Let's rehearse...Mr.and Mrs. Matthew Hajek

Yes it finally happened!  We are married! Although it seemed we'd never get there...it came and it went so very quickly.  I remember the anticipation finally hit when I began seeing all of the family from out of town that began arriving at the hotel and the rehearsal dinner. 

I can honestly say that I think the most striking thing was that so many family and friends were gathered there for us.  Everyone all together simply because we decided to get married and unite as one family.  It was in very few words the most heart warming, emotional weekend I've ever had so far in this journey we call life.

Along the way I picked up a couple of different things I'd share with the "engagement-ee's" if I had the chance: 

• Don't rush so much that you let the little moments you can cherish forever, pass by.  
• If something doesn't get done and the show can go on, then know it probably wasn't meant to happen.
• Wedding preparations have to stop somewhere.  There needs to be a clear beginning and end to the whole process so you can enjoy at least some of the actual event!
• Hold your significant other every chance you get your wedding weekend.  Cherish that it is truly all about the two of you.
• Pick the people who stand beside you as your wedding party wisely.  Don't just pick for fun, pick for the memories you will always have for the rest of your lifetime.
• Take my word for it ;) I replaced a Maid of Honor 4 weeks to the big day :) 
• The end result was very worth it.  We were so very lucky to have made it to our event with a wedding party that was truly irreplaceable. 
• And the greatest of them all....... Don't fret about who didn't RSVP, and who didn't come!!  Spend your every moment loving who did show up to celebrate with you and those that expressed regrets they couldn't make it.  Who wants to attend, will attend or send word of why they couldn't.    

Still I carry this feeling

When you walked into my house

You won't be walking out the door

Lovers forever

Face to face

My city or mountains

Stay with me stay

I need you to love me

I need you today

Give to me your leather

Take from me my lace.
"Leather and Lace"-A. Watson



"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."   1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."   1 Corinthians 13:13

CRUNCH time!

So there we were a month out from our wedding and I wasn't quite as ahead as I would have like to been.  I initially planned to sit back, relax and enjoy the month before our wedding.  But let's get real, when your doing so much yourself versus paying other people to do it, it's next to impossible to sight in some "relax time" through your wedding scope.  We were checking things off left and right off of our GIGANTIC checklist.  So we were even wrapping silverware down to the week before.  Oh well, we constantly had something to do and can cherish the memories of it literally being a year long "family" affair :) 

With crunch time, comes wedding jitters and nervousness as I found out.  I didn't have any worries in the world about Matt or anything of that nature, just how the entire weekend was going to go in general.  I can definitely say these feelings began to subside when checking into the hotel there in West, TX.

Out with the jitters and in came a flood of excitement and anticipation!!!

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."   Isaiah 40:30,31

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6,7

(Remember to bear with me! I meant to blog about all of this as it was happening and never managed to get that far!  So I'm recreating the order of events for everyone.)

Last Hoo-RAH before the I DO...

Both Matt and I ended up having our own "Last Hoo-RAH before the I DO" parties!

A couple of my ladies and I went to the Texas Wine and Music Festival located right outside the town of Fredericksburg!  We stressed a bit in the beginning about our cabin we'd reserved for us to have our privacy and party-hardy but decided to make the best of it, even if it was a bit further than advertised online.  We all arrived safe and sound Friday night, primped a bit and then we were off to dinner!  I'd have to say though, that we all played our own roles during the entire weekend:

Miss Amy Hajek - Public Relations coordinator!  If there's one thing i've learned after three years with Matt's family, it's that any Hajek doesn't EVER meet a stranger.  We met all different kinds of people from different walks of life thanks to Miss Amy Hajek (Matt's Aunt). 

Miss Amanda Khoury - Entertainment Staff!  I award her this fine title because she accomplished the fine art of never leaving us with a single minute to ponder a dull moment.  She is truly her own and I love her for it.  I remember thinking how good it was to be genuinely rolling hysterically with laughter all weekend long. 

Momma Shapley aka Cindy - Mother of the bride.  She was a must have, requirement for this trip.  I absolutely cherish that after growing up, I can be friends with my mom and enjoy her company in a different way than I ever have. 

Miss Kim Woodfin - Sister of the bride.  She was another must have because well she's my sister! She's my one sibling so as you can imagine we laugh, we cry, we well.... share most everything with each other. She planned some pretty awesome bridal weekend entertainment back at the cabin for me as well.  (NO there weren't any strippers involved!  Just good old fashioned fun.)

Miss Kristen May - Sister from another mother.  Kristen met Kimberly during her college life and she's well... just literally become a part of the Shapley family.  She was another key player in the fun that went on that weekend, helping wherever needed to make things happen!

And well me, Heather - the Bride.  I really didn't play a significant role other than enjoying each and every lady that went and what they brought to the table.  I was along for the ride :)
 
Each and every party that attended was truly a blessing on this trip in their very own way!

Now for Matt's side of his story, well since I wasn't there and I'm the one contributing to our blog I'd have to say I don't know many juicy details.  So I'll leave you with what I do know....

He went back to his hometown for what they call a "stag party" there in West.  He had so many family members, loved ones, cherished friends that I think to count how many would have been difficult.  He talked about how good of a time it was for I think at least 3 days after it came and went. 

Result of both parties =  the love and support we felt from each and every participant and those who had regrets that couldn't attend one or the other.  Again the only words that we can return in appreciation to those people is that "You are truly cherished and loved by the both of us."

"No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends." John 15:23

"Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."   Romans 12:9

Rodeo Weekend's..Ride 'em Cowboy!

This post was actually begun at the beginning of May (post wedding) but I neglected to hit post!  Oops...but here it is:

Ah, one of my favorite sayings of all time, "Bull honky tonk!" Which is my G rated version of... Well you can probably guess. I think a true test of my new found faith in my life right now is supporting my future husband in his dreams and hobbies.  When my mom said' "honey you need you a cowboy to marry. He'll suit you perfectly." I didn't know the fine print would include bull-rider too!  So I'm now a nervous wreck from the moment he enters on Monday of almost every week to the moment he gets off after his ride. Risk taker indeed he is.  But I can't help but admire his strength and dedication.  Sometimes I find myself so wrapped up in worrying about what our future holds that I forget what I'd like to do today and now.  I'm learning more and more everyday from him. 


"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up..." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Early Friday bliss: If dogs could talk...

To end a long week, I have a rewarding early Friday.  This usually occurs every other Friday, so yes its rewarding when it occurs.  I don't ever have much planned just really to get on home to be off.  This is when I spend my time with my little ones and yes I think of them as my children as some people do.

 

Meet Annabelle (Annie) and Maddy 'Moo' Hajek

These two are who we spend so much time with and spend so much money on.  They're worth every laugh, tear, dollar, and so on.  They make our world go 'round.  So I get home today and here they are just charging the door and I think I wonder if they're saying, "mom, mom, mom!"  I think more often than not if only dogs could talk!  I'd love to hear these little girls accents, demeanor, etc.  And I thought one evening, just as I'd want my kids to know they're prayers, I wonder if there is a puppy bedtime prayer.  I found this:

Puppy Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep,
The  king-size bed is soft and deep...
 

 I sleep right in the center groove
 My  human beings can hardly move!

I've trapped their legs, they're tucked in tight
And here is where I pass the night

No one disturbs me or dares intrude

till morning comes and "I want food" 

I sneak up slowly to begin my nibbles on my human's chin

They wake up quickly, and try to tuck me back in.
 

I'm a puppy don't you see?
For  the morning's here and it's time to play
I  always seem to get my way.

So  thank you Lord for giving me

These humans that I see.

The ones who hug and hold me tight
And shares their bed with me at night!

Author: Unknown

To some people animals are just as important on this earth as humans.  We just happen to fall nicely in that category :)

A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.  Proverbs 12:10

Plan..plan...plan

Catching up to today and now, all we do as a family is plan it feels like.  We're truly getting down to the "nitty gritty."  We'll be married in May and it's just racing to get here.  My journey to get to the wedding has been trying but rewarding for me.

 I'll be successfully converted to being Catholic as of Easter weekend in April this year :).  I can't wait I've discovered so much I never knew about our Lord and having faith in him, for him.  But now nearing the end of the bigger plan, I feel I've missed the purpose of the planning and savoring each element.  I'm so thankful for everything we're able to put together for guests and for us.  We are truly blessed to be doing the things we do, have the things we have and live the life we live.  I need to spend a few more moments a day thanking the Lord for what I do have versus the I wants, I wants.  We will get there and what needs to be done will get done.  Again, I need to have faith. 

I'm learning to surrender my faith, thoughts, and prayers over to the Lord.  It is he after all who can determine your path and lead you straight.

My verse I try to turn to when I find I'm crazily getting sucked into planning versus enjoying the process is:

In his heart a man plans his course, but The Lord determines his steps.  Proverbs 16:9

Do I?... I do

Most little girls dream of being princesses, wearing the beautiful elaborate princess gowns and crowns.  When we get older it becomes what we imagine our dream wedding dress to be.

                

Matt popped the question almost exactly 2 years after we met.  One day before April 1st, good thing to or I seriously would have thought it was a joke (hence it would have been April Fool's Day).  So I had indeed stumbled upon a life changing decision.  I guess by the name of my page and the user name you can tell that my answer was yes.  We both remain excited and7 are ready to embark on new adventures!  We finally set a date to May 2014, so the planning began!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.  Proverbs 18:22