Friends

Lately I've been kind of settling into this new phase of my life. I really like it too. I feel like the friends I have now are friends that I will have for life. I love how we can be silly and sometimes immature, but the next second we can come together and have a deep and meaningful conversation. I know that they will all be there for me come what may. The friendships I have now are natural. By that I mean that it really doesn't seem like I have to try, and they all help me develop into a better person. Right now, my focus is to truly become the person that God wants me to be. I'm not the same girl I was a year ago, and while I feel like I'm starting to settle, I'm also constantly changing. I don't know if any of that really makes sense. I say all that to come to the point that I am so incredibly happy right now. God is really working things out and challenging me, and in this he has surrounded me with friends that I can rely and that I know seek God's guidance in their own lives. (Insert Michael W. Smith "Friends are Friends forever" sound clip)

Right now, a lot of girls from church are having a Bible study one night a week. We're going through Priscilla Shirer's Bible study Discerning the Voice of God. It is so good, and it's really opening up my eyes to a lot of things that I have kind of absentmindedly closed God off to in my life. I'm so happy that God has placed every single one of us there together and that we are getting the chance to grow closer together in him.

On that note, it seems like for the past few years I've constantly been at a crossroads. It's like my life is a grid street system... once a figure out which way to go, I come to another red light and another decision that decides where I travel to next. (I hope that made some kind of sense). Right now things are moving along smoothly. They seem to be working out just fine. I've been developing this routine, and then I get the sudden urge to go back to school. I've always thought that I am called to teach, but I also felt like God was leading me to put that off for a little while, graduate and enter the "real world" or whatever you want to call it. This past week, I have felt the call to teach stronger than ever before. So, maybe this time next year I'll be back in school chasing the dream of becoming a teacher again. Please pray for me as I continue to seek God's absolute guidance in this decision because it is definitely not something that I will be able to do on my own. It would also require me getting a job teaching while I am getting my masters, so quite a few doors are going to have to open for this to happen.

glasses... ugh!

I am still being forced to wear glasses due to scratched corneas. I'm so tired of pushing them up on my nose and not having very good peripheral vision. I want to have vision correction surgery.

I started a new Bible study this week with some gals from church. I'm super excited about it too! As I grow and learn, I'll post.

This is a cute wedding present:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14843924

(hint hint wink wink)

Progress!

Yesterday was a very eventful day. I had an appointment at David's Bridal at 10, and Jessica, Megan, Laura, and my mom went with me. I found my dress and we ordered it! AND Jessica and Megan picked out a bridesmaid dress. We all decided that Champagne was the best color. The brown they had looked a little purple. This is it:

We all liked it, and they will all look so pretty in it! I tried on like 6 dresses and found the one that I liked. I'm sooo happy that I can check those things off of my list. I also picked out a junior bridesmaid and flower girl dress yesterday. I'm really ready to get all of the big things checked off of my list!

Also, Megan and I went to Linens and Things to look for curtains for their apartment since she had a gift card and everything was on sale because Linens and Things is going out of business. She got some extremely pretty curtains, and other things they needed. Then, we went over to the Galleria. We went into a jewelry store that is going out of business just to see what kind of wedding bands they had, and I found one just like Ryan had said that he wants. So, we called the boys, and they came out and I got Ryan's wedding band!

I'm already ready to have planning over and covered! But I know that I have much more to come!

A little Preview

This is part of my wedding inspiration:

I saw one of these when I went to market with Ryan's mom a little while back, and that's how the whole peacock feather thing started.

I'm also thinking about using Latte or Champagne colored dresses for the bridesmaids instead of brown.

I have an appointment at David's Bridal on Saturday morning. I plan on deciding on a dress for me then and the bridesmaids' and junior bridesmaids' dresses. I'm taking an entourage with me to help make those decisions. My mom is even coming up!

Growing Up

Wedding planning is underway. I can't believe that we are 5 1/2 months away. I'm going dress shopping Saturday. The plan is to find a dress and pick out the bridesmaids dresses. I've picked out the flowers for the wedding and reception, and I've figured out what I want to do for reception centerpieces. If only my dad would just rent out the reception hall... Anyway...
Here is a small preview of what I'm thinking.







Working 40 hours a week completely drains me! It is a big adjustment for me to go to bed around 10, but by then I am worn out. And it's kind of weird that I'm not starting class tomorrow with everyone else. I'm just at the point in life where things are changing I guess!

I'm singing in church Sunday, and I'm taking suggestions for songs!

BTW... I love the Olympics, and I REALLY want to go to the winter Olympics when they're in Canada in 2010. And Summer 2016 might be in Chicago.... how awesome would that be!

In all honesty....

Life never ever slows down anymore. It's always one thing after the other. Sometimes I'm just glad that I voluntarily breathe because I might not find the time to do that if I didn't. I'm not quite sure that all made sense, but I said all that to express that I am completely and totally over the whole hustle and bustle that has been going on in my life. Honestly, I don't think it will slow down for another 6 maybe 7 months. There is always something to do or somewhere to be!

Meanwhile, the job has been going well. It really stresses me out sometimes because a lot of new stuff gets thrown at me all at once, and it is really hard for me to find the chance to slow everyone else down and allow me to process what is actually taking place. Pretty soon I'll be in the complete habit of things and then I'll never look back (I hope). It is obviously taking a lot to adjust to a full 40 hour work week, but I am doing it. As much as I don't want to roll out of the bed in the morning (yes, I roll), I do. So far I've made it through an entire month. I've only been settled at my branch for 2 weeks, but I'm surviving so far.

With that said, God's really been working, and he has shown me through all of my stressing out and trying my best to do things the best way I can that He is the one that is truly in control. If I would just SLOW DOWN enough to notice that even though I screw up and make mistakes that are stupid, He can help because He is always in control. When Bro. Mark was preaching today, He read this verse that really stood out to me. It's going to be my calendar verse for August.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

I have been stressing about several things lately, so this is definitely the verse I need to remember!


Love.