Tuesday, April 1, 2008

The Open Love Letter :: April 2008

I'm hoping to do a monthly feature on my blog, in homage to one of my all-time fave blogs (Dooce), who writes a monthly newsletter to her daughter Leta. It is something I am planning on doing when Adam and I have children someday, God willing. However, since we currently have no children of our own, I thought I could write an open love letter monthly to my lovely, Adam. And when we do have children of our own, it's too bad for Adam. ;)

So here goes nothing:

New Year's Eve
(New Year's Eve :: January 2008)

Dear Adam,

I can't believe it's already April. It seems like the short amount of time we have before our wedding just keeps flying by faster and faster. My countdown widget is telling me that we have less than 95 days until our wedding. I remember when that number was way over 200 and I thought our wedding day would never get here. Now that it's quickly approaching, I have to say that I kind of wish it'd slow down a bit. Not just because my to-do list never seems to end and instead keeps on growing at a rate that is faster than the rate I complete the tasks... but more so because I feel like I need to enjoy this "calm before the storm" with you.

It does feel like it's the "calm before the storm" because looking at our schedules in the next three months, it looks jam-packed and that's all that we know of right now. I'm sure new things will keep popping up. Even within this upcoming month, we have tons of changes occurring and right now, I feel like I'm just trying to soak it all before it becomes a fast blur to July. We've got packing, moving, unpacking, finishing up the school year, all the last minute wedding preparations, showers, etc. Every weekend seems to be just about soaked up with something to do.

While working on wedding stuff yesterday, I came across these photos of us from Mike and Kelly's wedding last May.

Mike & Kelly's Photobooth #1

Mike & Kelly's Photobooth #2
(Mike & Kelly's Wedding :: May 2007)

First of all, I cannot believe it's been almost a year since Mike & Kelly's amazing wedding. (They had an awesome photobooth at the wedding done by the even more amazing Boutwells.) Secondly, these photos reminded me of the fact that it's almost been a year since you and I have been engaged. We were very much in that "we just got engaged" high when these photos were taken of us and it was nice to think back to that time when we were just engaged and maybe this wedding stuff was only a dream.

And now Vaness and Daniel are engaged too! I am so happy for them. It has been such a blessing to us to be able to be friends with them and watch them grow in their own relationship with each other and God.

We are going to take our engagement photos this month. Even though I am super excited about this, I am also super nervous. I love hiding behind my camera. The fact that we'll be in FRONT of a camera makes me nervous. I'm sure it'll be fun once we get used to it, but it'll be weird for me. I've been on a dress-obsession as of late in pursuit of the perfect engagement session dress. Hopefully I'll stop being indecisive and just choose one. Or two maybe. I'm glad that we chose to our e-session at UCSD and not the beach. It just feels more "us" at UCSD. Plus, were just big dorks anyway... and if taking photos at UCSD makes us even bigger dorks, then that's even more so "us."

I like that you're my college sweetheart. :)

Garage Sale
(Garage Sale :: March 2008)

One of the upcoming changes that I am the most excited about within this next month is that we're going to move into our new apartment. I don't know what it is about this that I find exhilarating. More exciting than the fact that we'll have "our home" and we can do what we want with our home, I think I'm looking forward to not having to say goodbye to you at the end of the night. Oooh, and having you come home to me, or me to come home to you. Sounds kind of silly I suppose, but I hate saying goodbye to you when you drop me off. I really do.

This past month, your mom came down and helped us with selling our junk at the garage sale. You drew me the cutest diagram last month explaining how when the stuff leaves the apt, it does NOT go back into the apt in the case when it does not sell. Being the more "pack-ratty" of the two of us, I didn't quite understand where your excitement and tenacity to get rid of "Jasmine's stuff" came from. I guess that's why this relationship works. If both of us were pack-rats, it'd be the end of us.

I was super amazed when people started buying our old junk. Truly amazed. Like, who would want "fill in the blank"? People actually do! What a concept! And we made more than we needed to help offset moving costs. God is so good.

Garage Sale - lamp
(Garage Sale :: March 2008)

I think the highlight of the garage sale was when that lamp of yours that I've been trying to get rid of for years made it's appearance at the garage sale. You put the funniest card on it and made a good several people laugh. I love your sense of humor. I might not have always understood it, but now that I'm starting to really "get it," I think I actually kind of like it.

Garage Sale - lamp #2
(Garage Sale :: March 2008)

Y'know, I think one lady was really going to buy the lamp, but alas... the lamp did not sell. I guess we're stuck with it for a little longer. Unless it just so happens to not find it's way into our moving truck. "Where did it go?" asks Adam. "I don't know," says Jasmine innocently.

Hehehe.

Out of everything happening this upcoming month, what I am looking forward to most is our 6 year anniversary on April 11th. When I look back and think about how you and I have known and dated each other for all of our twenties, it is amazing to me that you still love me. When we met sophomore year at UCSD, I totally remember thinking, "What are the chances that you break up with your girlfriend, I break up with my boyfriend, you and I become friends, and then we date each other?" Ha! Yeah right!

Our engagement
(Our Engagement :: May 2007)

Well, God had a much better plan than I did and not only was He right in that you and I would end up dating... He was right when He whispered to me over and over early on before we were even dating, that you... Adam Ko, would be "the one" for me. I laughed in God's face when He told me that six years ago. Literally laughed in His face. Thought I was hearing voices in my head. But now I suppose He's the one laughing and smiling now, because six years later... I'm about to marry "the one" He's created for me. I am so blessed to be your fiancee. Truly blessed.

Happy early anniversary love!

(And PLEASE don't buy me that dang Coors Light hat for our anniversary. No, it will NOT be funny.)

Your love,
Jasmine

26 comments:

AHS Photography said...

This is the best post ever! I love it! And I love the Dooce blog too :)
~Amy

any luck on the wedding coordinator?

Josh said...

how sweet is that?

Anonymous said...

This is so sweet, Jasmine. I just love you guys! I also love those pictures from the photo booth! I can't wait to read more of your letters.

I love to see true love. It's truly beautiful!

Wanderlust said...

awww...such a cute post!
hope ur doing well~ ;)

Lisa Gisczinski Photography said...

That was so touching, you made me cry a little...so sweet. I am so happy you two found each other. Thanks for sharing with us.
I'd love to go to the Rock photog mtgs.

Brandon Williams said...

very sweet... Love your images!!!

kai said...

aww..I love you guys! =) everytime i hear your story, i just can't even imagine how PERFECT and how GOOD God is..

i love how you "documented" your story through pictures..how fitting, Jas =)

yay to nerds and odd sense of humor =)

Unknown said...

"kai"... who are you? :)

Anonymous said...

such beautiful words! you sound like you're perfect for each other :) and i love all the pictures that illustrate each little story!

Lisa Gisczinski Photography said...

Quick go to http://blog.danesanders.com. You have to see this class he's teaching

Ann said...

Jasmine!! Wow. I laughed out loud & really enjoyed your "open love letter." I too love Dooce and regardless of her irreverence at times, I really appreciate her honesty & that she just is who she is. And that's something that I really appreciate about you! You're not afraid to be exactly who God created you to be! Teach me?

OHANA PHOTOGRAPHERS said...

jasmine, what an incredibly touching post. i almost teared up! man tears!! man tears!! haha. we wish many blessings to you and adam in your awesome future together. see you today!

kristin said...

Thanks for visiting my blog!! You are your man are SO cute!

What church do you go to?

OHANA PHOTOGRAPHERS said...

hey jasmine, it was awesome seeing and shooting with you yesterday. not only are you cute you're funny too!! see you on thursday!

Tish said...

That is a very sweet post. I'm not a photographer, but I found you through Jasmine Star's site. I read a few of your posts and specifically liked teh one where you went to lunch with the photographers and found that they were brothers and sisters in Christ. I just said today that one reason I love J*'s blog is that these great photographers whom she has befriended are also followers of Christ! So glad I found your site. Happy wedding planning!

Nat said...

This is such SWEET post! You guys are great together!

kristin said...

hi!...we go to Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in La Mirada. Long name huh? HA!

kymberli q. said...

Jasmine, this was hilarious and heart warming at the same time! I loved it!!!!!!! So how DID the lamp make it back into the house after the diagram said it wasn't to be?? :)-

Mary Marantz said...

what an awesome idea!! you guys look like so much fun!

M:)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your comments! I greatly appreciate them!

Danielle

OHANA PHOTOGRAPHERS said...

hey jasmine i saw the wedding invites you guys designed and WOW beautiful!! see you tonight!

nicole green said...

awwww! that's all i can say. :) you are too cute!

Unknown said...

I LOVED seein you last night!! and i can't wait to see you again next week!! I'm glad ur parties went well!! know your wonderful and ur rockin ur students worlds!! :P have a great week!

OHANA PHOTOGRAPHERS said...

we're having withdrawals :) we know you're busy :) have a blessed weekend jasmine! we missed you last night at our night shooting in little italy.

Anonymous said...

I miss your blog entries! (no pressure though! jaja!) I also miss my fellow blog commenter. :) You have quite the popular blog now! I can't wait to see more of your photos! :)

OHANA PHOTOGRAPHERS said...

jasmine! can't wait to see what you got from the wedding you shot with jen and melissa!!