One week

In exactly ONE WEEK from today John & I will be getting ready for the biggest day of our lives.

ONE week from today we will be

Saying our "I do's"

Kissing a LOT

Celebrating our marriage

Stuffing our face at any possible time

Dancing the night away

Spending time with friends & family from all over

Throwing cake in each others' face

Tossing bouquets & garters to the next lucky gal and guy

Appreciating everything that has gone into such an amazing day

Saying Thank You to everyone who came, and those who helped

Missing the ones that can't be there

Laughing, smiling, and taking in every single moment.

 ONE week from today

We'll be starting the most amazing journey in our life

ONE week from today

I'll wake up as Jessica Hatch, for the last time... and go to bed as the new Mrs. Jessica Kirk

I can't wait!

The Kirk life - photo overload

I haven't really had time to do any posting lately

So here's an update in photos.

This is our life lately

Enjoy <3

WEDDING TIME!

(not ours yet obviously)

We TRIED to go fishing

(it was waaaay too cold & windy)

BOO... (she always pulls the opposite face I say to pull ha ha)

Softball Games

Day at the lake

Crab Boils

Picnics on the patio

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Then there was the time Daddy pulled out her loose tooth

And then she played dress up with Daddy's work hat & sunglasses

And that time we woke up to find her sleeping in the dog's bed....

she must have snuck in and kicked him out ;) HAHA

And that time she finally let us take a group picture together with her smiling

Oh, and I saved the best for last

When she writes sweet little messages for me & Daddy that make our heart melt

and it makes up for all the hard times...

Being a step-mom has some really challenging moments, and this hasn't been easy

It's been one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life

But I'm proud to say that I have an amazing man by my side through it all, and it has definitely made us pray harder and more often which I know is why we'll make it through.

I'm just glad we got some good pictures in the process! 

We'll cherish these moments forever & I'll always remember the first time I realized I was a step-mom.

They are home!....Finally

Something you should know about me, I hate when plans change...or in this case, planes. Why does that have anything to do with this post? WELL John & his daughter were flying home Sunday, they were supposed to be making it home by 11pm John called me after they had been flying from Phoenix and said "well, we landed, in Phoenix" WHAT THE? I thought he was tricking me for a minute, or that maybe I lost track of all his flights... He fell asleep, but apparently after they had left Phoenix, and was MINUTES away from the destination they decided to turn around and go back to Phoenix. Are you kidding me? Wouldn't you just go to your closest destination if you were having trouble instead of flying all the way back. I mean really? Why? I was so frustrated, and so was he. Anyway, they ended up getting home at 2 AM on Monday, and poor John had to work at 5 AM.   The next morning I woke her up and took her to her Grandma's for the day Surprisingly, she was really comfortable with me, I was so glad When I picked her up that day she greeted me with open arms & a big hug She had made me all these cute drawings and notes I might of teared up a little while reading them So sweet! After her dad got home we went to the park She hates pictures & it was hard to get a good one here's one of the many failed attempts (she wanted to hold Chance) but I finally got her to smile for this one Isn't she beautiful?        That night I realized how different our life was with a kid We didn't come home & sit on the couch and cuddle, we played dolls & had bath time We didn't cook one dinner, we cooked two John & I didn't fall asleep together, I laid next to her until she fell asleep which wasn't until about midnight, so I also realized that our time is now her time.   The amount of time we sleep What we eat Where we go What movie we watch When I get to give my fiance a kiss after a long day It's all up to her   and honestly...I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. I'm sure it will get more challenging, yet more rewarding The night ended with her saying "Jessica, I hope you'll be my step-mom forever" I should have recorded that for the days she might hate me... haha I love John, but both of them together are the best thing that's ever happened to me.   I'm so blessed to be a part of their lives. We only get to see her so often, but I will cherish these moments we spend together as a family I love being her step-mom

How long should we wait?

Lately I've been a follower and huge fan of this blog Scissortail SILK She is so inspiring, and her stories are so real that I experience every emotion while reading a post. She's a great writer I recently read a post, about being a wife before a mommy, here's the link if you want to read it. To Wives: Before You Were Mommy  You really have to read that, before you understand this post....   You guys might not care what I experienced while reading this, but maybe someone else is wondering the same thing I am. Maybe there are other women, who are getting married or who are newly weds and just want to know the answer to the question.... When should we become parents? John & I love kids, John is a dad to a beautiful five year old girl (she'll be 6 this month), and he's an amazing father. He might not get a lot of time with her, but the time that he does, he's amazing, unselfish and so caring for his little girl. It was one of the biggest reasons I fell in love with him. I love seeing him with kids, and he is one of the few that have noticed my "glow" that I have when I'm around children and I know that one day, we'll be rockstar parents. But when? Is there a timeline? Do we make sure we have X amount saved in the bank, do we make sure we've traveled to the top 10 places on our list, do I get off birth control and just let God take over, should we own a house instead of rent? A lot of us can plan this, and a lot of us can't....I have friends who planned it, and friends who didn't. Lets be honest, I worry way too much about everything After I read her post, I cried. Sitting at my desk, at work, tears in my eyes and if I blinked they would have streamed down my face. Was it because I'm scared? No. It was because
I just realized what our life will be like with kids. It wasn't a sad thought, it was just a realization that things will change drastically and I've never been really good with change.   I can't wait to be a Mommy, and nothing will ever change that I'll be twenty-six next month, all my friends have kids, and by the time I have kids their kids will be old enough to babysit mine! It's not a contest, I know. Everyone has their own time, and God usually has a plan before you try to make your own. I've learned that for sure. I moved in with John in September, and until Friday we had a roommate. It's only been a few days but I absolutely love coming home now, and it's just US. It's the best feeling ever, and I didn't think it'd be much different, but it is. I love it, and I can't imagine a night that I didn't get to spend time with John, unless he was working somewhere else obviously. I can't imagine saying "Glad you're home babe" but it not meaning it the way it does now. I can't imagine not meeting him at the door with a kiss when he gets home because I'm too busy with the kids, or having dinner ready for him because I haven' t had time to even think. I'm worried that I will crave more of my own alone time, than time with my husband. I'm worried that I'll be too busy trying to be a Mother, that I'll fail as a wife.  THAT scares me.  Right now we're still in our honeymoon stage, we'd rather spend time together than do anything else with our friends. I have to make myself go spend time with my girlfriends because I know it's not healthy to spend so much time together. I don't want anyone to think that I wouldn't be ready if I got pregnant right now, I would have that child and we would make it work, so please don't get confused with what this post is about. I won't be selfish and spend the next ten years married without kids because I'd rather have time with John before we become parents. I'm not saying any of that, and I know John wouldn't let us wait ten years ha ha.  I just really thought we'd have kids sooner than later, and now I'm wondering if we should just push the brakes and enjoy US. Can I even do that? I know that one night, a few years from now, when I put our first child to bed, I'll be looking at this post and thinking "I wouldn't have had it any other way" and that child will be the best thing that has ever happened to us.  I also know I couldn't have picked a better man to be my husband, and the father to our future children. For now, he's all mine and I'm all his, and I enjoy that

You're doing it wrong

If you're in a serious relationship, an engagement, or a marriage you've heard/said this phrase once or twice. "You're doing it wrong" I try not to say this, but I think it more often than I should when John is doing something. In fact, living together is HARD remember this post awhile back? You'll have things you want done a certain way and guess what? Too bad, they won't get done how you want it. They won't say the things you want them to say and they won't do, what you want them to do. They are a human, not your puppet. If you want a puppet, don't get married, just be single the rest of your life because no one will ever do everything perfect, or your way. Unless you can find someone to clone you.  Harsh? Maybe, but it's the truth.   There's something I've realized through all of this though, not only do you have to pick your battles but you have to realize that something is getting done, whether it's the "perfect" way or not. Something is getting done, that you don't have to do later. Maybe you didn't even have to ask! That's a bigger bonus! John helps so much with the dishes at home, and he helps when I need to paint, or put up decor or anything really, but I've chose to just not watch him when he does it. Because, he does not need my criticism and & I do not need to criticize. He's helping me, and I'm so grateful.   So next time your man helps you do the dishes, don't worry about how he loaded the dishwasher If he makes dinner, but does it different than you wanted, appreciate it When he does the laundry and shrinks one of your favorite shirts, smile and give him a hug and say thank you....LAUGH about it! When you come home to decor hung in all the wrong places, take a deep breath, give him a kiss, say thank you....and if you're me, fix it later. If you do get frustrated, laugh at yourself, and laugh together because whatever your fighting over, is a pretty silly thing if it has anything to do with doing something the wrong way. Taking these things too seriously is just going to make you frustrated and you'll put more energy into that than you would taking a deep breath and letting it go. Plus who wants to live with someone who is reminded that they never do anything right?   My friend had a blog post the other day called Marriage is what you make it Wow, isn't that the truth! I'm not even married yet & I can already understand that "Marriage is hard" I've heard that too many times to count, but I know that it's how you react to situations, how you communicate, and how you express your feelings. It can be hard, it can be fun, it probably won't be easy but nothing easy is worth it. You can wake up every day and make a choice how your day is going to go, why not wake up every day and decide the kind of wife you're going to be. I know that there are days I don't give John 100%, but the next day I make up for it and give 110%, and he does too.   A lot of times we might have one of those days when we feel like no matter what happens, it's going to piss us off. These days, I try really hard, to take a deep breath and realize how lucky I am. If I see all the dishes in the wrong spot when I go to cook dinner, I take a deep breath and smile. It makes me realize that not only am I going to go through this with John, but when I teach our kids how to put their clothes away, or help with chores around the house, they aren't going to do it perfect. BUT they're going to do it, and it gets done. I just need to relax and let things get done, no matter how perfect it is. Life isn't perfect Our house isn't perfect Our relationship isn't perfect but the days we aren't perfect, are the days we're growing and learning together ....and I think that's what it's all about.  

For my friends/family that don't have Facebook

More pictures!!! :)  Photography by Shailynn Photography

    88 DAYS until
I become Mrs. Kirk!!!

My life right now



Photography by Shailynn Photography

 

Saw this on my friends' blogs and didn't think I'd be able to fill the entire thing out, but I did.

I enjoyed reading theirs, hope you enjoy reading mine :)

 

Making : Art work printables for my house (thanks pic monkey)

Cooking : Maple brown sugar oatmeal at work. YUM!

Drinking : Raspberry 24 Emergen-C, I refuse to be sick right now

Reading : About law online, all day. every-day.

Wanting : Our engagement pictures back, I'm so inpatient & anxious

Looking : Forward to our bathroom getting remodeled

Playing : The role of an oilfield wife

Wasting : Time trying to plan things too early for my wedding

Sewing : The quilt I posted about in this post

Wishing : John was home

Enjoying : This warm weather we've been having

Waiting : For August 9th! DUH! *wedding bells*

Liking : Dark Chocolate Pomegranates.... they're to die for seriously.

Wondering : How I got so lucky

Loving : That' I'm getting married to an amazing guy who I love and adore!

Hoping : I'm not sick

Marveling : About some of the stuff my fiance' posts on Facebook

Needing : My spray-tan to wash off, it's looking so spotty now. blah.

Smelling : The cough drop I'm sucking on

Wearing : A long flowy striped maxi skirt and a baggy cardigan. Comfy

Following : Emily & Whitney's blogs...that's why I'm doing this... (I'm also bored at work)

Noticing : The weather looks a little gloomy today

Knowing : I should be catching up on sewing while John is away

Thinking : About why people do horrible things

Feeling : Stressed about anything and everything...always. So unhealthy I know

Bookmarking : Uh...you mean Pinterest? Everything. Mostly stuff for my wedding though

Opening : Pandora, it's awkwardly quiet in here....

Giggling : At You-Tube videos

 

10 Things I've learned from watching the Food Network

Confession I'm obsessed with the ....  

    I could watch it all day, everyday. I'm always looking for a new dish to create in the kitchen, or a new way to season a favorite recipe. So, here's 10 things I've learned from shows like; Restaurant Impossible Cutthroat Kitchen CHOPPED Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives The Pioneer Woman   If you haven't watched any of these, you're missing out. Just watch at least one of each episode. Now to the ten things!  

1- The Pioneer Woman's main ingredient is butter, at least a whole stick

2- You can make a really good dry rub with cayenne pepper & brown sugar

3- Guy Fieri has the best job

4- It's not impossible to cook an entire meal using an ice skate as a knife

5- Dragonfruit has hardly any flavor, it just looks amazing

6- You can "easily" make a gourmet dish in 30 minutes or less

7- Once you've had cream cheese in your mashed potatoes, you won't go back

8- Normal bacteria count for a cutting board is around 50-100 (so random, but interesting)

9- If I turn on the TV before dinner, you're either going to starve, or get some kind of meal from CHOPPED that I've tried to create in the kitchen

10- That ice cream machine can be a bitch

   John loves my creative side, even when I get crazy in the kitchen. We both love food, so it works out! :)  

Highlights of the Kirk's weekend

This weekend went by way too fast, like most do, but we enjoyed the beautiful weather that god has blessed us with!

It was 70-80 degrees all weekend with a slight breeze so I tried to spend a lot of time outside.

Down the street from us is a walking park, I wanted to enjoy the weather so I took our dog Chance for a little "mile" walk. 3 laps is considered a mile at this park, and my dog was about to give up on the 2nd lap. Hilarious. Poor little guy...

I tried running...and realized I still hate it, and I'm too out of shape.

Chance also hated that idea...

Anyway, I got a little picture happy with my iPhone, everything looked so beautiful!!

 

 

 

On Sunday, we had our engagement pictures done by

  ShaiLynn Photography (click for website)

she drove 3 hours out here, and then we drove another hour to our destination.

She's amazing! If you're in the Salt Lake area, check her out!

This was my "can't wait to get our engagements done, but first let me take a selfie" pic on the way to our pictures.

AND here's a little sneak peek for your viewing pleasure :)

 

 

Oh heyyyyy future husby

Check him out!! HOTTIE!!!

What you doin later!?

Can't believe I get to marry that handsome man in 95 DAYS!

This is just ONE of the many amazing pictures,

I absolutely love them and can't wait to see & share more!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Keep checking back for more "teaser" pics :)