The World Just Got a Little Better.

Josh & Jen (one of our fave couples) just got a blog!
Check 'em out: http://joshandjensawesomeblog.blogspot.com/

Our New Quilt Rack

Boy. That title makes this post sound SUPER exciting. Gosh. How old am I?! It's true though. I've always been in love with handmade quilts. They scream ... well not scream ... it's more of a calm, composed, wise old voice with an old southern draw. But they talk to me. They make me feel like all is right in the world. So long story short, yes I love them. Many years ago, I took one from Nanny that my Great, Great Grandmother Wavy Mills made close to 100 years ago. Then this past Christmas, my stepmom had one especially made for Joe & I. So I thought it only appropriate to finally get a quilt rack. I found this one at a flea market. Put a fresh coat of white paint on it. And it now holds my two fave quilts. Which I think is way better than hoarding them up in some cupboard.

Helena & Dean Patrick Turn 9!

Helena & Dean Patrick (officially our godchildren now!) turn 9 TODAY! We drove to Charlotte this past weekend to help celebrate and attend their MAGIC BDAY PARTY complete with balloon animals and a magician. Nana found her calling as a magician's helper and performed with great relaxation (hands crossed and everything) while Adrian the Magician shoved a sword through her neck. Very impressive.

Joe & Mel's Top 10 for 2009

#1 - WE GOT ENGAGED!

'Nuff said.

Joe & Mel's Top 10 for 2009

#2 - Joe & I spend our first Christmas together.

FINALLY. Geesh. After five years of being together. Five years of saying "Merry Christmas. Sretan Bozic." just over the phone. We finally got to wake up with one another. Spend the day together. And it was all I thought it would be.

Joe & Mel's Top 10 for 2009

#3 - Growing deeper in our religion together.

This is one of our engagement pictures taken by the St. Mary Catholic Church, the church where Joe & I will be getting married .. in about 3.5 months. Since August, we have been taking RCIA classes with the church. Every Saturday, 3:30p-5p. Then we hit up Saturday night mass. We've also been doing some marriage prep courses through the church that have been SO helpful. And with all this, Joe & I have really developed a deeper love for the church and each other. Looking back, it seems to me that Joe & I were a pretty plant. In a pretty pot. On someone's front porch. But now I feel like we're getting some roots. Deep roots. I can already see our family being raised in a loving religious home. And boy ... that is a good feeling.

Joe & Mel's Top 10 for 2009

#4 - Becoming Dean Patrick & Helena's godparents.

A very big deal for us. We feel so blessed and so honored to be asked such an important thing. DP & Helena just mean the world to us. Aunt Caroline & Uncle Kenny too. Words cannot describe. And since godparents are usually announced with the baptism of the children, we're doing it a little unorthodox. So sometime this year we're having a little ceremony with the priest in the Wheless' backyard and making our godparent status official. My cup overfloweth.

Joe & Mel's Top 10 for 2009

#5 - BFF + MOH = FAYE

I don't think I've spent this much time with Faye since college. Between bridal showers and wedding planning weekends and Faye's BIG day, I think we've spent close to a solid month together. And I've loved every second! But it doesn't end there people. Now it's my year for bridal showers and planning and weddings so we get to do it ALL OVER AGAIN!

Joe & Mel's Top 10 for 2009

#6 - The best engagement party ever. Hosted by the best bridesmaids ever.

Listed from left to right. Dana. Jen. Lisa. Heather. Ashley. Robin. Bridesmaids highlighted in BOLD. For obvious reasons. Thinking back to this night still gives me chills. It's sort of like that Christmas-y feeling you get ... when everyone you love is around you and everyone loves everyone and you're just having the best time of your life. Nothing could bring you down. That's how Joe & I felt on this random night in Summer 2009 when some of my best girlfriends threw us the best engagement party ever.

Joe & Mel's Top 10 for 2009

#7 - Lots of much needed quality time with VLADO.

Vlado's first trip to Wilmington was in May. For a solid week. For a solid AMAZING week. Cooking. And going to the beach. Hanging out with friends. And more cooking. Then in August we made our way up to Vlado's house for a 4 day stay. Again ... cooking. Going to the lake. Hanging out with friends. MORE cooking. It never gets old though.

Joe & Mel's Top 10 for 2009

#8 - We were traveling fools.

First it was Washington D.C. in June. Then it was Disney World in December. Both were places Joe had never been but had always wanted to go. Both were extremely good times. No doubt about it, we are blessed.

Joe & Mel's Top 10 for 2009

#9 - Gosh, we're good.

First we started off the year with me entering my first triathlon. Not for the faint of heart, to say the least. But I crossed the finish line and that's what counts. Then come September on Joe's birthday, he entered his first bike time trial. And placed first! After all this, I'm thinking we should do some couple's challenge or something.

Joe & Mel's Top 10 for 2009

#10 - Heather sneak surprising us by showing up at our engagement party!

Definitely a moment Joe & I will NEVER forget. You see, I've been trying to get Miss Heather to the ILM for 10 years. And then BAM! She sneak surprises us by showing up at our engagement party. It was totally out of nowhere. I was crying all over the place. It was amazing. And if she weren't moving to China for work in a month and a half, I'd bet my bottom dollar that she'd be packing her things for a move to NC. She loves Wilmington and Wilmington loves her!

If You Know Joe...

then you'll know how perfectly this fits our lives.

Bringing in the New Year.

Josh & Jen, one of our favorite couples, came into town to help us bring in the new year. We had New Year's dinner at this amazing Italian eatery, Osteria Cicchetti. Then it was off to bring in 2010 with a bunch more of our friends at an 80's cover band concert. The night was amazing. And way too much fun.

Josh & Joe had the most fun though. When these two boys get together, it is pure bliss ... to them. They feed off of each other. And they can't stop. It's really quite amusing. This is one of the many things they became obsessed with last weekend ... the TURKEY. As you can see, Joe does a thumbs-up and puts it up to Josh's spread hand and ... voila! A TURKEY. Boys will be boys, I guess.

Among shopping trips, pork & sauerkraut dinners, and the Avatar movie we found time for some board games. One night the four of us were playing a very challenging game of JENGA when we looked over and Nina (Josh & Jen's Great Dane) was literally sitting on the couch like a person. Here's the Three Amigos all mimicking each other.

Happy 2010! Sretna Nova Godina!

So ... where did 2009 go?! I seriously have no idea. But I can tell you this. I'm super pumped for 2010. This year I will start to sign my name Mrs. Melody Madzar. And Joe will start saying, 'Meet my wife, Melody.' Huge changes. Good changes. Exciting changes.