Today Andi becomes Andi “a wife”.

Congratulations, Andi!
I’m so excited for you!

And for all my loyal readers (HA!), I probably won’t be posting this weekend because…

Friday, is an afternoon/evening of a dear friend’s final wedding preparations, reahearsal and rehearsal dinner [I’ve never been in a wedding before. This is a new thing.]

Saturday, Miranda Snider becomes Miranda Baker!!!!! and my ‘brother’, Chris, gets a GREAT wife!!!!!

Sunday, celebrate my Daddy, eat dinner with Matt’s Dad, and sing along with Martina McBride. [That’s going to be a fantastic concert.]

That’s right… great stuff this weekend. And I’m so stinkin’ excited!!!

Well my dear readers (all two of you) I wanted to give you a real look at my life thus far. So brace yourselves.

Last night I got the privilege of going to the bachlorette party of a dear friend. She’s getting married on Saturday and I’m so excited for her because she’s marrying Chris, who’s totally like a brother to me. It was a wonderful scavenger hunt party. Allisha did a nice job planning it, once the plans got rolling. Miranda was even pulled over (on purpose) during the hunt. And despite some of the gross elements of a bachelorette party, it was a wonderful night of good surprises and support of Miranda.

During this evening, I was most content to just sit back and listen to others ask Miranda questions. It was so neat to think about how far Miranda has come in her walk with the Lord since I first met her. And it was so different to think of dear little Miranda being all old and grown up… and a wife. But I couldn’t be more happy for the two of them and, while it may sound stereotypically cliché, Miranda and Chris really do fit together. I’m not talking about some American dream fit together, I’m talking about a day in and day out, sometimes angry, sometimes unforgiving, but all the time loving fit together. And it makes me so happy to count down the days until their public ‘I do’s. There’s four more days. Four more days.

And that brings me to the thought of the 74 more days left before Matt and I get married. Yes, everyone asks questions, and the questions were not contained to Miranda talk last night either. The same few questions arose regarding my wedding plans and the same shock and, at times, annoyance returned through people’s eyes as my laxidazical, “things are going well, I haven’t done too much lately, and we’re pretty much done” flows out. Oh yes, I am exciting, but I have been focusing on what life will be like in marriage, not on August 25th.

Finances. Finances. Finances. Details. Details. Details. Sometimes it’s a real struggle to try to make finances fun. I’m not going to lie. Sometimes the thought of all the numbers which will contribute much stress and, in turn, coping strategies in our married life brings fear into my life. But I am the one who controls whether or not I will cave in to that fear, exchanging my sanity or each unfulfilling morsel.

I know God. I trust God. He has provided in the past. He has promised He will provide in the future. So, therefore, He will. And I just need to trust that.

74 days. [For Robin, 10 weeks.] Two weeks from yesterday marks exactly 2 weeks until we reach the 2 month marker. In other words, 1 week and six days until we reach 2 months to go. Why is this significant? (Robin has asked in her head in the past. – wow that makes you sound liek a crazy, Robin. Or at least it makes me sound like a mind reader.-) At 2 months, Matt and I begin marriage counseling. Marriage counseling!!! Which means August 25th is just a hop away.


So, until that hop takes place, I am working on completing my bachelores degree in Social Work [internship + class], as of yesterday, it looks like I’ll be taking additional class, playing outside with my kids, taking the licensure exam (SW), getting a job (or at least getting a “real” job rolling), securing a new APT, moving Matt into the new APT, packing my things, petting Cheddar, moving my things, going to Cleveland on a MFBC mission trip, having a bridal shower (July 28th), doing marriage counseling, and preparing myself mentally and emotionally to make one of the biggest transitions I have ever made.

That’s me lately.

What’s God been doing in your life?

I was checking my DARS this morning (the program that reports how “on track” you are to graduate). And I was pleased with all the areas I have successfully completed Wright State’s University standars. Then I saw something a bit “different”. I saw a “NO” where apparently I have not met a University Standard. In further investigating this “NO” I read this…

NEEDS: 1.0 HOUR

What’s that mean?

There is nothing like waking up at 6am (begrudgingly at first. – I’m not going to lie-), reading the Word, running for three miles and then taking a nice cool shower.
Ahhhhhh… yes.
This is my cup of Java.

You know, there are some bitter sweet moments in life that take your breath away. And then there’s some hard moments in life that cause you to take coping deep breaths.

It’s the end of the quarter and the lasts are creaping in. I am taking my last exam on Thursday, I have attended my last Crosswalk, I just attended my last “class”, and my last is all I can give. I can’t give anymore to this quarter. And you know what? I’m really okay with that. In fact, it brings much relief. Much relief.

This summer will be hard; one class, practicum and work back to back (and even overlapping at times), and then life. It will be a challenge. Truly a challenge. It’s the last sprint for my degree. And while it may feel like it is dangling over my head, attached to a wire on my back, eventually I’ll reach it. And another checkmark will be placed on the list of life.

My Refuge has brought rest. Much needed and much appreciated.

I came home to a bouquett of roses and a “just because” letter. How he blesses me. And I agree, taking time for the simple is a must… and it’s so needed. Thank you, Matt.

More thoughts that crossed my mind today revolved around a little girl. A classmate brought her daughter into class. Her daughter, Rose, must have been a good 2 years old. Rose was a healthy two, laughing, interrupting class, rolling on the floor, and talking to another five year old child drag-along for the day. My classmate shared with me and another aquaintance, “I wanted two and I knew it was now or never.” She also expanded upon her teenager that’s back at home. This woman, now in her mid thirties/early forties had this little one. And the smile on this woman’s face? Her little one was her world. And it was so cute.

Kinda made me want to be a mom. Later… but I looked forward to if God would ever grace me with the oppotunity to love Matt and my little one to pieces. We’ll see in time. I’m in no rush.

I thought of Ellen and wondered how she was doing. I miss seeing her regularly. We’re going to meet up and hang out sometime later this week so we can pack her up for her move on June 16th. And maybe I’ll even get to hold my neice a little. But, I’m not going to lie, as much as I love my neice to pieces, I really do love her mom and I care more about how her mom was doing than my neice. As cold as that sounds, Ellen’s a friend and i really care about her.

I also got an email for Andi a few days ago. She can’t come to Matt and my wedding. That was really disappointing because she was one of the few people that I really wanted to be there. Oh but I completely understand that she can’t come. I COMPLETELY understand. My, my how God has grown her and Ben. It’s amazing to watch. Praise God for His grace and His love. But in and amongst the wonderful things God is doing, there are little hurts that happen too. And Andi not being able to come to my wedding. That’s just one of them.

Well, the cats are all sprawled out, napping on Robin’s bed. And as tempting as that looks, I think I’m going to go for a run. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to just run. And I look forward to it.

Hope you are seeing the Lord’s blessings in your life today.
To God be all the glory and honor and praise forever and ever.

Amen.