Liz's Prayer Request

Please follow this link to Liz's blog and say a prayer for her step-brother.

Are People Born WICKED?

Yesterday was a wonderful, wonderful day. After literally MONTHS of planning, Liz and I finally got to see WICKED together in Chicago.

It was a cold and blustery day, but it was perfect in so many ways. I have seen a lot of theater over the year, and seen a lot of quality shows and amazingly talented people through the years. While the recent touring cast of Les Mis was beyond words, I think WICKED may be the best thing I have seen on stage.

I fell in love with the musical long before I ever saw it. I really enjoyed the book, and when I heard they had made a musical out of it, I picked up the soundtrack without ever listening to it first. I was blown away. My favorite thing about the book was that, like many of Gregory Maguire's books, it took the POV of the person in the fairy tale you were supposed to hate and made her loveable. The ugly stepsister, the wicked with, the evil queen...telling their stories and showing that there truly are two sides to every story. Elphaba (also known as The Wicked Witch of the West) is a girl with hopes and passions who, in her heart, wants to do what is right. The world just sometimes seems to get the better of her. While telling too much would give away the mystery and surprises the show has to offer, it's worth saying this. Go see it. Now.

And, getting to see it with Liz was something even more special. She quoted the lyrics from one of the songs in her toast at my wedding. She is one of those people who has changed me for the better, just by being in my life. And, i know our lives have been oh-so crazy lately, so getting to just spend time with her and hang out was wonderful. And the 50-cent bus ride from Chicago to Indy didn't hurt either!

How to Say I Love You

It's hard to believe that Tim and I have already been married for two and a half months. In that time we have gone to Jamaica (the best honeymoon ever!), been to three other weddings, survived our first holiday season as a married couple, done countless loads of laundry and rearranging and unpacking of furniture, and fallen in love a little more each day.

There are some things that are so different and some things that are so similar about life before and after 10/21/06. I am often overwhelmed and humbled by the feeling i have for my husband, and vice versa. It is such a special feeling to look at the man you married and feel like the luckiest woman on the whole planet.

Here are some new ways I've learned to say I Love You.

You say I love you when you agree to spend your first married Christmas at your wife's house, even though you have horrible allergies and you know your asthma will be a problem what with the two dogs, two cats, birds, spider, and various other allergens in the air.

You say I love you when you are genuinely happy and excited that your husband gets to go on a work trip to Montreal without you, and genuinely disappointed with him when that trip falls through at the last minute.

You say I love you when you come home from a long day at work and still make a yummy dinner, without being asked.

You say I love you when you make the bed, even though it's not something you really care about in any way.

You say I love you when you try your best to deadbolt the door even though it's something you're not used to doing.

You say I love you when the uncomfortable moment's at a new years eve party are not nearly as important as being there with your husband, and getting to know his friends better.

You say I love you when you simply rub your wife's feet and kiss her temple at night.

You say I love you when you put down your book and pay attention to the video game your husband got for Christmas.

You say I love you when you remember to buy chicken soup because that's what your wife always had when she was sick as a little girl.

You say I love you by making sure that your spouse feels your touch and hears your voice before you leave for work and before you say goodnight.

You say I love you in a million little ways without ever using words.

I love that Tim and I are learning a whole new "love language" of our own. It's funny, but even at this very early stage in our marriage, I am learning that actions really do speak louder than words! I hear Tim's heart and devotion very clearly every day. My prayer is that he hears mine, as well!