Thursday, May 28, 2009

Let the games begin...

This weekend marks the first "real" step into the world of wedding planning: I'm going wedding dress shopping! My mom is coming over and we'll be making a weekend of it.

I am beyond excited. Seriously.

Here are a few of the dresses I like: I'm noticing a pattern of lace. Any thoughts or recommendations? I'll be going here and here that I know of.

Pray it is a fun and productive time!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Remembering God's faithfulness

When I think about the Lord, one of His attributes that often stands out most clearly to me is His faithfulness.

The word "faithful" is used in looking at the example of God's unwavering commitment to His people (a commitment to be emulated in marriage) and incomprehensible ordination of our steps for His glory - a promise that he gave so long ago, and is still fulfilling today.

He is faithful to bring about good in our lives, and faithful to mold us more and more into men and women who resemble Christ. What beauty and hope there is in that.

Even in the little things - little to others, though big to me - God has been so faithful. He was faithful to bring me to a place where I would hear his calling(s) on my life, he was faithful to provide me with strong teachers and mentors over the course of my life, he was faithful to sustain me in the ridiculously hard time after Adrian and I broke up, and he was faithful to bring us back together in a way that is (I hope) more God-glorifying and Christ-focused than ever before.

So, as I sat in graduation this morning for work, I couldn't help but think back on God's faithfulness. The last graduation ceremony I sat through was December 12, and was a much different experience than today. That day, I was fraught with peace in what God would ordain, but also fraught with worry over the free will of sin-filled men and women. I was anxiously awaiting the reunion with the man I had prayed over and cried over for so long, and yet, I was resting in the arms of the God who knew my heart better than I knew my own.

God has been faithful to me. He cared for my heart and soul, he sustained me in rough times, he taught me to love Him more than anything or anyone else, and he remained steadfastly by my side through it all - teaching me and molding me and changing me. So today, as I sat through another graduation, I couldn't help but think about where we were last time I had that experience, and how God's faithfulness has radically changed the landscape of my heart and life, even since that day.

Today, as I prepare to visit Adrian - my fiance - for the weekend, I can't help but think about God's faithfulness in caring for His children, His faithfulness in giving me a calling to a specific man, and His faithfulness in bringing us back together, to someday become husband and wife.

God is so very good, so very faithful.

"Season by season, I watch Him amazed, in awe of the mystery of His perfect ways. All I have need of His hand will provide. He's always been faithful to me."

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Ah, the good old days.

I miss the days when being home sick meant laying on the couch reading and watching TV all day, having Mom rub your back and bring you your favorite foods. It was always a treat to miss school for that.

Being a big girl and getting sick now means I'm having to take care of my dog and myself - he still has to go out and go to the bathroom, I still have to find food for me to eat, and to top it off - I have finals this week and a paper to write...

Booooo sickness. Double boooo on responsibilities! ;)

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Hurrah for life!

There's lots to be thankful for and excited about in my life.

God is good and faithful, and pours out blessings beyond belief. I'm getting married to an amazing man of God who loves Jesus and me, in that order. I'm going to Red Robin Friday night for either a celebration "I'm done with my diet" meal, or just a break from it - either way it's going to be wonderfully tasty. The season finale of LOST is on tonight: Two hour of brain-numbing questions and thrills.

Oh boy. Life is grand.

Friday, May 8, 2009

For His sake, by His grace

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God...through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations..." ~Romans 1:1,5

I'm working on this: Recognizing my role as a servant of Christ for the sake of the gospel by means of grace. My prayer is for an increase in obedience of faith for the sake of Christ Jesus, in every tongue, tribe and nation.

God, you have set me apart. I pray now, set me on fire for You.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Tired of turkey

I can't remember, but I don't think I have elaborated on this eating regime I'm doing, per doctor's orders.

The week after Easter, the doctor put me on a new healthy eating scheme that eliminates my favorites: Moe's, bread, french fries, hamburger buns, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, Dr. Pepper, fried foods (including, but not limited to chicken nuggets and chicken tenders).

Oi vey.

This is my 3rd/4th week of trying to do this. I say trying, and 3rd/4th week, because the first week I didn't really follow it so well. I have been a lot better until last night, which was Cinco de Mayo, aka tortillas, chips and rice. YUMMY. The food was amazing, but today marks a race to get back on track.

Today, that race looks like this: Once again, eating (the bazillionth) turkey sandwich and caesar salad for lunch, and a refusal of free Bojangles chicken biscuit this morning for breakfast....It breaks my heart to turn down delicious fried chicken and biscuits, but I want to see if this whole diet thing has any legitimacy :)

Monday, May 4, 2009

Time: The lack thereof.

So little to do in so much time!

Scratch that. Reverse it.

So MUCH to do, in so little time!

Who knew that by the beginning of May, every stinking weekend almost is booked until the beginning of August? This is ridiculous.

Weddings, wedding showers, dress shopping, weekends in South Carolina, work trips....too much going on.

Please ask the Lord to marvelously work things out for his glory, teaching me peace and patience and waiting in the midst of it all.