Mark and Kim get Hitched!

This weekend, Ryan and I were able to celebrate Mark and Kim at their wedding and it was awesome!


Mark is one of Ryan's college friends from Cal Lutheran and was also Mark's best man.  Being able to experience their friendship makes my heart full.  Mark is a great friend to Ryan and I know that Ryan loved standing beside Mark and supporting him this weekend as he joined his life with Kim.

Kim looked gorgeous and the smile on Mark's face was precious.  They were so happy!

Ryan was able to see his group of close friends from college and their wives/girlfriends and I got to meet some of them for the first time.  I've been hearing so much about them, but with all of our busy schedules and the distance between us, this was our opportunity.  I had a blast, we laughed a ton and I am thrilled to have made new friends and have them in my life : )

The CLU guys with Mark and Kim

The ladies with Kim  

(not sure who I am leaving room for in the picture?)

Being able to experience the weekend with Mark, Kim and friends made both Ryan and I very excited for 43 days from now!

Country Lovin'

Around this time last year, Ryan and I joined a group of our friends in the desert for Stagecoach.  One of the most fun concert experiences I have had in a while!  And literally, when April 1st rolled around this year, I got the itch to go.  I think this will become a Lisk Family Tradition in the future (if I have any say in it!)

This was also the time my eyes were opened to Ryan's "country wardrobe."  Let's start with what I knew about him up until this point...I knew he grew up on a ranch, in King City.  I knew his family is tightly knit into the Salinas Rodeo community , etc.  Around the time of Stagecoach, I also learned that he has multiple pairs of boots, and hats...and country dress shirts.  We'll just leave it at that.  But, boy oh boy am I OK with the boots and hats if this is what the outcome is ; )

He's like my own taller, blue-eyed version of Brad Paisley.

Speaking of Brad Paisley, here is our Brad Paisley and Kim Williams shot at Stagecoach last year...so famous, walking by the churro stand.

[he's going to kill me for posting this]

What can I say?  The man has style on a day to day basis.  This much is true.  He even looks hot in a white t-shirt and jeans - yes please!  Too much?  Too bad!  You should have stopped reading a long time ago!

44 days till I marry my honky tonk country bumpkin, and I thought I loved him then : )

45 Day Challenge

One of Ryan's college friends, Fallon, challenged herself to 30 days of blogging before she gets married-to share insights and capture memories of her final days of engagement. 

Reading her posts made me think, with all that is happening while planning a wedding, working full time and being a (semi) normal person, these precious days leading up to our wedding could just slip away and I could miss all of it.  So, I decided to take Fallon's challenge and kick it up a notch.

I, Natalie , am challenging myself to a 45 day blogging challenge!  

[Uh oh...what did I just commit myself to?]

I can't wait to see what comes up in those 45 days and most of all can't wait to marry my man!

For today, a recap on a conversation I had with a co-worker today...

The question:  How do you experience Jesus through Ryan and your relationship?

My answer (simply put): I believe God specifically placed Ryan in my life to be a tangible expression of His love and grace for me.  Two concepts that I have a REALLY hard time wrapping my mind around, much less my heart.  In times where my actions or words merit judgement and discipline, Ryan shows me mercy and grace...and it instantly points me back to God.

Three values for our wedding day:  1) God-centered, 2) Have as many people attend, & 3) have as much fun as possible!