up the street.  Not to a nearby town or city.  Not even to a neighboring state.

I want to move ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY!!!

( Portland Baby!! My My dream wedding here I come!!!)

If you know me...or you've read this blog...then you may know that I've been having a love affair with the city of Portland for years.  Once I visited, the deal was sealed and I've wanted to be there ever since.

We've discussed it in the past.  We planned to move when all the kids were out of the house.  But recently, we've started feeling antsy...like a BIG change is just what we need.  

We've devised a plan.  We have a tentative date picked out.  Most importantly, we'll actually have the money to do it!  

Some of the kids are excited.  Some just flat out don't want to go.  I'm torn between making them happy and making one of my biggest dreams come true.  I'm torn between doing something terribly exciting and keeping things comfortable.

What if I can't find a job?  What if all the money runs out before we really get a handle on our new life?  

What if everyone hates it and they all resent me forever?

What if we all die from dysentery on the way?

What if?  What if?  What if?

I'm not taking this decision lightly.  I think about it every single day.  We talk about it constantly.  I keep telling people " I'm not comfortable with saying that we're actually going...but man, I sure want to..."

It is such a scary idea.

I'm so confused.

I guess for now we'll keep talking...researching and dreaming...working out the kinks in our plan.

Until...hopefully...we're ready to take the first step.

GBE2 #12--Saying 'I Do'

This week's GBE2 Challenge is a picture prompt--the picture you see directly above to be exact. 

Interlocking rings.  Marriage.  Weddings.

Lots of girls dream of that huge special day.  The traditional big wedding.  Flowing white gowns, hundred of people, bridesmaids...groomsmen...the whole enchilada.

I am so not that girl.  Unless you're talking about an actual enchilada.  Yeah, I'd be all over that in a heartbeat. 

Fancy weddings....not so much.

I really don't see the point in spending all that money for what ultimately is a really big party.  Spending all that money to show off to people you haven't seen in years or might not even know.  (To paraphrase a close friend in regards to her wedding:  "she and my mom were cubicle neighbors at work for almost thirty years...so I HAD to invite her to my wedding"  I just find that silly.)

Costofwedding.com says that the average price of a wedding is $24, 066!  Most of which, if we're following traditional protocol, is the responsibility of the bride's parents.  Seriously.  If my mom had 24-grand to pay for a wedding...I would just want her to give me the money.  I could find much better uses for the money than a big party.  A party you might want to repeat at some point down the road when your first marriage ends and you've met the second (third, fourth...) person of your dreams. 

I've been married twice.  I thought my first wedding was a small fun affair.  It fit who I was at that point in my life and it fit my then husband as well.  It fit who we were as a couple.  At that point in time, I would have said that I'd had the perfect wedding. The whole thing cost under $600.

But my second wedding was even more perfect.

May 20, 2005.  A lovely spring day.  The sun was shining brightly through our balcony window at our house.  We had seven family members in attendance.

Nathan, Addy, and Bear were there too.  They were 8, 3, and 2, respectively.

Jeff wore jeans, a dress shirt, and tie.  I wore a beautiful sheer lavender dress.

Nathan was the best man.  Addy was the flower girl.

Two year old Bear carried the rings on a satin pillow adorned by ribbons and bows (hand made by my best friend for the occasion).

"I do's" were said by the balcony window, in front of the people we cared about most.

We did it together--as a family.

It was all about love and not about putting on a show and looking good for the neighbors.

That IS the point of getting married.....right?

It would be really awesome if I could have my fairy tale doughnut shop wedding....someday.  But if I don't, I'll be just fine.

I've already had the wedding of my dreams.

My Dream Wedding (GBE2 #8 Topic: The Bakery)

Most little girls dream of that special day when they marry the man of their dreams.  It's usually the traditional wedding story....beautiful white gown, row of bridesmaids, the groom and his men all in tuxedos--waiting for the bride to make her grand entrance.

If I ever had such a fantasy--I can not honestly remember it.

But it wasn't until after I'd already been married twice (both events very low-key...the big wedding just isn't my thing) that I finally realized that I do indeed have a wedding fantasy.  It's just not your usual wedding fantasy.

I want to get married at VooDoo Donut.

I don't have much of a sweet tooth.  Most days, I'd take a steak, salad, and baked potato before I'd even consider eating some sugar-laden confection.  But I LOVE doughnuts.  When I do get the urge for something sweet, a doughnut is usually what I want.   They are absolutely one of my all-time favorite sweet junk foods.

There isn't much that can go wrong...that coffee and doughnuts can't fix!

Around four or five years ago, I was watching TV and I saw a segment about Voodoo Donut.  I was intrigued with their unique doughnut flavors and decorations.  I worked for two years as a doughnut decorator.  We were allowed some creativity with decorating...but these doughnuts looked absolutely amazing!! 

Then came the best part.  They do weddings!!

My fantasy was born.

In 2009, I had the opportunity to visit Portland, Oregon.  Getting doughnuts was at THE TOP of my 'things to do in Portland' list.   I went on a Saturday morning--The line was out the door, around the corner, AND down the next street but it was definitely worth the wait.  They looked fantastic and tasted even better. 

Now if only I had a money tree could figure out how to get ALL my loved ones to Portland for my NEXT wedding......