New Name & New Blog

As of 10 days ago, I am now April Wade! Jonathan and I were married on May 30th and just got back from our honeymoon in St. Lucia. We are now jumping into married life in Dallas and getting back in the swing of things.

I have started a new blog for the Wade family, which I'll be posting to regularly now. I'm not sure what will happen to this one, but for now I'm shifting my blogging efforts to our new site:
www.watchingthewades.blogspot.com

Thanks for following and loving us!

Wrapping Up the Plans

There is a bittersweet feeling of doing your final wedding coordinations. Sweet because the big day is getting near! (Just 12 more days) Bitter because this is the last wedding that I'll plan where my personal creativity and preference take first priority. Thanks to my parents, I've been able to plan the wedding of my dreams and make May 30th an amazing celebration for the awesome gift of marriage to my handsome prince, Jonathan Wade.

It has been amazingly fun and I have really enjoyed every minute of the preparation. Below are a list of the great people that I have worked with for all details of our wedding day, I highly recommend them all!

Birdcage for wedding cards: Hobby Lobby
Birds for Decoration: Anthropologie, Michaels, Home Goods
Bridal Gown: Mockingbird Birdal Boutique - Jasmine Couture gown, but not telling which one ;)
Bridesmaid Dresses: ME! I highly recommend myself :) They are just what I wanted.
Bridal Garter: Elegant Garters cute, handmade, and great quality
Catering: Two Sisters Catering superior - tops the best food in Dallas
Cakes: Frosted Art Bakery beautiful cakes with great flavors - Try the chocolate caramel cashew!
Ceremony & Reception Site: Dallas Arboretum The Women's Garden & DeGolyer Loggia
Engagement & Bridal Portraits: Taylor McCabe Photography
Fabric & Sewing Stuff: JoAnn Fabric & Craft Stores
Florist: Installation Floral This florist was a horrible choice for us! There were countless errors. Too inexperienced to trust with a wedding. There is future potential for I.F., but I would seek out a more experienced florist - it makes a big difference!!!
Flowergirl & Ring Bearer Attire: Dillards
Gift Registries: Crate & Barrel, Bed Bath & Beyond, Dillards, Lowes
Groomsmen Attire: Express Men Buy inexpensive suits rather than renting them - its worth it and a great gift!
Hair: Osgood-O'Neil Salon
Honeymoon destination: Sandals Grande St. Lucian Beach Resort & Spa
Hotels for Guests: Hotel Palomar, Radisson Hotel Central Dallas
Invitations: ME! with the help of Bekah Wertz for graphics. Hope you liked them :)
Linens: Ducky-Bobs Event Specialists
DJ/Sound/Video/Lights: A Very Special Day Highly recommend Richard. This company does it all and delivers a great product.
Manicures & Pedicures: Maile Nails
Make-up: Miss Stephanie Pearce (I have very talented friends!)
Musicians: Serenata Strings String Quartet that plays U2 and Coldplay :)
Limos & Transportation: ALT Worldwide
Parasols: Luna Bazaar Low prices, but not the best quality. They do show up nice in photos though.
Photographers: Aves Photography Sweet married couple - does beautiful work!
Photobooth: Premiere Booth This should be a big hit and so much fun!
Save-the-Dates: Magnet Street They have lots of templates to choose from; however, they gave me a blank template so that I could great my own!
Vases: We have gathered a collection of vintage milk glass vases to hold our centerpiece flowers - most of these were picked up on Ebay or at local estate sales or thrift stores.
Water Bottles: Designer Water USA This is a local company who also let me create my own custom design on their labels. They turned out fabulous and at a great price! Make sure to get the water resistant labels.
Wedding Website: Wedding Window

You can see how I have been keeping very busy! I hope this list is helpful for newly engaged couples!

We have 12 days to go! Please pray for me as I am trying to recover from a cold and for our wedding day that it may be beautiful and sunny! Pray for our hearts as we prepare for marriage!

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock!

My counter just hit 28 days!! Whoa, life is moving fast. We are moving my stuff into Jonathan's house this weekend which makes things feel so much more real. I'm sad to be leaving my walk-in closet - the good 'ole house is a little limited on storage, but having Jonathan is a good trade-off :) As I was packing up my things a little sadness set in about leaving my roommates. I can't wait to be Jonathan's roommate for life, but I will miss the sweet times I've had with my girls. Here's a little shout out to my roomies and to our great memories....

Mandy Hein. This little blessing came to my small dorm room 2nd semester freshman year. I remember that I taught Mandy how to use my sewing machine one day and after leaving for a weekend I came back to an assortment of handmade creations. I was so proud. She was fun and full of life. I enjoyed ignoring fire drills with her and hiding under our covers at 3am!

Morgan (Smith) Fenoglio. I purposely made Morgan run into a door one time. I'm sorry Morg, let's be honest though - it was a good laugh. We have whistled to each other songs in the dorm showers, gotten addicted to 24, and had pillow talk late into the nights. No one nails my sense of humor like this lady.

Jobi Spencer. My animal lover - Jobi was insistent on having a "pet," so we let her get 2 Guinea Pigs. Both of which I've had allergic reactions too. Jobi always had two things, chocolate/dessert and wedding magazines. I remember late night talks on the couch and tearing apart our kitchen and making it red!

Ashley Goad. I think the first year that Ashley decided to be a clean roommate was when she moved in (Jess can testify) and Jess and I remained a mess! I remember lots of projects and late night movies in the studio and our living room. I remember mangy cat - our homeless kitten. He is still wondering around Waco somewhere.

Jessica Hickey. Still thinking of Mangy. He was a crazy cat - he liked fried chicken. I remember "studying" slash hanging out at the library together. She was the busiest roommate, but so well balanced! We enjoyed the flooded waters of campus together and played hard at Dia! We made a graduation countdown for things we had to do before graduation (many which we didn't complete).

Tess Stevens. Only had 6 months with her before she got married, but Tess prayed for me when I had nightmares and we shared a home group together. I loved staying up late with her and listening to all her hilarious stories!

Kim Ward. Full of life and love. She loves better than anyone I've met. She bakes some awesome desserts and can rap like a gangsta! We've danced together and enjoyed talks between her school work - can't wait for her graduation so soon!

Stacy Breeding. Hilarious late night story telling. No one can tell a story like Miss Breeding. Stac always had something happen that was awkward or just crazy. Again, a 6 month-er but such a blessing for short time.

Andrea Frigolett. Dre and I shared a toothbrush for a whole day. Turned out our dentist gave us the same toothbrush and we got them mixed up. Thanks Dr. Cooper. Dre moved in after living alone for a year and I'm so glad she discovered the many joys of roommates!! I love talking late with Dre, going to church together, and just enjoying our friendship!

NEXT - JONATHAN WADE! Story is TBC (and partly confidential), but it will be great!

If you are reading, please pray for Jonathan and I as we patiently wait for 28 days to pass. The last stretch can be the hardest! Pray for a beautiful wedding day for our outdoor event! And pray for God's blessing on our marriage.

Happy ONE YEAR Anniversary to me!!!!

Today is my one year anniversary of being cancer free!!!! Whoaaaaa!!!!! The first 2 years are the most important, and I am 50% through that. Praise God for his provision and protection over this past year. What a blessed season I am in now. See the comparison below....

At this very moment one year ago I was throwing up in a bucket at the hospital. My mom was taking care of me as the anesthesia did not take well and I got very sick. I remember everything hurting from surgery and not being able to hold down water. A nurse finally came in with some medicine that knocked me out for the rest of the night.

Tonight, however, I am safely tucked in bed, having just said goodnight to my fiance a few minutes ago on the phone. I got to enjoy a day outside in the beautiful sunshine and had no worries what-so-ever. I have no job stress (b/c I don't have a job), I'm getting paid by the goverment to search the non-existant job market, and my wedding plans have become smooth sailing. One of my best friends, Ashley, moved closer to Dallas today. I am currently brainstorming my plans for starting my own business. I am purging my junk for a garage sale (which feels so good)! And most importantly in just 72 days I'm getting married!

I would say that year 2009 is already looking significately better than 2008!

Thank you, Jesus, for one year of great health!!!!! Please say a prayer real quick that God would continue to show grace on my life and keep me healthy for another year.

It's been one year...

One year ago today I had just met the man that I am now going to marry. I was also awaiting my first surgery and had no clue that I had cancer. It is amazing to look at the past year and see what God has done. He calmed a ridiculously crazy storm on an ocean that now lies in peace and beauty. God truly loves on us in the valley and delights with us on our hilltops.

My 10 month check up was this past week and praise the Lord it was all clear! There was a tremendous amount of anxiety over these scans. I trust the Lord, but did he know that I have a wedding coming up? I was very anxious to hear that all was good and that Jonathan and I could move forward with our marriage plans without interruption. I usually prepare my heart for the worst, so it took a few days for the good news to become reality and for me to be extremely grateful for God’s continued healing. Thank you Jesus!!

Jonathan and I are having so much fun being engaged and planning our wedding. We are reading a great book called “Before you plan your wedding, plan your marriage.” I would definitely recommend it to all engaged couples! It has some great advice on communication and conflict resolution. “Sacred Marriage,” is also a very good one that we’ve been reading. God has been moving our hearts closer to one another and it is so beautiful! I fall more and more in love with his heart and his character each day. Jonathan’s love for me is amazing – it reminds me of how God constantly pursues my heart.

2 Months and 21 days until our marriage! I could not be more excited and grateful. What a blessing (and a challenge)! Marriage is going to be a lot of work, but we are prepared and excited for the journey.

Another news update is that I lost my job about 1 ½ months ago. My company did layoffs of 11 employees and unfortunately (and fortunately) I was one of them. It was pretty bad timing, but I’m very excited about moving on to something different. I know that God has new plans for my career and I’m anxious to see what they are. If you know of any cool jobs, let me know!

Here are a few of our engagement photos, enjoy!!

He loves me, and we're getting married!!!

December 15, 2008, Jonathan Wade asked me to marry him!! I am so proud to say that he is my fiance and I'm even more excited about becoming his wife. Marriage is such a huge blessing and challenge from God. I've overwhelmed and over joyed :) I'm excited about starting fresh, beginning a new family, creating traditions, and growing tremendously! What a beautiful thing and what a blessing.

I would have never guessed that my 2008 would have ended with people congratulating me on my engagement. God's timing is so much greater than my expectations!

I love you Jonathan and can't wait to marry you!!

Happy Camper...

I recently went on my first ever camping trip. Yes... in the woods, in a tent, in the cold/rain, and all the camper-ish things that go along with being outdoorsy like fishing, hiking, and roasting mallows. Despite my camping anxieties, I had a great time! Jonathan and I went to Daingerfield, TX, with our friends Moises & Cheyenne, and Brian & Laura. Here are a few pics from the trip...

Coldplay!!

I saw Coldplay in concert this week and it was amazing :) Thanks Jonathan for getting us such great seats!!!

Bishop Lynch Volleyball wins State!

I need to brag a little… My sister, Tricia Roos, is in her second year of being head volleyball coach at Bishop Lynch High School (a.k.a. BL) in Dallas, which is a 5A TAPPS (private) school. This past weekend they won the STATE TITLE after defeating San Antonio Incarnate Word in 5 matches. This is BL’s 2nd State title and Tricia’s first state ring (she’s 26 by the way). http://www.hsgametime.com/dfw/sharedcontent/dws/spt/highschools/volleyball/stories/110908dnspovolleyrup.3ed09d9.html

The Lady Friars are incredible! I got to help coach these girls in the 2007 season and was lucky enough to become part of their fan section throughout the ’08 season. With 10 returning players, the girls showed tremendous maturity and talent growth in their second season together. It has been so much fun to watch them grow as players and individuals. http://www.bishoplynch.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=864

I got to fly to Houston Friday morning and watch the BL team sweep their opponent in a 3 game win to advance to the finals. The final game was unnecessarily close. Lynch was obviously the better team, but IWHS definitely brought their A game. The championship game was their 27th consecutive win! It was a great match! I brought along Jonathan’s sweet Rebel camera and took some great shots of the team.

CONGRATULATIONS Tricia and to the BL ladies!!

The Fall is Fun :)

After another blog drought, it’s time for an update!

This past week I had my 6 month scans and doctor follow up appointments. PRAISE JESUS, I have no new tumors! In June Dr. Casas had noted 2-3 spots in question on my lungs, but those spots have shrunken or disappeared (he thinks the spots were due to having mono when the scans were last taken). I have no more doctor visits for the rest of ’08! Every 3 months I repeat my MRIs & CT scans on my leg and lungs. I’m happy to be taking a break from this for a while.

It’s FALL! Jonathan and I have made several trips to our favorite place, the Dallas Arboretum, to see all the pumpkins and enjoy and perfect weather. He lives close to the arboretum, so we can ride our bikes there and take the long route home on the White Rock Lake path. It is so peaceful. There have been lots of butterflies this season and the promising sweet smell of flowers is never disappointing.

A week ago, Jonathan and I along with our friends Moises and Cheyenne went to see the Disney concert series at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. It was so much fun to sing along to familiar melodies. I’ve decided that Disney is timeless (surely someone has already come to this conclusion). The music never gets old. It helps that they never incorporated a synthesizer or Paula Abdul -or did they include Paula? Due to their timeless quality, I’ve begun investing in Disney DVDs. In the past I’ve regretfully bought many crappy movies (btw- this does NOT include my Harry Potter collection); however, I believe that I’ll never feel regret over purchasing Mary Poppins or Beauty and the Beast. This investment is one of my wiser financial decisions. In a few years when we all have kids you guys will be begging me to borrow these treasures.


Life has been wonderful and challenging. God has really been working on my heart to look more and more like Jesus – to have his heart, his perspective, and his hands. This past week I regretfully had to celebrate the well lived life of a friend’s mother who had pasted away from cancer. She had a 12 year battle, but her love and service to others was astonishing. Her memorial service was worshipful and packed with souls in which she had impacted in some way. You could sense Jesus just through words spoken about her. What a great example of a woman who fought bravely and loved the Lord even through the deepest valleys. What a hope she gives. What a hope our Jesus gives through trials and suffering….


2 Cor. 4:16-18: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."