Post-Wedding Bliss

The day after the wedding. Mark's parents, MeLissa's family and Grammy all piled into vehicles and traveled to Lamar where they met all of MeLissa's family and friends from her younger years. The people of Lamar were thrilled to meet MeLissa's new husband and his family.

On September 11, 2004, we hosted a celebration at our home for our friends and family in California. Many of Mark's classmates from Chiropractic school came and several friends made an appearance as well. MeLissa was very excited that her cousin Todd, his wife Kelly and their little girl Maggie came to the celebration! We barbecued and everyone brought delicious foods to share. It was a great time and no one left hungry! During this visit, we showed everyone our wedding video which had been made by MaxEfx Video. If you need a wedding video in Colorado Springs, we highly recommend Angela and Eric's work! (update: they've moved to Alaska where they now offer their services! Eric's brother, however, is available for any weddings in Colorado Springs or Northern Colorado! If you want details, please visit their website at www.maxefxvideo.com!)

We took a break from celebrating for a couple of months, but we certainly weren't without activities. One of our adventures occurred when we were visited by Nanook and Vorbot (Mark's creativity knows no bounds!) from the planet Kitty. These feisty felines came home in the place of Pixie and Banshee after we took them to the SPCA to have "kitty-it" operations. Thankfully, our sweet little kitties (erhem, when they behave!) came back within a couple of weeks.

In September of 2004, we ventured to Yosemite National Park with our friends Matthew and Beth. We had a very enjoyable time wandering around in the sequoia forest and driving around other well known places, but we could have done without some of the hills we had to walk up!

In October 2004, we ventured to Half Moon Bay for the annual Pumpkin festival. Half Moon Bay is the pumpkin capital of the world and now we know why! One of the best parts of this adventure was finding a new delectable to look forward to - pumpkin fudge. Trust us, it's to die for!

In November 2004, the main source of excitement in our lives was selling MeLissa's town home in Colorado Springs. Although MeLissa was sad that she had to sell it, she was thrilled that she no longer had to spend money on something they weren't using!

December arrived and brought with it many exciting appointments on our social calendar. It began, as it does every year, with MeLissa's birthday. Mark had a big surprise planned for MeLissa (as he does every year - he's very thoughtful)! In addition to the lovely Christmasy floral arrangement he had waiting for her when she came home from work, he would be treating her to a cruise on the Bay that weekend. The cruise would be aboard a paddle boat named the San Francisco Belle and would feature great food, dancing and the band Vertical Horizon!

Once the big night arrived, we walked from MeLissa's office to the pier and waited in line. The city skyline was beautiful with all the Christmas lights lit up. Once we were aboard, we enjoyed a fabulous meal and then we explored the boat. We were also able to see Alcatraz from close up (we still haven't made it there to visit!) and were quite happy that there were no convicts swimming toward the ship!

After that fun experience, Mark's parents came to visit us at our home. We celebrated MeLissa's birthday again by going to the A Street Cafe - her favorite French restaurant. Good conversation, good food, yummy wine and to die for creme brulee made the evening quite lovely.

Later that week, we traveled to the HP Pavilion in San Jose where we saw Dolly Parton in concert - up close and personal in the 3rd row thanks to a great ticket find. Dolly sang all of her famous songs in a invigorating show that left the crowd tapping their feet for days afterward!

Soon after the concert, Mark's parents returned to Maui and we were right behind them! We arrived the day after they did with gifts for under the tree. We made good use of our time visiting as much as possible with friends, family and especially Grammy! We did a little last minute Christmas shopping, and looked at Christmas lights (MeLissa is still having Snoopy envy for all the lighted Snoopy decorations she saw.

As if the holidays didn't bring enough excitement, we were treated to another reception thrown by Mark's parents. The party started early with tasty appetizers - even the party crashers (some very cute kittens) thought so. The dinner for the evening was a clam bake which left all of our guests happily full. Before dinner, we were treated to a live Hawaiian band and even an impromptu hula by one of the band's friends!

One of our favorite parts of the evening was that we were able to renew our vows at sunset with a Hawaiian priest! Not too many people get to get married twice in the same year (legally)! We really thought it was neat - unfortunately, due to a snafu with the video camera, we only have pictures (unfortunately again - the good ones are not in digital format). We figure this means we'll have to do it again sometime to correct these issues!

As the evening progressed, we held a Hawaiian-style money dance. For this, we danced while guests came and tucked money into different parts of our clothes and then we had to take it out with our teeth. Thankfully, no one put anything in too embarrassing a spot! It was all in good fun, so we enjoyed it.

After the reception was over, we enjoyed a belated honeymoon in Kanapali and on the Big Island. While on the Big Island of Hawaii, we stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa which was very cool. They had a huge tree in their lobby which Mark posed with. One of the highlights of the trip for MeLissa was swimming with Dolphins. Her group had the fortune to play with the youngest dolphin - Makana (meaning gift). A stuffed dolphin accompanied them home and MeLissa named it after her dolphin friend. We also took a short trip to meet with Mark's Uncle Timmy and Michiko to Wai Pio Valley . We enjoyed a surprise visit from Aunt Keina, an artist who bestowed us with many wonderful creations. We also found a new friend for MeLissa. After our short stay, we traveled back to Maui to enjoy Christmas with Mark's family.
Since Christmas-time, we have spent a majority of our time focused on school and work. We've also been very focused on Mark who's had a couple of surgeries to reattach his retina which have, thus far, been successful. We did have one adventure to Napa in June which was pretty nifty. We stopped by Copia first where Mark met a flashy new friend. We learned how to make fabulous herbal tea from various herbs and where we were able to explore food and wine in a museum-style setting. One of the niftiest things we were able to see were enchanting cakes. One was of the Eiffel Tower, another had lots of whimsical animals coming out of it (pictured right) - there were others which were very neat also. After we had exhausted the exhibits and had walked through the gardens, we made a quick trip to both V. Sattui and the Beringer wineries where we purchased a few yummy wines to restock our wine rack with and then headed home.

The Reception

We somehow managed to squeeze into the limo despite my huge gown. We tested our driver's skill by having her drive into the Boulder Running Company's parking lot (definitely a tight fit for a limo!). Here Mark picked up a pair of sunglasses to replace those that I had inadvertently left at the hair salon!

We arrived at Gleneagle Golf Club where we rejoined the wedding party. Sarah and Michael served as MCs and introduced themselves and the remainder of the wedding party. Then, we made our grand entrance to thunderous applause! Once everyone was settled in at the head table, we all grabbed a bite to eat. While the remaining guests were enjoying their meals, we slipped away for a photo session on the green.
The rain clouds which had rolled in caused some concern initially but, thankfully, these clouds were actually a blessing since the sun's reflection on them produced a stunning backdrop for many of our photos. The Rocky Mountains, in their summer splendor, and the well-manicured scenic golf course ensured that our photos would be spectacular. We have included one of our favorite "whimsical" shots here!

Once we were finished with picture taking, we returned to our guests and participated in several common wedding traditions. I danced with my father to Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up" - a song she chose not only because of the words but because its background music had a bit of a Scottish flare I knew my papa would love! We've heard that a few guests were close to tears as they watched us glide over the dance floor. Papa was especially pleased that I sang along with the song to him while we shared our special moment.

After a warm embrace, Papa handed me off to Mark. We danced to Josh Groban's "When You Say You Love Me." I was a bit nervous about using two songs from the same artist for both the father-daughter dance and the bride and groom's first dance, but since the two songs expressed my feelings for the two most important men in my life so well, I decided to throw caution to the wind and just do what felt right.

Once our first dance was finished, Mark's parents surprised us with leis to welcome me to the family and to express their congratulations to Mark. They had us dance to the "The Hawaiian Wedding Song" and our bridal party joined in. After the song was over, we opened up the floor to all of our guests.

After enjoying a little dancing, it was time for the toast, the bouquet and garter tosses....and, most importantly, the triple chocolate mousse cake. These events brought some unexpected excitement to the party. The bouquet broke apart in to six individual roses (on purpose, we should add!), Mark had to make two garter toss attempts, and, of course, the triple chocolate mousse cake was to die for. All of our guests' culinary senses were delighted.

Much too quickly, the party was over and it was time to clean up and return home. But, the celebration wasn't over - since we had been married early in the day, there was still time for an after party! This was held in the hotel's hospitality suite and gave close friends and family a chance to spend a little more time with us in a more intimate setting. As part of this celebration, the guests put together the guest book puzzle to reveal the montage that had been created especially for it by my mom!

As the evening wound down, we retired to our honeymoon suite, which had been decorated with rose petals and where a bottle of champagne, a box of chocolates and a plethora of spa delights awaited us. We enjoyed some of these and then went off to dreamland with many happy memories to cherish from our special day!

The Wedding Story

Everyone awoke to a beautiful morning - blue skies with white fluffy clouds and all the sun one could wish for!

The ladies began their day by going to Salon Bella to have their hair done. Mine was tied in knots (to mimic my stomach!) after the natural curl in her hair was brought out. The other girls' hair was done in a loopy updo. My mom also had her hair and makeup done.

Once they were ready to go, the attendants hurried off to the church to dress and prepare for my dressing ritual. While they were thus occupied, several gracious volunteers led by our friend Lyndsay were busy setting up the reception site. The groom, the groomsmen and the ushers were also getting ready. They were so quick that they even had time to take some of their pictures!

Once I was finally dressed and ready to go (hair and makeup took longer than budgeted for!), my attendants and I entered the church and took pictures as well. There wasn't time to take the group shots as we had planned so those were postponed until after the ceremony. I was actually happy about this because I'd been disappointed that Mark would see me before the ceremony, but I'd planned to sacrifice this to spend as much time with our guests as possible.

Once the moms and Mark's grandmother were seated, the ceremony began with a vocal solo performed by Kristie, one of my attendants and a super friend from high school. Once Kristie was finished singing Panis Angelicus, everyone prepared for the processional. The attendants were escorted in by the groomsmen who were wearing white orchid leis. Once they reached the front of the church, the men transferred the leis to the ladies with a kiss on the cheek. Once the wedding party was lined up at the front of the church, Mark and Fr. Walker proceeded down the aisle and took their spots.

A moment of great anticipation elapsed while everyone waited for Papa and I to come down the aisle. With Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring playing, I made my way to the front of the church where Mark was waiting with a big smile!

When we arrived, Ginger, my mom, came forward so that she could participate in the giving away. Once we had expressed our desire to marry one another and once the congregation expressed their vow to uphold us in our marriage, my parents gave me away and then took their seats for the remainder of the ceremony.

The ceremony continued with readings from Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 8:6-7 and the Gospel of Matthew 5:1-10 (The Beatitudes). The readings were done by Christopher and Keola, respectively. Kristie kept things moving with a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria by Schubert while everyone in the wedding party went up the stairs to the altar.

Finally, the moment arrived where we vowed to love and honor one another for the rest of their lives. We exchanged rings to symbolize our eternal commitment and then were blessed by the priest. Once the priest had given Mark permission to kiss his bride (um, that would be me!), he pronounced us husband and wife and we exited to the glorious sounds of the Allegro from Water Music (I forgot my flowers...oops!). We were followed by our guests whom we greeted and thanked, individually, for coming. Once everyone had a chance to congratulate us, it was time for more pictures and then it was on to the reception.

Wedding Mania, Part II

Before we knew it, July was upon us! I traveled to Colorado first to attend our friends', Jason and Shelley, wedding. It was a lovely affair at the Embassy Suites in Colorado Springs - a very familiar site since I'd spent many weekends there taking my CPA review course a few years before! I brought my friend Kelly along to fill in for Mark, enjoyed the wedding and then made a brief appearance at the reception before heading back to Kelly's house for a good night's sleep.

I spent the next week tying up as many loose ends as possible. After I'd had finished most of my wedding errands, I traveled to Lamar to spend time with my parents and my nephew. I enjoyed meeting Miss Kitty, my mom's new Siamese kitten, and was able to get a little rest and relaxation in as well.

I returned to Colorado Springs to tie up few more loose ends and to fetch Chris Christopher who had just arrived from San Diego. He had arrived just after making the maiden voyage of the USS Ronald Reagan which you can see entering the Straits of Magellan on the right. We also picked Mark up from the airport when he arrived the next day.

On Thursday during the day, while Mark and his friends went to see the Rockies play, I picked up her friend Alisa at the airport (Betsy came along). The three enjoyed a pleasant lunch at Red Robin where they discussed the wedding plans. After lunch, they rushed off to pick up the wedding dress and run a few other errands. On Thursday evening, my Matron of Honor, Sarah, and one of her attendants, Stacy, threw a bridal shower in my honor. There were fun games for everyone to play and lots of yummy treats to snack on. I received some very neat gifts of kitchen items from my friends and lots of tasty recipes to try.

On Friday, my attendants and I went to a salon for manicures and pedicures. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch and then returned to the hotel to change in to some nice clothes so that we could make it to the rehearsal on time! Upon arrival, Mark and I signed the marriage license and the church's wedding registry. Then, all the wedding participants took their places and the orchestration of what would happen the next day began. It was sure to be a beautiful ceremony the next morning!

Friends and family gathered on Friday evening at Marigold's Cafe and Bakery for the rehearsal dinner. Before and after dinner, everyone shared their favorite and often, embarrassing, memories of Mark and MeLissa growing up while enjoying good food and excellent desserts.

We presented gifts to members of our wedding party and our parents. All the men received Swiss Army pens which had many handy tools. The pens were "space" pens that could write upside down and in water as well. For our mothers, we chose engraved photo albums to keep copies of the wedding photos once they were available. Finally, I gave my attendants engraved clocks which symbolized the timelessness of our friendship.

We also exchanged gifts with each other. I gave Mark a locket-style wrist watch which features an opening where I later put a picture of myself for him to always remember how I looked on our wedding day. Mark gave me a heart felt card which he wrote himself and a specially commissioned picture frame which had two clay birds resembling Robin and Woodstock, my birds who had passed away in the months preceding the wedding. It was pretty hard not to get all choked up with those two items! Mark is the best at getting gifties!

All Wedding and No Play.....

During the year before the wedding, we enjoyed a few breaks from wedding planning by exploring our surroundings in California and beyond. We also made time to go to school for Mark - Physics and Chemistry ruled many of our weekends...

In November 2003, we took a quick trip to Las Vegas to visit with Mark's family and, thanks to Mark's great luck, we came home a little richer. Of course, if I had known that he was playing a slot machine that cost $10 every time he pulled the lever, this probably wouldn't have been the case, but I'm considering just not paying attention at what Mark's playing the next time we visit!

One of our favorite adventures was to Napa Valley. A stop by the Jelly Belly jelly bean factory in Fairfield, California, on the way was a memorable detour! Once we finished appeasing our sweet tooth, we followed Highway 29 up through the entire Napa Valley region - from Napa to Calistoga. Along the way, we found our favorite winery - V. Sattui. This winery is a family owned winery that was established in 1885. It has many award winning wines. Our favorite is the Gamay Rouge. The Off-Dry Riesling is also fabulous. We enjoyed a relaxing picnic lunch complete with wine and goodies from their store before heading on our way.

We also enjoyed traipsing around San Francisco. We participated in the Bridge to Bridge race, the Bay to Breakers race (a race with WAY too many naked old men!), and we took it upon ourselves to walk across the Golden Gate bridge - what a cool time! The views of the city are spectacular. The only nerve wracking thing is that there isn't much space between you and the cars!

We also took a hike up a "hill of death" to visit Coit Tower where we were able to view the city from on high. Here's a picture of the Bay Bridge we took while at the base of the tower which resembles a fire hose nozzle!

We spent our first 4th of July here in California in San Francisco at Pier 39 where "and the rockets red glare..." took on new meaning due to the fog. We probably won't be going to San Francisco for a fireworks show again, but it was definitely a unique experience!

In addition to San Francisco and Napa, we visited Santa Rosa to see the Charles Schulz museum. I am an avid Snoopy and Peanuts collector so I was very excited about this adventure. It was even more exciting when I won a prize by stumping the resident "Peanuts Expert." I asked him to name the three books which used peanuts comic strips to illustrate the Bible's teachings. The books - written by Robert Short are "The Gospel According to Peanuts," "Short Meditations on Peanuts," and "Parables of Peanuts." Check them out for a an uplifting read! The museum was a very cool place - even the sidewalk was in the shape of Charlie Brown Shirt Stripe!

One of our best adventures took place about a month prior to the wedding. We took advantage of a three-day weekend and traveled to Monterey. While there, we enjoyed the Monterey Bay Aquarium (see the funny lookin' penguin Mark snapped a picture of!) and took a scenic drive around the Pebble Beach golf course. One of the highlights of the visit was staying at the Centrella Bed and Breakfast Inn in Pacific Grove - the Monarch Butterfly Capital of the World! It was beautiful and terribly romantic - and a very welcome experience after we spent our first night in a motel with a horrible bed next to a very noisy gas station!

We should also mention one of our most exciting adventures - chasing a little black kitten whom I had met at the BART station all over a Safeway parking lot. That adventure had a very happy ending because Banshee joined our family. Since I lost Robin (my Nanday conure) a couple of weeks before this, Banshee, a very loving, though frequently naughty kitty, came at the perfect time to sooth my sad heart.

Other highlights included a trip to an Oakland A's game with our friends Kevin and Josephine, visiting the Oakland Zoo, and having fun in the sun at Paramount's Great America with some friends from Mark's school. We also had a Thanksgiving week visit from Uncle Max and a visit to Jack London Square in Oakland which included a fun dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory (thanks for the tip Uncle Max!)

And how could we forget our trip home to Colorado for Christmas (especially since my brother Chris was able to be home, too) and our first home purchase together in January 2004. We upgraded from our apartment at Pinnacle City Centre to a new (for us!) town home in one of the most sought after neighborhoods in Hayward - Diamond Crossing. We didn't relish the act of moving, but we have enjoyed transforming it from a house into a home!

Wedding Mania, Part I

After the question had been popped, the planning began. We originally considered being married in Maui as but, ultimately, we decided that my church - Grace Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, would be the site. As for the wedding date, we originally envisioned a June wedding, but due to my brother Chris not being able to return from Iraq until July, the day was set for July 31, 2004.

We discovered that the church's reception hall would not be available due to construction in the summer of 2004. This led to a search for a suitable reception site. We decided upon Gleneagle Golf Club which boasts panoramic views of the majestic Rocky Mountains which we figured would provide awesome scenic backdrops for our wedding pictures.

For our invitations, we decided to send a die cut tri-fold design which showcased the lighthouse from the Thomas Kincade painting entitled "Beacon of Hope." Thomas Kincade's work has always captivated me so this was one of the easiest decisions. On the front of the invitation, was inscribed "Your love was a beacon....that called my heart home" - a message which was true to our hearts. We made good use of Mark's hospital stay after he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle to address the invitations and prepare them for mailing.

When deciding on our menu for the wedding celebration, we considered everything from a simple ice cream sundae bar to an Italian themed dinner. We finally decided that the perfect meal for a July wedding at a golf club was something simple; thus, hamburgers, grilled chicken breasts and brats with all the trimmings were to be served. Since we don't typically drink and since we were concerned with our guests' safety, we chose to serve Italian sodas rather than alcohol. These fun and fruity drinks were a big hit with most of the guests.

For us, the most important item on the menu - the wedding cake - had to be unique and, most importantly, yummy! If it looked pretty, all the better! We knew that the standard white wedding cake would never do. So, after sampling many delectable desserts from bakeries all over Colorado Springs, we decided that the Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake from Marigold's Cafe and Bakery would be our cake. We believe that all of our guests were thrilled with this decision.

In the area of decorations, we decided to let the natural beauty of the church shine through by only having flowers at the altar. The reception site's decor included white table clothes with navy napkins to tie in with our navy and silver wedding colors, which I chose because of the beautiful engagement ring Mark had presented to me when he proposed. Each table had a silver ship's lantern centerpiece accented with silver and navy balloons. Navy and silver M&Ms (Mark and MeLissa - M&M - get it?) were sprinkled about on the tables like confetti. We provided each table with a disposable camera to chronicle memories of the occasion. The Head Table was decorated with a floral centerpiece, lighthouse tealight holders and two sets of floral champagne glasses which would be used for the toasts. The final touch was several lighthouse windchimes which were hung from the gazebo to add to the ambiance of the occasion.

We decided that Mark and his party would wear black tuxes with vests and bow ties. Mark was in white to match me, the groomsmen were in silver and the ushers were in navy blue. Mark wore a white rose on his lapel while the other guys wore red roses. My attendants chose to wear fitted navy blue taffeta strapless bodices and matching A-line floor length skirts accented by a navy organza wrap. They all carried single red roses hand tied with greenery and a silver ribbon. White orchid leis, which they would receive from the groomsmen during the procession, completed their attire.

I wore a stunning Cinderella-style gown designed by Oleg Cassini (Jackie Onasis Kennedy's designer). The dress had a corsetted bodice with boning and simple, but elegant bead work. The skirt was composed of several layers of taffeta, the top layer of which was ornamented with lace appliques. The dress was finished with a cathedral length train (which after the ceremony became a bit of a nuisance since it didn't want to stay bustled!). I wore my hair up and accented it with a tiara with a pearl and leaf design. I also wore a traditional veil with blusher which featured scalloped edges accented by dangling tear drop Swarovski crystals. I chose matching pearl earrings, bracelet and necklace set for accessories. My bouquet was a combination of white and red roses which were hand tied and wrapped with ribbon. My sweetheart of a mother added a piece of sugar in a piece of green netting from her wedding cake to symbolize my parents' wish that our marriage be as happy and sweet as theirs. Say it with me now "Awww."

How We Came to Be

After reading all about our backgrounds, you may be wondering what brought a boy from Maui and a girl from Colorado to the altar. Look no further for your answer!

I was offered a job at a new accounting firm in August 2002. I was thrilled to finally find a firm that offered both challenging tax returns to prepare and a family-style work environment. This new location made it possible to meet my friend Sarah for lunch more often, too. One day at lunch, we discussed that Sarah's current job had a deal with a gym that was right by my work. Since I was reaching the end of my current gym membership, a gym a little closer to work and home where I'd also be able to spend time more time with my friend sounded like a good thing to check out! We decided to take a look and after some pretty decent selling on the part of a sales counselor, we joined!

As part of our membership, we (and Sarah's mom who'd also joined in) each would receive 2 free sessions with a personal trainer. I didn't want to go alone so I tagged along with Sarah and her mom who were meeting with a trainer named "'Rocco." I was sure Rocco would be a muscle-bound meathead (or a mob hitman!). Fortunately for us both, I was wrong - "Rocco" just happened to be a trainer that I had seen previously and who had made a positive impression (in other words I thought he was quite a cutie) from afar on previous trips to the gym!

After this first session, we three decided to each have our own second session. MeLissa enjoyed having Rocco aka Mark all to herself - she found him charming and fun...perhaps a little too charming and fun. She was just sure that he must be a "love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy." At the time, I was not looking for a committed relationship (she'd just had 2, or was that three, in a row that ended painfully), so I just looked to enjoy Rocco's company when I bought more training sessions. He said he'd help me improve my tennis game, too...I think it's plain to see that it was money well-spent even though I don't see much court time now!

After a few training sessions, we noticed that we enjoyed each other's company so we started spending time outside of the gym. Our first "date" was at Old Chicago after a session one night. After this, our visits became more frequent and after a time, we were both hooked. At this time, Mark politely asked me if it would be okay if we started dating officially. It was an offer I couldn't refuse and so, on September 27, 2002, Mark and MeLissa became an official couple.

During our time dating, Mark introduced/re-introduced me to many different experiences. Mark treated me to my first live Avalanche (hockey) game for my birthday after a yummy first experience at PF Changs! Mark also took me ice skating once as well. I fell down a lot, but I loved every minute of it! Shortly after that, I also tried skiing for, perhaps, the first and last time. Despite a terribly scary experience, I did like tubing and enjoyed the atmosphere of the ski town, so I may even agree to be a snow bunny in the future! My only requirement is that next time she goes, I don't want to be in between bouts of tonsillitis - since I had her tonsils removed about a week after the ski trip, this should be a piece of cake!

In the summer of 2003, Mark escorted took me to Maui (my first visit). I was enamored with the breathtaking views and with all the fun things there were to do and see. I enjoyed swimming in the ocean (except for once when Mark pushed me under for a large wave at small beach - there is a fish swimming around with a very cool pair of Bolle sunglasses now!) I also enjoyed meeting some of Mark's friends and visiting such sites as Tedeski Vinyards, Haleakala and the road to Hana (including the Seven Pools where we camped for a night much to my chagrin - I detest camping unless it involves a Holiday Inn...).

These memories pale in comparison to those of viewing my first sunrise on the beach on July 5, 2003, though. Despite my protests that I was on vacation and should be allowed to sleep at least until 7 am, I have to admit a more beautiful scene could not exist - the sand was smooth and the only footprints were ours. And, of course, the views of the sun peeking up above the palm trees and gradually lighting up the various island locations were breath taking. I took many pictures which now are some of our most cherished shots.

What made this morning the most memorable moment of our stay in Hawaii was that once the sun came up, Mark dropped to one knee (amid the patch of rocks you see in the picture above and to the right) and said that this morning would mark the beginning of our new life together if I would do him the honor of marrying him. I accepted and admired the beautiful sapphire and diamond ring he'd chosen just for me. The proposal and its timing were really special...even more so since Mark had asked my father for permission and had received his blessing. I couldn't have wished for a better surprise.

We informally announced our engagement to Mark's friends and family at Louis and Betsy Salazar's wedding that evening. We also called my parents and told them the happy news. We even bought an artist's painting of the spot where Mark proposed to commemorate the memory. It and another print of Mackenna beach currently reside in our bedroom. If you ever want a glimpse...just ask! :)

It's All About Mark Now!

Mark was born on the island of Maui in Hawaii one bright sunny day (we can assume) to parents Mike and Pat. He was the second of two boys who, no doubt, brought a lot of "excitement" into their parents' lives. Growing up on Maui with his brother, Michael, made for quite a memorable and happy childhood.

Mark is blessed with a strong spirit and a family that encourages him to try anything and everything that peaks his interest. Consequently, despite having been born with congenital aniridia (a condition where the iris in our eye - the part that opens and closes the pupil - never fully develops), Mark had a fun-filled childhood. Naturally, though, part of the fun was tormenting and heckling parents, teachers, coaches, friends and anyone else who came his way.

Mark's talents in sports were showcased on a regular basis. He was a great asset to his rowing team in high school - he caused quite a stir when he first began practicing and the boat wasn't going as it should. Everyone automatically assumed that Mark, the new guy, was the cause of the issue - imagine their surprise when they learned that Mark was the cause, but it was because he was overpowering the rest of the team! Mark also excelled in soccer, cycling and competitive running. He can hold his head high anytime he takes friends and family up the slope of Haleakala (the volcano on Maui from which gorgeous sunrises are to be seen) because he rode his bike all the way to the top! He has also won several awards in various road races and other competitions.

After high school, Mark chose the University of Northern Colorado (is it a coincidence that MeLissa went to the University of Southern Colorado? - you decide!) as his new stomping ground. While there, he pursued a degree in Kinesiology and competed in weight lifting. He also gained a reputation for throwing the best parties ever with buddies Dwayne and Keola. This was an excellent way to not only have a fun time, but also to pay the rent!

Once Mark finished his degree, he moved to Colorado Springs where he had secured an internship as a personal trainer at the YMCA. While there, he decided to add to his list of professional talents and enrolled in Massage School. As always, Mark took it upon himself to practice, practice, practice so when the time came for graduation he was a real pro. After massage school, Mark worked at 24 Hour Fitness as a personal trainer - a job which would change his life forever (see our next post to find out how)!

Mark is currently enrolled in Life West Chiropractic College in Hayward, California. He is looking forward to graduation in just a little less than a year. During his stint in school he has faced many challenges head on, not the least of which was losing what little vision he had to dual retinal detachments.

With the end in sight, Mark is excited to get out there and help people feel there best and to tackle his next big challenge - being a daddy! Once the baby is here and he's finished his studies, he hopes to do some travelling with his family.

All About MeLissa

MeLissa was born and raised in Colorado by her parents Larry and Ginger. She and her two younger brothers, Christopher and Douglas, were quite fortunate to have their mom stay home to watch over them. Since dad was also easily accessible at his appliance store, love and support was always readily available.

MeLissa excelled in both academics and extracurricular activities. She was well-known for her talents as a vocalist and her dramatic abilities (she even won drama student of the year for her portrayal of Cinderella's wicked stepmother in 7th grade). She participated in activities with an academic slant such as Knowledge Bowl and Mathcounts and served for many years in student council. MeLissa also is known for her exceptional domestic skills. Of all the activities in which she participated, she liked show choir best (she even still has one of her outfits though she doubts she'll ever wear it in public...).

After graduating from high school, MeLissa (who was voted Most Likely to Succeed Girl) attended the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Colorado, where she obtained her Bachelors of Science and Masters degrees in Business Administration through a dual degree program (i.e., she took graduate level classes and got credit for both her undergrad and graduate degrees). MeLissa was active in student government, participated in dramatic productions and performed in the university's wind ensemble - she always thought before she graduated that she never had enough time to get everything she wanted to done!

Prior to graduation, MeLissa embarked upon a foreign exchange in France. She spent half of her time in Southern France near the Mediterranean and half her time in the Alsace region near Germany and Switzerland. She also spent enough time in Paris to fall in love with its antique architecture and picturesque cityscapes. She returned from her trip fairly fluent...so much so that sometimes she'd lapse into speaking in French much to the chagrin of her family who were quick to remind her that they couldn't understand a word she was saying! Lucky for Mark, she pretty much only does this when she's dreaming in French now...which he does find amusing!

MeLissa began preparing for the CPA exam after she returned from France and received her degrees. Despite a nasty car accident which took place one night as she returned home to Lamar from her CPA review course in Colorado Springs, MeLissa walked out of the CPA exam confident that she'd passed. Some who weren't aware that MeLissa's always been pretty good at "knowing" what kind of a grade she'd achieved, said it sounded "like a pretty big Christmas wish-list.") Shortly after the exam, MeLissa found her first job in Colorado Springs - her preferred location. Eventually, she ventured into the area of tax preparation...

In August 2003, MeLissa moved to California with Mark so that he could follow his dream to become a chiropractor. In California, MeLissa was hired by Pacific Gas and Electric Company where she served in both the Capital and Corporate Accounting Departments. She transferred to a position with Safeway's Tax Department a while later.

Since June 2006, MeLissa has been self-employed as a wedding and event consultant. She owns Winsome Events - a professional consulting firm serving the Bay Area and beyond. She really enjoyed her new "job" which used both her creative and business talents and offered more fun opportunities for interacting with people than accounting typically does. She also appreciated the flexibility it offered so that she could be more responsive to Mark's needs.

Since discovering in September that she and Mark were going to be parents, MeLissa has returnd to her tax preparation roots (accounting is a little more dependable as far as paychecks go). She hasn't yet decided whether she'll continue to pursue the wedding business once the baby arrives...only time will tell. For now, she plans to offer primarily Day-Of Coordination services.

Aside from her work life, MeLissa enjoys nurturing and caring for her animal friends which have been numerous over the years. Of special note are Sonic the hedgehog (whom she briefly adopted from her brother's ex-wife) and, more importantly, Woodstock, Robin and Cocoa, her three birds. Woody (a blue Parakeet also known as a Budgie) and Robin (a Nanday Conure) were with MeLissa from 1994 through 2004 when they passed away within 4 months of one another prior to our wedding. Cocoa was part of her family for a much shorter time, but also was a joy. They are all deeply missed.

Filling some of the void left by these three dears are Pixie (and for a short time, Banshee), MeLissa and Mark's kitties, whom they adopted in 2004. Although she is no longer with us (she ran off in January of this year and hasn't been seen since), Banshee has an amusing back story which we encourage you to enjoy.

MeLissa enjoys traveling and is counting the days, months and years (well, actually, we're down to days and months, we think!) until Mark is finished with school so that she can introduce him and their new addition to Europe (especially her adopted family members in France) and so that they can travel to other exciting destinations together. At the top of her list are New Zealand, Italy, and Ireland.

MeLissa's Allergy List

Just in case anybody is curious here's the list:

Asparagus
Avocado
Banana
Barley
Kidney Bean
Carrots
Cashews
Cranberry
Egg
Garlic
Mustard
Onion
Peanut
Bell Pepper
Pineapple
Plum
Sweet Potato
White Potato
Radish
Rye
Soybean
Tomato
Wheat
Yam
Brewer's Yeast

The New Dance Dance Evolution Home

Here it is - the video you all can't get enough of (but which can get annoying when it comes on every time you visit the webpage) -

I give you Dance Dance Evolution!!!


As seen on Break.com

Welcome to Our Site!

Thanks for visiting our website! Now would be the perfect time to bookmark it so that you can visit often!

We created this site as a way to write our "story" down so that we can share our memories with others. Although you can easily jump in and start reading anywhere you like, our blogging began with some background information on each of us which you may find interesting. The June 2005 archive's "All About MeLissa" entry starts things off!


*Note: This was for quite a while an entry page to our site. We learned a little more about HTML and were able to move everything into our profile except for the lovely engagement photo you see here. We decided we'd keep the post in the blog so that this lovely shot would still be available for viewing. :)