back in the groove

Life has brought much change and joy lately. I finished out my last semester at Union which seemed to go by faster than usual. On December 1st, 2011 my best friend proposed to me and I said YES!

I moved out of Union and back home for my last college Jan. term. I've been working with the student ministry this month and eagerly planning our July 7th wedding. On January 31st I will move to Clinton, Mississippi to spend the semester doing my social work practicum with an organization called His Heart that serves the inner city of Jackson, MS through the Gospel. I will be able to spend the semester where Ethan is (for the first time in our entire dating history of three and half years) and plan the rest of our summer wedding. There has been more change than I could have ever expected, but along with that the Lord has brought immeasurable blessing and so much joy.

I've gone Pinterest crazy with ideas and plans for the wedding. It's been so fun to make all kinds of decisions with an actual groom in mind, and not some fairytale wedding I've dreamed about. I've actually surprised myself with how different my decisions have been from what I thought I always wanted.

And in the midst of it all I've been able to appreciate Ethan in a new way. He has been consistent to remind me that this is about our marriage, before the Lord, and that everything else is just fluff. What truly matters is that the two of us are preparing our hearts to come to the Lord and commit our lives to him and to one another. What a sacred and special time!

I also started playing around with a monogram for our wedding to use throughout on invitations, programs, decorations, etc. I don't know what we will end up using, it may be something totally different and streamlined, but I am having fun learning and being able to use my "doodles" for something new and creative. I would love to pursue this much more and even begin doing them for others. It's a fun way to get lost in my thoughts and end up with something cool and unique.

There is so much brewing lately that I am eager to see how God can use in our lives, and I know this year is going to be one of the most exciting and crazy years of my life. 2012, let's do this.