Adventures of Amy and Momoh

5 days. A literal handful of them. And then it’s down the aisle to forever.

Today, I am feeling a bit… reflective? I guess. It’s a mixture of excited, supported, and abundantly loved, for sure. But I’m also thinking about how often I don’t ask for help when I could/should/ought/might. And for that, I’m also extremely thankful for the people in my life who help without me asking, who continue to offer even if I say no, and who say yes without question and jump to help at the drop of a hat. I love you, I appreciate you, I see you, and I would be lost without you. I can’t end this paragraph without thanking my amazing parents for their cheerleading, coaching, teaching, patience, love, support, and guidance. And of course for welcoming Momoh into our family. Thank you for letting me ask for help at the last minute – or not ask at all.

I can do it myself. A common phrase in my family. Why? Because I have been saying it to my parents since I was old enough to speak the words. I think maybe it came from a book or something at one point, but this fiercely independent feisty first born was not about to let anyone do something for me that I could figure out. From doing my hair with the stacked ponytail in kindergarten – it’s not something most people should try, I promise – to planning this wedding while also writing my first federal grant… I am realizing today how much I need to practice asking for help. And not only asking for it in general, but asking for it sooner.

There is no way I will remember to name everyone who has helped in big and small ways during the last year of wedding prep in this little blog post, but I have been thinking about writing this for a while, so if I forget to write your name, please don’t think I appreciate you or your love any less!

Angela, thank you for being my sister. For being excited to jump in to make a cake for us when you will be 1,000 miles from your kitchen. For running the last-minute Laramie errands that I cannot do from here… Say, did anyone know you need a marriage certificate as part of a wedding? (ha) I guess I was focused on too many other things to even realize the big thing I was missing. Seems like the legally binding documents are kind of important and the county clerk is a little finnicky about it and needs a birth certificate. Thank goodness my mom had the wherewithal to remember that Angela and Daniel were still at home and that they could probably go find my birth certificate and bring it to Wisconsin. So, Angela, I love you and am so beyond thankful for you. Daniel, thank you for bringing this beautiful person into our lives and for being “my buddy, Danny my pal.”

To everyone who has been checking in on me, offering to help even when I don’t know how to accept it, calling, texting, and sending virtual hugs… There’s no way I can tell you how much I appreciate it. To Pr Alison ~ PA, Anna, Katherine, Chrissy, Cassie, Breanna, Zoe, and Carrie, you are champions and I’m eternally grateful for your friendship and love.

To my Emily… I have no words to thank you for knowing how, when, and how often to step in to my world and give me the help I need without waiting for me to ask. I know I’m not easy to help and maybe that’s because sometimes I don’t even know how to put what I need into words, but you have been and will always be the person who knows how to patiently show up and give me what my heart needs but my stubborn head won’t ask for.

To my husband-to-be, Momoh, get ready. I’m going to start asking for help. 🙂 I joke about your new favorite phrase being “happy wife happy life,” but I promise to make you happy too. I think the happiest life I can imagine is one that includes us asking each other for help when we need it.

-xo- Amy