Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
Amen.

Ephesians 3: 20 - 21

Eleven days. *turning around* Where did the three months go?

I move into our apartment on Saturday. I should mention that to my bedroom, which is currently swimming in wedding gifts and dirty clothes. I must pack today, but there's a suitcase demanding unpacking first.

Thanksgiving with Arensmeyers and Hodges - and it was a FABULOUS day! The perfect Thanksgiving (there were 5 desserts and 10 people) was finished off with games of Crockinole & Catch Phrase. I love my family and my new family, and I love the fact that they get along so well. Both families are happiest when shouting over games. You can't buy chemistry like that everyday... maybe some things are foreordained....

Lingerie shower on Saturday with an earring theme! (Need I say more?)

Bridal portraits on Sunday were a blast. I highly recommend taking two soon-to-be-sisters with you - makes the whole trekking-barefoot-through-the-mud-thing so much more fun. :)
Here are the photos: http://www.truenotebands.com/e/ .   I have to pick out one for a 16x20 to display at the reception (and forever in our home afterwards). This is another call for opinions and advice which I will do my best to ignore but will probably allow to affect the choosing process anyway.

Shower... then packing.....

<><

P.S. - What does one do when you get a fabulous wedding gift from someone you (and everyone else) doesn't know?

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

 I started this as a quick note - and now look at it:

I was contemplating Lord Peter Wimsey and a particularly marvelous bubble bath when it hit me - I'm getting married.

MARRIED.

It is one thing to grow up homeschooled, being reminded on a daily basis that your role in society, your gift to God and good conservative culture, is to get married and have 7.5 children.
It is much the same thing (though more exhilirating) to watch your friends marry, have babies, and join your pals in gasping at "how grown up we all are"!
It is only a slightly different thing to jump up and down on your dorm bed and talk abstractly about getting married and conquering the world with a handsome young prince.

It is an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MATTER to realize that you are less than 3 weeks from the "state of bliss". To finally understand that being married means that your bedroom isn't yours anymore - so if you love the person you're sharing it with, you won't leave dirty socks on the floor. Nothing will really be YOURS again. Your own body, according to Scripture, will now belong to someone else!

It is unfathomably difficult to reign ones euphoric emotions into the truth - that marriage really is a LOT of work, based on CONTINUED daily sacrifice, and your service to God will now largely be demonstrated through your love toward someone else.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is terrrifying. It runs against the grain of human nature in every conceivable fashion. I am not dying to my selfish desires - I am dying to my whole self - PERIOD. Marriage, by its nature, demands that I will no longer exist - and neither will my fiance'. The truth is that neither os us will ever exist again apart from being one with one another. "One flesh". PERFECT communion. As God intended.

It is amazing how many people marry because they believe they will be made happy by it. Happiness will come (and go), but it isn't the point. The goal of marriage is to sharpen iron against iron, to conform two willls into one, and to conform that one aim to the will and glory of God.

I will miss spending the night with all my gfirlfirends whenever I please. I'll miss not having the right to change my plans without regard to someone else. I'll probably miss being able to leave my makeup all over the sink.

But I will be able to organize his sock drawer.

I am realizing that no amount of reading material will keep us from fighting some days. No amount of "I love you"s will make us both miraculously perfect and unirritable. There will be moments of terror over the checkbook and tears over a broken car and anger over who forgot to take the books back to the library.

But when I compare all the joys of being free to do as I please with the joys of waking up every morning to make breakfast for him, I find myself coming to only one conclusion:

I can't wait.

Currently Reading Spindle's End By Robin McKinley see related

"... let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband." I Corinthians 7:2

  25 days! HURRAH!

  If you've never had a bridal shower in an academic building, I highly recommend it. There's something incredible about unwrapping gifts on the same table you sweated theory homework out on; something marvelous about talking of marriage while the couch you snored on before rehearsals listens attentively. I think the charm has something to do with showing off a new broom and mop while silently singing, "Nah-nah-nah-nah-NAH!" to the assignments that are hanging limply from academic mailboxes. At any rate, harvest pie in the CU Fine Arts Building Music Library (it will NEVER truly be the "fine arts lounge") is a fantastic experience. My maid-of-honor Anne Elisabeth and bridesmaid Charity Bean-Daniel pulled off a beautiful bridal shower last Saturday.  Romantic fabric adorned the old tables, and there was the most incredible warm drink that I can't remember the name of. Best of all, Mrs. Valerie Wort nee' Ellingson was there from Florida, and my dear soprano friend Meredith came too! There were all sorts of lovely people who made me feel awfully spoiled. Yes, I highly recommend all of it.

  Daniel and I found our wedding rings (FINALLY) on Sunday afternoon. A terribly eccentric individual (and excellent salespersonage) took one look at my ring, and pulled the very ring I wanted out of the case before I could tell him what I wanted to see. "This is your ring," he said. And it was. And before all of you roll your eyes in exasperation, "Of course he said THAT!", it was the least expensive ring on the rack - it just happened to coordinate perfectly with my ring. He didn't try to show me any more expensive rings or anything, nor did he try to sell Daniel on the platinum rings nearby. He was terribly down to earth and very helpful. 
Buy Wedding Rings - CHECK!

  As usual, my scatter-brain (noun, not adjective) was in high gear yesterday, thanks to a naughty cell phone. I needed to add a few corsages to the florist list, and called to ask how much they would be. In the ensuing tangle, I thought I heard "$30 each". I didn't know if that was a reasonable price or not - I knew that I couldn't afford it. I spent the day in fear and trembling before I had the guts to call her back and ask, "Would you be offended if we made a few of our own?" Our florist, fabulous woman that she is, was very kind and said, "Of course not, but - I want to help. How many do you need?"
"Well," I answered, "I can't afford $30 each for-"
"THIRTY DOLLARS EACH? Where did you get that?"
*gulp* "Um..."
"Dear - I said thirty dollars for 6."
Laughter followed.
I'm glad some people love me despite myself.

  Once again, I am scolding myself for sitting here while I ought to be packing (though there's nowhere to put more boxes), or shopping (but I need a shower first), or planning the wedding (despite my ability to tangle the whole process every few hours). Thank heaven for merciful friends, an understanding fiance', and a faithful God.
  Now where is that To-Do list? Perhaps I should get a cup of tea first.... <><