Chicago!

Charity & I drove up to Chicago this past weekend. Ah, how I love that city!

Have you ever crashed a bridal shower? Well, Friday night Charity & I did. Bah! Linny asked if we'd pick her up from the suburb of Bolingbrook where she was at Sharon's shower. I hadn't seen Sharon since we were in Linny & Keith's wedding together 3 years ago. And she's marrying a groomsman from their wedding - how perfect! I love bridal showers...the silly games and gifts and food and girl chatter and jokes and sexy presents ;) but I still felt awkward not being invited and all... I joke, it wasn't bad and I was glad to see Sharon & wish her & Andrew well.

We drove into the city around 10pm, up Lake Shore Drive for a sweet view of Chicago at night. Meredith & Nate welcomed us into their cute little apartment with open arms. We watched "Flight of the Conchord." BAH! Oh so ridiculous.

Saturday probably walked 20 miles. I don't really know - I'm bad at estimating. But we were exhausted and sore. We took the El to visit Mere at her boutique! And then down to the Loop where Linny showed us Elite, her modeling agency, and the Rock'n'Roll McDonalds. Lunch was at Geno's, yummy Chicago Deep Dish. Then we hit the Magnificent Mile!!! Walked all up and down and to Millenium Park to look at "the bean". We headed to State Street and each of us bought something at the three-story Forever 21. I <3 deals. We grabbed sandwiches and met Meredith & Ashley in the pavilion in Millenium Park to listen to the works of Leonard Bernstein.

It turned out to be a fantastic girls night... music in the park followed by a ridiculous romp trying to get to Navy Pier. Meredith, I'll leave that story for you to tell! We tried to visit a model friend at a ritzy seafood restaurant and Ashley peeled an older woman off the sidewalk who tripped and nursed her back to health. We found legitimate bathrooms at Navy Pier and bought some yummy nuts to watch the fireworks.

Sunday we went to Mere & Nate's church in the suburbs where they lead worship & help with the youth. After a silly lunch with Mr. Onion Roll Man, Charity & I said our goodbyes and trekked to IKEA! I LOVE IKEA! Unfortunately the closest one to me is this one that was 5 hours away. Oh well. I got a muffin tin, magazine holder, dish scrubbie, and canvas bag so now I can be like those environmentalist ladies who bring their own bag to the grocery store! Love it!

Thanks for guiding us around! And thank you for your loving hospitality!! I thank God for this family of believers. Our apartment is open in St. Louis anytime...!

Wedding Weekend

I got to spend the weekend with my sweetheart! He flew in a week ago and spent the day with my mom - yay! We went to a cute outdoor restaurant in old town Florissant for dinner. I took the day off Friday and we went to Grant's Farm and picked up his tux before the rehearsal and dinner. The groomsmen got beersteins with their name and "groomsman" engraved on the mug- they were a hit and used the rest of the weekend. The girls, in addition to jewelry, got cute white jackets with their name and "bridesmaid" embroidered in bright pink- what a cute idea! (mental note taken)

That night we hung out with the wedding party, set up the reception hall, and went to a tiny country bar (we were in the middle of nowhere, MO... Catawissa was the name of the village) for drinks, jukebox singing, and pool. I drove 45 min. home at that point but the guys went to a random lady's pond and stripped down to their boxers for a 2am swim. Matt had such a great time with his old friends... they are a crazy but great group. And Josh & Jenny were so grateful that Matt flew in for the weekend to stand up with them. I am, too!

It was a small wedding- less than 100 people. Josh & Jenny had two receptions because Jenny's family is strict Baptist (no drinking or dancing!) so the first reception was in the church basement with cake and appetizers (what happened to those simple receptions in the church basement right after the ceremony?? There is something lacking from these production-based ceremonies and receptions...) The groomsmen did quite a number on Josh's car. Besides the usual cans trailing behind and writing on the windows, they dumped two trashbags full of packing peanuts in Josh's tiny car. Josh thought it was great... before he saw the peanuts... They took beautiful pictures at the lake behind Jenny's parents' house (see facebook!) and then onto the next reception! Dinner & dancing. And boy, the wedding party and I danced until they shut it down on us. :-)

Matt & I said our goodbyes to the party. The next morning we went to the Journey, which I hope will be my new church, and Iglesia. We ate kabobs with my parents and watched "Wedding Crashers" (how appropriate!) That night we stopped by Creve Coeure Lake so he can picture me there when I tell him I'm there journaling or walking. We shared a tub of Ben & Jerry's. The next morning we got up EARLY so he was at the airport by 5:30. And it was over.

Sigh. He's back to German, I'm back to work. I hope to visit for a week or ten days in September maybe. (the maid of honor was from Boston and said I had to come for apple picking!--it's the only "country" thing she does and it's great! Needless to say, she was a bit in shock of small town midwest culture for a few days :)

Mattie and I are both praying that we will seek God, that He will make things clear to us, and that we will enjoy the ride and purpose of this season. I'm trying to work on communication and being vulnerable. Pray for us, too, please. I need more of God fo sho.

blast from the past

So I was googling the name "nataliemma," which is my common logon in the online world, and discovered an old website that I had made maybe my sophomore year of college. It's mostly of pictures and cheesy captions. And what is up with that introduction paragraph- what a weirdo! Man, I am cool. I will post this for posterity. Am I earning more nerd points by the minute?? :-/

http://nataliemma.tripod.com

Linds, do you remember our gurlpages???

Heck yes, Harry Potter!

I know a lot of people think that Harry Potter is lame (muggles!!) and some think it even evil... but I have to admit that I think the entire series and magical world are wonderful, enchanting and so creative.

Alas, Joel convinced me to see the 12:05AM showing last night, so I guess that gives me a few nerd points. I only got about four hours of sleep before starting a new workday. But I mean, I've got to have my priorities.

I want to cover myself and just put this out there to save my cool blogger reputation: I am not obsessed. I didn't even think to dress up like a wizard or witch or bring a drumstick as a wand to the theater last night (I wish I would have...) I have not ordered the final book coming out later this month. I don't own any of the books or movies (I mooch the books off of my neighbors' kids). I have only read each book and seen each movie once and am still not clear on the characters, twisting plots, and misc. magical intricacies. I would like to read them again; they are extremely well-written, fast-paced, awesome... but I don't know if I'll ever get the time for that. And if I do begin to reread them, I will pretty much have to forfeit my life until I finish because I simply cannot put them down. Some people (i.e. Matt) disagree.

The newest movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is the best movie yet. The last book is coming out this month--oh, they grow up so fast!! *sentimental*