late but worth the wait!

this post is extremely late, but i did write the last three days of my single life.

3 days:

the bridal party is 87% here!!!!!! i looked at trav tonight and said- these people are here for us. he could not even grasp it! neither could I. this is too good!

I can't wait for Saturday, but I don't want this to end!

("Jesus Crist" paid for our bill! lol)

2 days:

wow. the feelings i have right now are too much. i'm taking it all in- soaking it up. my heart is so full! with each person that arrives- i get more and more excited!

i can't believe it's what we've been planning for 8 months!

recap of day- brunch at 204. spring training with bridal party. mani and pedi. true foods with girls. yogurtology with crissa, coley, and rest of gang. so excited!

(us at spring training)

1 day:

i can't believe i don't have a "s" at the end of days!

it is here! officially here! from set up to rehearsal dinner- it's been a dream come true! i cannot believe i get to marry my best friend tomorrow!

rehearsal dinner was wonderful. it's so good to have everyone here. from rehearsal to the dinner- me and trav got to drive alone there and had some good quality time for ten min! it was great catching up with him and just being one on one. i got to tell him about my heart and morning walk which was nice. and hear about bachelor party (not all details fellas :) ).

i love him so much! here we go!

today:

is the day! my heart is so full!

(our hotel room number was 312!)

4 days!

4 days.

today.... has been a long day! I woke up, almost freaked out cause there were clouds in the sky but was quickly reminded that it's a beautiful day!

my dad was born 49 years ago today in this very state. he has been the best man in my life (up until Trav). he is kindly giving me away to a man he trusts his my life and heart. I have had the blessing of being his middle child and his last daughter to get married.

I love you daddy! today was created for you. even amongst wedding chaos- I hope it was the best!

5 days!

today has been a beautiful day. we have had so much fun. trav had to work but me and jordan handled business. everything from packing and moving more stuff to our new apartment and organizing, to appointments all afternoon, actually in Brazil! and we made it back, we are that good....

and what sums up today is:

beauty is pain.

can't wait for my MOB to arrive tonight! looking forward to having her and Doris here!

6 days!

the harpers, soon to be mrs (me) harper, and Jordan headed up to the ranch to bring up all the wedding stuff (decor, utensils, etc.) up. or as Jordan says- basically transported the wedding room to the ranch!

me and Jordan having a (difficult) yet hilarious time putting the arch together. thanks trina and jaymi for saving us!

we had fun! and it looks fabulous!!!!! I looked around and was in awe. the durkin's and harper's have spent many hours making it look amazing! thank you guys so much!
a special shout out to max- who made some of our final decisions!

7 days!

the MOH has me on a good, tight schedule. helping me get things done! today, we ran tons of errands and did some home decorating!


it was fun! then we went out with some of the groomsmen and groom. the parlor, st. francis and hanny's were all on the list last night of hot spots we hit! so fun! this time next week, we will be married! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

8 days!

8 days! today, my MOH Jordan flew in! it's SO fun having her here!

then me, her and trav headed to my grandparents! we had dinner with them and it was so fun! we asked them what is their favorite part about marriage, and my grandpapa said he loves having someone there that he can trust and that he can be himself with!

it was funny cause then later, we asked how long they had been married. my grandmama goes, oh like 24 years... and we all looked at each other confused (since my parents have been married 26!). and then grandpapa goes 47 years! we laughed and i thought to myself, they really can be themselves (my grandmama losing it a little bit) and love each other through it all!

i can't wait to grow old with trav!

9 days!

Wow single digits! I can't believe it!

So Trav made my day all day! He surprised me and packed me a lunch for work and had lunch with me there!

When we first got engaged, my girlfriend Amanda recommended going out on a date the week of the wedding and just having fun!

So tonight was our date night before my MOH arrives tomorrow!
We had a list of to do's. We were going to try out a new restaurant but had so much planned - we ditched that idea and headed for In-N-Out!

Then went to Verizon and got my man to the 21st century with an iPhone! He loves it!

Then headed for a quick shopping spree at the lovely Nordstrom Rack! Got some cute stuff for the honeymoon :)

(Obviously got some goodies ;)

A date night isn't complete without dessert! So we headed to Yogurtology! Yum yum.

It was so fun to be with Trav, no distraction (besides his new toy :) ) and just laugh. Thanks Amanda for the recommendation!

Love to all!

10 days!

We are on the last day of double digits people! Wow!

I was just reading in Ephesians where it talks about support, submission, love and becoming one flesh once you marry. It is so cool the way God creates this sacred and blessed relationship where you become one with your spouse. Once united, your decisions, words, emotions, etc. directly affect you now. Love is one of the most selfless acts. Marriage is about giving. I pray that I can be this for and to Trav.

This isn't a deep revelation or anything- just something I can remind myself of daily.

11 days!

i was thinking today, in the tanning bed, that i am like esther! just preparing myself for my prize! the beauty treatments have begun! first- the tanning bed (only once). a nice appointment with my esthetian on monday. and manicures and pedicures right before the wedding! and working out and whitening my teeth (when i remember) sometimes in between all this!

it's been fun preparing, but i know trav would love me if my eyebrows were whack, if my nail beds haven't been groomed in a while, and if i had white splotchy skin!

my only question is: how do guys prepare?!

12 days!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! i have monday's off, therefore- i craft, scout, daydream, brainstorm, prepare, write, put together, etc. everything for the wedding! today- i was thinking, i only have one more monday left after today! WOW!

today- i am excited.

i bought trav's ring in vegas through my jeweler :)

she called me and said, it's getting closer to being official! my heart almost exploded!

i would post a pic of the ring, but there's got to be some surprises!

love you all. have a good week!

13 days!

I can't believe how fast the days are passing! Some days it would seem FOR.EV.ER. and now it's like there aren't 24 hours in a day!

So Trav had his "man shower" tonight- you know the kind of decorations that consists of pictures of American heroes (John Wayne, Bruce Lee, Arnold- pre-Governor days)taped up on the walls! He texted me after while guys were still there and said "oh my gosh joeley. tonight was divine." it literally made my heart sing! I love that the guys threw him a shower! It's been so unbelievable to be surrounded by SO much love during this process!

Thank you everyone for your encouragement, love, support, laughter, etc. through this process. I couldn't ask for better people to have our backs!

14 days! aka 2 weeks!

2 weeks til i marry the most handsome gringo i ever did see!

today we did all wedding related things! it was so fun! we had our friend and one of the groomsmen, phil in town from california! it was a blast for him to see the venue, help hang up lights and just be with us! thanks for the visit!

here's another sneak peek of something that will be at the wedding...

we even got the opportunity to have dinner with our caterer tonight! and be prepared for the best food you EVER had! so excited!

it's all coming together! i can't wait!

enjoy the rain/snow tonight!

15 days!

with almost two weeks left, lots of people have been giving me their pointers and tips on marriage and the wedding...

a couple received have been:

-enjoy the day of the wedding. it's so short, and goes by so fast!

-marriage is really fun, but really hard- you have to constantly work at it.

-if stuff goes wrong- no one knows besides you!

-enjoy love.

-make sure the toasts are earlier in the night! lol

what pieces of advice, encouragement or warning do you have for us?!

16 days!

wow time is flyin!

so my blog friends... IT'S OFFICIAL! WE GOT OUR MARRIAGE LICENSE TODAY!

16 days!

wow time is flyin!

so my blog friends... IT'S OFFICIAL! WE GOT OUR MARRIAGE LICENSE TODAY!

(trav celebrating!)

(us with certificate)

and then we went to a bomb breakfast at this cute lil joint called matt's big breakfast to celebrate some more! it was on the show "dive and diners" or something like that?! lol

i recommend stopping by it when in downtown phx!

it's a long wait, but worth it! and look how cute it is!

then i came over to our apartment, where trav is currently living, and he told me- go work out, i'm gonna cook dinner! i said- that's alright with me :)

i came out of the gym to find this handsome chef grillin! made us steak and veggies. he really is the best!

(single ladies- you pray in a man like trav! God gave me the best!)

17 days!

(sorry for the lateness- my iphone won't let me blog?!?! written- february 23)

so today at work, a co-worker asked how wedding plans were coming. i told her, "they are coming! just can't wait to be married!" then she says, " ya it's weird, after you get married, you have all this free time on your hands, and you actually get your social life back!"

we laughed, but i thought about this all day! and then wondered and wanted to ask, what were some of the first things you did as newlyweds?

18 days!

there is NOTHING sexier than a man with a hammer in his hand!

tonight- we attempted to put our bed together! better luck tomorrow?!?!

also- take a look at our awesome (make me cry) engagement pics!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=279153&id=54087743563

19 days!

The rest of the Vegas bachlorette weekend was fabulous! I haven't laughed that hard in a while! Thank you ladies!

Today was my final dress fitting! Smash, my MOH, sister and hairdresser did a trial for my hair too so trying on the dress with my hair all ready was beautiful! It all really feels soon! Which it is!

I got a text from trav this am that said- 19 days! I feel like I'm gonna puke! I didn't know if that was a good or bad thing! haha he just said it's so soon and real! He is stoked! I am stoked! And ready for march 12 already!

20 days!

(DISCLAIMER: since i didn't post last night- i was so tired from this weekend's events- i am posting twice today! but i did write this one for yesterday, last night)

3 highs of yesterday (which was saturday!):

- best shower ever! haven't laughed that hard in a while! or been that blush red!

- great afternoon of wedding filled activities with my girls!

- having the first night of my bachlorette party and dancin the night away!

3 lows: (i hate to do this, but...)

- didn't take that many pics!

- didn't eat enough blueberry muffins!

- saw Tony Parker last night and missed my chance to tell him what an idiot he was for cheating on eva longoria!

it was the best weekend ever! a huge shoutout to all my girls who made it happen! i cry every time i talk or think about it! thank you all from the bottom of my heart! you guys lathered me with so much love! i am the luckiest bachlorette in the world!

xo

21 days!

three weeks from today! wow! today has been too much fun!

but first a recap on last night: we drove into vegas last night and made a pit stop at "our spot"

mr. d'z!

we would meet here half way when we dated and get root beer floats! brought gram harper, trina, jaymi and taylor there to experience it all! it was fun! then hit vegas!

today i got overly showered and blessed by the beautiful ladies from vegas! it was a "cup of joe" themed shower! and it was the cutest thing ever! the bridesmaids put on an amazing, perfectly crafted for me shower! we laughed a lot which is always fun! i got some outrageous goodies!

and in about an hour- we will head out for the night 1 of bachlorette party goodness! i'll post pics of that tomorrow! the single life for 21 more days! can't wait to be a mrs! xo