like one month ago, or so.

This is a week, for Michael, like my week just before I got married. Lots of details to tend do; lots of people buzzing about. I don't know if it's just like it was for me, for him, but just remembering what it was like... is enough to cause a flashback. People were here, things were happening, life was never busier. At the core, where Sarah and I were, that's where things were cooking. The further you get from the core, it doesn't seem to veer far from ordinary life. I guess for the most part, a lot of people were far from the core for us -- exceptions including: Mike B, Priscilla, Janette, Jake, Sarah's parents. The core would be those people actually living with us for that week, and going through the non-ordinary parts of life getting prepared. A little further away from the core but still close: my family, John, Mike V, Jesse, John of course, Todd, Princeton, the whole wedding party really.

I think right now I'm a little removed from Mike's core; I'm not really in the moment of Mike and Anna getting ready for this live-changing event. But I'm there, and I will be, for them. It's a big step. In things like this, there are levels of where you are to the people it's happening to. It's really an honor, I must say, to have people kind of rotate their direction a bit to be there for you. It was an honor to have my guys kind of direct their attention toward me during my moment of getting ready to take my bride's hand. It's just very flattering. Friends are cool like that.

Right now my father-in-law is dealing with a lot of medical stuff, and I think about how cool it was for both him and my "mother-in-love" Mary to be here with us for quite a while before the wedding to help us. And a month or more later he's in the hospital... dealing with issues I can't begin to talk about... well, it's just disheartening. I really enjoyed getting to know them better, and now they are my FAMILY!!!! And it just really touches my heart when they are dealing with things. I told Sarah this, and it's not meant to be an insult, but you know now that we're married... we mean so much more to each other than we did when we were dating, or engaged. I mean we are valid liabilities for each other now. We were then, too, of course. But I just care so much more. Same goes for my "in-love's." I just care more. Jake is too cool for school, too. I mean he just rocks. I'm really glad to be a part of Sarah's family. I'm excited to get to know them better as time goes by. I can't wait to spend more time with Jake; make my in-love's grandparents, Jake an uncle. My wife a mother. Me... a.. a... father!!!!

I'm on overload, so I must wrap ;) Don't forget to vote in the photo contest... rank your favorites!!! Love to all...