freaking out

Well, there's a reason why I haven't been posting much...

I'm getting married in.....drum roll please....

28 days!!!!!

That's right...28 days!!!!

This is what I look like...

And this is how I feel!

Don't get me wrong, I'M SO EXCITED,  just a little overwhelmed with to-do lists

 and packing lists! 

Woa, it's crazy how all of the sudden I feel like everything (I mean everything) is happening at once.

I have so much to think about, so much to do, and very little time, so please pray for me and Dave, as I might be a little hard to handle in the next few weeks :-/

Anywho, I wanted to keep you all in the loop.

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth (only the blogging world) or given up on my love for blogging...

I'm simply getting married!

I continue to remind myself that this is just a day (but a big day, too), the marriage is so much more important than centerpieces and cake.

So if I have another freak out, please remind me of that.

It would be very much appreciated :)

I'm going to try to blog right before the wedding and give some updates, but if not, I'll talk to you after June 24th!

Love & blessings :)

I survived!!!

Instead of saying, "What a day!"...

I'm saying, "What a month!"

 

When family and friends heard about my eventful, month of August, I'm sure they thought I was crazy and I will agree that it was a rather busy month for me (a person with a chronic illness, Lyme). Although my body started fading towards the end of the month, I don't regret any of it!

 

My first adventure of August was my trip to Washington, where the days were filled with many activities based on loving people and serving Jesus (although somewhat draining, it was completely worth it). I survived!

 

 

 

The next week was full of finishing details for my best friend's bachelorette party (Fun!). Crafting, packing, crafting, and more packing. I survived!

 

 

Following immediately after the bachelorette weekend, my boyfriend and I flew to his home state of Minnesota. This week was full of meeting/visiting his wonderful family, relaxing, and playing Canasta. It was definitely more low key than the past 2 weeks and I enjoyed every minute of it. I survived!

 

 

 

Jumping off the plane (not literally), my boyfriend and I ran (again, not literally) a few hours south to arrive at the wedding venue. From there we had a couple hours to rest and get ready for the wedding rehearsal/dinner. The next day was my best friend's wedding! We relaxed, ate, set-up décor, ate (haha), beautified ourselves, and kept the bride calm. I made it through the ceremony without fainting in front of everyone, not forgetting the ring (I was the maid of honor), and all of the other maid of honor duties. We finished the night with food, dancing, and fireworks. It was a beautiful night and I still can't believe my bestie is married!! I'm so happy for her :) I survived!

 

Dave and I then had one day to rest before we left the next day to travel a few hours to get my PICC line. My doctor decided during my last appointment that it was time to try IV antibiotics because I haven't made enough progress cognitively and neurologically. Yes, some physical symptoms have gone away, but at this point in treatment, I should be further along....soooo this PICC line is my new best friend and will stand by my side for the next few months in hopes of kicking some Lyme butt! I was supposed to only be at the hospital for a few hours for this one procedure, but long story short...I spent most of my day in the hospital having 2 procedures done because of the nurse's silly mistake. It was a stressful and painful day. I survived!

 

 

 

 

A few days later, Dave had to take me to the ER  because of chest pain and pressure. We were afraid the PICC line moved or broke. However, after a few different tests, we were reassured that it was nothing serious, only stressed from the procedures.

 I survived!

 

Needless to say, August presented me a lot of wonderful memories with a touch of a few stressful and painful moments, but by the grace of God, my Lyme ridden body survived it all! Through this month, God has showed me that even when things can be difficult, they can still be worth it! He also showed me that it's okay to ask for help from others (shout out to my family, friends, and wonderful boyfriend).

 

Goodbye busy August, hello somewhat lazy September. One wedding down, one more wedding to go for 2013! With a few more crafting projects, some reading, and a lot of resting, I hope to be back to a much more consistent blog posting schedule!

 

I hope you all are doing well and being blessing to others!

The last post of "Following in Your Footsteps" series is up next...stay tuned!

 

Next week we should be caught up to Proverbs 13 in our year long reading plan.

 

Blessings [Link Up]

 

Hey everyone! Well, it's been a busy, but blessed weekend.

I hope you've had a blessed weekend as well!

 

So I'm linking up with my fellow blogger, Kaity at (Bee)autiful Blessings blog, to talk about my blessings from the weekend.

 

Friday marked the 3rd birthday of my youngest niece. I can't believe it's been 3 years since she was born. They grow so fast, making me feel so, so old (I know I'm not really old, but I feel like it haha). So Friday night I was blessed to join my sister and her sweet family for dinner and then off to their town's football game to listen to my oldest niece play in the band and my 5 year old niece dance with the high school dance team. The weather was great, the band sounded awesome, and the dance was precious. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures...I fail.

 

Saturday was the big, Barney, pizza birthday party. The kids wore chef hats, aprons, and made their own personal pizza with their own personally picked topping, while I rested on the couch after setting up for the party with my sister. It's always an extravagant task planning birthday parties, but it's always worth it.

Definitely a blessing, to celebrate a birthday.

 

 

 

 

After the party, my parents and I went home (with no time to nap) and got prettified for my friend's wedding. I always love a wedding. Plus, it forces me to fix myself up (it's amazing what make-up can do), which also makes me feel somewhat better. It's a win-win situation, get pretty and feel better. Weird how that works. However, it takes a lot out of me to get ready. Thank you, Lyme Disease. Anyway, it was a blessing to watch another couple be united together, fellowship with close friends and talk about future weddings to come. Oh, how I love weddings!

 

 

Anywho, I've done a little too much the past few days which means I'm laid up in bed with heavy, aching legs, headache and stiffness all over so I'm unable to get to church today. Once again, I'm thankful for the creation of live webcasts so I can watch church from my comfy bed with the company of my heating pad. Another Sunday with 2 baptisms led me to tears because of the testimonies they shared. Lives that were surrounded with sin, but turned around because of God's grace. Once again, I'm reminded that God is not only moving in my life, but He is moving all around.

 Praise God!

 A quick summary of my sermon notes from Pastor Gregg Matte:

~Acts 2:42-46: unity and generosity of the church

~"Awe of God leads to unity and generosity between men."

~"Generosity is a balance to be managed, not a problem to be solved."

~What you have is from God...they are tools to be used for His glory, not for you (my words).

~"Awe of God brings praise, favor, and impact."

 

Well that's all for today! I hope you all have a blessed, restful Sunday!

If you are reading the Bible in a year with me, today is a catch up day. So far we've read the book of Matthew and Mark 1-11.

 

Have you been blessed today? I'd love to hear...leave me a comment or link up!

 

 

 

 

Surrounded by Joy

This past weekend I was surrounded by joy. I was honored to be a part of a wonderful celebration of two lives coming together as one by being a bridesmaid. One of my best friends, Joanna, married the love of her life, Spencer, on Saturday. It was such a beautiful weekend full of laughter, excitement, love and joy. It was clear at the dress rehearsal dinner that God was bringing two people together who are very loved. Words of memories and kindness along with tears of joy affirmed that the next day was going to be an emotional day of celebration and praise to God for bringing these two very special people together. The day of the wedding arrived and seeing Joanna with complete joy was contagious. Although I was not around Spencer much before the wedding, I knew that he couldn't wait to marry his girl. I'm a pretty emotional person when it comes to weddings, but I had no clue how emotional I was going to be during the ceremony. While I was walking down the aisle towards the front of the church, Spencer was beaming. He couldn't wait to see Joanna and be married to her at last. After I found my spot at the front of the church, I looked at the faces of the bridal party and the groom and I found happiness. Tears began to well up in my eyes and I was thankful for the thoughtful, groom's mother that had given us tissues and the pockets in my dress. The time had come for Joanna to walk down the aisle to this beautiful song called, "Hundred More Years" by Francessca Battistelli. Because of my height I couldn't see her walk in so the next best thing was to look at was Spencer's face and let me tell you, what a wonderful thing to see. As a tear rolled down his cheek, he was mesmerized by his bride like time had stood still. Joy had consumed him. That's when I almost lost it. It was such a beautiful moment. When Joanna met Spencer at the front, the love they share together became evident. As the vows were spoken, not only was the bridal party crying, but many guests were crying as well. They weren't crying tears of sadness, but tears of joy. I was surrounded by joy. I will never forget the love and joy that I felt that day. Their wedding reminded me of the joy that God wants us to feel. He doesn't want us to wait for joy, but to find joy now. We may not feel like the time is appropriate to be joyful, but God wants us to find joy in everything. We shouldn't wait for the big things in life to be joyful, but we should also find joy in the little things. I believe joy truly comes from being confident in the promises that God gives us. When we surround ourselves with those promises, we find joy. Psalm 90:14 says, "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Before Jesus was crucified and resurrected, he said "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them" (John 17:13). Acts 2:28 says, "You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence." Sometimes it may be hard to find joy in the present. It may take some time away from your hectic life to find it, but it's there. You may be looking in the wrong places. 1 Chronicles 16:27 says, "Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in His dwelling place." So today take the time to find joy and live in it. Don't wait for it to come to you. Find it. Have a blessed week! :)