Monday, March 2, 2009

Finally an Update

Here's a few updates: Lauren will be going to UT Southwestern PA School in May, we are buying a house in Frisco, Beau and Kimberly are pregnant, and we have been married over 5 months! More updates and pics to follow. For now here are some pics from our trip to Chicago in the fall to visit Pope and Carrie.

Pics at the Cloud Gate in Millenium Park, also known as "The Bean"







Waitin on the bus. It was cold.



Out on the town.







Lauren in front of a giant Christmas tree at a mall on Michigan Ave.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Monday, September 29, 2008

Having Fun in Puerto Vallarta

Hi all! Yes we are blogging on our Honeymoon, its fun with the amount of relaxing downtime we have. Yesterday we hung out in the Hotel, and today we did an outdoor adventure that included riding in a speedboat, riding a mule up a mountain, ziplining, repelling down a waterfall, ziplining into a river, and crossing suspension bridges. Here are some pics, enjoy! We miss yoiu and love you all!



This is the view at night from our hotel room...it is amazing!!!



Friday, September 19, 2008

1 Week til Completion

Reading the title of this blog you may be thinking "Weird". You may be misunderstanding the way I use completion. I am using it to reference completion of me. Once I am married to Lauren next week I will be complete. Sounds cheesy I know, but it is so true, spiritually, God is going to unite me to the woman that he created to complete me. Next Friday I will be one with my beautiful wife, whom I cannot wait to marry.

Looking back over my blog I laugh at the journey, all the things I have written over the past year or so, and hearing the change in my own words during that same time also. The growth that I have experienced over the past year is amazing, and none of it is my work. To try and boast in where I am today and what is happening in our lives next Friday would be to take credit for something that in my dreams I couldn't have forseen or planned for, something far too beautiful for me to have any part in creating. Lauren is such an amazing woman of God, and has the most amazing heart, I am thankful every second that I have her in my life, and that I get to marry her. I am so excited to become her husband.

Now for an update. We have finished just about everything. Tomorrow we move all my furniture into our apartment (well technically still just Lauren's apartment until next Friday), and I will be sleeping on my roomates couch in Plano, living out of a suitcase. We really don't have anything left to finish. We finished our Village pre-marital counseling a couple of weeks ago, got our marriage license last week, turned in all the numbers to the reception site, and now we just have to wait.

It's really hard to describe the excitement and anticipation I am feeling. I liken it to waiting for Christmas, already knowing the awesome present you will get on Christmas Day, but having to wait to open it. Except in this case it is the greatest gift of my life, and she will be walking towards me in a week. WOOHOO! After that we will also get to change the name of the blog to "The Hughes Blog".

Here is a pic of Lauren and I with Tim and Alicia Williamson last week at Tim's sister ,Lindsy's wedding. Tim is a groomsman in our wedding and their son Mark is one of our ringbearers. I also need to give a shout out to Mark since he is turning 3 today! Happy Birthday Mark Garrett!!



On a prayers answered note, my brother Beau is coming back from Sudan, Africa, today after being there for 18 days. We missed you brother, welcome home.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

10 Weeks!

So, 10 weeks today I will have a wonderful wife. I am so excited. We sent out invitations last week and have already gotten back some RSVPs!! We also finished registering, picked out food for the reception, and booked the Honeymoon (I am keeping it a secret from Lauren so it will be a suprise). The food that we will be having at the reception is heavy hour'douvres consisting of Southwestern Meatballs, Crabcakes, Chicken Kabobs, and Fruit and Cheese & Veggie Trays. We tasted some of it last week it will be amazing!

I can't wait to marry Lauren, she is such and amazing woman and we grow closer every day whether it is through a new adventure, sharing old stories about friends, or even conflict!! September 26th can't come soon enough!

Here are some pics of Lauren and I with my parents at my buddy Shane's wedding back in May. Long time ago I know! Check out Big Gary's handlebar mustache. Awesome.




Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Koo-wa-ee

Hi! It's me Eric. My future bride has asked me to update the blog and so I will and it will be awesome. Our trip was amazing. Here are some of the highlights:


Lauren & her sister Katie at the airport


Me and Lauren doing her "serious face" pose on the plane.


The Family on a short hike on the first day on the North end of the Na'Pali Coast


Me and a seal that I killed with my bare hands. Hahaha. Seriously, I used a knife. Ok really it is a Monk Seal, which are endangered seals that like to pass out on the beach


Lauren and I on our 8 mile hike


In front of a 300 foot waterfall that we hiked 4 miles through jungle and on cliffs to see


Lauren's Mom and I were the only 2 that got in the pool created by the waterfall and swam out underneath it. FREEZING water


Lauren and I at the Trailhead after the hike


Bob & Johnisue at the trailhead


Lauren and her Mom at the "Happy Talk Lounge". This was the little lounge at the resort next to our Condo. They had a Jazz night that we went to


Bob & Johnisue


Lauren & Me


Lauren and her dad on the cattamaran that we took up along the Na'Pali coastline. The ride back they were on that net hanging on for dear life due to the wind and the chppy seas! It was hilarious!


Me being an awesome snorkeler


Lauren and I in front of another waterfall that we kayaked and then hiked to. We didn't get any other kayak pictures because it was raining, but we found an awesome rope swing that we all swung on and jumped off into the Waimea River.


The whole family after our helicopter tour of the Island. It was amazing and truly the only way to see the entire island as most of it, including rivers and waterfalls, is privately owned by 1 family and/or undeveloped and only reachable by hiking, boat or helipcopter.


Lauren in front of a blowhole on the South Shore


Lauren and I on our zipline adventure


Lauren and Katie


The Wilken Fam and future Hughes Fam


Me being awesome at ziplining


Lauren and Katie at the Luau


Lauren and Me doing the "romantic walk at the Luau" pose. Adorable.


Me and the almost Mrs.


Right before we left for the airport. ): Lauren looks beautiful like always and I have spot sunburns. (chin, nose, forehead) That's how I roll

We loved Kauai and would go back in a heartbeat. It is truly an amazing place and I don't see how there could be a more beautiful island on earth.