Sunday morning

As if the wedding wasn't enough, my parents invited extended family over Sun. morning for a brunch and so we could open our gifts.Beautiful Christmas table runner made by Aunt BethSo I ended up confusing poor grandma about what colors we wanted our wedding quilt to be, so she made us two!I LOVE this photo--Dad and Aunt GinnyAll my cousins that had homework to do turned our dining room into study hall til their flights left

last single saturday

I keep having all these random moments of "ohh, this is my last time doing ___ as a single person..." or "this is my last weekend alone in my apartment..." etc. Which I think is normal for someone as sentimental and reflective as I am. This morning was my last small group with my wonderful friends before our wedding (which, as I write this, I realize is the moment Chuck and I will be driving away from our reception next week!). I thought it might be fun to forgo a formal bible study and offered instead to take the girls on a hike, something I haven't had time to do all quarter. Only 4 of us could make it, but we had a very enjoyable morning hiking to Monrovia falls and chatting. Then I spent the rest of the day attempting to pack up my apartment, which is proving to be a bigger job than I had originally anticipated. It's now 8:25 and I am actually in bed, about to fall asleep, that's how exhausted I am. Plus, I'm apparently battling some cold, which I would love for it to go away before everyone arrives in town next week since it is zapping my energy big time--and I think I'll need energy for all the amazing people I get to spend time with! So prayers for health this next week would be awesome! (And prayers that Chuck doesn't come down with it!) Here are a couple photos from this morning:

Christina, Tera, Becca

Saying "I love you"

Many of you know a lot about our story--our dating, how we began talking about marriage etc, but something that I don't think many people know is that when Chuck & I started dating we talked about and made a commitment to one another that we did not want to use the words "I love you" with one another unless we were getting engaged. At that point we had no idea where this relationship would end up, but he was the one who said he did not want to say those words to another woman until he had a ring in his hand and was able to offer her a promise of commitment, to offer her himself. I had never said those words to a guy before so I was appreciative of his desire to create a boundary like this, to protect us from hurting one another even more if we were to not make it. It's probably the biggest thing in our relationship that I am most thankful that we did. Yes, it was tough at times! Around April or so, when we sort of started talking about marriage, it became harder, but we knew we didn't want to break our commitment, so we found other, more creative ways to communicate how we felt. He always told me that the next time he said those words he wanted the next words out of his mouth to be "will you marry me?" And sure enough, when he stopped me on that street corner last August and started talking, he looked me in the eye, said that he loved me and then dropped to his knee to ask me to be his wife. And later, at dinner, I had the chance to look him in the eye and say those words back (they didn't come out with my "yes!" in all the chaos!)

Tonight we were on my couch talking, and I asked him if he was ready to make his vows to me in a week, and he said he feels kind of like he already did, he said he made a promise to me when he put this ring on my hand that he wasn't going anywhere, but that yes, he is very excited to make "official" vows next Saturday. Then he just leaned over and whispered, "I love you, and I am not leaving you, I am not going anywhere, you are stuck with me." And of course I cried. (I'm going to be a mess next week--note to bridesmaids, bring kleenex!) Those words haven't lost their power, hearing him say "I love you" in moments like that is still just as powerful as it was 7 months ago on that street corner, hearing them for the first time. In one week we are going to stand before our family and closest friends and make those promises official, and I can't wait!

Slowing Down--and being okay with that

I realized something last night. I'm kind of tired. Ok, really tired. I thought about it and realized I feel essentially the way I've felt at the end of each quarter of school, before a vacation, which is where we're at--ending week 10, finals week starting Monday. Except I don't get a vacation--instead I'm about to enter one of the busiest and emotionally involved weeks of my life! I've been racing around like a crazy-person all week, with all the things I've determined HAVE to get done before I head to Minnesota on Monday, and I've been doing great getting things crossed off the list. However, I am exhausted now. I think part of it is more mental than physical, just constantly having a million details racing around in my brain. Like yesterday by 9:30 AM I had made the little tents that go on the tables to tell people what table they are sitting at, and had printed Psalms on pretty paper to go on each table with the table tent. This morning, it's 10:15, and I'm still on my couch, in my PJs, drinking coffee, having done nothing "productive" yet. And I'm ok with that. Chuck helped me realize last night that I don't have to finish everything on my list before leaving on Monday, the world isn't going to fall apart if my entire apartment is not packed. I'll do what I can, but we really do have time when we get back. Plus, it's probably good for the control-freak in me to force myself to let others actually help me. So I think the programs will be saved for Minnesota--I'll let my girls help me assemble them, unless I just get bored this weekend while Chuck is studying!

I have been SO blessed though by so many people this week, checking in , offering help, prayers, support. Yesterday a girl in my class who I don't even know that well showed up with a chai for me in class, saying she knows I drink one in class a lot and she thought I might want one as I'm probably a little tired these days! Last night I made myself take time out and go to a book club I'd been invited to, which was SUCH a gift! I didn't really know these women very well--they are all from Glendale Pres, our new church, and a couple from Fuller, but I decided this would be a great way to get to know some women my age in our new church. It was an amazing time--we're reading Traveling Mercies, one of my favorite books, and we gathered, ate dinner together, drank sangria, and shared our thoughts about the book, faith, life, and then we talked a lot about marriage, weddings, sex :) and life. Two of the women are married and they had great tips for me heading into our honeymoon :) Then, they ended our time together by all praying over me, which was amazing! I'd only met a few of them that night, but they all prayed, which was SUCH a gift!

I am so excited about next week, but am also realizing that saying "yes" to so many new things means having to take some space to actually acknowledge that I am having to grieve or say goodbye to some things--like my name, my own apartment, my singleness-which is all I've ever known, plus now I'm saying goodbye to Fuller too--I finish my last class tonight. I've had some great friends just recognize that I have a LOT of transitions coming up and have been awesome about giving me support as I move forward.

And, one more random photo--Jenn sent me a paper chain countdown for us awhile ago, and look how short it is now!

Prayers and Praises

It certainly is a busy season for us, as all weddings are, we realize that :) We have been so blessed though with so many friends and family members who are stepping in and helping out--from offers I have had to help me pack up my apartment, to friends volunteering their hands to assemble and fold place cards and programs--we realize we are not walking this journey alone, and for that we are SO grateful. I've made my official to-do list for my last week here (I fly to Minnesota next Monday) and it is a pretty full-looking week, but I know somehow it will all get done. In the meantime I am busy praising God for several things!

• The final exams I needed to get graded this evening are finally finished! (Yes, I am done with my own work, but not done being a TA).
• A relaxing afternoon of grading at Bean Town, a great coffee shop near here, while Chuck met there with his study group.
• A good conversation with my parents this evening, wedding details are coming together, and I know they will be relieved when it's all over, they have been working hard!
• 12 days from now I will be running away from the family and friends I do love dearly for my 48 hour honeymoon :) (really, I do love you all, but I think I will also be ready to run away from the chaos and noise with my new husband!)
  
• Worship this morning at Glendale Pres. It's been strange and kind of tough for me to transition to GPC, I love my Burbank family, but Chuck is starting his church internship at GPC in the spring and we both feel like we need to be worshiping in the same community. So I'm working on making the transition, but it is yet another change in my life that sometimes feels overwhelming. But, this morning felt a little easier and I even ventured out to check out one of the adult bible classes while Chuck was with the youth in their worship service.
• A great small group time with my wonderful Fuller women yesterday morning--Christina led us on a reflection of Jesus saying he is the resurrection--so we got the chance to reflect on what that means for us now and what specific things we are hoping to see the redemption of in the future.

Several of you have asked me how you can be specifically praying these next couple weeks for us, as we prepare for our marriage and the wedding and transition into life together, so I thought I'd share a few ways here--we would LOVE all the prayers we can get these days!

• Chuck is doing such an amazing job with his finals, I am so proud of him, but I know he's feeling stressed, so we'd love prayer for him to be able to finish the quarter strong--he's got one final exam and one paper left, which he can totally do before he flies to MN (Wednesday of next week) but I know he'd appreciate the prayer!
• For everyone traveling--starting next Monday people will begin their flying and driving to Minneapolis, so prayers for good weather, safe travel, and no complications would be wonderful for all involved!
• I need prayer for my sleep, I'm not sleeping super well, kind of restless, obviously with a lot of details running through my brain, so I'd love prayer for my sleep (and for my immunse system to stay strong as I get more tired!)
• For a spirit of joy and peace to pervade the wedding week for all involved!

I am sure there are more, but that is about all I can think of, I think the time change is finally starting to catch up to me and I am finally feeling ready for sleep! Stay tuned for more thoughts and adventures these next few weeks, something tells me it might be a crazy ride but I am so thankful I have so many people taking it with me and I get to hold the hand of one I am pretty crazy about throughout it all!

enjoying some space

I've been officially done with my schoolwork for a couple days now, and while I am definitely not bored, I have been very much enjoying a bit of a change of pace. I still have grading to do, and I still am listening to student's sermons once a week and doing feedback for them, so I'm not completely finished with all my "work," but the relief of not having anymore homework of my own to do is amazing. This week I have been able to do all kinds of random things on my to-do list, some wedding related and some just life-stuff. I'm almost done with my bridesmaid's gifts, I went to the dentist, created a photo album of all my 2008 photos through iphoto (a fabulous invention, SO much faster and easier than scrapbooking--I kind of think my scrapbooking days are over now that photos are all digital), finalized our seating chart, table names, communicated the list of "must have" photos to our photographer, communicated the list of "must play" music to our DJ, etc etc etc. I've been busy, but I have also taken time to read half of Twilight (probably not my new favorite book yet...but since people rave about it so much I am trying to keep an open mind, and it is brainless and entertaining, which I need!) and I treated myself to a pedicure on Tuesday which was fabulously needed after the winter months! We are getting so ready & so excited! Tonight is Psalm 15, we are 15 days away! I never thought we'd get this close! This week I've been thankful for:

• Conversations with friends, I've had a bit more time to catch up with people--certainly not everyone I'd like to chat with, but I'm getting there!
• Rain yesterday & incredibly beautiful sky today with fresh air!
• My mom and dad's work for our wedding! They have done so much! And their list is getting longer as the days get closer :(
• Jodi Picoult (my FAVORITE fiction author) came out with a new novel which I bought myself this week--can't wait to read it after I'm done with Twilight

and...i am DONE!

That's right folks, I just finished my LAST paper of seminary--as of now, I am officially DONE with my school work portion of my MDiv :) I'd say that is the biggest thing I am thankful for :) BUT, I am also thankful for a few other things today...

• A great group of friends who went out to happy hour with me last night to celebrate.
• An evening in with Tera, Becca and Jenn watching the season finale of the Bachelor last night (and the freaking out, laughter, and drama that went along with watching it!) This is Tera & Jenn--Tera knew what was going to happen and was dying to tell someone, and Jenn hated the suspense!Becca enjoyed her Snickers barI was just chillin on the floor
  
• BEAUTIFUL sunshine today.
• The "Lenten" tulips Becca gave me (they are dark purple)
• I treated myself to a pedicure today, the first one in months and months and it was awesome!
• Chuck took a day off from work today! I am so thankful he took time away, went to the beach, surfed, wandered, and got some space from this place.
• The strange reactions I was having to medicine seem to be disappearing--thank goodness!
• Becca introducing us to a fabulous new wine--Menage-a-Tois -- definitely worth checking out.
• The chance to read Twilight for awhile today in between classes, I'm done with school work, I can read for FUN!