Married in Miami

I don't know who all reads this blog anymore, but I now have a new blog for which I am writing about my new life and husband in Miami. You can follow along here:

http://www.marriedtothecuban.blogspot.com

:) Cheers!

Havana Nights in Kansas

About a week ago, I experimented on my family in preparing a Cuban meal and having them test it out.  I made everything from scratch including rice, black beans, palomilla steak, tres leches cake and mojito's.  To start off the meal, I read an excerpt from a poem by José Martí, the beloved Cuban poet who died fighting for Cuba's independence from Spain.  I also passed out "cubanismos," or Cuban slang, on note cards and placed them at each setting around the table, and had my very white family attempt to pronounce them.  ;)  It was quite enjoyable!  We listened to light salsa music playing in the background, the very first salsa mix that Israel brought to Kansas in March.

Pink Obsession

Lately, I've had this small pink obsession.  I'm still a huge fan of red and aqua, but I've really been liking light pink and medium pink shades.  There's something about pink that's so feminine and lovely!

The Final Countdown

In just 36 days, I will be married to this wonderful man:

God's Grace is amazing.  I truly do not deserve Israel Sánchez, but for some reason, God loves to bless us and give us the most perfect gifts.  I met Israel when I was least expecting it, when I wasn't looking for a relationship.  But I'm thankful Israel kept pursuing me until I finally let him call me.  ;)

It will be such an incredible blessing being married to Israel.  I've never been happier in my entire life, and I can't believe I get to call him my husband in just a little more than a month!  

It's extremely hard living 1500 miles away from each other, but there is comfort in the fact that this is our last separation.  Soon we will be married and can spend all of our days together.  

I've met the love of my life, the man who meets every quality I always wanted in a future mate.  The fact that we met through this very blog, through Jesus, still blows me away! 

 

A Little Domesticity

I have never considered myself very domestic.  But I have felt that begin to change dramatically in the last few months.  I guess the secret to this motivation is being engaged.  

I have never cooked much in my life, nor had much of a desire to do so, too paralyzed by fear to attempt any real meal.  Someone gave me a Cuban cookbook as a wedding present, and I was immediately intrigued.  I have looked at every single recipe multiple times and am actually excited to attempt a real Cuban meal.

While I spent a few weeks in Miami, I tried out a couple of recipes.  I even asked Israel's great-grandmother for her secret to dry rice (the way Israel prefers it), through my fiancé acting as a translator, of course.  I used the rice cooker that his mom had left behind and attempted Ofelia's recipe for perfect rice.  It actually turned out exactly like how she said it would!  So if all else fails, at least I can feed my Cuban his much needed rice.

Working on fabric flowers for the wedding, I found myself longing for a sewing machine and desiring to sew more than just a loose button.  It is exciting to think about different decorations for our home and picking out which 11 inch frying pan I would like to scramble eggs on.  

This is all fascinating to me, as all of these desires to cook well and make a home are so fresh and new.  Only 40 more days until I am a wife to the most loving man I have ever known!

A long overdue update

I haven't written a real entry in a long time, so I thought I would update a little.  Right now I'm at work with Israel in Miami.  It's been a productive day for me, working on our wedding slideshow and editing pictures for that.  

It's been such a busy summer I almost don't know where to begin!  I spent a week in Williamsburg with Tricia and friends, three weeks in Ireland with just Tricia, and one week in Miami to see my wonderful fiancé.  I came home for a couple weeks after being away for a while and then Israel came to spend some time in Kansas one last time before coming back for the wedding.  

It was so wonderful having Israel here, enjoying the Fourth of July and my birthday.  It was one of the best birthdays I've ever had, just having the man I love there with me celebrating.  We also got a lot of things done for the wedding, including meeting with the photographer, florist, pastor, invitation man (also my uncle and host of the wedding site), and applying for our marriage license.

We also spent a total of 6 hours registering at Gallery Classic and Bed Bath and Beyond, something I had been somewhat dreading but actually turned out to be very fun!  It turns out that Israel and I have very similar if not exact taste in decor, etc.  The fun thing about Gallery Classic is that they set up your very own display with a sign that has both the bride and groom's names and the wedding date!

Israel and I flew back to Miami together on the same plane for the first time ever, and it was so refreshing not to have to say goodbye.  I have to say I've never had so much fun on a flight before. :)  Since I've been in Miami, I've tried cooking a couple successful meals, including one Cuban classic-- arroz, frijoles negros, y huevos revoltillo (rice, black beans, and scrambled eggs).  And I was surprised by the fact that I actually enjoy cooking!  I spent an afternoon at the pool with Giselle, and tomorrow is her birthday so we will be celebrating that by having a barbeque at Israel's cousin's house.  

I'll be here for a couple more weeks and then I will be in Kansas for the remainder of the summer until the wedding!  Oh and one more thing:  My adopted grandma Betty (or Tricia's great-aunt) gave Israel and I a week in the timeshare of our choice for our honeymoon!  This was the most unexpected wonderful blessing!  So we have decided on lovely St. Thomas to spend time together as a newly married couple!  :)

Elenita

I would say my dislike of cats started when I was pretty young...  :)

From an old hymn

"Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Fill me with life anew, That I 

May love what Thou dost love

And do what Thou

Wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Till I am wholly Thine,

Until this earthly part of me

Glows with Thy Fire divine."

Reminder

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

-2 Corinthians 5:17

More Ireland pictures...

Dublin and Belfast

We've only been here two days, and so far it's been incredibly nice outside.  We spent our first day in Dublin right after our flight exploring the city and took a three-hour free walking tour seeing Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, and St. Stephen's Green.  Today we got into Belfast and have had a nice time just relaxing at the hostel tonight after a stressful day driving around Ireland.  Here are a few pics, including some from a photo shoot in our room tonight:

On Graduating

With everything going on, I think it just now hit me that after five long years at Washburn, I am graduating tomorrow and receiving my Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History.  What I am going to do with this degree, I have no idea so please don't ask!  :)  But at least I will actually have a specialization in something, that's pretty cool!!  

It's been a crazy week, and it will be an even crazier weekend, but so many exciting things happening!  First, my fiancé whom I haven't seen in a month will be there for my graduation, and I am picking him up at the airport tonight!!  Also, my sister and her husband are coming just for tomorrow and part of Sunday and it will be my first time seeing them since their wedding.  I am really excited to have all of my close friends and family there celebrating with me!  I am also leaving on a month long trip bound for Williamsburg, Ireland, and Miami next week, so I am also preparing for that.  Ireland looks beautiful and I'm thrilled to be seeing its beauty and traveling to Europe for the first time with Tricia!!

Despite everything going on, finishing college is a huge deal and I've spent entirely too much time writing papers, cramming for Art History tests, doing presentations and other tedious homework.  So, I'm going to enjoy the day tomorrow and soak it all in.  It's been a life-changing, wonderful yet awful, difficult, challenging, growing, and rewarding time, but I'm ready to be done with this stage of my life.  I'm no longer a college student!!!

Rain rain, go away

Come again another day...

Or not.

I love these engagement pictures...

This is from the 100 layer cake blog, and I love this photo shoot!  Just getting some ideas for Israel and I's photo shoot this weekend!  :)  

Today is the last first day of finals!!!!

That is all.

Nostalgia

My blog's 2-year birthday is coming up next month!  It's pretty crazy to think about what all can happen in your life in just two years.  I don't think I imagined that this blog would still be around after two years when I first started it.  I'm glad I stuck with it though, since this is the mode in which I met my fiancé!  

I had my last day of classes at Washburn yesterday.  I'm never going to have another class in Room 118 of Garvey anymore, where all 10 of my Art History classes have taken place.  Needless to say, I have spent a lot of time in that room.  I will never be taught by Dr. Janzen again nor write another tedious, painful paper for her!  I don't think it will hit me for a while, once the Fall semester starts and I'll realize that for the first time in five years, I won't be going back.  How craaaaaaazy!  I really can't believe I'm done with college.  

I think I've grown up quite a bit during these years.  My freshman year, I used to stay up until 3 in the morning with the Rachel's, wake up at 6, and go to my classes.  Until the last few months, I have maintained a pretty early-to-bed schedule and have actually become more responsible.  Not only will I be done at Washburn, but I'll also be losing my work-study job at the museum.  So weird!  So many changes.  But I'm excited for the future.

Five years is a big chunk of time when you're only 22, almost 23.  Life full of homework and tests, late nights, little sleep, and procrastination is all I've known lately!  It really is perfect timing because soon I'll be a wife in a new place, working full-time eventually at a "real" job, and being able to see my husband everyday and have a home of our own.

I'm graduating in a week.  So adult right now.

Save the Date

Before you get the official card:

September 9, 2010

On this day, I get to marry the most wonderful, sweet, caring, handsome, and loving man! :)  And my name will become Elena Sánchez!  

Life is busy!

Soon and very soon I won't have to write boring blog posts about papers anymore!  I'm about to write my very last paper (I've had about 13 just in the last few weeks) of the whole semester, and the last of my college career!!!  I know, some of you say never say never, but at least my last paper as an undergraduate! :)  Although right now, I have no desire to continue on with more school, because this year has for sure burned me out.  I've never written so many papers in my life!  

The next week and a half is pretty jam-packed:

-finish up school

-finals

-start getting things ready for Ireland/pack/buy food and other miscellaneous items

-work my last week at the museum

-Hopefully address and send out save-the-date cards

-Pick up Israel from the airport Friday night (!!!!!  :) Yay!!!!)

-Graduation!!!!!  And graduation parties!

-Take engagement pics with Karen!

-Meet with the pastor and Israel

-Leave for my month-long vacation to various places: Williamsburg/Ireland/Miami!!!

-Return June 22

the end

2 papers

1 presentation

3 finals....

And my life as a college student will come to an end!!!!

A paranoid thought

One little confession:

Several months ago, I pinned a white paper lantern above my bed using a thumb tack and a piece of yellow string.  I never could figure out the instructions to actually install a light in the lantern (ha, a pun on my last post?!  heh heh), it seemed way too complicated.  So I opted to just stick the thumb tack into the ceiling.  

Something I often think about before falling asleep is:  What if the tack falls down from the ceiling during my sleep and pierces my eye?  

This is what keeps me up at night.