NCAA Football Night

It's a BIG DAY in the Sampson household!


For those of you (like me) who might not know what is so exciting, you're looking at NCAA Football 2010. It has been suggested to me that I make plans with friends tonight. It took about 2 seconds to solve that one!!

Now, Gareth is happy to have the video game AND TV to himself!

Thoughts on Love...

I read an article yesterday.

I have not always been in good relationships, romantic or otherwise. And so, this piece of advice especially resonated with me...

This is the bottom line: you must love yourself well enough not to let love for another person cause you to accept mistreatment in a romantic [or any other] relationship.

I am thankful, though. Today, I have some of the best relationships that I have ever had...and I think it is because I have become better at loving myself.

Our Wedding Day

Friday, June 26, 2009

Our smiles couldn't get any bigger. The happiest day in our lives!!

With 100 of our friends and family who joined us in Estes Park, Colorado, at The Stanley Hotel, we celebrated the start of our lives together in style!

We could not possibly capture all of the love and all of the FUN...

but we have tried to remember some of our favorite moments.

Please feel free to add your favorites to our list.

xoxo.
Dr. and Mrs. Sampson


ghost tour with scary mary! my cousin Ava is the star :-)

our awesome 'set up' team! the room was beautiful because of all of you.

bad weather blowing through. reassuring words from Gareth.

sun at just the right moment for an outdoor ceremony.

elk and rainbows for the reception! wow!!

relying on the wedding party. being so organized before the wedding day that I could be scattered on the wedding day. thank you to everyone who answered a phone call to 'please, bring Jane _____.'

getting notes, texts, and posts all day long - filled with love!

seeing each other for the first time all dressed up!

getting my hair done with Tiff and Sarah! visits from Susan and Kim.

Photographer: that's the beauty of taking pictures before the ceremony.
Jane: you mean we can drink a cocktail now?! woo hoo!

getting ready with my girls. such beauty all in one room!

kind words from strangers as I was waiting in my wedding dress...prompting a conversation with Lindsey in which I am considering wearing the dress again -- on just a regular night on the town.

champagne, poured by Michelle!

discovering that Red's drunken super-power is dipping people.

Jane: I think Red dipped me last night.
Gareth: Yea, he dipped me, too.

dancing with my Mom and Aunts! all of my family rocked it!!

Clyde (to Jane): We need to do this every weekend!

Sharon and Nicole doing the jump rope.

pulling everyone out to dance. no one refused!

high-fives with my AWESOME wedding coordinator when we figured out we could get everyone on the dance floor with a well-timed song and better lighting!

Molly (to Gareth): please stop playing Journey. I've seen a side of Kevin that I never want to see again.

Mark's bug-eyes and goofy faces.

amazing soup! seriously. it was SO good.

where did you get your music?! (shhh!!...DJ Kurv, Red Fez)

Bart (to Gareth): I will PAY YOU for that music!!

an impromptu Michael Jackson tribute. lots of love.

waterfalls of tequila. whoospy!

a private photo shoot and hike to the ruins, across the street. feeling like Gareth and I are the only two people in the world.

meeting Gareth's college friends: Juan, Bart, and Brian.

seeing my cousin, Heather. feeling her Mother's presence and love.

blinded by the 'strobe light' of flashing cameras on the dance floor.

Sebastian's awesome dance moves!

a complement to Gareth and I that also complemented my brother and his wife.

being surrounded by so many people we love that we couldn't wipe the smiles off of our faces if we tried!!

Lonesome Dove

I watched this show for the first time more than 15 years ago. The entire 6-hour mini-series in one weekend, maybe even one Saturday.

It played on TV last night, so Gareth and I stayed up together to watch.

I'm not normally a fan of western movies, but this is my exception. Gus and Clara's love story pulls at my heartstrings every time.

Here is my favorite scene (the first 1:20 or so)...

Perfect Austin Date

Just home from a perfect "Austin Date" with my soon-to-be hubby...

Rode our bikes to the IMAX theatre for the new Star Trek movie. A GREAT movie...(except for the two teenagers who would NOT stop talking behind us). Don't you think Captain Kirk is SO dreamy?? :-)

Pit stop at Red House on our way home for a glass of wine to wind down.

Beautiful weather. Wonderful company. Spontaneous. Fun.

Thought for My Day

Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.

-Thomas Merton

Girls' Night

I have such great girlfriends!

We had a fun time catching up with one another last night. I realized how much I missed seeing all of them more often...and how lucky I am to have such a beautiful, positive piece in my life!!

The photos are not from last night, but these are some of the girls...

birthday soiree for Bochi

party boat with Lindsey

Bullies

Wow, I thought bullies and cliques were left behind, long-ago, in high school. Sadly, this is just not so. It's shocking to find both of these - still - in my adult life. Thankfully, I can choose not to participate.

I choose maturity.

Some Things

I have a bunch of things on my mind and I can't seem to complete a single thought, which leaves my blog empty. Instead of complete thoughts, here are some of the pieces...

~ I am leaving my full-time J.O.B. on May 22. I can't wait!!

~ Gareth and I have sent out (most of the) invitations to our wedding. We went to the post office together two weekends ago. Each of us dropping a handful into the slot. We didn't say a word to each other on the way in. As we were hopping back into the car, Gareth looked over at me and said, "I guess there's no going back now." The truth is, we can't wait!!

~ I am learning about boundaries. I've discovered that setting boundaries is not something I've done very well in my relationships. It is also not something I've done very well in my relationship with work. I'm starting to set them, now. It's awkward, but it is awesome!

~ I had a fantastic weekend with friends. Happy hours, dinners, dancing, live music, fun times! I'm looking forward to another one. High school friends in town, birthdays to celebrate. Kick ass! :-)

~ Gareth and I are learning how to talk with each other. It's pretty awesome. We're still learning, but it's getting easier and better! I knew this guy was good for me!!

~ I love the business I've started with Arbonne. I'm still just getting my feet under me, but every time I think about the products, the people, the rewards, the recognition...it truly amazes me! I am so happy that I listened.

~ I've had one person, a friend in high school, on my mind quite a bit lately. My friend, Mary, tells me that I'm trying to "make amends". The way she said it sounded like she was proud of me. The truth is, I owe the guy an apology. I hope I get a chance to tell him.

~ I went for a walk this morning! It feels good to be active again. I'll hit the gym on Wed and on Fri this week, too. Time to get up off the couch and shake off the funk.