9 Days ... Honeymoon

Here's the scoop on the honeymoon :)

We're doing a kinda split-honeymoon. We're spending 2 night just after the wedding at a very nice B&B here in town. Then James and I are back to work for the rest of the week, as we are poor seminary students and have rent to pay June 1st! :)

That following weekend, we'll head to Nashville for my neice's high school graduation. It'll be a fun weekend celebration with family and good food -- being in Nashville is always so good for his TN girl :)

Then the week of Memorial Day, we're heading to Cincinnati, OH for our "official" honeymoon. We're staying at this lovely B&B just outside Cincinnati in Burlington, KY. It's an old farm house with only two guest rooms. There are horses (we're signed up for horse-riding lessons on Friday), two large ponds for fishing (James is very excited) there are like 10 cats and a dog to pet (I'm very excited) ... we'll be in heaven in this small-town life.

The best part is just 20 minutes away is Cincinnati where we'll venture for a Reds game, the Art Museum, the Zoo, Creation Museum and various parks. I'm quite excited!

Evaluation

I ran across this article today while on lunch break at work.

It's a convicting review of the "Christian subculture". It's a wonderful non-Christian perspective on the sad state of so-called Christian art and media which is often just a cheap imitation of the secular version and how it has led to an "adolescent theology" where Jesus' sacrifice is simply referred to as "cool" rather than held in the awe that he deserves.

While reading it, I was reminded of D.Webb's song "T-shirt"

they'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear

they'll know us by the way we point and stare

at anyone whose sin looks worse than ours

who cannot hide the scars of this curse that we all bare

they'll know us by our picket lines and signs

they'll know us by the pride we hide behind

like anyone on earth is living right

and isn't that why Jesus died

not to make us think we're right

they'll know us by reasons we divide

and how we can't seem to unify

because we've gotta sing songs a certain style

or we'll walk right down that aisle

and just leave 'em all behind

they'll know us by the billboards that we make

just turning God's words to cheap clichés

says 'what part of murder don't you understand?'

but we hate our fellow manand point a finger at his grave

they'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear

they'll know us by the way we point and stare

telling 'em their sins are worse than ours

thinking we can hide our scars

beneath these t-shirts that we wear

when love, love, love

is what we should be known for

love, love, love its the how and it's the why

we live and breathe and we die

We, believers and followers of Christ need to do a better job of balancing that "in the world but not of the world" command...let us strive to be noticably different, yes--but avoid being an annoying plastic imitation of both the real world and real faith.

11 Days ... The Lord hates Divorce

Divorce is something I fear.

My dad was divorced before he married my mother. My sister divorced her first husband only a few years into their marriage. My brother-in-law was divorced before he married my sister. All three of my uncles are/were divorced. Both of my best friends growing up are now divorced. My sweet friends that are more like family were both divorced multiple times before marrying each other. It's everywhere I look!

James and I have made the committment that no matter how hard things may get, divorce will not be the answer. Why not give up when the going gets touch? The Lord hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Divorce damages the symbolism of the gospel that marriage is supposed to mirror (Husbands loving their Wives as Christ loves the Church and Wives submitting to their Husbands as the Church submits to Christ).

Recently, I've read Gary Thomas' Sacred Marriage and it's theme is that marriage wasn't designed by God to make you happy but to make you holy. This holiness is accomplished through the struggles of marriage that lead you to trust in God's faithfulness more, allow God to develop selflessness and patience in you and teaches you to love your spouse unconditionally as Christ as loved us. It's an outlook on marriage that many don't have, and I pray that when times are tough--that James and I will see it as an opportunity to grow in our faith and stick it out rather than give in to the temptation to give up.

12 Days

Woah - 12 days left. That's wild!

I'm all moved into the apartment. Thursday, James & I and our friend Melissa made three trips in the U-Haul to get all my stuff and some of his stuff to the new place. Then James went off to class and Melissa headed home. As I slowly carried in one box at a time, as I am pitifully puny. God blessed me tremendously when two of our neighbors came and graciously carried everything left in the truck in for me. James was super excited when I called him when he class ended at 10pm to tell him he didn't have to come over and move anything! Almost everything is set up, except for the spare bedroom/office which has turned into a catch-all room for everything I don't want to deal with at the moment. I'll post pictures soon :)

As I look forward to being married in 12 days -- YIKES -- I'm praying that God teaches me more about trusting in his faithfulness and provision. I'm so tempted to worry and fret over things I simply have no control. I have such little faith at times, it's quite embarassing. However, God is teaching me about trusting him and while it is hard, I am eager to learn and trust more!

19 Days ... BUSY BUSY Week

I'm really not looking forward to this week, mostly because I know it will be busy and physically exhausting.

This morning, I had an interview to being teaching again the fall. They are considering me for the 6th grade position and if the pay and benefits are right, I think I would really enjoy teaching there. I should know something by the end of next week, so we're still praying.

Tomorrow, I have a dentist appointment. Not really that big of a deal, but just something else to add to this week.

Wednesday, after work it's a fun-filled evening of packing up my room! Yahoo! Wanna help?

Thursday begins early as James and I sign the lease on our new apartment and fork over the rent. Then we pick up the U-Haul, our new bed from the Peddler's Mall, drag all my belongings into the new apartment, then snatch some of his stuff. Our goal is to be finished before 7pm, when he has Philosophy class... here's hoping!

Friday, get marriage license on lunch break, buy his wedding ring after work before ESL.

Then the weekend should be full of unpacking and organizing and such. Seriously, if you wanna help let me know-ha!

23 Days - God-sightings

When I worked with Mission Discovery in Mexico, Jamaica and TN for so many summers, one of the things I looked forward to most during team worship was the "God-sightings" time. This was when we shared with one another different experiences, situations that were evidence of God's grace in our lives.

I have heard that planning a wedding is extremely stressful. My sweet friend, Dr. Jennifer even prescribed me special immunity-booster, stress-buster vitamins so I wouldn't get sick from the stress I would experience in wedding planning. While there have been moments of indecision, frustration; I must confess that overall, it has been relatively stress-less!

Presently we have 23 days until 5/17/08 ... and as I reflect over the past five months of engagement, I have seen over and over again how God has graciously blessed James and I. Enjoy this list of God's grace and goodness:

• My dad, cooperative??? My dad hates getting dressed up, he despises formal events and I was honestly worried about how to convince him to get in a suit with a red tie/vest...but PRAISE GOD, he has been so cooperative.
• 6pm wedding! While this wasn't my first choice as far as time of the day, it will accomodate my sister's family's schedule as they attend my nephew's 8th grade graduation that morning then jet north to L'ville for the wedding. God has graced my sister with an uncanny gift of flexibility and boy do I greatly appreciate that! Normally PBC doesn't allow wedding after 3pm due to cleaning and setting up for church in the morning, but they have graciously relaxed that rule for James and I. So, while this will make for a long evening, it will make for a more relaxing Saturday morning!
• Showers, showers, showers. God has blessed James and I over and over again through the amazing generosity of our friends and family. We have had two showers thus far: Nashville and WV and this weekend we have the one with our church. We have received so many practical gifts, sentimental items, and encouraging notes and I have felt so loved!
• Yummy cake. Wedding cakes typically cost between $2 and $3 per slice! Yes, per slice! Meaning for 100 people, we're looking at a $200-$300 cake. But THANKS BE TO GOD for Melissa at my church. She LOVES baking and has a true knack for decorating as well and is providing our cake for free! It's sure to be yummy and beautiful.
• The Body of Christ. I can't brag on our church enough. It has been rare that I have observed the body of Christ rally around a couple in blessings, encouragement, and true service as they have for James and I. From the shower planned this weekend, to the use of the facilites for free nonetheless, to the wonderful counseling Bro. Tom has provided, to the gift of so many friends. They have welcomed James into the church family with open arms which has made my heart very happy. They provide a place of service for us in ESL and for me through the youth department and have even agreed to help support James' mission trip to Peru this summer. What a blessing they are !!

It is my prayer that God keeps my eyes open to how he is working all this out for me, as it has truly been He not I who has accomplished all of this so far. I know I have the tendency to forget God's blessings, particularly in times of struggle so I hope that by writing these down they will not only encourage you but serve as accountability for me to praise God for his blessings!

Be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Deuteronomy 4:9

Packing

Can I just say that I hate moving. I hate everything about it. The only redeeming quality is the joy of decorating a new place. In 9 short days I will be moving into what will be James' and I's apartment. We're renting a UHaul and going to do the move ourself because we're poor :( But it'll all come together. In the meantime, between still finalizing various wedding details, I'm packing my life in Jeffersonville into boxes. Currently the count is at 5 boxes containing all my seminary textbooks, picture frames, and trinkets from overseas.

In non-moving news, I'm only 3 episodes away from being completely caught up on my LOST addiction. It really is a sickness, but I'm hooked and well it's just sooo good!