Vegan Milkshake and a Wedding
Twenty-three years ago I married the man I've loved for the past 30 years. We met in 1983 in our hometown. It was the summer before my Senior year and his Junior year in high school. It was a Friday night dance at Polaski Hall and I spotted him staring at me as he leaned against the DJ's speakers. I remember my girl friends and I laughing about it and thought nothing of it as we continued to dance to those amazing 80's songs that we all still love today. What I wasn't expecting was him walking up to me and asking me to dance; I said yes and the rest is history. From that day on our soon to be relationship was being laid out before us. It slowly took off as we each had to break up with the people we were "dating" at the time.
We dated/courted each other for the next 7 years!! We both had college plans ahead of us and knew it was imperative that we accomplish our educational goals before we get married. A great portion of our courting had to be done long distance. I went off to college first spending my first 2 years of study at Michigan State University. Eric joined me at MSU when I was entering my Sophomore year. We didn't see each other as much as we thought we could as we both were serious about our studies and I was active in my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. But it was nice being in the same town again and not having to keep in touch with just letters.
We were distanced again when I transferred to Ohio State University after 2 years at MSU, to finish my last 3 years of college. I was double majoring in Dental Hygiene and Education. My time was spent with my nose in the books and keeping in touch with Eric, writing letters almost daily and trying to afford the occasional long distance phone call. He transferred to another school in Michigan before entering The Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago.
Once I graduated from OSU I began looking for jobs and a single studio apartment in Chicago that I could afford. I was a little scared to move to such a big city and live all by myself. Not to mention the anxiety of interviewing and starting a new job as a Registered Dental Hygienist. But one thing that made me confident that I could pull it all off was knowing that my best friend would be living just a short distance from my studio, and also the fact that Eric was just a short car ride away. But again academics came first and Eric was constantly buried in books. He decided to propose to me a few years before he would graduate.
My parents had moved down to SW Florida the summer I graduated from high school so we were married in one of the most beautiful towns on the West coast. Planning the wedding with my parents long distance was not as tough as you'd think. Everything went smoothly due to the fact that my Mom is a stickler for details and she knew all of my likes and dislikes.
July 7, 1990 was the joyful date. Our wedding was absolutely beautiful. We were married at St. Ann's Church and had the most amazing reception at a beachside resort. Here are some pictures I took of our photo album, so they are not nearly as beautiful as the originals.
Then after that lovely dinner reception my parents had a second reception in their home, fully catered and decorated. We had several people come from out of town and my parents wanted us all to have more time to be together--it was amazing! The next day Eric and I headed down to Key West for a fun-filled honeymoon. We did the normal sightseeing, snorkeling, sunset cruises and eating at the wonderful restaurants. We even rented mopeds and had a blast exploring the island.
When we returned to Chicago we had to move all of my stuff from my studio down to the Southside where we had found an apartment close to Eric's school. Our first "home" together, it was a very exciting time! We spent the next 2 years there before moving down south, to the city where we were married, and we have been here ever since. Living, laughing, and raising our 5 beautiful children. We have so much to be grateful for but the one thing that I am most grateful for today is our love. Happy Anniversary honey, I love you more and more with each passing year.
How about a recipe? I made this Mylkshake for the children and they loved it!! A super simple way to get cruciferous vegetables into a child's diet unsuspectingly.
5 ripe bananas
1 C purified water
10 oz frozen raspberries
1 1/2 C raw cauliflower
1 tsp pure vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean
Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender and Enjoy!
+JMJ+ Today I am grateful for my husband whom I've spent the last 30 years loving.
We dated/courted each other for the next 7 years!! We both had college plans ahead of us and knew it was imperative that we accomplish our educational goals before we get married. A great portion of our courting had to be done long distance. I went off to college first spending my first 2 years of study at Michigan State University. Eric joined me at MSU when I was entering my Sophomore year. We didn't see each other as much as we thought we could as we both were serious about our studies and I was active in my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. But it was nice being in the same town again and not having to keep in touch with just letters.
We were distanced again when I transferred to Ohio State University after 2 years at MSU, to finish my last 3 years of college. I was double majoring in Dental Hygiene and Education. My time was spent with my nose in the books and keeping in touch with Eric, writing letters almost daily and trying to afford the occasional long distance phone call. He transferred to another school in Michigan before entering The Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago.
Once I graduated from OSU I began looking for jobs and a single studio apartment in Chicago that I could afford. I was a little scared to move to such a big city and live all by myself. Not to mention the anxiety of interviewing and starting a new job as a Registered Dental Hygienist. But one thing that made me confident that I could pull it all off was knowing that my best friend would be living just a short distance from my studio, and also the fact that Eric was just a short car ride away. But again academics came first and Eric was constantly buried in books. He decided to propose to me a few years before he would graduate.
My parents had moved down to SW Florida the summer I graduated from high school so we were married in one of the most beautiful towns on the West coast. Planning the wedding with my parents long distance was not as tough as you'd think. Everything went smoothly due to the fact that my Mom is a stickler for details and she knew all of my likes and dislikes.
July 7, 1990 was the joyful date. Our wedding was absolutely beautiful. We were married at St. Ann's Church and had the most amazing reception at a beachside resort. Here are some pictures I took of our photo album, so they are not nearly as beautiful as the originals.
When we returned to Chicago we had to move all of my stuff from my studio down to the Southside where we had found an apartment close to Eric's school. Our first "home" together, it was a very exciting time! We spent the next 2 years there before moving down south, to the city where we were married, and we have been here ever since. Living, laughing, and raising our 5 beautiful children. We have so much to be grateful for but the one thing that I am most grateful for today is our love. Happy Anniversary honey, I love you more and more with each passing year.
December 2012
July 7, 2013
How about a recipe? I made this Mylkshake for the children and they loved it!! A super simple way to get cruciferous vegetables into a child's diet unsuspectingly.
Raspberry Banana Mylk Shake
by Elizabeth @ rawlivingandlearning.blogspot.com5 ripe bananas
1 C purified water
10 oz frozen raspberries
1 1/2 C raw cauliflower
1 tsp pure vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean
Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender and Enjoy!
+JMJ+ Today I am grateful for my husband whom I've spent the last 30 years loving.
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