The Introduction

Then I thought about it and not one to hide feelings or opinions, maybe this blogging thing is for me after all.

They say start from the beginning, so from the beginning I shall start. EXTRAORDINARY Events? What kind of title for a blog is THAT? I know most people think of “events” and wedding planner or party planner are the first things that come to mind. I am neither. I am one human being who has been through and experienced some pretty spectacular events throughout life and it just so happens that I do earn my living in the events world. I don’t think there is such a thing as insignificant daily happenings. Each day is significant. We should embrace that.

As a cancer survivor, I cannot emphasize that enough. I will most definitely get into my survivorship in this blog and the emotions that go along with being a survivor, especially days away from the 16th birthday doctors said I wouldn’t live to see. I believe I know the meaning of life: We were given life to live. LIVING is the meaning! I try to do that daily.

When I am not traveling for work, San Diego, CA is the place I call home. It’s just about as close to living in paradise as I could imagine. I do love my native Miami, and while I most especially miss the warm water and white powder sands of the Florida beaches, San Diego called to me almost five years ago and I answered. I go back to visit my family so I like to think I am getting the best of both worlds.

Throughout my time here there have been dating escapades, some more serious than others, then a Navy man walked into my life. Or, perhaps I walked into his…and here we are. A July 5, 2013 wedding is planned for Colorado. This has special significance and we’ll get into that later. Sometimes people say a person comes into your life and turns it upside down. I say he turned mine right side up and opened my eyes to another side of life I had rejected long ago.

You see, my fiance’ is a father. To three girls. This used to be a deal breaker for me. In no uncertain terms did I ever want children. If a man had them, it was not that I didn’t like children, I just didn’t want to be a step-mom. Well, people change and things change. Somehow I get to be a step-mom to three amazing girls. I don’t even like to use that term “step”-mom, but for lack of a better one, for now, that is how I’ll refer to myself in here. After the horror stories I had been told, I met his daughters, who live in another state, and let me tell you –  I hit the jackpot. They are AWESOME. That brings up Arkansas – a place we’ll venture into later. I’ll also add, though I did not have kids, it’s not my first time at the rodeo. I was married once before, too. I am one who is extremely grateful for the lessons it gave me.

I do travel quite a bit, seasonally, for work. It’s interesting to be marrying a military man, but to be the one traveling. But hey, it works! 

I think that’s a good start for today. Right now, I’d like to share a handful of our engagement photos taken by Angela Powell Woulfe of Powell Woulfe Photography. She is an amazing and strong woman and military wife, not to mention a brilliant photographer. I wanted to pay respect to my fiance’s service to the military and to definitely include our motorcycle since we love riding so much. We think these capture ‘us’ perfectly. (Please do not copy or alter these photos in any way).

Thank you for reading and welcome to EXTRAORDINARY Events!