I'm Mrs. Lorenzen...can you believe it?

I'm Mrs. Lorenzen....Mrs. Zachariah B. Lorenzen!

Okay, the day came...and I wish I could tell how it all happened but it just seems like a whirlwind of happiness.

Thursday my husband to be and my little one flew in with Aaron and Amber, Richard, Julie, and Isabella, Tammy, Greg, Emma, and Sharron, and Zac's best friend Phil. I went out to the airport with a sign that night that read "Red Rover Red Rover...send my wedding party right over". I was happy to see my Love and our little one. A week was way to long to be away from them. My Sister-in-law Beth gave me a lovely Bridal shower, and it was so fun. I loved seeing people that I grew up with and shared so many memories with throughout the years. Later that night Beth and Julie (best Sisters EVER) gave all of us a manicure and pedicure for the big day. It was a lot of laughing and Sharron even allowed us to take pictures of her toes. ;) I think we ended up staying up until midnight, well some stayed up much later. One of my favorite moments was having some of my friends come into town and be with me. You don't realize how much support you really want around you until after the fact. Pam, I'm so glad that you came over and helped out until midnight with the family...you were wonderful...it was just like old times. I also have to give a shout out to my sister Julie for helping me with hair issues...the color job went to dark and she saved the day...then again she always saves the day when it comes to hair issues.



Friday was a whirlwind as we ran around getting the last minutes things in place. We had a fun BBQ with family and Zac's father Gary hosted with his famous and yummy smoked BBQ brisket from Montana, it was a amazing and I am so grateful that his parents were so willing to do this. I loved seeing so many family and close friends around. I looked around and felt overwhelmed with happiness that so many people sacrificed so much to come and be part of this time with us. Some spent so much money and I just feel so blessed that they cared so much. It was a huge success and everything looked great. We could not have asked for better weather as it was in the high 80's which is strange for Oregon. In fact I think it was a little to warm for me and I forgot to drink water...which caused a little bit of problems later. Another favorite moment was seeing Kim (Swenson) Mueller, Cammie and Erich Seal, Kelli and Lauri --all the Lakes, Cousins...cousins...cousins and more cousins...you can never have enough cousins. :) Aunts and Uncles that came on their sick beds...Aunt Dixie...you are amazing. Karin and Sharron, The Painters (My Mom and Dad in Arizona), and Tammy, Greg, and Emma...I know I am missing people...everyone...everything was so AMAZING! Friday night my brothers, cousins, Phil, and Gary took Zac to his bachelor party...they did a movie and then laser tag. Let me just say that my Husband complained of leg pain our whole honeymoon...not because of our activities...but because of the bachelor party...laser tag activites to be more specific. Thanks men!

Saturday - the Wedding Day...was I nervous...no, but I was a little worried about walking down an isle as I could see myself falling over my dress for all to see. The morning brunch was sooooo yummy...I don't think I was nervous as I had a plate full of food...really...I ate and I think I could have kept eating but I remembered that I needed to fit into a wedding dress. Maybe I was nervous now that I think about it...as I eat when I am nervous...hahaha! All I can say is that I was overwhelmed with love, appreciation, gratitude...for so much that I have been blessed with. My wonderful parents and my new parents Kerstin and Gary that have given so much to make this wonderful day so AMAZING! For my sisters that each gave so much for me
FerFer- for coming and helping me with pictures
Tricia- for the wedding cake...you need to start your own wedding cake business
Beth- your talent of jewelry making and putting the bridal shower together...all of it was amazing
Julie- your talent of hair and make-up...everyone mentioned that I looked so good...and all I can say is "Julie..she did it". THANK YOU! As you did so much more than this...You were also the first to support my relationship with Zac and I am so grateful for that. OH...and FLOWERS...did I mention that Julie did the flowers...my bouque...yes...this girl can do anything.
Jill-music...YOU did great and perfect...even if the wedding started with "Love shack"... :) A good memory!
Amber-for your support and help with the shower and helping with all the little details
Ashlee-I know that you and Jeff must have worked so hard with Mom and Dad to make the house and yard look so lovely....that was alot of work. I know you baked...and baked...and then did more baking...I am grateful.
Tammy-sister through marriage...You did so much to help me in Arizona...thank you!
Then...to mention family and friends that I have not written about...if you are reading this and your name is not written down...then consider yourself for this part. I can not express enough how grateful I am to so many of you that gave me guidance and direction through all of this. One of the main reasons I was not nervous to marry Zac and make a family with Zac and Alexander was because of the love and support I receive from you! I feel so blessed.

I don't have the pictures yet...so check out the family and friends blogs as they have some good ones.

I still can't believe it...I'm Mrs. Zachariah B. Lorenzen :)

I loved my wedding day and I love being with my new little family!

6 more days and counting...

Yes, that's right... 6 more days and counting....

I'm in Oregon while my sweet husband to be and our little one are still in Arizona, this is harder than I thought it would be.

I feel like it's Christmas and I can hardly sleep. :)

So much harder than you image...

So court today was hard...so much harder than I imaged. It's hard to explain what we went through but let's just say it started out with coming out of the elevator and seeing Darlene, Crystals Mother. Zac said "Hi Darlene" with a very pleasant tone and her response back was "You have no idea what you have put us through" and walked off. Everything inside of me wanted to say "how dare you". That is what makes Zac so perfect for me, he has such a good nature about himself and he controls is emotions. Zac took the stand first and did a good job, he answered the questions given him and expressed his thoughts well. Crystal, represented herself and cross examined him. Her last questions to him was "How are you going to explain to your son how you kept me out of his life". This coming from the girl that left her son after two months and has very little to do with him unless it suits her schedule. Of course our Attorney objected and that was over.
The reality of this was the realization that their really are people out their that don't take responsibility for their own actions. I really honestly believe that Crystal, her mother, and her sister all missed the boat on understanding what it takes to bring a child into this world. I wish I could go into all that was discussed but let's just say that Crystal had an excuse to everything, and her mother and sister were both quick to accuse me for their own issues. Zac again did great and I thought we had some good points.
The Judge was quick to rule on the outcome of child support $ and visitation rights. However, he will be giving the final ruling regarding sole custody vs. joint custody in one week. Yup...one week...that means right before we get married we find out "the news".
We pray that the Judge will see truth and it will be in our favor but it's just hard to know.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

I leave tomorrow to go home for the wedding. Zac and Alex will join me in one week, a little nervous as we have not been apart from one another since we became a couple but I guess it will be fun to see each other when they join me too. :)

Here we go...

hi.ho.hi.ho were off to court we go...
So, once again we are fighting for sole custody of Alexander. Again Crystal has backed out of what she said she would do and we are now going to trial tomorrow.

This, of course, is very difficult for us as we would have been happy to have this behind us before our wedding, but I guess some things just don't always happen the way we like them too. Oh wait a minute that's my life. :O :)

I'm not going to complain because the Lord keeps blessing us and I know he will continue to do so. We just pray that the Judge will see her for what she really is "fake"...

We'll keep you posted.

BTW...

I leave on Thursday to fly home and do the last prep work for the wedding...am I excited...VERY...am I going to be homesick for my BOYS.....VERY VERY VERY much!

If I was on the ball...

If I was on the ball I would have blogged about my whole wedding planning experience...the good, the bad, and the ugly. In fact I could have been so many stories on what we have experienced I might have even gotten a book deal or better yet...a movie deal on the whole thing.

However, I am sad to say that along with my poor journal that has been ignored my blog has been at the bottom of the list of keeping up on. Let me just give a short overview and see if I can remember it all



-Decided to get married...how and when you might ask...well don't...because along with how and when we fell in love...we have no idea...it just seems to keep happening. :)

-child custody...going for sole custody, it was a must for us!

-Proposal...question: when is he going to propose.

-Trip to Montana to visit Mom and Dad Lorenzen, I could not ask for better In-laws

-Trip to Idaho for Family Reunion--ZAC PROPOSED!

-Lost second job...apparently people really do "let you go" if they don't want a married with children kind of employee....and yet...I have never been more grateful.

-Engagement photos -- THANK YOU JULIE!!!!

-Slowly moved Alexander and Zac things into my home...so that it would be "our home"

-Worked on Zac's home and realized that people really do collect ALOT after living in a place for 10 years. Not to mention the dirt that piles up in the dark corners.

-PAINT...and PAINT....and PAINT...and when you think you can't paint anymore...you have a best friend that shows up as your Princess on a white horse that tells you "you can paint some more and I will be there for your"...Tammy really is my hero and Princess on a white horse!

-wedding planning in another state really isn't that much fun for anyone. Just ask my Mother...as she is experiencing this. Also...don't plan your wedding on the weekend of a big UofO football game...everything is booked.

-Wedding struggles...what to eat...invitations that need the correct wording...who do you invite...

-birth control pills...someone should warn you about them...and then say "no, really...this is how you are going to act...and when you can't stop crying....you will cry some more...and your poor husband to be will wonder if he is marrying the crazy girl next door"

-Planning a wedding on no money is alot harder than you think...and then the Lord seems to jump in and make miracles happen...and happen...and then happen again. I think the Lord really wants us to get married because he keeps blessing us...over and over and over again...

-Townhome for rent, beds to sale, couches to get rid of, and why do I have to keep a box of old National Geographic magazines that your future husband never looks at? ANSWER: Because he wants them and you want him to feel like your place is his place...and that he keeps a part of himself with the new life. Side Note: One day when we move...we will find this box with an inch of dust on it and I will very quitely "take care " of this box. :)

-insert more crying and wedding decisions...for example: I'm sorry their is no room in the inn for your honeymoon...have you tried Motel 6?

-Did you know you have to pick out your stamps too? It's true...they have wedding stamps for you to choose from.

-Invitations that look like they were printed at Walmart...re-print that made them look 200% better...best RE-DO I have done so far. :) and so much happier!

-Child custody issues...just when you think everything is fine...it starts to fall

-Blessings from HEAVEN all because of a garage sale. A trade of a Queen size mattress for cleaning ladies to clean a really scary bathroom, a $204.75 over payment of a cereal bowl that was only .25 cents, and two people bidding over renting Zac's home and getting what we asked for.

-One big Bridal Shower...a lot of work but so well worth it. Guess who did that one? TAMMY, AMBER, and JULIE...THANK YOU, it was soooo much fun!

-Dress fitting...If you don't think someone can do wonders with a wedding dress then meet the lady that made my dress a reality. I'm not joking it doesn't even look like the same dress...I love it...and I will pay her anything she wants, as it will be worth it.

-Thank you cards...it takes time but it isn't hard when you have such generous family and friends to thank.

-Child custody...it looks like we are going to trial. We are so sad by this, but we have faith that things will work out.

Okay...well I think I am caught up...at least that is all I can think of.

Engagement Photo

Here is just one photo that my sister-in-law (Julie) took for our engagement. We both are happy with how they turned out. We look forward to making the final decision on pictures and getting the announcements out.

Montana then to Idaho and then the Proposal :)

On our way to fly fish for the first time in Dillon Montana


Zac's favorite fishing hole, and it was BEAUTIFUL

My love and I

No, I did not catch this fish...Zac did but he wanted me to feel it and see what it was like to hold a fish. I didn't like the feel of it all that much, and I obiously don't know how to hold a fish. :)

Ghost Town : Bannack, Montana...and very cool...I wish I could get married in the old church bldg here as it was very cool. :)

Alexander playing in Bannack

Farmor and Alexander

Alexander and all his new cowboy gear from Farmor

They are so cute together, and she is a great Grandma!

Yellow Stone National Park and it was amazing

Waiting for Old Faithful

And waiting....

Farfar and Alexander

He is such a character, just like his Father!

Look at all the people, we picked a really busy day apparently but it was wonderful

May Family Ranch in Clayton Idaho...Toomer/Anderson Family Reunion...we had a great time. Not a lot of pictures but we have video. :)

Nephew Ben and Uncle Aaron (Brother in law)

Toomer Family doing their skit

We were off to Montana on the 27th for a visit to Dillon to spend a week with Zac's parents. It was wonderful and we fell in love with all of it. Zac was able to get a little fishing in, as it's an annual vacation he looks forward to all year. Alexander LOVES playing with Farmor and Farfar, he is still going through withdrawals since coming home. I also enjoyed my time with Zac's parents and I could not ask for a better family to join. Kerstin (Zac's Mother) took me around and showed me some of the most amazing places of Montana by Dillon. They were even kind enough to take me to Yellowstone park where we enjoy the view and I was able to meet Zac's Aunt Jo who owns a pizza place in town. Zac even took me fly fishing for the first time. Zac tells me I'm a natural but I wonder if he is just saying that so I will want to continue my lessons from him. :) Actually I really enjoyed fly fishing and I look forward to the day that I get my own pole. I didn't catch anything but Zac did and quite a few times. I guess I was too slow on my grab...and kept missing the fish. Montana is very beautiful and I will not be surprised that when the time comes we would really like to settle in Montana or Idaho...either place would be just fine for me!

Then on Friday morning Zac, Alexander, and I left for Clayton, Idaho where my family reunion was taking place at the place called May Family Ranch. It was beautiful and very fun. We didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked but we have video and I will have to try and download that later. On July 4th we had a family skit night and Zac surprised me with FINALLY proposing to me in front of all my family. It was great, he was so brave and it did take me by surprise. I really didn't think he was the kind of guy to be so public and yet the family loved it and it was a highlight. Eveyone asked me if I cried and I was surprised that I didn't, it wasn't until it was all over that I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I wanted to start crying. I love my ring, and I couldn't ask for a better future husband. I feel so blessed and loved by all that he does for me and his support. I will include the pictures of our trip and work on getting video up as well.