Holli Rausch

The day of the wedding, I brought my camera to the hair salon and took photos. I also planned to bring it to the head table at the reception to take some fun photos of my own. However, between the hair salon and the church, my camera became missing. Several people searched my car when they heard I couldn’t find it. Of course, I’m not sure how they got the keys to my car, but I am not concerned about that. I’ve always assumed that it was in my car in some unchecked corner. I just never looked myself. I kept thinking, I will when it’s nicer out. And then I didn’t. And then it snowed when it should be nice, several times.

On Saturday, to mark our one-quarter anniversary, I found my camera in one of the outside pockets of my small suitcase. When I left the salon, I remember I had a lot of things in my hands and I knew my suitcase would be coming with me into the church, so I put my camera in there (because I didn’t want to spend time unzipping the whole thing). The only problem with that plan is that I did not remember doing it. I only found it because as we were ready to go to Big Stone City, I remembered I needed to pack a necklace and (because I didn’t want to spend time unzipping the whole thing), I put it in an outside pocket. The same outside pocket where my camera had found a new home.

And I just spent the last few minutes searching for my camera cord. It didn’t take me as long to find it.

It’s too bad I didn’t have it for Disney World, but at least I have it now. See the missing ten photos at the beginning of Our Wedding album.

Here’s a list of “firsts” that happened when I was 21.

• Rented a House
• Received 1st place in 2D for my photo in Beadlemania
• Discovered I didn’t like alcohol, only the fruity stuff in mixed drinks
• I found out I like juice
• Became a Mary Kay independent beauty consultant
• Worked at my favorite place of employment
• Gained a sister-in-law
• Later gained a brother-in-law, three sisters-in-law, and parents-in-law
• Took a summer class – Zoology – and enjoyed it
• Finished Harry Potter
• Acted in a traveling children’s show
• Posed for many more photos than I ever want to for the rest of my life
• Visited Philly
• Modeled and animated a 3D character
• Wrote this letter to Andrew Wilson
• Began creating monthly wallpapers
• Was in the top two for a great job and didn’t get it, triggering the beginning of no graphic design openings in a 50 mile radius
• Gave one of two student speeches at graduation
• Graduated a semester early, summa cum laude
• Fell in love with Albie
• Started a “favorite songs” blog posting excursion and failed to complete it
• Cheered on my fiance as he applied for and obtained employment with a company I’ve wanted to be a part of
• Took a painting class and decided I mega-loathe it
• Spent Christmas away from home
• Got married
• Died a little
• I kid!
• Acted dead
  
• Began responding to a new last name
• Vacationed to the happiest place on earth with the only man on earth that makes me happiest
• Owned a TV bigger than 27″
• Thoroughly enjoyed the company of an 18 month old
• Gained a permanent roommate
• Was unemployed for over 2 months
• Detached from the MilesRausch.com blogs
• Watched an entire Season (and then some) of LOST in less than 48 hours

Wow, I guess I had a lot going on in the past year…!

After a little over a year of planning, we finally did it. Miles and I got married. And we had a really fun weekend! The rehearsal and dinner were fabulous. I wished I had been more hungry because I had about 4 bites of my steak. Then I sat there and all of the sudden the waiters started bringing out pieces of chocolate pie! I had forgotten we had Christina’s Concoctions make some pies for the dinner and I thought, “YES, that is exactly what I want right now!” We handed out gifts and thank you’s and I think people enjoyed them and I went back and packed up a lot more of my house.

I thought I wouldn’t remember much of “the big day” (mostly because that’s what everyone said) but the only thing I don’t recall is if I shaved when I showered that morning. I did. *phew* I know people thought we were weird for having the reception and dance end so early, but I really didn’t want people waiting around for the reception to start, as many people wouldn’t have a house or hotel room to go to in between the ceremony and reception. It helped me, if no one else, to have no down-time. And we had a lot of fun! It seemed like a lot of others did too. And Marissa and Bryce – we loved your speeches. As for the decorations, the Playhouse seemed to have transformed. If you’ve ever seen it before that night, you definitely know how different it looked. Even the caterer and servers commented on the impact color in there had. My aunt is amazing at what she does. And our hosts/esses did an excellent job of keeping things flowing smoothly. Bryan, Heather, Debra and Jackie – you rock!

Whenever we get the chance, we’ll post the first-dance video. My dad got it on his camera when the DJ requested it as the last song, but it’s mostly our silhouettes and so I am hoping Bob got our facial expressions and stuff. I know that he got the first half the first time and probably the second half the second time (he was in the entry way when we started it that last time and someone went out to get him).

Anyway, we moved me the next day (thanks to all who helped, we really needed you!) And it was a great weekend. I’m still working on putting the apartment together and even though I’ve made a lot of progress, it doesn’t look like it.

The photos are already up and if I didn’t get an email to you with the username and password, let me know and I’ll hook you up. The photos look great and I’m so excited to have them in our home! Thanks to everyone who was there, who played a part in our special day, and who thought of us this weekend. We’re off to Disney World on Sunday and as bloggers, there will probably be a post or two while we’re there. If not – deal with it!

But seriously, there probably will.

With less than two weeks to go, things are starting to get exciting! I’ve been sick the past few days, and are now in a state of rest, and so things were on hold (as much as I could leave them on hold, anyway). Miles and I attended the last bridal shower, he got his final hair cut, we’re working on getting insurance figured out, and calling the final people who didn’t RSVP. For the record, please always send in an RSVP when the event calls for that. We’ve had over 100 more guests say they’re coming, through calling/emailing after the RSVP date. We still have a little over a dozen to contact.

Then I need to turn in final numbers to caterer, cake lady, my aunt, and the reception manager. Then I need to finalize the seating arrangements. Buy a few things, put a few things together, print a few things, call a few people, order a few things and attend my Bachelorette party. Though it looks like a lot written out, it’s not as bad as it could be. And I’m not freaking out. But I’ve still got a couple weeks for that…

See you all soon!

OK, well, the previous post wasn’t the speech I gave on Sunday. Neither was Miles’s post.

If you go here, you can watch a video of the ceremony (I think you need Windows Media Player to view). Fast forward to 49:14 (it might need to load for a second or two) and it’s about the time where I’m being introduced. My speech is like 4 minutes long, so don’t worry about wasting your time. Unless you absolutely could care less. In that case, why are you reading my blog in the first place? Everything went well, no big flub ups, and I even got a sweet picture out of the deal! Not many people would have a shot similar to this one.  I enjoy seeing my professors giving cheesy smiles (well, most of them anyway…) but wish I could have gotten the whole front row. I know at least one reader was cut out of the picture. Otherwise, Miles, Paula, and my dad taped it. It might be easier to wait to watch one of those (I’m sure Miles’s will end up online) for all you who don’t want to go through the work of clicking on the link.

Thanks to everyone who came: Miles, Mom, Dad, Marissa, Val, Paula, Grandma and Grandpa.  And everyone who said they were going to, but backed out: Tony.