Maybe together we can get somewhere

Less than 3 weeks until my wedding. 

I am not stressed really. 

I am NOT looking forward to being the center of attention. 

Which is why I am making the reception more of a fall festival feel than a "my big day" thing with endless traditions and spotlights, etc. 

I think I am more excited to just get my life started with Rich. 

I am going to get a giant white board and write our goals and our chores and our menu on it and I am looking forward to being a team. 

I don't self motivate easily. 

My new job is really cool. 

If I havent' mentioned it before I am working in mental health at Lehigh County Jail. 

It's the place they send people who are newly arrested and can't make bail or who are awaiting trial or who have a shorter sentence to serve. 

IT'S FASCINATING. 

I am also going to be working every saturday with the elderly a nursing care facility. 

My goal is to be out of debt by the end of 2017. 

Rich likes old stone PA houses too and I want us to be able to buy a run down one and fix it up, preserve the history, and have a place for our kids to think of as home. 

Anyway, I just wanted to update you. Because my one goal for this year on here is to blog more.

Lori Ann Hinsdale (for 20 more days!)

And still I dream

It's been seven years since I started this blog. 

Weird. 

I usually make a whole list of birthday goals for every new year and post them here but really, my only goal is to blog more. 

Its so fun being able to look back on memories that I had forgotten and days long past here on this blog. 

It's my nephew Jack's 14th birthday today! 

The first birthday I recorded of him on this blog was his 7th. 

Holy hannah, time flies by. 

I don't see my nieces and nephews often these days but when I do see Jack-Jack he is always making me laugh. 

He told me recently he was into cosplay but quickly clarified that "cosplay is NOT larp'ing!" 

He is probably going to be in the band next year when he starts HIGH SCHOOL....holy hannah. 

He loves to tell puns and jokes and his most recent one that I love was "The police reported that a psychic midget escaped from a mental hospital. They stated "There is a small meduim at large" :) 

I told him today that he remains, to this day, the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. 

I love Jack-Jack so much. 

He has such a good heart and is genuinely so funny and smart. 

I hope he has the best year of his life! 

(Because 14 tends to be pretty epic for most of us, eh?) 

When (or if) you read this one day, Jack-Jack...

You are incredible. 

You are unique in the best way.

You have always brought so much love and happiness to our family.

My life has been so much brighter since that beautiful October day you were born. 

I am soooo blessed to know you and be your aunt. 

Now...stop growing and getting older, thanks! 

Love always, 

Aunt Lori

She took all I ever had

This post is dedicated to my father. 

(and is being written as a stress outlet...sorry you are my target, old man!)

They say a lot of men, when their daughters marry, look at that daughter and see their little girl. 

My father sees this. 

As he watched me make my LITERALLY dollar store invitations by hand, he indicated that he felt I was too caught up in the party and the fussing and wanted way too much.

I needed to focus on the purpose of all of this. 

The marriage. 

For just one day I wish I could give that man ANY other daughter than the three he has. 

I think I will likely be able to bring this wedding in under 500 dollars total. 

My dress was 25, most of the food will be potluck, my cousins are helping with decor, the cake is a gift, and we are borrowing tables and chairs. 

Some people's invitations are more than my whole wedding will be. 

And I just wish he could live in that reality for a day. 

Back to your regularly scheduling blogging about cats and centerpieces later this week. 

Sincerely,

Lori

A father's worst nightmare aka bridezilla of the year!