Looking back 2 years....

May 30 - June 5, 2007

Well, I am kinda a sentimental person... and certain dates that most people really wouldn't consider that big of a deal, I do! Like when Matt and I first "met", his 1st email to me, all the emails that we shared getting to know each other (all 75ish in about 5 days!!) and our first date.... all those things are very special to me! And to believe that it's been already 2 years since that 1st whirlwind of a week, is pretty amazing! I would have never thought (ok, well, I have to admit that I was SURE HOPING) that I would marry this guy that I met online.

So, as I reflect and go through some of those old emails this week..... i thought I'd share with you somethings I still remember about that crazy 1st 5 days, getting to know each other and flirting back and forth through emails..... (although I can remember a lot, i wish I could remember more!)

Here are parts of our 1st emails to each other
MATT's:
I was excited to get a smile from you. I am new to all this meeting people on line, so if I sound stupid please forgive me. I just put my profile on relationships.com and I am still nervous about it. You are the very first person to send me any sort of message. But I guess I haven't sent any out either...I am a very shy person. In your note you said to check out your myspace page, which was set up beautifully. On there you talked about your web site and that is how I got your e-mail address. I feel I know a lot about you already...I must say your pictures did bring a smile to my face, you just look like you would be fun to hang around with...And quite beautiful too. Well I just wanted to say thank you for showing interest in me and if you want e-mail me back..

It was very nice to meet you.

ME:
Wow... I'm glad you emailed me. Made me blush a little I must admit. I honestly had not been on relationships.com in quite awhile and just recently signed back in last night. I typically don't send smiles, messages, anything like that either, but I guess you just caught my eye. I am usually shy and defintely sceptical about the whole online thing too. But, I would love to get to know you better if you are willing to share!

I notice that you have a very DUTCH last name too! =P I am dutch myself. Haha! I won't play dutch bingo though, don't worry!

Hope to hear from you soon!

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Other email highlights that I enjoy to re-read:

MATT:
So by the way you said you would share anything.......That makes a lot of things run through my head.....But I know what you mean, I don't have any secrets, so just ask away.

ME:
Well, I must admit that.... your last email... showed me a lot about
you. All GREAT things, seriously! Made me smile... the whole time I
was reading it! =) Defintely brightened up my not so fun day! We have
a LOT in common.

MATT:
My first thought....Sweeeet I go digits!!!

I'm glad I could brighten up your day, and if we are admitting stuff I have to say that the email you sent me last night I read before I went to bed. It took me a hour to fall asleep just laying there thinking about all the great things you said. If you knew me a little better you would know that I can always fall right asleep. I can sleep anytime during anything.

MATT:
I don't know if that's such a good deal....I mean a Sox's fan.....I guess I could make an exception....

MATT:
Well, I'll flirt with you latter.. ;)

We talked about the normal stuff, questions to get to know each other. Things like:
food, music, and movies that we like, some crazy quarks about ourselves and also the similarity we have in losing a significant amount of weight. But more serious things... church, our commitment to being virgins until we were married, and what we wanted in our potential mate. Yeah, all that in the matter of 6 days! We were both older and even in those emails, I think we both knew that we wanted to be upfront and find out sooner rather than later if this person was "worth our time" or in other words, what we were thinking for. I remember Matt would actually email me back at midnight... (which is very unlikely that he even stay awake past 10 now! haha.....)!

I hope I never loose or have to delete all those emails.... they are always fun to look back on.... =)

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Our first date was June 5 (Tuesday night!)
We had it planned that we were going to meet at Popolano's in Lansing (I hadn't met the guy, wasn't really sure if I wanted him coming to my house, so i drove separate!). It was a great first date. I don't really recall everything that we talked about at dinner, but I know that it was already at that point natural. I felt comfortable, I think he did too! So, since Matt is not much of a decision maker (and i wasn't going to make any decisions that night I had already told him!), after dinner we rode around Lansing/Munster area.... he showed me a place that he used to work and then we ended up going past his aunt and uncle's house that just so happened to be a couple of blocks away from my parents' house... so I showed him where I lived (knowing at this point that he wasn't some weirdo stalker! haha!). But then after driving around a little bit, we went to Baker Square for a little dessert... I believe that Matt got the Coconut Cream Pie and I got the brownie ala mode! Yum!!!!!! And I won't ever forget this..... (and I think I recall it different than Matt... but oh well!)... but when we were back at Popolano's for him to drop me off...we were sitting in his truck.... just chatting.... and Matt asked me like 3 different times if he could take me out again.... and I remember trying so hard to play hard to get. But I think he saw right through me and knew that I liked him already at that point! =)

I won't bore you with any other sentimental ramblings about matt and i.... hope you enjoyed the little insight to our first days together.... =)

Pluggin' Along....

I'm pluggin' along..... only the ceremony pages & a dancing/tosses page! =) YEAH!

What a GREAT WEEKEND!

Talk about a fun-filled weekend! A great MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

Finally Matt was able to use 1/2 of his wedding present from me!!! We went to Joliet Speedway for his RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE on Sunday. What a great day! Here is a run-down of some details from the day!

When arriving at the speedway, we were instructed to go to the middle of the track where all the garages and pits were! That was pretty stinkin' cool. I'm not really a huge race fan, but that was cool to be in the middle where Dale Jr. and many other drivers have been and where their cars and semi's are. So, we parked there and walked around a little bit... got him signed in and then were able to watch some other people do the driving experience or the ride-alongs. At 1:00 his class started and those took place inside one of the garages. (Man, I will say... those garages are cleaner than I ever expected!) The once the instructions were done, it was time to start. There were about 12 people... so they made a list of who was going to go when. Matt was #7!

They constitantly keep sending cars and rotating people in and out. So, it was finally Matt's turn. The way that they do this is that they follow and instructor. They are supposed to stay 3/4 car lengths behind. Matt did a wonderful job, leaving pit row he didn't stall (like one person did), he didn't lag behind like a couple of other people did, he did a great job. When he got out he had a super big smile on his face and was ready to go again!!!!!! It was so great to see him that happy and that he had a good time!!!!

After everyone was done with their races, it was time for their "award ceremony." Finding out who went fastest! Well, they first called up the 1st top 5 guys, then kicked two off "American Idol" style. Then they announced the top 3 in order. MATT CAME IN 3RD!!!! YEAH!!!! His fastest lap was 139mph! WHOA! (Just 1 mph behind the 1st place guy!) Good Job Babe!

Both of our parents came out and sister Amy and the 2 boys did too! Overall, it was a very fun day, we even went for ICE CREAM AFTERWARDS!!!! YUMMMMMMM!!!!

Here are some photos:

In the middle of the track *(garages/pit row!)*

Matt's badge for the Rookie Experience

Looking studly

Getting in the car

Leaving Pit Row

"I wanna Go FAST!"

Great Job Baby!

"Whooooowhooo! I wanna go again!"

He got 3rd in his class.... going 139mph!!!!!

Then Memorial Day... we had a little shin-dig here at our house! Even though it was a little spotty with rain, it was a beautiful day out!!! (I wish I would have taken some photos!! Darn!!) It was fun to the see the childhood guy friends be kids again, playing bean bags, hitting golf balls into the field behind our house or play wiffle ball!!! It was a great day with friends!

a little game of catch-up!

Well, I know it's been awhile... sorry about that.
Let me get you caught up on some adventures that have been happening our "not-so-exciting-right-now" lives! haha....

1. Mother's Day Weekend was quite busy!

Saturday night we went over to Mom and Dad Hoekstra's house for a get together for not only Mother's Day, but also to celebrate Mom Hoekstra's birthday! We had a wonderful steak meal and a night of fun.We start 'em early in our family! Aaron downing a cold beer!

Hahah... j/k... the bottle was empty!!

Mom H. opening her gifts!

Then Sunday was the Derks paaaarttttayyy!
A Party for Dale's Birthday & Mother's Day!
Bud, Keith and Cassidy did a little kite flying (I must say, Keith is a true MASTER at flying a kite! He manuvered -sp?- that kite through the power lines and the fence like he was a PRO!) The kids had a fun time playing on grandma's "new" swing set and playing with the play plane that Uncle Bud found.

He's such a kid at heart still! =) LOVE YOU BUD!

Dale's AWESOME present from his siblings!!!! Ooooooo, and edger! EXCITING!
I guess that's what you get when you get to be 31..... haha....

Momma D. opening her cards......
(p.s. momma.... i want the photos off of your camera from Mother's day... ok?)

2. SHIPSHEWANA!
Last week Tuesday, my mom, my sister-in-law Tricia and I went down to Shipshewana, IN. The land of the Amish, and most importantly, THE FLEA MARKET! =)
It was a gorgeous May day. The best day I could ever think of for shopping at Shipshewana. It was only the 2nd week it was open, so it wasn't crowded yet either! How great was that! =) We were even able to park in the front parking lot... something we all agreed we have never done before! I would say that our shopping was successful! From flowers to greeting cards, from spices to dipping mixes, from party supplies to toys, and a giant bag of golf balls! ( I know there was more, but I'm drawing a blank right now!) But what a great day!

3. RAIN, RAIN, and MORE RAIN!
The next couple of days we got a LOT of rain and Matt worked some night shift over in Peotone!
Needless to say, the one night where we had a very big storm, I kinda got a little freaked out when the toilet started gurgling and coming up from the shower drain I saw some light yellow colored water going up and down! Then, also, when I looked out my window, i saw a branch and leaves, REALLY CLOSE to my window... and I thought to myself "those normally aren't that close to the house".... then i went to the kitchen and saw this decent sized branch laying towards the door! Thank goodness it didn't break anything! So, once the rain finally stopped and the toilet gurgling was farther part from each other, I was finally able to fall asleep....... Here is the photo of the branch.... it was practically resting on the powerline that runs across the roof of our house!
5. CHURCH SOFTBALL
We started our church softball league this week. We didnt' win our first game, but we did very well, gave a very good fight. I played right field for the first 3 innings and then again the last inning and then batted the whole game, same with Matt! I will say, I thought I was going to be quite rusty since I haven't played in awhile, but surprisingly, I didn't do so bad! I got on base twice.... i think one was a double and then the a single and had two catches out in right field! =) Hopefully things will progressively get better! As for Matt, he is happy just sitting the bench, or so he says. He's not the most atheletic, and he'll be the first to admit that.... but he's still a good sport about it and i love to see him out there with me! =) LOVE YOU BABE!

6. THIS COMING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!
This weekend is Memorial Day weekend! I can not wait til it hits 3:30... b/c I am OUT OF HERE UNTIL WEDNESDAY!!! WHOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!! (ok, sorry, that was my inner self going crazy and getting all excited!). But we actually have plans this weekend! And some BIG ONES! Hahah...... here is the run down - I like lists better than making it all in paragraph form!

Friday - Kyle & Lydia (nephew & niece) are coming over and we are babysitting them while Dale & Esther go out to Princess Cafe for dinner..... we are going to order Aurelios pizza and have fun night with some kids!

Saturday - Grocery shopping? Most likely! And my friend Kristen Kuipers is going to come over on her way to DeMotte. Other than that, I'm hoping to get some cleaning done.... maybe start a little window cleaning! =)

Sunday - Matt's RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE!!!!! YEAAHHHH!!! I am so excited for him to do that. I am so happy that I got him this for a wedding gift. I know he appreciates it, because I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't spend that kind of money on himself for that! Just don't crash ok baby?

Monday - MEMORIAL DAY!!!! We are going to have a party with some friends! Nicholas & Rachele, Nathan & Leah with their amazingly adorable girls are coming, Scott & Traci and the handsome boys are coming and also Mike Dillman!!! =) We are going to cookout, have some burgers, play a little bean bags and just catch up (we all live so close, but hardly see each other!) I can't wait to see the babies either! Leah & Traci have both recently just had babies in the past couple of months!!!!!

Welp, I think that should catch you up to speed... i'm sure there are some things I missed and I'm sorry. But I probably should get back to actually working here at this place I call "work."

Album Pages

Here are some album pages that are SET IN STONE and I'm actually in love with them...... the other ones are well, coming along slowly.... i have client wedding photos to work on... so that's kinda getting in the way of getting these done... but that's ok, maybe it's better I take my time on 'em! =) ENJOY!

Finally Getting Around to Our Wedding Album

UPDATE: I deleted all the previous pages but one b/c I have changed them a little bit. But once they get more concrete and finished, I will share 'em with you!
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Well, last night, something just got into me..... I have been wanting to start Matt & I's wedding album for awhile now, but just never had the creative juices flowing enough to get going on it. So, yesterday, i sat down, looked at some inspiration (other designs and such that I like) and just went to town sketching out some designs. Not really thinking I was going to start designing 'em.... I went on my computer to check my email and next thing you now... I'm on a roll!!!! 2 hours later at 12:30am.... I have these 4 pages designed. They aren't all totally done. I've printed 'em out and have been "pondering" over them today at work, figuring out what I could change and what I love.

All the Girls getting Ready at My Parents' house! So much fun!

I have sketched probably about 4 more pages here at work today.... yes, bored. again. But this is keeping me busy!! YEAH!!!!! So, I'm hoping that tonight after I get everything set in place for the wedding I'm shooting tomorrow, that I can start on the new pages and fix these couple of pages up!!!!!!

I will say. I am NOW REALIZING HOW HARD it is/was for my brides to pick out photos for their wedding album. Plus, then to have someone else decide what all should be larger/smaller/more accented, etc instead of you. I have myself (and sometimes Matt) to figure out all this. It's great, but it's hard. I never thought it would be this hard. I just want to include all the photos!!! My photographers did an amazing job!!!!!!!

More to come tonight maybe?? Or this weekend? I'm really excited about it... so hopefully I can get this done quick... b/c once I start something and I'm on a roll... I just keep going! =) (Even if it means staying up really late!!!)

Some photos + explanations!

GIRLS NIGHT with church girls! Mexican and then out for drinks!!!!

Last Saturday, my mom and I went to Woldhuis Farms (Sunrise Greenhouse). Let me tell you, it was QUITE OVERWHELMING! For my first time LEARNING about flowers and what I can/can't plant and all that jazz... it was pretty stressful. It was wonderful to see all those flowers, but to know all that I'd want to get, that just WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN! My mom has been planting flowers and potting flower pots for a LOOOONG time (no offense mom, i'm not saying you're old or anything... ok, well, maybe... just kidding!) But she just spitted out names of flowers left and right, and I just got lost. I don't know if i could name off 2 flowers that she told me... and whether or not they are sun/shade/all shade/all sun/indoor plants!!!! But there is hope I'm sure... SOMEDAY I will learn what I can/can't plant and how to actually plant flower pots correctly.

(I have no idea what flower this is, but I think I can go back and buy it for my pots! haha)

Well, a couple posts ago, I made a list of things I wanted to do. Well, on there was that I wanted to decorate a cake. Well, I tried my hand at one for the first time this past week. My co-worker Jen's birthday was on Thursday, so I brought in a cake on Friday (she was off on Thurs). This is the "work of art" I made. It is in my opinion pretty ugly. But I know that it was my first one and I really didn't have all the right supplies for it. I didn't really have time to make all the frosting so I just used store-bought kind.... well, with that, I really didn't have enough white frosting to cover the whole cake enough. Plus, I let it sit overnight (so it was cooled) but when I tried to frost it, the cake still came up with it..... mmmmm...... not really sure why, but I guess practice makes perfect. At least I got my first one out of the way and can learn from it! =)

I just LOVE that I can see this from my kitchen window. I admit that I take it for granted, but I really do love it when a beautiful sunset is going on when I'm doing the dishes or when Matt and I are eating dinner!
Thank you God for creating sunsets, they are just beautiful. A true reflection of your beauty!

(What I see when I'm doing the dishes!)

(sorry sunset photos aren't better... i would have taken them with my nice camera, but it's at the shop getting cleaned for the wedding I have next Friday!)