Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

I so love this time of year...it's almost Christmas, I'm finished with school, and spending time with my family is a priority.
This year it's even sweeter--I have two wonderful families to share the season with!
I am so blessed that I get along with my future in-laws and my soon to be sisters-in-law. Our families all get along brilliantly and I am so thankful!
And it helps that we are all only 15 minutes from each other!

Wedding plans are almost finished--the cake baker and I are getting together and I have to sit for a bridal portrait--most everything else is finished!
It's so exciting to see everything come together and to get RSVPs in the mail--it makes it a reality!

Busy!

Man!
I have been so busy lately, that I recently realized that I haven't updated in over a month!
Wow! I've been so involved with school, singing, wedding planning, socializing, adjusting to the new church, and everything else that I've hardly had time to breathe!

But, things are going well.

On the school front...
Midterms have passed and I'm doing pretty good--my juggling act is working alright, I guess!

Singing...
Singers is busy traveling all the time, and now we are in full swing of madrigal practice. We are hosting a madrigal feast in December--if you are interested in coming, let me know!

Wedding planning...
The date is getting closer and closer, and I hardly know what to do!
I'm so excited, but there is still a lot to be done--I'm working on it, though!

Socializing...
What is this?

The new church...
Ah, man. This is the rough one. I'm really missing Bigelow. And my home church. After some major upheavals in the church, my grandfather is stepping down from the pastorate. It's a very emotional time for us, and him, I'm sure. The church has voted in a new pastor, who starts the first of November--I haven't heard him yet, but everyone loves him!
I saw Paige drive by the other day and I looked at Mark and said what I've been saying every week for a while now--" I miss her sooo much! I miss Bigelow! We need to go visit!!" And he always agrees.
I love Springhill, I really do. It's a wonderful, growing church, and the people are amazing, and the pastor is wonderful.
Oh--I'm officially Baptist now. Got redunked a few weeks ago and everything! Lol!

I'm so tired. I think that my body is trying to shut me down--you know when you get so exhausted you get sick on top of everything else? I've had a doctor tell me that when you go and go and go, your body decides that it has to have rest and slow you down--so it makes you sick.

Planning

The question I get more than any these days is, "How is the wedding planning going?"
So, I thought I'd let ya'll know in one place, lol!

I have, so far:

• Booked a church
• Booked a reception location
• Booked my (2) officiants
• Booked my photographer
• Bought my wedding dress
• Hired my weding musicians (all four of them!)
• Am currently working out details for my cake with the baker
• Got my engagement pictures scheduled
• Am meeting today with my bridesmaids for dress fittings
• Am having an engagement party tonight with my close family and wedding party
• Bought a TON of stuff for the ceremony and reception

So, I've got a lot done since August 16!

But, I had to since I'm getting hitched in January!

And the world keeps spinnin'...

Change is such a strange thing.
Sometimes it is the most wonderful, other times the most awful.
But it is always consistent--which seems contradictory--but it is, though. It always pushes you out of your comfort zone.
Recently, I've gone through some major changes, that cause me to reflect. That's the thing with me and change--I always have to reflect on it; I can't just let it happen.

I started my senior year of college.
I got engaged.
My Nanny finished chemo.
My "old" church home is in terrible turmoil.
I'm leaving my "new" church home to join another.

Even though there are so many changes--some amazing, some not so--I know that God has a plan.

And if I were comfortable I'd be ineffective.

Engaged!

Well, I am now an engaged woman!

Mark asked me to marry him yesterday--I was so shocked! We had been talking about it, but I never dreamed it would be this soon!

We spent the day at church and visiting family, which was awesome!

Maybe if you're lucky I'll give you all the proposal details soon! ;)

Blessed and Highly Favored

I was driving home from rehearsal today, talking to mom. After our talk, it occurred to me just how blessed I really am. And it only makes sense--God's children are blessed and highly favored!
After going through a dark valley in my life this week, I've seen how God works things for his good, and for the good of us who love Him!
It was so vivid to me how I take my blessings for granted at times. It's easy to say, "Yeah, I know I have this, but it isn't that."
I was overwhelmed by how selfish it is to do that.

It changed my outlook---and I'm feeling great!

Mysterious ways isn't a joke...

When they say God works in mysterious ways, they aren't joking.

Life has been so....strange lately. So many wonderful blessings, periods of calm, and then bombshells.

And isn't it strange when they hit? It always seems to come at the worst moment--usually right when you are at your weakest or seemingly at the highest mountaintop--those seem to be Satan's favorite times to attack.

I got a bombshell today--after a good day. One of those that you never hope to hear. I haven't really processed it; I'm still a little numb.

Man, it's crazy, but I know it means God is working.
I was sharing with a prayer partner the other day that if we weren't a threat, Satan wouldn't bother us. That should bring me some kind of contentment. And it does, for a while, and then the carnal side of me rears up and says, "Your heart is breaking!!! How is that a good thing?! How is that a blessing?!?!"
But I have to know that there is a reason.
And there is, because I know and trust my God.

On to other things...

I hate to start this blog with a downer post--surely that's no fun! So, let's turn it around and talk about the blessings, shall we?

In no particular order:
1) Nanny is finished with chemo for a month!
2) I finished all three of my summer classes, and am pretty sure I passed, lol!
3) I have my salvation, my health, my family, my boy and my friends.
4) VBS was great--the kids were wonderful, and I pray some seeds were planted

Final thought...

I am so frightened by Billy Mays, the Oxy Clean guy. Seriously. He sells EVERYTHING. I was told the other day that he recently did a life insurance commercial. I'm pretty sure I don't want a life insurance policy from the dude that sells stain remover and the amazing waffle maker.

Peer Pressure

I guess I new it was coming eventually.

I guess I should confess.

I'm a blog stalker. If you've told me you have a blog--I read it.

So, it was a given that I would succumb to the temptation and get my own.