Broken Lives Matter

It's becoming harder not to think about what I've always had faith in. The only clearer indicator would be if moonlight flooded the hospital room every night, as God has always been represented by moonlight to me. And when I was very sick in the hospital with shunt malfunctions or encephalitus, somehow my faith wrapped me in a warm, safe cucoon. Just like right after the death of my father, at the darkest points in my life, at the saddest and loneliest moments, I feel faith pulling me back. However much I've tried to find other answers to the cosmic questions, it's impossible to ignore the feeling of being protected, a sense that although things may be terrible and tragic for a while, eventually they will turn out even better than they were before. This ecperience will change us. It will make us stronger as individuals and as a couple. He'll know he can rely on me, and I'll be rewarded for loving him so much-- with an unwavering devotion. For making a lif...

This morning I arrived at the hhospital before 8:00 after spending the night at home, marveling at the transformation since my mother had come and cleaned and organized like banshhee, indulging in a soak in my wonderful bathtub, and a fitfull night's sleep. Coming into the room I asked Mikel how he was doing, and he smiled; "I survived the nighht without you." So we're surviving. This is incredibly difficult, but I'm sure there must be a reason. Maybe he was juust tryng to do so much, trying to accomplish too much, and Fate had to step in and slow him down because he's supposed to stay with me for a long time:) That's what I'd like to believe. Meanwhile I'm finding ways to make myself useful to him, something I don't always remember being able to do when we were just living at home. He was always the go-getter who tried to be productive every day; I often felt like I was a lazy homebody, 'cause I honestly didn't always feel like ...

I sit awake after four hours of sleep (my new average) at Spectrum Butterworth hospital. My poor, sweet, smart, wonderful Michael has been here since shortly after my last entry, Tuesday. He awoke from a nap in our home unable to swallow and with numbness in the left side of his face.That seems like a lifetime ago. We spent six hours in the ER, five of them in the brilliantly illuminated hallway. I stole away to the waiting room a couple times to clear my head; I've never seen it so busy. They had to call people's names like at a regular doctor's office. The hallways were so conjested with stretchers and supply carts I could barely snake my way through-- and I had jumped into the ambulance without my walker! He was finally admitted to a tiny little room that is packed with stuff-- his, mine and the hospital's all crammed into every available crevice. There's about a two foot path around his bed for medical staff to maneuver, and it seems good enough. Suddenly...

We've got a discounted rate on a block of rooms at the gorgeous Amway Grand Plaza Hotel right in the heart of down town Grand Rapids, and only a stone's throw away from the wedding venue, St. Cecelia's Music Center:) For anyone who might be interested, the woman to speak to is Grace Hill. Just tell her you're part of the Cypert-O'Rourke wedding, and I'm sure she'll take good care of you. I traded emails with Ms. Hill for several hours today, and she was more than generous. To be sure, these beautiful rooms are still a little bit on the pricey side, but as some one who's stayed there before, I can assure you it's well worth it. Not to mention, as Michael pointed out, the rate at which these rooms are being offered puts them right in line with the cheaper options. The difference becomes how close you will be to the action!

Getting anxious! I know it's still four months away; we've got tbe whole miserably hot, humid summer to endure before we even have time to think about a wedding! Still, I'd love to really know exactly how many people will be joining me and Michael, and how many special little touches I can add to make the uniique event even more special for all the people who make the effort to come. We just spoke to the caterer again, and he gave us a rough, very reasonable estimate on what the food will cost. The bakery has known for some time just to "aim high" and however many people show up to eat cake will be well taken care of! But there's still a million tiny details thhat come to my head; place settings-- how many per table? They cani seat eight people, but won't the party look awfully small if a really small number come, and everybody's scrunched into only a few tables? What if we actually have a bigger number come, against expectations; how should we ...

You've all been so wonderfully supportive and understanding, we've decided we're going to do something for you. Until now, unofficially we have been kicking around the idea of making our wedding "dry," as alcohol free as Kentucky on Sunday. Even as understanding as our wonderful attendees (as yet an undetermined number) have been online, I knew that having nothing for our guests to celebrate with in person would be pushing it. SO WE'RE HAVING AN OPEN BAR! The details of exactly what will be available during dinner are not yet decided, but it's one of the first things on my list for the upcoming week. This is our treat for all you who really read my blog; you get to know before anyone else that you will not be missing your slight wedding buzz on our special day:)

Here is all the information about the bridesmaid dresses. This is the style: Morilee Style: 20201 Color Truffle. They come strapless with spagetti straps to be sewn in, and also come with a matching shawl. Notice she has her hand in one of the in-seam pockets, which are deep and wonderful and will hold you phone. This is the color:  (It's called truffle) The fabric is taffeta. But it's not the noisy kind, it has a really nice feel-- Everyone will need to go to a bridal store or seamstress and get your measurments.  There are places you can order online, with some discounted prices, like: VictoriasBridalCouture.com but remember they take up to 13 weeks to deliver! Thank you very much. PS Bridal has it for $136 in truffle, and fast shipping and no tax! Reply Reply to all Forward