The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

I finished reading yet another Nicholas Sparks book and I am very happy that I did! The Wedding is such a good book. However, I must admit that I had to push on through to get into it at first. It is one of those books that if you give up too early on you definitely miss out on a fabulous book because I found that in the end it was TOTALLY worth it!

The Wedding is a sort of second part to The Notebook. It is about the family of Noah and Ally, mainly their children. Ally has already passed on but Noah continues to live at Creek Side, which is the retirement home he lived in with his wife before she passed away.

Jane is one of the daughters of Noah and Ally and she is married to Wilson. The book is about a failing marriage and how easy it is to take love for granted. After 30 years of marriage, Wilson did the unthinkable! He forgot their anniversary. He knew it was coming but became so wrapped up in his work that when it actually came, he had no idea and what resulted was the woman he lived with and loved for those 30 years, was heartbroken. Throughout the book, Wilson takes a journey through his life and sees nothing more than a wonderful woman who raised 3 beautiful children, ran their home and made a life that just so happens to share a bed with an un-romantic, insensitive, frankly absent father and workaholic. Although Wilson knew he loved his wife and could never imagine life without her, but he knew that he was not the man she wished he'd be. He never made time for her or the children, because work always came first and he just didn't possess that gene that makes a man romantic like his wife needs him to be. He felt inadequate at best and to accompany the guilt of his forgetting their anniversary, Wilson now felt the weight of the guilt built up for the many, many years of just plain not being there. With the help of his father-in-law, Noah, Wilson finally figures out a way to make it up to his wife and show her that he truly does love her and that he wants to be the man she wants him to be. Wilson's plans were in order and after taking a couple of weeks off of work, something never done before, his plans were about to unfold for his next anniversary was only a week away. But as fate would have it, Wilson and Jane's daughter Anna came to her parents to let them know that she is getting married. To throw a wrench in Wilson's efforts, his daughter reveals that, due to her grandfather's old age and fragile state, she would like to get married the next weekend which so happens to be her parent's wedding anniversary. Jane and Wilson give their blessing but understand that one week is hardly enough time to plan a wedding. Nevertheless, Jane generously helps her daughter figure out how to pull off the most important day of her life. When Jane and Wilson were married so many years ago, it was in front of a justice of the peace and as casual as anything could be. This is because Wilson was raised Atheist and his parents just wouldn't understand anything too religious. Jane made the sacrifice that would pain any hopeful young lady. She gave up her dream wedding because she loved Wilson that much. Wilson knew that Jane needed him during this time and he whole-heartedly offered his help with the place for the wedding, the food, and music and after asking and receiving Noah's blessing to have the wedding at his gorgeous home, he also handled the cleaning, painting, landscaping and general sprucing up of the home that the love of his life, Jane grew up in. Jane was so impressed with how helpful Wilson was being and during the entire process of planning the wedding, the two of them were somehow able to rekindle that flame they extinguished so many years ago. The day of the wedding is where the major twist of the story is revealed. This was NOT a wedding for Jane and Wilson's daughter BUT that of Wilson and Jane themselves. This was Wilson's plan all along. He convinced his daughter and everyone involved to help pull this off so he could finally have the chance to give Jane the wedding of her dreams that he robbed her of 31 years before. In the end, they renewed their vows and began their new lives together as completely altered people. Wilson vowed to continue trying to be more romantic and attentive to Jane and both are committed to making their marriage work even better than ever before.

I loved this book! It was the perfect twist and I couldn't be happier! I am happy I chose the books I did and I cannot wait to find the books I will read for the month of February!

Until next time.... BESOS!

A start to a few things...

Ok so I know it has been a while since I last blogged but I have been THAT busy! I have not forgotten the mission though and am still 100% excited about it! I have been reading and am almost done with my 2nd book for the month of January.

43) Read 2 new books a month

I finished the first one last weekend while I was at home in Espanola and it was GOOD!!!! It was The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks.

This book is about a man named Logan Thibault. A marine that served 3 toours in Iraq. While in Kuwait, Logan stumbles upon a picture half buried in the sand of a girl at a fair and posts it on a bulletin board for the owner to claim. After weeks had gone by, Logan noticed it was still hanging where he had left it and decided to take it back and keep it in his wallet. Logan's friend Victor tells him that the photo is his lucky charm because Logan has escaped hundreds of catastrophies while almost everyone around him has not. Logan doesn't really believe what his friend says but keeps the picture nonetheless. When Logan is out of the marines, he decides to go look for the girl in the picture. He has no idea where to start or if he will ever find her but in any case, he begins his walk (yes I said WALK) from Colorado to....he wasn't sure. He only had a few clues to go on and he ended up in a small NC town called Hampton. There he shows the picture to some guys at a bar and they tell him who she is and she does in fact live there. Without giving too much away...I will say that he finds her, they meet and life gets very interesting for Thibault and the woman as well as the small town of Hampton. (IF you want to know the whole story, let me know and I will write it. I am just not sure if some people would rather read it for themselves). ;o)

This is a MUST read book! It was fascinating how it kept my attention throughout and I loved the ending! (ALWAYS important!)

Right now I am reading The Wedding also by Nicholas Sparks. I will definitley let you know when I am finished and give my thoughts on it.

Aside from reading I have been trying to figure out ways to start on some other parts of my list. It gets tough when time is so limited. BUT I am happy to say that I have found the puzzle I will be using to accomplish another item on my list: 94) Do a 1,000 piece puzzle all by myself

This is it.....

I am VERY excited about it! ^_^ I know it will be hard and will require LOTS of patience but that is why I want to do it. I have never had the patience for such things and I would like to try it atleast once. Who knows, maybe I will end up loving it and become a puzzle fanatic!!! Hahaha Prolly not ;o)

Anyways, I know it is a slow start but its a start nonetheless. I am hoping to get my schedule underway and organized so I can get even MORE done! Until the next time....

Besos!

Future Is Looking Bright!

So I have my list. Now, I need to accomplish all these great tasks and I have to say it is the best feeling of anxiousness and fear and inspiration! I know I can get it all done and what's more, I know I can do MORE!

Tonight I had a wonderful conversation with my good friend Ben and he is such a doll and helped give me a start to a couple of things. He gave me advice for the weight loss part of the list AND he gave me some great info on recording equipment to look into. He is a fabulous singer and I trust his opinion and advice. He sparked the hope I need and I can't wait to get into it all! So thank you Ben for being so generous, so helpful and such a great friend all these years!

I have the most amazing friends and family ever!! They constantly inspire me and make me so proud! I am so blessed and happy that God hand picked these very people for me to learn from and to love. People always say that I am so happy all the time and always smiling and I think they'd understand why if they knew ALL th...e beautiful people I am priveleged to have around me! I am a lucky, lucky girl :D Thanks to you ALL!

A New Beginning.....

Hello! Thank you for stopping in to my new blog ^_^



I have always loved writing and have loved the thought of keeping a blog for years. Though I would have loved to start one long ago, I never had anything to write about that I felt anybody else would be interested in. Not to say anyone will now, but my dear friend Katie started a project she heard about and I was so inspired that I decided to take on the same project. The fun part....it will force me to actually live my life the way I want to with no excuses. Of course I will add things here and there that have nothing to do with the project but move me or are interesting to me in some way. So wish me luck as I begin this new journey!



Besos!

The Challenge:

Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:

Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on your part). I will document, as best I can, the completion of each task.

Why 1001 Days?

Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.

My List:

Start Date: January 10th, 2010

Completion Date: October 7th, 2012

Items that have stars (*) next to them are completed

Items in italics are in progress

Use My Words Wisely

1) Write a children’s book
2) Write a novel
3) Create a book of favorite quotes
4) Keep a journal
5) Write a screenplay
6) Create and maintain a Dream Book
7) Finish my “100 Things I Remember From My Childhood”

Let The Music Move Me
8) Record an album
9) Record a song with my dad
10) Learn to play the guitar
11) Join/Start a band
12) Go to a 3 concerts (0/3)
13) Record a Lullaby CD for children

See The Sites
14) Go to the UK
15) Get a passport
16) Take my family on a trip
17) Go to Colonial Williamsburg
18) Stay at a B&B in the south or east coast
19) Buy a bike to ride
20) Ride the Rail Runner
21) Take a Greyhound to another city
22) Take a spontaneous road trip
23) Visit the Holocaust Museum in Cali

Expand My Knowledge
24) Learn to swim
25) Learn to use a sewing machine
26) Learn to crochet
27) Take dance lessons
28) Learn to play chess
29) Learn to make tortillas
30) Learn to make good chile
31) Learn Spanish
32) Take cake decorating/Pastry classes
33) Learn to ride a horse
34) Learn to make tamales

Good For My Soul
35) Help out at a soup kitchen twice a week for 6 months (0/48)
36) Visit a family member once every month
37) Talk to a different friend every day
38) Take a long walk once a week for 4 months (0/16)
39) Walk in the rain
40) Watch the sunset on a beautiful NM day
41) Go on a hayride
42) Go see Richard at the cemetery and forgive him
43) Read 2 new books a month
44) Complete my “Heart” book

Give Back
45) Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
46) Buy plots in Lordsburg for family and return the favor to those that gave up there’s for us
47) Make somebody’s day
48) Buy Beverly a Hope Chest
49) Buy my mom a Thomas Kinkade painting
50) Buy my Tia a Showcase Shelf
51) Buy my dad a new guitar
52) Buy Tammy a GIANT bear
53) Make all my gifts and donate money saved to a charity
54) Use cloth grocery bags instead of plastic
55) Give something to my employees every week for appreciation

Get Creative
56) Design a line of tops and dresses
57) Create my own greeting cards
58) Bake from a new recipe every week
59) Create 10 new pairs of earrings (0/10)
60) Make my own chocolates
61) Try to Graph 2 flowers together
62) Create my own cocktail
63) Design and build a Gingerbread Mansion
64) Make a “fancy” dinner once a month

Picture This
65) Buy a professional camera
66) Take pictures at every event I attend
67) Take a professional family photo
68) Take professional pictures with both God children
69) Buy a video camera

Indulge In The Arts
70) Be an extra in a movie
71) See an Opera
72) Watch a new play every month
73) Watch the 25 Greatest Movie Musicals of all time (0/25)
74) Attend a comedy show

Let The Girly-Girl Shine Through
75) Wear high heels to work every day for a week (0/7)
76) Have a mani-pedi day
77) Buy a string of pearls
78) Buy flowers for my apt every week
79) Have a “Girly Girls Day”

Cheers To Health
80) Get eye glasses
81) Lose 30 pounds

Appreciate Athletics
82) Attend a hockey game
83) Go tubing
84) Learn to ice skate
85) Go on a hike

Just Because I Want To…
86) Finish collecting the Roseanne series
87) Send a card or message to every family member and friend for their birthdays
88) Create a college fund for my god children
89) Buy myself an antique vanity
90) Buy a new living room set
91) Do something I’ve never done every day for a month (0/30)
92) Take my nephew and god daughter on a picnic
93) Finish Shirley Temple movie collection
94) Do a 1,000 piece puzzle all by myself
95) Get a cat
96) Start and maintain a savings
97) Eat lunch or breakfast outdoors every day for a month (0/30)
98) Read Anne of Green Gables series
99) Fly a kite

Plan For The Future
100) Finish W&E Planning school
101) Finish planning my B&B