single digits

If a man does not exercise his arm, he develops no bicep muscles, and if a man does not exercise his soul, he acquires no muscle in his soul...nor beauty of spiritual growth. Love is not a thing of enthusiastic emotion. It is a rich, strong, manly, vigorous express of the whole round Christian character-- the Christ --like nature in its fullest development.

~ Henry Drummond

today marks the first day of single digits. In just 9 days, I will pass off my old self and become joined with my love as husband and wife. It's a surreal thought but one of great anticipation. Even though I've failed at blogging recently, today I am officially stating that I will not be posting for the next two and a half weeks.

so the next time we meet, I will be a mrs.

ps - I want to give a quick shout out to sweet baby Olly who came into the world this week. congrats to one of my dearest friend, kristyn, you will be a beautiful momma.

overwhelmed

That is the word that I would use to describe myself these days. Overwhelmed with last minute details. Overwhelmed with packing and moving. Overwhelmed with decisions. But the best is being overwhelmed with blessings. As there is so much going on these days, the one thing that helps me stay grounded  is the unbelievable love and joy that I am experiencing.

Saturday was my final bridal shower -- a bridal tea actually. My grandmother, mother, aunts, cousins and bridesmaids worked so hard to put on such a wonderful day. We enjoyed tasty tea, with tea pots and tea cups, delicious treats and mini desserts, and lots of laughs and smiles. The day left me tired but so overwhelmed with love that I almost couldn't take it all in.

Sunday was spent again with my mom, aunt and cousin, making the wedding flowers. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when we started but they turned out gorgeous. I am so thrilled. We quickly celebrated my baby brothers 17th birthday and then I headed back to Indiana.

The drive home I just basked in just how truly blessed I am. The people that I have in my life are truly some of the most generous and loving people I know. I can't imagine life any other way and I am so thankful for each and everyone of them. To see people come together is what life is about, to celebrate in one another.

The wedding is almost here and I'm sure it'll be nothing short of overwhelming these last two weeks but it's the people that make each step worth it.

life update

Well, it's official. I am really failing at blogging right now. I apologize and I feel like my brain is in a million different places but one of them is not my blog. So, please forgive me. Between work, wedding and moving (oh, did I mention we're moving?), I barely have enough memory left to remember where I put my keys.

As if we weren't busy enough, we've decided to add moving to the list of to do's before the big day. We're staying in the same town but we're getting a new home. A townhouse; that will be both of ours together. It's strange, but awesome, to have both of our names on the lease. I am thoroughly excited about living in a townhouse with two stories and two bathrooms! There is a lot of counter space and storage. The best part...there is a dishwasher. No more scrubbing dishes. Thank goodness.

I am so excited to be able to come to our home after the honeymoon and, as my mom calls it, play house. I am really looking forward to the next season of life that will begin in our new townhouse.

Just 24 more days.

one month

dear future mr,

one month from now, i will be your mrs. can you even believe it, because i can't. i can't believe that its already been almost ten months, let alone the two years we've been together. time goes so fast. i'm excited for all the first that will come in the next year. our first address together, our first vacation, our first christmas as a married couple, our first joint bank account. so many firsts to be had. as excited as i am about all those firsts, i'm more excited about the everyday. coming home to you everyday, sharing your last name with you everyday, cooking for you (almost) everyday, waking up to you everyday. i'm ready to share in every day with you. the good ones and the bad ones too, although i may not feel that way in the moment. because when it comes down to it, there isn't anyone else that i want by my side on a bad day. you know how to make me smile, even when i don't want to. you make me laugh harder than anyone else. you make me feel like i can overcome the world. your are exactly the person that i need to be with me to get through every day. and that is exactly why i believe that God has brought us together. not for all the big moments, but to love each other through the everyday moments. to share together in the little joys of life. yes, there will be many big moments, too, but not as often as the other. life for the past six months has really been, well, crazy and its not going to slow down just yet. but when it does, i am excited that you will still be there each and every day.

love,

me

lately, again

Apparently, I went completely MIA for about two weeks. Sorry about that...but I can show you what I've been up to.

 

1. My new DIY studio (aka my garage)

2. Road trip to the future in laws

3. Date night with the future hubs

4. Our new (to us) kitchen table

5. Back to Illinois

6. Got to hang out with this week girl for 5 days

7. I did this. Yep. Pretty proud of myself. 

8. Baby cow at the fair

9. Draft horse heaven

10. Draft horse heave part two

11. Gentle giant

The past two weeks have been packed full of events and it seemed to just fly by! With the wedding quickly approaching, I am finding that the days are slipping away so quickly, hence my lack of blog posts. I am also finding that the busier I am becoming the less my thoughts are flowing which also contributes to the lack of blog material. Hopefully I can conjure up a few more posts before the big day.

But I did manage to take sometime and venture back home to Illinois to the good ole' county fair. If you don't already know, it's probably my favorite time of the year, read this. This year I was reminded so much of how many good people there really are in our world. So often we're bombarded with bad news, but being back in the small town, county life style, life was slower and gentler. It was good to be in an environment where people have such passion for things such as family, 4-H, agriculture and a lot of the basic foundations of what our lives are built on. I think that's while my heart often aches for the simplicity of small town life. There is a certain type of wholeness and goodness that exists there. I'm so thankful I got to experience it again this year.

time

The past five days seem like such a blur. So much has happened and it seems like I just blinked and it was all over. I traveled north to my future in-laws for the weekend. I enjoyed Friday's blazing 100 degree heat in pool, finally getting some sun kissed skin. Jake's family from the east coast had traveled in for the weekend and it was great to spend some quality time with them.

Saturday everyone else rolled in to celebrate at my second bridal shower. Our family and friends really outdo themselves, I tell you. The women in Jake's family put so much energy and time into the details of this day and nothing went unnoticed. It was such a tremendous celebration. I feel so honored that they all care so much for Jake and I that they would throw such a wonderful shower.

just a few of the details

 On top of it all, my mom was there to celebrate the day with us and I am so glad that she was able to come and enjoy. Jake and I are truly so blessed by the people in our lives and there aren't enough words to express how wonderful they are. I am so thankful that God has put, not only Jake, but his family in my life. It's such a treasure to be surrounded by them.

Thank you all for feeding my spirit with such a beautiful weekend celebration.

Happy July 2nd

Yes, according to everyone else it is the great summer holiday, Independence Day. For me, I am only considering it to be July 2nd. Why you ask?!?

Well, because I spent this glorious holiday in my office...working. Albeit, I volunteered to work today, but it doesn't make me any less envious of everyone else enjoying being poolside, eating yummy grilled food, and catching candy at the parade. Yet, since I worked today, I get to have Friday off, which is when I have declared my July 4th celebration to take place. So while everyone is back in their offices, I'll be poolside posting pictures to Facebook of my floating raft in the pool and my awesome umbrella drink. (And no, I'm not bitter)

Anyway, today is great day regardless of whether your working, serving, or enjoying. It's our yearly reminder that what we have in our county didn't come without a fight. We had to declare our independence and create something completely new. I am a big history buff and, as uncool as it is, historic events such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, make me excited. A couple years ago, I visited Independence Hall. I just stood in awe thinking of the events that had taken place in that very building. Thinking of those incredible movers and shakers who would discuss their ideas and make plans.

The first time I went to Washington D.C., I was enamored by the history and overwhelmed with the magnitude of what events take place in that city. It opened my eyes and made history so much more real. Then about six year later, I went to Egypt. It was during my time in Cairo, that I came to realize just how valuable our freedom is to us. It was such a different world in Egypt, especially as women. we were treated in such a way that I have never been more thankful to be an American.

And as I am just 59 days away from having the same last name as one of the coolest people in history, not that I'm biased or anything, it is such a sweet reminder today make sure we say thank you and pray for our country.

Happy July 2...err...4th!