2 weeks to go!

This whole wedding process has been just that, a process! I have had such highs and lows during this time. If you've talked to me about it you know pretty much everything I'm talking about. The other day, though, as I was driving to work I sat in my car thinking how little praise I've given my Father during this time. It's such a joyous time in my life, in Jeremy's life, in the lives of our family, and God has been so faithful! I started to think about the many blessings God has given us and it's changed my perspective on this whole wedding. I've gone from literally not thinking about the wedding at all because it stressed me out so much to crying every time I think about it because I am overwhelmed with God's goodness! It's so beautiful and I'm so thankful for all of the encouragement my family and friends have given me during this time!

This morning as I was driving in I heard the song "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord" and it just brought encouragement to my heart. One of the lyrics is "Blessed be your name when I'm found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be your name." To me, this is exactly what I've been longing to do. Over the past few months I've felt discouragement and stress overwhelm me and I spent very little time just being thankful. I've had nightmares about everything going wrong, I've had plans change, people not come through, basically all the normal things that come with a wedding... I think. But, what a difference it makes to recognize the work God is doing!! Once you open your eyes, and allow praises to just overflow, your whole perspective changes.

Psalm 100 says "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

I'm sure people are not aware of the work they've done in my life recently to encourage me, or know that they were just being Christ to me by loving me and encouraging me during the stress I was feeling, but I have been blessed day after day... I wish I hadn't been so stubborn to see it at first! (Some would say I've always had to learn the hard way.) We have everything that we need for this wedding and what we want is for God to be honored and for everyone to know how much he has blessed us by bringing us together for marriage. Thank you all for everything you've done for us, for loving us, encouraging us, and supporting us! We love you and can't wait to see you on January 20th! :)