The Visual Mom

We traveled a little more than 15 hours today to get from Maui to Indianapolis. We haven't slept yet as we're hoping to sleep tonight and get back on a normal sleep schedule. We both had such a wonderful time in HI and it just went by so quickly. Pictures are slowly being loaded here: http://picasaweb.google.com/amy.latka Enjoy!

We have a few minutes here this morning on our last day in Kona to sit in front of Dad's computer and update you all with a few pictures. We are getting ready for a week of relaxing in Maui. Mom and dad are headed to Oahu for a couple of days before heading home. The wedding day was perfect. More pictures and descriptions will follow, but I wanted to share with you a few photos from the day. We wish all of our friends and family could have been here to share in our day, but for those that couldn't, here are a few snaps...

Last night we booked an excursion for Monday in Kona. Dave has been itching to dive at Kona (not just snorkel) since before we went to Kona a couple years ago. He's finally going to have his chance! We have booked a dive/snorkel excursion for Monday. We're going to be doing a Manta Ray two tank dive. Well, let me correct that...Dave is going to be doing a dive along with friends Sip and Luke. Myself and my parents are going to snorkel. I'm really excited about this and I know my parents are going to be thrilled as well. They've never done anything like this before. The excursion starts in the afternoon with a late afternoon snorkel (or dive for those that are diving). Once the divers are in the water, then the snorkelers get to get in and check out the reef for a while. Then everybody gets out, has some dinner on the boat and then we head over to the second dive site where the Manta Rays feed. This is going to be really awesome!

The final fitting went fabulous! Katy did a lovely job. The dress fits perfect and I can't wait to wear it. Just 9 days left! :) I am picking it up on Thursday and then the only thing is getting it safely to Hawaii. Thankfully, it will go in my carry-on luggage. I also bought a travel steamer so that it can be steamed when I get to the condo. Yippee!

I can't believe we're only 10 days out! Yippee! Most of the things are taken care of. The next day or two will be spent confirming everything so that we're good to go when we get there. Monday morning we're going to ge our marriage license and then meet with the Priest who will be doing the ceremony. Everything is very low key, so we'll most likely do our rehearsal at that time. I also have the final fitting on my dress tomorrow. It was supposed to be Friday, but my seamstress didn't have it all finished. I've also decided how I'm going to wear my hair. Other than the confirming, we're pretty much good to go! I'm really excited!

Yesterday I was able to forward the Diocese of Hawaii a copy of the faxed baptismal document from Germany and they informed us this morning that our documents have been approved. They will be forwarding all of the information on to St. Benedict's, which is the church where we will be getting married. Hooray! I'm so thankful that this is all taken care of! Yippee!!

We're two weeks out from the wedding day! Whoo hoo! :) I'm really excited. I have made our reservation at the hotel in Cincinnati for Saturday evening (10/18) since we fly out early Sunday morning. Did I mention that I'm really excited? Dress Status: The final fitting was delayed until this Friday because the seamstress wasn't able to get everything completed. We are go for Friday at 4:30pm for the final fitting. I'm holding the intention that I'll be able to pick it up on or before Tuesday 10/14. Diocese Status: I have contacted the church in Germany and heard back from them. Long story short, the initial church information was incorrect, but many thanks to my ex-mother-in-law (a very wonderful woman) who let us know where the correct information was located. I have been in communication with the correct church in Germany and they are in the process of sending a faxed copy of the required documents. Please continue to hold the intent that the copies ...

So the last hurdle that we are facing is with the Catholic diocese in Hawaii. We are exactly 3 weeks from the wedding date and they have decided that the paperwork submitted by our home diocese is not currently enough to grant us permission to marry in the Catholic church. Agh! Here's the deal: I was married before to a Catholic. However, we were not married in the Catholic church. Nor did we ever speak with a priest about marriage. Instead, we had a ceremony that was written by me, officiated by my grandfather (a minister in the Wesleyan Methodist Church) and performed in a Lutheran Church. In other words, in the eyes of most religious bodies, it really wasn't a sacrement. Because my ex was Catholic and because we didn't speak to a priest about getting married, in the eyes of the Catholic church, we were never married. Strange, but true. The issue is coming into play in that the church has been unable to get in touch with the Catholic church in Dortmund. It turns...

The initial dress fitting was last night. The dress is just beautiful. I really love it! And my shoes are PERFECT with it! The seamstress is a lovely older German woman who is just so sweet you don't ever want to stop hugging her. We spoke in German for most of the fitting and think she was really thrilled to have someone to speak German with that wasn't family. She's from Nuremberg, famous for Lebkuchen and of course where the trials after WWII were held. Anyhow, back to the dress, aside from needing to be taken in on the shoulder straps, it fit like a glove. The hem length will go up a couple of inches and of course a bustle will be put in. I feel so elegant in this dress! Our final fitting is on Tuesday 10/7 at 5pm. Yay!