This is one of those posts that is important to write, but remains a bit uncomfortable in the writing. Amy grew up being taught that nothing about gifts or registry stuff is appropriate for a wedding invitation. So, she didn’t include any of that.

A wedding is a celebration, however, and a celebration that traditionally involves gifts. If we hide from talking about it, we’ll almost certainly still get gifts, but it’ll be a lot more likely what we get won’t quite match up with what we want, can use, or understand.

So, in the interest of full openness, here are the places Amy and Patrick are registered:

• Macys
• Target
• Amazon.com
• REI

Each of these has a fairly different focus. To be honest, we’re most excited about our Amazon list, because there’s a lot of just plain fun and interesting stuff there.

REI is also exciting. We’re hoping to make the great outdoors a key part of our relationship, and while I have some gear, Amy has none, and it’d be really great to be set up right from the start.

Target is for our standard stuff, and Macys fulfills our nicer things and decorations and accents and such.

We also would very much value gift cards, leaving us flexible to get what we need as we get settled.

There’s another curious thing related to our gifts.

Where to send them?

I have listed my present home address, but I’m driving up to Oregon on December 17th. My parents, who I’m living with now, are driving up on the 19th. So, no one will be at this address from the 19th to January 9 or so, when my parents return.

Amy and I aren’t moving into our new apartment until about January 7th.

Any gifts delivered to her present home address or to the wedding have to be driven down. My dad is renting a trailer to bring Amy’s things and wedding presents, so that’s being addressed.

But still… our location for a couple of weeks is, well, complicated.

We are making arrangements for the other possibilities, so nothing gets lost or ignored. All this to say that, ideally, gifts are best sent before the 17th or after January 7th.

There, this important bit of uncomfortableness, is done.

Thanks so much for thinking of us!

My first weekend here in Portland capped off a very busy half-week in which every day had something important to get done.

We finished it all with quite the flurry yesterday.

On Friday, it seems we may have nailed down where the wedding will take place.

Canby Grove Conference Center. The papework and details have to be signed still, but Amy and I went there and we felt a lot of peace, had a lot of ideas, and very much enjoyed the tour Shelly gave us, and her enthusiasm.

If you go to their website have a look at the Mt. Hood Pavilion. That’s where we’re getting married… and maybe/possibly/hopefully/likely also having the reception. It’s going to be a bit of a creative setup, but we got excited about the possibilities. Plus, in an Oregon winter who wants to go outside, walk around to a different location, and thus leave the cozy fireplace?

Saturday was just about us. I insisted we don’t do anything wedding, and don’t do anything that involved other people. We went to an art festival in Portland, after which we did a little, tiny bit of wedding shopping at Kathleen’s of Dublin. Looking for wedding bands, don’t you know.

Then, a relaxing afternoon and an amazing dinner at Salvadore Mollys. My favorite restaurant.

And a relaxing evening capped it off. I can’t remember the last whole day we were able to spend just about us, and so we needed this.

Sunday had a different focus. Morning was church. Amy led worship. There was communion. It was a great time–even if all the distractions before hand didn’t exactly enhance our eagerness beforehand. God still works in bringing nice surprises. Plus, I was able to catch up with the fine folks at Two Rivers, which has been so supportive of Amy, and oddly enough the church most supportive of my efforts as well. Curious that. Check it out if you’re in the Milwaukie, Oregon area.

That afternoon, I went to Starbucks. Amy went to her producers to record more Christmas CD goodness. Went very well. I’ll post some of the videos I took.

For a total change of pace, we then went and saw The Dark Knight. It was dark. And quite good. And dark (did I mention that?).

Monday brought all manner of busyness. In the morning we went to the Dahlia festival in Canby (pictures posted soon). Amazingly beautiful. Amy has a bunch of Black Satin dahlias to remind her of the morning.

Then over to the Gustafson family picnic, where I met again aunts and uncles and grandmother, and for the first time met cousins. Quite fun!

Then, it was off to business for us. First Macys. We walked through Macys and picked out all manner of new home goodness.

Then coffee and icee.

Rejuvenated, we made our Target walkthrough.

So, have a look at target and macys websites for updated registry fun.

A long day, a late evening. Definitely, a weekend well spent.